The Secret to Human Revolution
Pray that instead of devils or negative, destructive forces infiltrating
your being, Brahma (Jpn Bonten), Shakra (Jpn Taishaku), and the gods of
the Sun and the Moon — the positive, protective forces of the universe —
will enter your life! Pray that they will enter the lives of all members in
your region and the entire membership of the SGI, as well. If you do this,
your strength will multiply a hundredfold, a thousandfold. With such
prayer, you will realize a fundamental transformation in the very depths of
your life. This is the secret to achieving your human revolution.
(Excerpt of President Ikeda’s July, 28, 2000 speech; World Tribune, Sept. 8, 2000, p. 5)
Capturing Nichiren Daishonin’s Spirit
When we chant and exert ourselves for kosen-rufu, we can block
devils or negative, destructive forces from “entering” our lives and allow
the positive, protective forces of the universe to “enter” instead. Please
chant with strong conviction, as if calling. “Brahma, Shakra and the gods of
the Sun and the Moon, „enter‟ my life and put your power to work!” The
ultimate essence of faith in the Mystic Law is to manifest the Daishonin‟s
life within ourselves. We can then fight with the same strength as the
Daishonin. When we do so, we will never be defeated, no matter what
hardships we encounter. We will not be unhappy. We will not fail to win.
We will not fail to become happy. This is the quintessence of faith. I hope
you will all be completely convinced of this and live your lives filled with
optimism and hope.
Please always advance in harmony and friendship with one another.
Harmonious development is the starting point for happiness, construction
and value creation.
(Excerpt of President Ikeda’s Feb. 27, 2001 speech; World Tribune, April 13,
2001, p.7)
Great fulfillment is found in the bold struggle to overcome our challenges
Kosen-rufu is an earnest struggle; it is not some abstract theory or frivolous
game. In ―Reply to Yasaburo,‖ Nichiren describes the attitude and commitment
one must have when engaging in this struggle. ―You should pray intently that
Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions will all gather
and enter into your body to assist you‖ (WND-1, 829). Prayer activates all the
Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the universe. If our faith is strong, we can activate
them even more powerfully. There are millions and billions of Buddhas and
bodhisattvas working together with us. Though they may not be visible to our
physical eyes, their presence can definitely be discerned when viewed with the
―eyes of the Buddha.‖
Each day, when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, countless Buddhas and
heavenly deities –in other words, the natural protective functions of the universe—
face the Gohonzon alongside us. Our daily practice of reciting the sutra and
chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon is a ceremony that takes place
on a vast, universal scale.
(Excerpt of President Ikeda’s Feb. 8, 2007, speech at the 4th Soka Gakkai Hqtrs. Mtg. (March
16, 2007, World Tribune p.2)
Just keep chanting earnestly and wholeheartedly to the Gohonzon
Sensei shared words from his mentor, Josei Toda, "Just keep chanting earnestly
and wholeheartedly to the Gohonzon. Most people aren't aware of this simple
principle. It may seem like the long way around, but it's actually the shortest and
surest way forward." (World Tribune, Feb. 9, 2007, p. 2)