The Supremacy of the Law

That is why the Great Teacher Miao-lo (1) stated, “The strong one’s faith, the greater the protection of the gods.” (2) So long as one maintains firm faith, one is certain to receive the great protection of the gods. I say this for your sake. I know your faith has always been admirable, but now you must strengthen it more than ever. Only then will the ten demon daughters lend you even greater protection.

(Passage from “The Supremacy of the Law”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p612-617)

Background
This letter was written to the mother of Oto Gozen on 4 August 1275. The mother of Oto was Nichiren Daishonin’s female disciple living in Kamakura. During the Daishonin’s exile to Sado island, she traveled all the way there to visit the Daishonin with her infant daughter, Oto. The journey to Sado was a dangerous one, and the Daishonin was greatly impressed by the strength of faith she had demonstrated. In praise of her oure faith, he called her Sage Nichimyo.

The Mongol forces swept across the southern part of Japan in October of the previous year, terrorizing the whole nation. In this passage, the Daishonin reassured Nichimyo that as long as she continued strengthening her faith, she will be protected by the Buddhist gods, a metaphorical expression for the compassionate protective functions of the universe.

Explanation
Sage Nichimyo, the recipient of this letter, was a woman of resolute faith who had traveled to the distant island of Sado to seek Buddhism from her exiled teacher, Nichiren Daishonin. Touching on the invasion of the Mongol forces in Japan the previous year, Nichiren Daishonin emphasized in this letter that as long as one upholds strong and unwavering faith, one will never fail to be protected by the Buddhist gods.

In this passage, the Daishonin quoted the words of Miao-lo, who stated, “So long as one maintains firm faith, one is certain to receive the great protection of the gods.” This statement explained that it is one’s firm faith that will manifest the protective functions of the Buddhist gods. In other words, whether the functions of the Buddhist gods will be activated depends on the strength of one’s faith.

The term “faith” here means to believe in the Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In a broader sense, faith also refers to our life-affirming approach to living based on the Mystic Law, including our care and respect for life. This means that taking precautions to ensure our health and safety is an important aspect of faith. The attitude that “I’ll be protected by the Buddhist gods because I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, so there is no need for me to be careful of what I do,” is not Nichiren Buddhism.

Such attitude of taking things for granted does not constitute “firm faith”. The Buddhist gods are not external forces independent of our lives that we beseech for protection. Only with firm faith and prudence will the protective functions of the Buddhist gods be manifested.

Also in this passage, the Daishonin praised Nichimyo that her faith “has always been admirable”. At the same time, he encouraged her to “strengthen it more than ever”. The Daishonin taught her the importance of further deepening her faith and continuing to strive in her practice.

In other words, the Daishonin is saying that we should not complacently dwell on our past accomplishments and let our faith stagnate. This is because no matter how diligently we had practiced in the past, if we stop challenging ourselves, our innate delusion will grow and our Buddhahood will be overwhelmed by the negative forces of the devilish functions.

This is why it is important to continue striving for kosen-rufu with “ever-advancing faith”. Only then will the protective functions of the Buddhist gods be strengthened and manifested explicitly. On the other hand, if one’s faith stagnates, the functions of the Buddhist gods will be obscured.

SGI President Ikeda has said, “We talk about the ‘Buddhist gods’, but what moves them is ultimately ourselves. It is up to us to open a new path in life, it is up to us to discover our inner treasure house and wisdom, and it is up to us to blaze the trail of victory for all people. To lead such a dynamic existence is the way of life taught by Mahayana Buddhism and, especially, Nichiren Buddhism.”

Let us continue to forge ahead with courage and ever-advancing faith so that we can score great victories in life.

Footnotes:
1. The Great Teacher Miao-lo (711-782) – He is revered as the restorer of the T’ien-t’ai school and wrote commentaries on T’ien-t’ai’s major works, contributing to a classification of the school’s teachings.

2. “The stronger one’s faith, the greater the protection of the gods.” – Passage taken from the eighth volume of The Annotations on “Great Concentration and Insight” by Miao-lo.

New Year's Gosho

It is clear that those who now believe in the Lotus Sutra will gather fortune from ten thousand miles away….. The believers in the Lotus Sutra are like the sandalwood with its fragrance.

(Passage from “New Year’s Gosho”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p1,137)

Background
This letter was written to the wife of Lord Omosu whose estate was located on Omosu Village in Fuji District of Suruga Province. The precise year of this letter is unclear.

Lady Omosu is the elder sister of Nanjo Tokimitsu, one of the Daishonin’s foremost disciples. It is accounted that she was converted to the Daishonin’s Buddhism by Nikko Shonin.

