One can liken the unity of “many in body, one in mind” to a bamboo grove. Each bamboo stalk sprouts up independently, yet underground, their roots are intertwined. The world of faith is the same. Because we share the same “roots,” because we share a common spirit and purpose, each one of us can grow … …
Buddhist practice is not something we can carry out on our own. For, as the Daishonin says, “The winds of fame and profit blow violently, and the lamp of Buddhist practice is easily extinguished” (WND-1, 1027). It is vital that we encourage and support one another as we make our way forward. We need to … …
Toda realized that the devilish nature inherent in life underlies nuclear weapons, and he keenly sensed that the only way to vanquish it was through the power of the Buddha nature. Since human beings created nuclear weapons, they are also capable of eliminating them. Toda was convinced that the existence of the Buddha nature within … …
Since life is eternal throughout the three existences of past, present, and future, our past karma may also assail us in the present in the form of some major problem or suffering. However, just as the cause of suffering lies within our lives, we also possess the power to transform our suffering into happiness. This … …
Prayer produces a change within our hearts, within the depths of our lives. This profound, intangible inner change does not end with us alone [but inspires a similar change in others]. Likewise, when one community changes, it will not be limited to that community alone. Just as a single wave gives rise to countless others, … …
By chanting to the Gohonzon, which is modeled on the Ceremony in the Air, we become one with the eternal and universal life in the present, and we open a state of life in which we can survey the entire universe from right where we are. Through our daily practice of gongyo and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, … …
People who have vibrant life force are happy. People with strong conviction are happy. They can lead positive, successful lives. Those who are weak, in contrast, are miserable. They create misery and unhappiness for themselves. Practicing Nichiren Buddhism enables us to become as strong as we possibly can. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and … …
People who have vibrant life force are happy. People with strong conviction are happy. They can lead positive, successful lives. Those who are weak, in contrast, are miserable. They create misery and unhappiness for themselves. Practicing Nichiren Buddhism enables us to become as strong as we possibly can. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and … …
The person who wages an unceasing battle against such devilish influences and continuously acts to lead others to happiness is a Buddha. A Buddha is not some special sort of being. The person who keeps striving bravely in both spirit and action, who keeps up the battle against negative forces until it is won—that person … …
Everything depends on the strength of our faith. When we have strong faith, our life itself becomes a “cluster of blessings” (WND-1, 832), which is how the Daishonin describes the Gohonzon. He further states, “This Gohonzon also is found only in the two characters for faith” (WND-1, 832). From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and … …