Please base your study on the material provided here or any study material from a recent issue of the World Tribune or Living Buddhism. Have a great study meeting!
Our Own Human Revolution Is the Key to Achieving Family Harmony [13.1]
Chapter 13: ‘Faith for a Harmonious Family’
The study material below is excerpted from The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 63–65. You can purchase revised editions of parts 1 and 2 at bookstore.sgi-usa.org.
The following is Ikeda Sensei’s editorial titled “Faith for a Harmonious Family” published in the April 1968 Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s study magazine.
Ikeda Sensei: “Faith for a harmonious family” is an eternal guideline articulated by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda.
A bright, positive family joined by ties of trust and affection is a reflection of a pure and rich spirit. It is also both the first step and ultimate goal in our efforts to build a world of peace and happiness.
Over the years, countless Soka Gakkai members have transformed bleak, negative family situations into bright, happy ones. This is the proud personal history of human revolution achieved by each individual, which constitutes the strong, deep foundation of the Soka Gakkai’s history.
The example of Soka Gakkai members creating harmonious families is both a living model for all people and, I believe, a shining symbol of the future of Japan and the world.
Our aim is to actualize an ideal society where personal happiness and social prosperity go hand in hand, which of course includes harmonious families. The key to building a sound and healthy family life is for each person, based on the Mystic Law, to make efforts to establish a strong and secure life for themselves while also contributing to the prosperity of society and world peace.
Not all who take faith in Nichiren Buddhism have their whole families start practicing with them. Sometimes, people encounter intense opposition from family members. But such opposition is just a test of faith, and is certain to be resolved once one has carried out one’s human revolution and developed into a truly fine member of society and of one’s family.
“Former Affairs of King Wonderful Adornment,” the 27th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, relates the story of the past lives of Bodhisattva Medicine King and Bodhisattva Medicine Superior as the two brothers Pure Storehouse and Pure Eye. These brothers worked together with their mother, Pure Virtue, to persuade their father, King Wonderful Adornment, to take faith in Buddhism. To achieve this, Pure Storehouse and Pure Eye displayed various supernatural powers. This is a metaphor for demonstrating the power of the Buddha and the power of the Law—which, expressed in modern terms, is nothing other than showing proof of one’s human revolution.
I believe that any revolution that is genuine—that truly serves the needs of the people—will also clearly manifest itself in the family. Such a family-based revolution is the most fundamental and lasting kind of revolution; it will create an enduring groundswell and become the tide of the times that no one can hold back.
Take the Lead in Being Wise, Warm and Optimistic
Ikeda Sensei: [In encouraging youth whose parents didn’t practice Nichiren Buddhism, my mentor, Josei Toda, often said:
There’s no need for you to rush in and start lecturing your family members on the principles of Buddhism. Even if it takes time, first strive to become a fine person and put your parents’ minds at ease. I want you to become people who really care for, respect and appreciate their parents. …
He also said that we mustn’t allow our Buddhist practice to become a source of conflict in our family. Sincerity is of prime importance. We must always be sincere and respectful in our dealings with others. We must take the lead by being positive, cheerful and optimistic ourselves, and have the wisdom and compassion to warmly support and embrace those around us. Our continued efforts to cultivate such harmonious relations in our environment are the key to victory in faith, and they shine with the wisdom of Buddhism.
When our individual human and family revolutions give fresh prominence to the Lotus Sutra’s teaching that all of us are Buddhas deserving of the highest respect, it will be possible to realize a fundamental change in the karma of our strife-ridden times. Eventually, this hope-filled philosophy will envelop the evil latter age in a warm current of compassion, and a great light of humanism will spread throughout society and the world. (The Teachings for Victory, vol. 3, p. 25)
Suggested Questions:
1) How has your growth helped transform your relationships with family members?
2) How can we generate a revolution in our families that benefits everyone?
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles