Q: I often hear people talking about “kosen-rufu.” But what does it mean?

A: Kosen-rufu is the spread of the Mystic Law from one person to another. It is also its spread from ten thousand to fifty thousand. Yet, kosen-rufu is not about numbers. It is a process, an eternal flow. …

Kosen means to widely declare. “Widely” implies speaking out to the world, to an ever-greater number and ever-broader spectrum of people.

“Declare” means to proclaim one’s ideals, principles and philosophy. The ru of rufu means a current like that of a great river. And fu means to spread out like a roll of cloth.

The teaching of the Mystic Law has nothing to do with appearance, form or pride. It flows out freely—to all humanity the world over. Like a cloth unfolding, it spreads out and covers all. So rufu means to flow freely, to reach all.

Just like a cloth, kosen-rufu is woven from vertical and horizontal threads. The vertical threads represent the passing of Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching from mentor to disciple, parent to child, senior to junior. The horizontal threads represent the impartial spread of this teaching, transcending national borders, social classes and all other distinctions.