By Linda Johnson
SGI-USA Women’s
Leader
Nichiren Buddhism holds the key to helping people build an indestructible palace of happiness within their lives. We must share this key with others, and we must learn to utilize it to the maximum within our own lives.
Nichiren Buddhism holds the key to helping people build an indestructible palace of happiness within their lives. We must share this key with others, and we must learn to utilize it to the maximum within our own lives.
I find that when we judge our
ability to accomplish our goals through intellectual analysis rather
than faith, we concede to defeat even though we practice this great
teaching. If we fail to employ the “strategy of the Lotus Sutra”
as the Daishonin instructs us, we tend to perceive that our goals are
unattainable and do not even bother to challenge them through faith,
thus making our mistaken perception a reality. Nichiren Daishonin tells
us, however: “If you only chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offense
could fail to be eradicated? What blessing could fail to come? This
is the truth, and it is of great profundity. You should believe and
accept it” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 130).
Now is the time to make these
words a reality in our lives. We must experience how transforming the
power of faith is by mustering our courage to challenge the impossible.
After all, as Nichiren warns us in “Reply to Kyo’o”: “A coward
cannot have any of his prayers answered,” and, “The mighty sword
of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith” (WND,
412).
Women and young women compose
nearly two-thirds of our organization. Our ability to help one another
apply Nichiren Buddhism to our daily lives and transform our destinies
will create ripples of change throughout the SGI-USA and our society
as a whole.
Nichiren Buddhism explains
that everything is interconnected. A change in the life of one person,
because it is inseparable from the environment, produces ripple effects
in others.
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| Marilyn Monroe |
But how many of us really
believe
this? Many of us think we are just insignificant individuals who cannot
have an impact upon others. What’s needed to change this is for each
of us to experience the interconnectedness of life, as nothing is really
separate.
Therefore, our theme of making
the impossible possible embraces two objectives: first, it is for every
woman to challenge her own limitations daily; and second, for every
woman to wholeheartedly apply her time and effort toward helping others
win over their challenges.
“If we exert ourselves for
Buddhism and the happiness of others,” says SGI President Ikeda, “we
ourselves and everything around us will shine brightly. In contrast,
self-centered actions often inflict only suffering on others. If we
behave that way, we ultimately stand to lose. Buddhism teaches us to
work for the welfare of others.
Everything we do for others
returns as our own benefit. No effort for kosen-rufu is ever wasted”
(Oct. 22, 2004, World Tribune, p. 3).
It is also important that we
support one another until everyone achieves a victory. This is why we
are doing the hour of united prayer every day in which we are praying
for every person to experience the limitless potential of his or her
life through faith, every person to awaken to his or her mission to
spread Nichiren Buddhism, and for an undeniable, tangible victory in
Soka Spirit. This prayer, significantly, includes everyone, not just
women.
Of course, in addition to
prayer,
it is vital that we visit other members, call and inspire them to go
for their dreams, to use faith to challenge the impossible and to never,
ever give up. We must also commit ourselves to sharing Nichiren Buddhism with others.
Today people are yearning for
hope, to know that they can lead a fulfilled daily existence while
making
this world a better place. Nichiren Buddhism has the key to make this
possible.
