[PassTheDoobie]

"Mr. Makiguchi declared: 'When we establish a big goal, our small and medium goals become clear and the way to achieve them also comes to light.' We have the ultimate big goal of kosen-rufu and attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime. There is no stronger, truer, or meaningful path in life.

"I am reminded of an anecdote related by my friend the microbiologist René Dubos (1901–1982). There were three men carrying stones. A passerby asked them, 'What are you doing?' One of the men answered, 'I am carting stones.' The second answered, 'I am working on a wall.' And the third answered proudly, 'I am building a cathedral.' Though all three seemed to be doing the same task, the third worked with a grand and inspiring vision.[1]

"The moral of the story is that we shouldn’t just carry out a designated task mechanically, nor see it only in terms of its narrow, immediate goal. Instead, we should try to be aware of the greater, underlying purpose and work for its realisation as our own proud aspiration.

"Kosen-rufu is the great and noble undertaking where each of us strives to build happiness in our life, while at the same time creating a world of lasting peace and harmony, the long-cherished dream of all humankind. The key is to apply ourselves to our work or the challenges before us with earnestness, attention, and diligence, always holding in our hearts a shining aspiration as vast as the universe itself.

"From this month of the Soka Gakkai’s founding, let’s make astonishing new strides forwards. Let’s raise the curtain on a new drama of human revolution. I am personally determined to strive even harder to write another immortal page in this great endeavour. Together, let’s achieve a brilliant victory that will shine forever in the annals of kosen-rufu, and make our jubilant cheers resound throughout the world.

"The power for victory
surges forth
from the bastion of mentor and disciple."

SGI Newsletter No. 8675, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, Making a Fresh Vow on the Day of the Soka Gakkai’s Founding, translated 21st Nov. 2012, from 15th November, 2012, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,

[1] René Dubos, The Torch of Life: Continuity in Living Experience (New York: Pocket Books, Inc., 1963), pp. 151–52.

[PassTheDoobie]

"Suppose a lion has a hundred cubs. When the lion king sees its cubs attacked by other beasts or birds of prey, he roars; the hundred cubs will then feel emboldened, and the heads of those other beasts and birds of prey will be split into seven pieces. The Lotus Sutra is like the lion king, who rules over all other animals."

(The Drum at the Gate of Thunder - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1, page 949) Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's guidance, Seikyo Shimbun, November 25th, 2012

[PassTheDoobie]

Originally Posted by PassTheDoobie

The crucial moment that changes our lives is something that we ourselves create.

Daisaku Ikeda

Every moment of every day....

T

[PassTheDoobie]

"In his writing 'On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,' the Daishonin states:

"A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. (WND-1, 4)

"Vibrantly chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo day after day enables us to polish the mirror of our lives. Faith is a supreme source of light, allowing our lives to shine with a brilliance that cannot be dimmed even by the harshest adversity, just like the sun which shines with fresh radiance each day."

SGI Newsletter No. 8705, Encouragement for Soka Educators. (1) Creating a New Age of Education Where Teacher and Student Grow Together—Part 3 [of 3],from the 3rd Feb., 2012, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated 18th Jan, 2013

[easyDaimoku]

Originally Posted by PassTheDoobie

"There is one passage of the Orally Transmitted Teachings that I have always taken deeply to heart since my days of supporting and assisting Mr. Toda: ‘If in a single moment of life we exhaust the pains and trials of millions of kalpas, then instant after instant there will arise in us the three Buddha bodies[1] with which we are eternally endowed. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is just such a “diligent” practice’ (OTT, 214).”

"This passage teaches the essence of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime. 'The three Buddha bodies with which we are eternally endowed' refers to the boundless life-state of Buddhahood within us. The key to manifesting this life-state in each instant is to expend in a single moment of life millions of kalpas’ worth of strenuous effort. 'Millions of kalpas' means an infinite expanse of time. Through practising Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism with this kind of concentrated effort, we can bring forth our inherent Buddha wisdom and life force.

“The Daishonin teaches that only through intense struggle, undaunted by hardships, can we attain Buddhahood in this lifetime, carry out our human revolution, and transform our life-condition. In a sense, my days have been a continuous, arduous, all-out struggle. I have been through inconceivably bitter experiences time and again.

“On those occasions, this passage sustained me, helping me renew my resolve, chant daimoku, overcome all hardships, and emerge triumphant.

“It is important that you courageously exert yourself, too, for the sake of kosen-rufu, the happiness of others, and your own future."

SGI Newsletter No. 8721, The New Human Revolution––Vol. 26: Chap. 1, Atsuta 56, translated 19th Feb. 2013

[1] The three bodies of the Buddha refer to the Dharma body, the reward body, and the manifested body. The Dharma body is the fundamental truth, or Law, to which a Buddha is enlightened. The reward body is the wisdom to perceive the Law. And the manifested body is the compassionate actions the Buddha carries out to lead people to happiness.

It goes without saying I come here for the encouragement, study and especially the chanting growers. Babba, Mrs. Babba, PTD, GIS, Bonzo, Socal, Desi, Trichy, Hitman, Forest, Always, Scegy, everyone with or without a Gohonzon - THANK YOU. I'm chanting to the Gohonzon that all my friends chant too because that's my mission and daily aim in life, to help other's attain enlightenment in this lifetime.

I've been experiencing some troubles recently, but I'm steadfast in my faith and committed to the best outcome. My plan is to report significant progress and results by my 7th Gohonzon bday in a month's time. However, I'm still able to crack a healthy smile in the face of adversity and tough decisions. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism truly helps you overcome radical obstacles and become happy in this lifetime just as we are, right where we live.

THANK YOU!!!

[PassTheDoobie]

Unbelievably, the old thread has gotten 4,500 hits since we started this one!

[PassTheDoobie]

"You must be firmly resolved. Do not begrudge your fief; do not think of your wife and children. And do not depend on others. You must simply make up your mind."

(Reply to Yasaburo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 829) Selection source: Kyo no Hosshin, Seikyo Shimbun, September 20th, 2012

[PassTheDoobie]

"Myo means to revive, that is, to return to life."

(The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 149) Selection Source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shinbun September 24th, 2012

[PassTheDoobie]

Our efforts to talk with others about our kosen-rufu movement
will remain as a meaningful
"memory of your present life in this human world."(*)
Let's enthusiastically help others to form a connection with Buddhism!
And while joyfully opening up our hearts to tell people about this practise,
let's elevate our life condition
and at the same time accumulate good fortune and benefit.

Daisaku Ikeda

*"Single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and urge others to do the same; that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world." - "Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra", WND-I, page 64

[PassTheDoobie]

"The more we broaden our own minds, the more we can inspire and foster the growth of others. That is why self-cultivation is indispensable to our efforts to nurture others."

SGI Newsletter No. 8637, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, The Future Division: Our Successors and Hope—Part 2 [of 2], from 22nd Aug., 2012, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated 26th Sep. 2012