This installment, published in the April 15, 2020, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, focuses on passages from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings that Ikeda Sensei discusses in volume 18 of The New Human Revolution.
Passage 1
“At the seaside, wood is regarded as a treasure, and in the mountains, salt. In a drought, water is thought of as a treasure, and in the darkness, a lamp. Women see their husbands as their treasures, and men look upon their wives as their very lives.” (“Offerings in the Snow,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 809)
The Soka Gakkai Shines With the Treasures of the Heart
Illustration courtesy of Seikyo Press.
In November 1973, at the Tokushima Prefecture leaders meeting, Shin’ichi Yamamoto spoke about the most important treasure of the present time.
[Saying] that what people value as their most important treasure depends on the place and circumstances in which they live, [Shin’ichi] spoke about what the most important treasure of the present time was: “Throughout the world today, people are feeling a loss of humanity and sense of purpose in life. These times have also been described as being mired in intellectual and philosophical turmoil. Because of this, humanity, hope and vitality are the treasures of our age. And the philosophy of Buddhism, which people can trust and rely on to manifest these treasures, is the most important, fundamental treasure of all.”
These treasures all exist within the Soka Gakkai. Just look at the beautiful, shining humanity of Soka Gakkai members, who, in spite of their own troubles and worries, continuously pray and take action for the sake of others. Just observe how they have risen valiantly from the depths of despair and sorrow, burning with hope and vitality as they strive to build their own lives and make a positive contribution to society. To find the source of these treasures, one must seek Nichiren Buddhism, which illuminates the ultimate Law of life and the philosophy of human dignity.
We of the Soka Gakkai are practicing that Buddhism and demonstrating actual proof of its truth in our daily lives. (The New Human Revolution, vol. 18, pp. 220–21)
Passage 2
“When a nation becomes disordered, it is the spirits that first show signs of rampancy. Because the spirits become rampant, all the people of the nation become disordered.” (“On Establishing the Correct Teaching,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 8)
Defeat the Devilish Nature Inherent in Life
Illustration courtesy of Seikyo Press.
At the December 1973 Headquarters General Meeting, Shin’ichi Yamamoto spoke about the instability in society caused by the oil crisis, in which escalating oil prices resulted in economic, social and political upheaval throughout the world.
“The spirits he refers to are demons who snatch away the life of others or who snatch away blessings (see The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 114). In contemporary terms, this refers to the devilish nature inherent in human life, a life state of thoroughgoing egoism. Rampant spirits means devilish functions that are out of control.” …
“The nation referred to by Nichiren Daishonin has two aspects, the natural environment and human society. When the nation comprising the environment and human beings is in turmoil—and in fact in the lead-up to that turmoil—not just the human ego but an even more fundamental force, the devilish functions of life, begins to grow into a roiling undercurrent. As a result, people’s hearts and minds become disordered, leading the nation and society toward ruin. Without a teaching that resolves life’s fundamental problems, social confusion and discord cannot be resolved. That’s what makes the mission of the Soka Gakkai, which is dedicated to spreading the great life philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, so important. I declare here and now that the time has come for us to nourish society with a fresh groundswell of kosen-rufu.” (NHR-18, 240–41)
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