Material for Discussion Meetings

The function of fire is to burn and give light. The function of water is to wash away filth. The winds blow away dust and breathe life into plants, animals, and human beings. The earth produces the grasses and trees, and heaven provides nourishing moisture. The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo are also like that. They are the cluster of blessings brought by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, disciples of the Buddha in his true identity. 

—“The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life,”
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 218

Background

In this passage from “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life,” Nichiren Daishonin teaches that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo purifies and nurtures people’s lives, drawing parallels between the power of chanting and the functions of nature. He states that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth bring forth the compassionate workings of the Mystic Law, which function to benefit people. 

The Daishonin sent this letter in 1272 to his disciple Sairen-bo, a learned priest formerly of the Tendai school, who asked him about the Buddhist concept known as the heritage of ultimate law of life and death. In his response, Nichiren urges Sairen-bo to “carry out your practice confident that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo alone is the heritage” (WND-1, 217) that was transferred from Shakyamuni Buddha to Bodhisattva Superior Practices, the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. 

Then, he describes the workings of five natural elements—fire, water, wind, earth and heaven, or space—that were thought to constitute all things in the universe, according to ancient Indian beliefs. 

Nichiren explains: 1) fire produces light and illuminates; 2) water cleanses and purifies; 3) wind clears away dust and animates life; 4) the earth produces the grasses and trees; and 5) heaven, or the skies, causes the rain to fall, nurturing and sustaining life. 

“The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo are also like that,” he observes, comparing the beneficial and compassionate nature of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to these five elements’ functions. 

He then says that Myoho-renge-kyo is “the cluster of blessings brought by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, disciples of the Buddha in his true identity.” These bodhisattvas, he affirms, benefit others through the functions of the Mystic Law. 

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

Ikeda Sensei’s Encouragement

Bodhisattvas of the Earth—Experts at Helping People Transform and Gain Happiness

 In “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life,” Nichiren Daishonin refers to “the cluster of blessings brought by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, disciples of the Buddha in his true identity” (WND-1, 218). 

“Disciples of the Buddha in his true identity” means disciples instructed by Shakyamuni as the Buddha enlightened since the remote past described in the “Life Span of the Thus Come One” chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Because the Bodhisattvas of the Earth possess as their inner enlightenment the eternal Mystic Law that is one with that Buddha, they can stand up alone and propagate that Law even in the evil age after Shakyamuni’s passing. …

These bodhisattvas persist in carrying out bodhisattva practice—that is, they continually strive in an evil age to transform their own lives and the lives of others with the goal of achieving kosen-rufu. But in terms of their inner enlightenment, they already possess the life state of Buddha-
hood that is awakened to the Mystic Law. As such, they could be called “bodhisattva-Buddhas.” Nichiren revealed and spread Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in order to make it possible for all people to achieve this state of life. By deeply believing in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and practicing exactly as Nichiren teaches, any person can attain the life state of a “bodhisattva-Buddha.”

The Bodhisattvas of the Earth who practice Nam-myoho-renge-kyo already possess the Mystic Law. Since that is the case, they can propagate the Mystic Law through one-to-one, life-to-life interaction—reaching out to the Buddha nature of others with their own Buddhahood.

No matter what karma others may be struggling with, one can only really lead them to enlightenment by awakening them to the fact that the power to break through that karma already exists within their lives. Only Bodhisattvas of the Earth possessing the essential or original Law are able to bring about this awakening. 

In the Latter Day of the Law, there is utterly no possibility that salvation will come “from above,” that is to say, by the grace of a transcendent Buddha who descends from the heavens. People can only become aware of the infinite power existing within their own lives by encountering Bodhisattvas of the Earth who have emerged from the lower region that is the world of truth, in other words, “from below.” (See this issue,
pp. 34–35)

What’s in the Discussion Meeting Toolbox?

