In this section we offer resources for Spain Soka Gakkai discussion meetings; namely: a quote that sheds light on the relevance of the efforts that crystallise on these gatherings (“Globally”), a presentation of one of the groups that sustain them (“Locally”), a passage from the writings of Nichiren Daishonin commented by Daisaku Ikeda (“Advancing with the Gosho”), a “Perspective” and some “Keywords.”
GLOBALLY
“Prominent thinkers from around the world have begun to take note of our discussion meetings. [Amongst them] peace scholar Dr. Elise Boulding (…) found our discussion meeting to be a setting in which people can regard each other as equals, become better acquainted by hearing what each person has to say, and join their hearts toward a common purpose—an ideal gathering for promoting a culture of peace. (…)
President Makiguchi showed truly remarkable foresight in instituting the practice of holding discussion meetings, the significance of which only continues to grow with time. (…)
In one of his writings, the Daishonin quotes the proverb: ‘One is the mother of ten thousand.’[1] With this spirit, the first three Soka Gakkai presidents have acted with the resolve to share the Daishonin’s Buddhism with every individual they encountered. This firm determination has led to the present development of the kosen-rufu movement.”[2]
LOCALLY
Nichiren Daishonin stated that “Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat.”[3] The members from this discussion group from Barcelona seem to have firmly chosen the first option. In this picture, we can say that they declare the “victory of the first discussion meeting of the year.” As we have been told by the people involved, this has been possible thanks to the constant efforts in conducting one-to-one encouragements between one meeting and the next one.
(Mailbox: prensa@ediciones-civilizacionglobal.com)
ADVANCING WITH THE GOSHO
The prayers offered by a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will be answered just as an echo answers a sound, as a shadow follows a form, as the reflection of the moon appears in clear water, as a mirror collects dewdrops, as a magnet attracts iron, as amber attracts particles of dust, or as a clear mirror reflects the colour of an object.
(On Prayer, WND-1, 340).
“Prayer in Nichiren Buddhism means making a vow to win without fail.
Everything begins with prayer. I myself have begun every great effort for kosen-rufu with prayer. Whenever I faced difficulties, I challenged them with prayer as my foundation, chanting wholeheartedly and overcoming them one by one.
As we prepared to launch into the February Campaign of 1952,[4] I told my fellow members in Kamata Chapter: ‘Let’s start with prayer!’ (…)
The members of the Soka Gakkai, Bodhisattvas of the Earth, have created a movement that celebrates humanity. It is propelled by our strong prayers directly connected to Nichiren Daishonin, and by always taking to heart his words ‘praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground.’[5]
Through our prayers to open fresh horizons in kosen-rufu toward the Soka Gakkai’s 100th anniversary (in 2030), let us boldly write a new triumphant epic of human revolution and the shared struggle of mentor and disciple.”[6]
PERSPECTIVE
In the lecture from which the above quote and commentary are taken from, Ikeda Sensei also refers to another Gosho passage which states that “‘There is nowhere throughout the worlds of the ten directions that the sound of our voices chanting daimoku [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo] does not reach. Our voices may be small, but when we intone the powerful sound of daimoku, there is no place in the entire major world system that they do not penetrate.’[7] (…) What’s important is that our prayers are filled with powerful conviction and the determination to realize them, come what may. When we earnestly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our prayers reach every corner of the universe. Through deep prayer, we transform our fundamental state of mind, and that inner transformation changes our own lives as well as our environment.”[8]
KEYWORDS
Starting with prayer · Having a dialogue with the determination to share Buddhism
[1] ↑ Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man (WND-1, 131). Related to this sentence, see also the section “Este mes”.
[2] ↑ IKEDA, Daisaku: “Discussion Meetings: A Soka Gakkai Tradition”, Seikyo Shimbun, 19 (Part I) and 20 (Part II) from January 2006.
[3] ↑ The Hero of the World, in WND-1, 835.
[4] ↑ See the sections “Este mes” and “Especial” in this issue.
[5] ↑ On Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins, in WND-1, 444.
[6] ↑ See “Estudio mensual” in this issue.
[7] ↑ GZ, 808.
[8] ↑ See “Estudio mensual” in this issue.