“If the spirit of many in body but one in mind prevails among the people, they will achieve all their goals, whereas if one in body but different in mind, they can achieve nothing remarkable.” (“Many in Body, One in Mind,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 618)
Background
Here Nichiren Daishonin teaches an eternal principle for any group to achieve its goals no matter the adversity. The expression many in body crystalizes an essential teaching of Nichiren’s that we should treasure each individual for the unique person that they are. Everyone’s personality, background and circumstances are different. When we come together, respect one another’s contributions and work for the same goal, nothing can stop us. On the other hand, even though we may all look and act the same outwardly, if our minds are not united, we can “achieve nothing remarkable.”
As SGI members, our common desire is to spread the life-affirming philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, a noble endeavor to empower people and bring hope and peace to the world. When we put our unique qualities to work for this grand goal, we can reach our full potential. The spirit of many in body but one in mind is the key to any victory, and it starts with each one of us uniting with our mentor.
Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance
“The heart is what matters most. Having a firm and concrete resolve is what secures the path to victory. “Everything begins with changing our own attitude, or mindset. This applies equally to creating the unity of many in body, one in mind. If members of an organization are constantly at loggerheads, always blaming and criticizing one another, then they will always remain disunited, in the condition of many in body, different in mind. Since organizations are made up of people, we are bound to encounter all kinds of people. At times, our personalities may not mesh with those of other individuals. That is why unless we each ground ourselves within our own human revolution, we cannot create genuine unity.” (A Foundation for Your Life, pp. 234–35)
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