When you shake your head, your hair sways; when your mind begins to work, your body moves. When a strong wind blows, the grass and trees can no longer remain still; when the earth shakes, the seas atremble. Thus, if one can move Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, can the grass and trees fail to respond, can the water remain calm?
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 2, p811)
This letter was written in the second month of 1279 at Mount Minobu to Nichigen-nyo, the wife of Shijo Kingo in Kamakura.
In this passage, the Daishonin used the analogies of one’s head and hair, strong wind, grass and trees to illustrate the fact that when one moves the root of something, everything else will move in accord.
In other words, the Daishonin taught us that when one prays to the Gohonzon with single-minded determination, one could certainly positively transform the harsh reality one is confronting.
In his discussion on “The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra”, SGI President Ikeda said the following with regards to one’s attitude when offering prayers, “The Gohonzon doesn’t respond to indulgent, abstract prayer. When we pray to the Gohonzon with our entire life, there is no way that a path forward will not be opened.”
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Mrs Kazuko Miyamoto is a Women Division zone leader in Nanki-taiko, Wakayama Prefecture. She took up faith with her mother at the age of four in 1954. Her father had already passed away, leaving a huge amount of debt on the shoulders of her mother.
Her mother became the first person in Nanki area to take up faith and she traveled throughout the region to introduce Buddhism to the people there with fervent wish to become happy and to overcome their extreme poverty.
As the area was still shrouded in conservative feudalism, the moment the people heard the name “Soka Gakkai”, they would either criticize or chase her away. Nevertheless, her mother persevered.
Their poor living conditions did not improve immediately. However, her mother continued to strive with devoted efforts for the happiness of others no matter how adverse the circumstances. Till today, Mrs Miyamoto remembers how her mother worked for the well-being of others. Mrs Miyamoto joined in the YWD activities when she was 19.
Her family’s financial condition was still very tight and most of her income went to the family. The amount left for her use was barely enough to cover the travelling expenses to attend Gakkai activities.
Everyday, Mrs Miyamoto exerted herself joyously in the same clothes for she didn’t have any other clothing to wear. Recalling those days of her youth, Mrs Miyamoto said, “To me, I was very much contented. That was more than enough. As long as I could strive together with my mentor in life, nothing else matter and there was no other joy.” Savouring the joy of having a wonderful mentor in life, Mrs Miyamoto continued to strive in the frontlines of kosen-rufu.
In September 1976, she had the opportunity to meet her beloved mentor in Kansai. On that occasion, President Ikeda encouraged her to strive to transform her life (living conditions) and to enjoy greater spiritual composure and gave her a Japanese doll as a gift.
Cherishing this wonderful encounter in her life, Mrs Miyamoto strove even harder to transform her life. After her marriage, she had another opportunity to meet her mentor in June 1984 when she was fulfilling her role as a duty personnel working behind the scene.
President Ikeda warmly encouraged her, “I am fully aware of what you are going through. I also have experiences when I was so poor that I did not have enough to eat.”
At this point in time, her husband was running a business but his income was not stable and regular. Upon meeting her mentor, she felt extremely refreshed – as if her life had been cleansed completely of negative karma.
Thereafter, her husband’s business picked up momentum and she now lives in a newly constructed bungalow that comes with a complete view of the Pacific Ocean. Her four sons are actively fulfilling their missions in the YMD.
Mrs Miyamoto had actually been chanting three hours of daimoku everyday without fail since her YWD days. Today, she continues to work for the well-being of others with a brilliant smile and deep gratitude.
There are countless dramas of such members in Wakayama who had blazed a path of unsurpassed unhappiness after encountering their mentor in life.
The prime point for the “ever-victorious” spirit of Wakayama was the Wakayama Leaders Meeting held in December 1969.
On that occasion, President Ikeda continued to pour his entire being into encouraging the pioneering members in Wakayama despite his terrible physical condition – high fever and severe cough.
He taught us through his powerful leading of the song what it means to stand up resolutely against adverse winds in our lives. He described that scene in his novel, The New Human Revolution, “Fierce Winds” chapter in this manner:
“The Wakayama members were deeply moved by Shin’ichi’s powerful leading of the song, and many had tears in their eyes. At the same time, some of them, worried about Shin’ichi’s poor health condition, suppressed the urge to cry out for him to stop. Everyone present engraved the scene in their hearts, vowing: “I’ll do my best too! I will win!” And they clapped with all their might and sang along at the top of their voices.”
Thereafter, we exerted to our utmost in response to our mentor’s call and make the impossible possible. We shall continue to strive to achieve complete victory based on fervent prayers that will activate the workings of the Buddhist gods (protective functions of the universe).