Explanation
This letter is Nichiren Daishonin’s response to the offerings of rice cakes and fruits made by the wife of Lord Omosu at the beginning of the year.

He praised the pure faith of believers who make sincere offerings to the Mystic Law and stated that those who believe in the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon) will gather fortune from ten thousand miles away. The Daishonin taught that the good causes created and implanted in one’s life will surely be manifested as actual proofs of benefits in one’s daily life.

Just as a shadow follows the form of the object, one’s life will depend on how much good fortune one creates and accumulates in one’s life. One who upholds faith in the Gohonzon and exerts oneself for kosen-rufu will engrave great good causes and benefits in one’s life. These good fortunes created in one’s life will definitely be actualized in a life filled with good fortune. On the contrary, when one slanders the Mystic Law, obstructing the flow of kosen-rufu, one will erase one’s good fortune and will be inviting various misfortunes onto oneself.

Buddhism is not just ideology. It exists in a very practical and realistic level. The results of the way we live will without fail become clear, manifesting in our lives as either happiness or unhappiness. The Daishonin explained that those who practise faith in the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will lead lives of boundless happiness.

The metaphor of sandalwood endowed with wonderful fragrance is used to explain that life is inherently endowed with the Buddha nature. Those who strive to practice with pure faith and dedicate their lives for the sake of the Law will manifest the strong and pure life of the Buddha, just as the sandalwood can emit wonderful fragrance. SGI President Ikeda said, “Any action taken for the sake of faith will become the source of your good fortune and benefit. Relations of cause and effect based on the Mystic Law are absolute. All of you working hard for the sake of kosen-rufu and the Law, as well as exerting yourselves for the happiness of your fellow members. Please be convinced that all such efforts will serve to change your karma and return to you as benefit.”

With deep conviction that all our action for kosen-rufu will never fail to become the source of your good fortune and benefit, let us continue to advance with great cheer to achieve total victory for kosen-rufu.

Great Evil and Great Good - Resolve and Take Action to Transform Great Evil into Great Good

Great events never have minor omens. When great evil occurs, great good follows. Since great slander already exists in our land, the great correct Law will spread without fail. What could any of you have to lament? Even if you are not the Venerable Mahakashyapa, you should all perform a dance. Even if you are not Shariputra, you should leap up and dance. When Bodhisattva Superior Practices emerged from the earth, did he not emerge dancing? And when Bodhisattva Universal Worthy arrived, the ground shook in six different ways.

(Passage from “Great Evil and Great Good”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p1,119)

Background
Neither its date nor its recipient is known about this letter. Judging from the content, it may have been sent to some of Nichiren Daishonin’s believers who were facing difficulties on account of their faith.

Explanation
With the assurance, “When great evil occurs, great good follows”, Nichiren Daishonin encouraged his disciples to regard the hostility they faced as an omen of great good, i.e., the eventual spreading of the correct teaching.

But one crucial point to note here is that, “omen” here does no mean that great good automatically comes after great evil; it means that, by regarding difficulties as opportunities and possessing the firm resolve to take courageous action to transform them into springboards for growth, we can realize great good.

For this reason, the Daishonin said, “What could any of you have to lament?” If one is absolutely convinced that great good will follow great evil, one should rejoice when difficulties arise, instead of lamenting about it.

The Daishonin urged us to rejoice like the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. In the Lotus Sutra, it is stated that countless number of Bodhisattvas of the Earth danced with joy as they emerged from the earth. Bodhisattvas of the Earth are bodhisattvas who have been entrusted with the mission to propagate the teachings of the Mystic Law in the Latter Day of the Law. Their lives are one with the Mystic Law and represent the life entity of joy. Nichiren Daishonin taught that we should bravely confront adversities with great joy based on a firm sense of mission that we are Bodhisattvas of the Earth entrusted with the mission to propagate the Mystic Law.

SGI President Ikeda said in his guidance, “Faith in the Daishonin’s Buddhism enables us to change poison into medicine, no matter what the circumstances. It is precisely when some terrible misfortune or catastrophe occurs that we are presented with an opportunity to receive tremendous benefit – or, in the Daishonin’s words, that ‘great good follows’ (WND, 1,119)… The lion king brings forth the greatest strength when the situation is most dire.”

It is so easy for one to feel helpless, lose hope and be defeated amidst present turbulent global conditions where humankind is constantly plagued by fear and insecurity arising from terrorism, natural calamities such as tsunamis, typhoons and earthquakes, diseases such as Sars, bird flu and rising social problems such as aging population, juvenile crimes and growing indifference towards others, or economic uncertainty like the current financial crisis. However, based on the conviction of this Gosho passage, let us strive to lead our friends and family towards happiness and the world towards peace, transforming great evil into great good based on single-minded prayers, undaunted determination and courageous actions.