In the Discussion Meeting Toolbox, you’ll find important resources on how to prepare for the best discussion meetings including “3 Great Ways to Prepare Before Every Discussion Meeting,” “Tips on Being Emcee,” “How to Share Great Faith Experiences,” plus icebreaker ideas and games. 

Ikeda Sensei writes: “In today’s world, where developing real human relationships seems to be growing more difficult, our discussion meetings are beautiful, almost miraculous, gatherings of joy and harmony. Each meeting is a truly precious part of our Buddhist practice” (October 2018 Living Buddhism, p. 5). Let’s strive to make our meetings a place where people look forward to attending every month!

Access the discussion meeting toolbox in your SGI-USA Portal.

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Buddhist Concepts

The Power of the Voice

Pet owners seem to understand what their pets want. They know when woof means “I’m hungry” or “I want to go out for a walk,” and when meow means “pay attention to me” or “rub my back.” 

From our human perspective, their vocabulary is minimal, but a pet’s tone conveys much of what they wish to say. 

Similarly, the tone or timbre of our voice has a strong influence on our listeners.

Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, sat in quiet contemplation before attaining enlightenment. But after that, he abandoned silence and set out to talk with people. He continued to use his voice to move people’s hearts and empower them throughout his life. 

Shakyamuni’s disciples committed his words to memory and passed them on verbally until later, they were written down as sutras. 

Nichiren Daishonin, too, after revealing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a practice capable of freeing all people from suffering, spent his life in impassioned conversation, at times directly and at other times in writing.

Defining Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, he states: 

Kyo represents the words and voices of all living beings. A commentary [On “The Profound Meaning,” volume one] says, “The voice carries out the work of the Buddha, and this is called kyo, or sutra.” (OTT, 4)

The voice Nichiren refers to doesn’t simply mean talking. It suggests a voice filled with confidence and compassion, arising from a vow and prayer for others’ happiness and kosen-rufu—for creating a peaceful world by helping people awaken their inner Buddhahood.

Our Chanting Cultivates ‘the Buddha’s Voice’

Not all strong voices “do the Buddha’s work.” Salespeople and politicians confidently appeal to us to buy their products or give them our votes. But their voices don’t necessarily lead people toward happiness. 

In contrast, when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo earnestly for another person, our voice comes to brim with compassion and courage. Through chanting, we exercise and cultivate the “Buddha’s voice” within us. One word delivered with such a voice can move a person’s heart and help change their life. At the same time, using our voice in this way brings us even more joy and confidence.

Our Soka movement for peace has always had the discussion meeting as its foundation. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the Soka Gakkai’s founding president, traveled throughout Japan to meet with people, listen to their dreams and struggles and speak with them directly about the power of Buddhism to change their lives.

The discussion meeting isn’t limited to the meeting itself. Our heartfelt conversations can inspire people to attend a discussion meeting or share their breakthroughs with fellow members and friends.

In a message to the youth, Ikeda Sensei observed: 

Sharing Buddhism with others begins with one-to-one, face-to-face dialogue.

We are all human beings. We are all youth. We are all equal. Therefore, we engage in frank and honest dialogue with others so that we can together grow as human beings and lead positive lives. We offer support and empathy to those who are suffering and encourage them to join with us in the challenge of breaking through personal obstacles and leading victorious lives. Our efforts to engage in dialogue and to introduce others to Nichiren Buddhism are a source of mutual inspiration. When we tell someone about Buddhism with courage and joy, as well as chant and take action to support them, happiness will definitely come to bloom in both our own lives and theirs. (July 7, 2023, World Tribune, p. 2)

Today, when so much communication takes the form of short, one-way bursts of DMs, texts or emails, let’s not forget that the power of the human voice has always been the basis for spreading Buddhism and its humanistic message.

Reaching out and talking with people face-to-face or voice-to-voice is the most powerful way to understand a person’s heart, let them know we genuinely care and instill in them hope and confidence. 

—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department

From the January 2025 Living Buddhism