Translated and adapted from an article written by Shoko Ota, Women Division Study Chief for Wakayama Prefecture, published on the June 2007 issue of The Daibyakurange, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 2, p811)
This letter was written in the second month of 1279 at Mount Minobu to Nichigen-nyo, the wife of Shijo Kingo in Kamakura.
In this passage, the Daishonin used the analogies of one’s head and hair, strong wind, grass and trees to illustrate the fact that when one moves the root of something, everything else will move in accord.
In other words, the Daishonin taught us that when one prays to the Gohonzon with single-minded determination, one could certainly positively transform the harsh reality one is confronting.
In his discussion on “The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra”, SGI President Ikeda said the following with regards to one’s attitude when offering prayers, “The Gohonzon doesn’t respond to indulgent, abstract prayer. When we pray to the Gohonzon with our entire life, there is no way that a path forward will not be opened.”
************************************
Mrs Kazuko Miyamoto is a Women Division zone leader in Nanki-taiko, Wakayama Prefecture. She took up faith with her mother at the age of four in 1954. Her father had already passed away, leaving a huge amount of debt on the shoulders of her mother.
Her mother became the first person in Nanki area to take up faith and she traveled throughout the region to introduce Buddhism to the people there with fervent wish to become happy and to overcome their extreme poverty.
As the area was still shrouded in conservative feudalism, the moment the people heard the name “Soka Gakkai”, they would either criticize or chase her away. Nevertheless, her mother persevered.
Their poor living conditions did not improve immediately. However, her mother continued to strive with devoted efforts for the happiness of others no matter how adverse the circumstances. Till today, Mrs Miyamoto remembers how her mother worked for the well-being of others. Mrs Miyamoto joined in the YWD activities when she was 19.
Her family’s financial condition was still very tight and most of her income went to the family. The amount left for her use was barely enough to cover the travelling expenses to attend Gakkai activities.
Everyday, Mrs Miyamoto exerted herself joyously in the same clothes for she didn’t have any other clothing to wear. Recalling those days of her youth, Mrs Miyamoto said, “To me, I was very much contented. That was more than enough. As long as I could strive together with my mentor in life, nothing else matter and there was no other joy.” Savouring the joy of having a wonderful mentor in life, Mrs Miyamoto continued to strive in the frontlines of kosen-rufu.
In September 1976, she had the opportunity to meet her beloved mentor in Kansai. On that occasion, President Ikeda encouraged her to strive to transform her life (living conditions) and to enjoy greater spiritual composure and gave her a Japanese doll as a gift.
Cherishing this wonderful encounter in her life, Mrs Miyamoto strove even harder to transform her life. After her marriage, she had another opportunity to meet her mentor in June 1984 when she was fulfilling her role as a duty personnel working behind the scene.
President Ikeda warmly encouraged her, “I am fully aware of what you are going through. I also have experiences when I was so poor that I did not have enough to eat.”
At this point in time, her husband was running a business but his income was not stable and regular. Upon meeting her mentor, she felt extremely refreshed – as if her life had been cleansed completely of negative karma.
Thereafter, her husband’s business picked up momentum and she now lives in a newly constructed bungalow that comes with a complete view of the Pacific Ocean. Her four sons are actively fulfilling their missions in the YMD.
Mrs Miyamoto had actually been chanting three hours of daimoku everyday without fail since her YWD days. Today, she continues to work for the well-being of others with a brilliant smile and deep gratitude.
There are countless dramas of such members in Wakayama who had blazed a path of unsurpassed unhappiness after encountering their mentor in life.
The prime point for the “ever-victorious” spirit of Wakayama was the Wakayama Leaders Meeting held in December 1969.
On that occasion, President Ikeda continued to pour his entire being into encouraging the pioneering members in Wakayama despite his terrible physical condition – high fever and severe cough.
He taught us through his powerful leading of the song what it means to stand up resolutely against adverse winds in our lives. He described that scene in his novel, The New Human Revolution, “Fierce Winds” chapter in this manner:
“The Wakayama members were deeply moved by Shin’ichi’s powerful leading of the song, and many had tears in their eyes. At the same time, some of them, worried about Shin’ichi’s poor health condition, suppressed the urge to cry out for him to stop. Everyone present engraved the scene in their hearts, vowing: “I’ll do my best too! I will win!” And they clapped with all their might and sang along at the top of their voices.”
Thereafter, we exerted to our utmost in response to our mentor’s call and make the impossible possible. We shall continue to strive to achieve complete victory based on fervent prayers that will activate the workings of the Buddhist gods (protective functions of the universe).
Translated and adapted from an article written by Shoko Ota, Women Division Study Chief for Wakayama Prefecture, published on the June 2007 issue of The Daibyakurange, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.