The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind Established in the Fifth Five-Hundred-Year Period after the Thus Come One’s Passing

Shakyamuni’s practices (1) and the virtues (2) he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of the Myoho-renge-kyo. If we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits he was.

(Passage from “The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p354-382)

Background
Nichiren Daishonin completed this work on the 25th day in the fourth month of 1273 during his exile at Ichinosawa on the island of Sado. It was addressed specifically to Toki Jonin, a leading disciple who lived in Shimosa Province.

The full title of this work is “The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind Established in the Fifth Five-Hundred-Year Period after the Thus Come One’s Passing”.

The Daishonin had been living in exile for more than one-and-a-half year when this Gosho was written. By this time, the authorities had shifted the Daishonin’s lodging from the Tsukahara hut to Ichinosawa. The living conditions had slightly improved but the Daishonin continued to be placed under strict surveillance and there was still a severe shortage of food. The Nembutsu believers continued to eye threateningly on the Daishonin’s life, waiting for the opportunity to take his life.

In this work that was written amidst such adverse conditions, the Daishonin explained the object of devotion in terms of the Law. He declared that the Gohonzon that embodies the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the object of devotion in the Latter Day of the Law. Together with another of his major works, The Opening of the Eyes, written on Sado island a year earlier in which the Daishonin explained the object of devotion in terms of the Person, “The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind” is regarded as one of Daishonin’s most important writings.

Explanation
This passage teaches that when we embrace the Gohonzon and strives to practice both for ourselves and others; we are engaged in true Buddhist practice towards enlightenment. In other words, it elucidates the principle of “embracing the Gohonzon is in itself enlightenment”.

As Nichiren Daishonin stated, “Shakyamuni’s practices and the virtues he consequently attained are all contained within the five characters of the Myoho-renge-kyo.” This means that all the practices which Shakyamuni was engaged in over countless aeons to attain Buddhahood, as well as the effects of the enlightenment he achieved, are all contained in the characters, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

The Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the seed for all Buddhas, the source from which all Buddhas attain their enlightenment. The Daishonin explained that this Law contains al practices and resulting virtues of attaining enlightenment and that those who embrace the Mystic Law can receive these benefits directly. This is what is meant by “if we believe in these five characters, we will naturally be granted the same benefits he was”.

“These five characters” refer to the Gohonzon, with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo inscribed down the centre, and “believe in” means to have faith in the Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It is important to note that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not only a practice for oneself, but also for others. As practitioners of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, we should continually strive to share our faith with others.

No matter obstacles we may be facing, when we take faith in the Gohonzon and earnestly strive in our practice of chanting for ourselves and others, the great powers of the Buddha and the Law represented on the Gohonzon will be manifested in our lives. In this way, we will be able to establish the life-state of the Buddhahood as the solid foundation of our lives.

For the sake of all people of the Latter Day of the Law, the Daishonin revealed this fundamental Law of life with his inscription of the Gohonzon and thereby opened the path for everyone to attain Buddhahood, the state of absolute happiness.

As this passage clarifies, the Gohonzon contains all the virtues and benefits’ resulting from the Buddha’s innumerable past practices to attain enlightenment. This is why when we embrace the Gohonzon and strive to practice both for ourselves and others, no prayer will go unanswered.

It is the SGI members who have continuously established faith in the Gohonzon as our foundation. Because we have advanced with the Gohonzon as our basis and always strive to directly connect with the Daishonin’s spirit, we have been able to experience clear proof of the validity of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

Engraving the immense joy of having encountered the Daishonin’s Buddhism, let us strive even harder to spread the teachings of Buddhism to the people around us.

Footnotes:
1. Practices – Buddhist practice to create causes to attain Buddhahood. In other words, it refers to Bodhisattva practices.

2. Virtues – Virtues attained as a result of Bodhisattva practices. In other words, it refers to the virtues of the Buddha.

Unlocking the Buddha's Power - Reply to Kyo'o

The lion king is said to advance three steps, then gather himself to spring, unleashing the same power whether he traps a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal. In inscribing this Gohonzon for her protection, Nichiren was like the lion king. This is what the sutra means by “the power [of the Buddhas] that has the lion’s ferocity.” Believe in this mandala (1) with all your heart.

(Passage from “Reply to Kyo’o”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p412-413)

Background
Written on the 15th day of the eighth month in 1273, this letter was sent from Sado Island by Nichiren Daishonin to Shijo Kingo in Kamakura. It was written in response to Kingo’s report to Nichiren Daishonin that his one-year-old daughter (or son, according to some accounts), Kyo’o, had fallen gravely ill.

