This section features Ikeda Sensei’s seminal guidance to the members of the United States. The following is an abridgement of his speech given at the First SGI-USA Executive Conference, held at Soka University Los Angeles, Calabasas, California, February 21, 1990. The full speech can be found in My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, pp. 53–61.
If leaders make constant efforts to study hard, grow and maintain a sense of freshness, the organization will advance and be filled with dynamism. An organization will change and develop only to the extent that leaders change and develop themselves. The advancement of kosen-rufu in a community and country proceeds likewise. …
In his book The Cycles of American History, Dr. Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. discusses the theory that American society undergoes change at intervals of 30 years. In his view, the coming decade of the 1990s will hark back to the 1930s and 1960s in important respects. …
It is impossible to predict whether the 1990s, like the 1930s and 1960s, will be characterized by a resurgence of idealism in American society. Nevertheless, the observation that America has tended to return to the starting point of its founding ideals at intervals of 30 years is deeply thought provoking. In human terms, 30 years correspond roughly to one generation. In a 30-year period, one generation is replaced by the next; the order of things requires the emergence of a new, youthful generation. Herein lies one of the reasons why I heartily desire that the SGI-USA, at this milestone of its 30th anniversary, make a truly fresh start for the future. …
Establish the Law as Your Standard
In making a phone call, if you misdial just one number, your call will not go through as desired. If even a single wire is misplaced in a sophisticated machine, it will fail to operate. How much more true is this in our practice of Buddhism, which reveals that each phenomenon, without exception, strictly possesses all the three thousand realms of life. Unless people embrace the correct Law, maintain correct faith and carry out a correct practice, they will eventually lead many astray. This is an extremely serious offense, and those who follow such leaders are to be pitied.
In this connection, it should be pointed out that the Law, not the person, is to be regarded as the proper standard in all things. Putting the person first gives you an uncertain standard; it is to let that person’s mind become your master. At some point, relations based on such a standard become like those between a paternal, godfather-
like figure and those bound to him by personal loyalty.
In contrast, if you establish the Law as your standard, you will become the master of your mind. The great development that we have realized in Japan has been possible because we have exerted ourselves in the practice based on the Gohonzon and in accordance with Nichiren Daishonin’s writings.
Nichiren laments people’s approach to Buddhism: “The people of our time—whether clerics or lay believers, nobles or commoners—all revere persons and do not value the Law. They make their own mind their teacher and do not rely on the sutras” (“Reply to Hoshina Goro Taro,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 156). If people make their minds their sole standard, they will in due course become self-righteous. But if they carry out faith and practice based on the Law, then they are true leaders of Buddhism.
Develop the Youth and Women’s Divisions
Something that characterizes true leaders is that they are thoroughly dedicated to raising young people. When you put all your energy into developing the rich potential of youth, both you and the organization are rejuvenated. I hope that you will find and raise people with great potential, allowing them to steadily grow and fully engage themselves. If you create such a flow, the future will open up boundlessly before you.
Also, you should put energy into the development of the women’s division. An organization where the women’s division can freely conduct activities, and where its opinions are respected, is healthy and strong. Such an organization can make steady progress, and it will seldom spin its wheels in vain. As you know, the women’s division has played a central role in the early development of kosen-rufu in America.
The most important condition for leaders is sincerity. In contrast, an authoritarian air will only serve to alienate people, and intelligence alone may not produce anything of lasting value. Sincerity is what touches people’s hearts, forges bonds of trust and imparts a sense of security. People of sincerity create a relaxed, almost spring-like atmosphere around themselves. …
Change, unceasing change, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of America. Change occurs more rapidly here than it does elsewhere. This could be said to be an indication of the vitality that this country possesses.
The late U.S. statesman Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) once said: “There is a New America every morning when we wake up. It is upon us whether we will it or not.” Similarly, Buddhism holds that everything is in a constant state of flux. Thus the question is whether we are to accept change passively and be swept away by it or whether we are to take the lead and create positive changes on our own initiative.
Furthermore, Buddhism expounds the principle of “true cause.” In terms of our attitude in faith, this can be understood as our spirit to always make a fresh departure. In other words, we advance with hope and youthful vitality—the vital energy of spring, morning and life—throughout our entire existence. It is in enabling us to realize this limitless improvement in our lives that the greatness and brilliance of Nichiren Buddhism lie.
Each of you has worked very hard to promote kosen-rufu in America. You will no doubt bring your lives to a splendid completion. I hope that you will cause the great flower of happiness and virtue to bloom luxuriantly in the rich soil of your life that you have worked so hard to cultivate until today. It would be only too sad if you were to somehow end up taking a false step, thus destroying your good fortune, after many years of practice. In a sense, you have now come to a crucial point in your journey of life.
Bearing this in mind, please continue striving to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime
so that you can enjoy, in one lifetime after another, a diamond-like state of life filled with overwhelming joy. I hope that, through living honorably, you will be remembered as champions of kosen-rufu whose names will forever shine in the annals of our movement.
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