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
“When we meet with others,
we impact a change in the world.
By meeting face-to-face,
we get to know the person with whom we are having a dialogue,
and listen to their views,
while talking with them sincerely and earnestly –
this is the way to create a new groundswell of expansion.
The first step is to make one genuine friend
through engaging in heartfelt dialogue.
Beyond that one friend
lie two, three, and a further ten more friends.
This will eventually lead to the blossoming of tens of millions of cheerful smiles.
When we remove all prejudice and
connect with the dignity of life of the other person,
we bring the innate human goodness in each of us to shine without fail.
Through respecting their Buddha nature.
Deep trust is formed and
a gateway to dialogue is sure to open up.”[1]
LOCALLY
Two Future Division (DF) members participated in this Gran Canarian group’s May discussion meeting, in a month in which SGI-Spain celebrates “successors’ month.” The reading of the “Young Phoenixes” part, which was included in this section last month, by such a young person inspired the other participants and also cheered up the dialogue that followed. This in turn, left an impression on the DF representatives, who later on said so during the personal encouragement shown in the section “un@aun@” in this issue of Civilización Global. One of the nameplates of the sculptures of the Garden of Peace reads as follows: “the surest path to the future we wish is found in cultivating peace values in the hearts of those who will be the protagonists of it.”[2]
(Mailbox: prensa@ediciones-civilizacionglobal.com)
ADVANCING WITH THE GOSHO
Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king..
A woman who embraces the lion King of the Lotus Sutra never fears any of the beast of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals.
(Passages from On Persecutions Befalling the Sage and The Drum at the Gate of Thunder, in WND-1, pages 997 and 949 respectively.)
“Practitioners of the Lotus Sutra, regardless of age or gender, are all lion kings. This is a point I would like first to confirm with all our members.
Developing our movement for kosen-rufu and ‘establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land’ both start with one person taking initiative with the heart of a lion king. One person standing up as a lion king will create positive waves of change in their environment. That one person will steadily build a network of lionhearted champions by drawing forth their own and others’ Buddha nature and enabling each other’s innate dignity to shine.
We are all Bodhisattvas of the Earth, eternal comrades who (…) [in words of Josei Toda] will always reside in ‘a joyful, pure, and sunny realm of friends living together in harmony and peace.’”[3]
The dynamism of our supportive and harmonious organization, created by our wondrous karmic bonds, is what opens the way for kosen-rufu. Key to this are the courage that comes from striving together in the oneness of mentor and disciple and the unity of ‘many in body, one in mind.’” (…)
Because the world is facing so many difficulties today, let’s continue our courageous shared struggle to change the destiny of humankind and build peace and harmony, as we hold high the banner of ‘establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land’!”[4]
PERSPECTIVE
The Encouragement of the Four Seasons from which we have published an extract in the section “Globally” starts with the following lines: “We Soka Gakkai members, / who strive to propagate the great Law / for realizing peace and happiness, / have nothing to fear.” Lion-hearted courage can manifest in many different ways. For example, in a historical context which is capable of plunging us into anxiety and fear due to a harsh present and an uncertain future, isn’t it courageous to not allow ourselves fall prey of these feelings and advance, even a single step, with a smile? Isn’t it courageous to convey this spirit to another during the precise moment he/she is before us without allowing us to be paralysed by thinking if it is the right moment to do so, or about how he/she will react?
KEYWORDS
Lion-hearted courage · Everything starts from one person · Never fear · Network of champions
[1] ↑ IKEDA, Daisaku: “When We Meet with Others the World Starts to Change,” Seikyo Shimbun, 1/5/2022.
[2] ↑ See the section «Especial», under the heading “Cultivar un futuro de paz” in this issue.
[3] ↑ TODA, Josei: Toda Josei Zenshu (The Collected Writings of Josei Toda), vol. 1, Tokyo: Seikyo Shimbunsha, 1992), p. 342.
[4] ↑ See the section «Estudio mensual», 1/3 and 3/3 of this issue.