Nichiren Daishonin was in his third year of exile in Sado Island then and he had just been shifted from Tsukahara to Ichinosawa. The Daishonin wrote many letters to encourage his disciples from Ichinosawa.

Explanation
This letter was a reply to Shijo Kingo’s report to Nichiren Daishonin that Kingo’s daughter, Kyo’o, had become seriously ill. Nichiren Daishonin had already conferred upon Kingo earlier the Gohonzon, the object of devotion in Nichiren Buddhism. In this letter, the Daishonin explained the significance of inscribing the Gohonzon and said that he was seriously praying for Kyo’o to overcome her sickness.

The Daishonin wrote, “The lion king is said to advance three steps, then gather himself to spring, unleashing the same power whether he traps a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal.”

Through the example of the lion, the Daishonin explains the importance of exerting our utmost effort in any endeavour.

He went on to say, “In inscribing this Gohonzon for her protection, Nichiren was like the lion king.” In other words, like the lion king, the Daishonin had exerted every ounce of his energy in inscribing the Gohonzon. The Gohonzon is the manisfestation of Nichiren Daishonin’s life, the original Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. Therefore, it can be said that revering the Gohonzon is equivalent to meeting the Daishonin himself.

The Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the fundamental seed of Buddhahood in all of us. By expressing the Mystic Law in the form of the Gohonzon, the Daishonin opened up the path to enlightenment for all people. By embracing faith in the Gohonzon and exerting ourselves in chanting daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) and carrying out the practice for oneself and others, we will be able to establish the Buddha’s life state of absolute happiness through the powers of the Buddha and the Law embodied in the Gohonzon.

The Gohonzon, the object of devotion of the essential teaching, is endowed with the Three Great Secret Laws. The Three Great Secret Laws are the object of devotion of the essential teaching, the sanctuary of the essential teaching and the daimoku of the essential teaching. For this reason, it can be said that the entirety of Nichiren Buddhism is contained in the Gohonzon, the core of the Three Great Secret Laws.

This great power of the Gohonzon, however, is manifested in direct proportion to our power of faith and practice. In this sense, the Gohonzon’s power will not be manifested with weak faith. Thus, the Daishonin urged Kingo, “Believe in this mandala with all your heart.”

The significance and benefits that accrue from the Gohonzon is the same whether it is the Gohonzon enshrined at home or at the Soka activity centres. The difference in benefits is merely the result of the power of our individual’s faith and practice.

The SGI had all along been practicing faith based on the Gohonzon and the one that is directly connected to Nichiren Daishonin. With strong faith based on the profound conviction that “no prayers will go unanswered”, lets continue to exert ourselves in chanting earnest daimoku and achieve victories in all aspects of our lives.

Footnotes:
1. Mandala – Refers to the Gohonzon.

Forging Our Faith - The Hero of the World

Untempered iron quickly melts in a blazing fire, like ice put in hot water. But a sword, even when exposed to a great fire, withstands the heat for a while, because it has been well forged. In admonishing you this way, I am trying to forge your faith. Buddhism is reason. Reason will win over your lord.

(Passage from “The Hero of the World”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p835-841)

Background
This letter was written to Shinjo Kingo in 1277. When this was written, he was confronting a great challenge, having incurred the wrath of his lord, Ema. Lord Ema’s antagonism towards Shijo Kingo dated back to the Kuwagayatsu Debate when Sammi-bo, the Daishonin’s disciple, refuted Ryuzo-bo, a Tendai priest in the debate, which took place in the sixth month of 1277. Lord Ema then ordered Shinjo Kingo to renounce faith in the Lotus Sutra. However, Shinjo Kingo had expressed his resolve to Nichiren Daishonin to uphold his faith even if he were to be banished from Lord Ema’s residence.

In response to Kingo’s report, Nichiren Daishonin wrote a petition to Lord Ema on Kingo’s behalf (The Letter of Petition from Yorimoto, WND, p 803). The Daishonin also wrote this letter to Kingo, giving him heartfelt encouragement and detailed advice on how to take care to avoid being attacked by his enemies.

Explanation
As explained earlier, at the time Shinjo Kingo received this letter from Nichiren Daishonin, he was pressured by his lord (his employer), to sign a pledge renouncing his faith in the Lotus Sutra.

The Daishonin, in explaining why he was giving strict guidance to Kingo, used the analogies of ice and sword to explain the importance of training in life.

To overcome obstacles, we need to strengthen our life and spirit. This is the meaning of training in Buddhism. To strengthen our life, we need to first strengthen our faith. Strong faith is developed when we practice faith steadily, every day with a challenging spirit. This is the meaning when Daishonin wrote, “I am trying to forge your faith.”

As we exert ourselves in our daily practice of chanting daimoku and reciting the sutra, as well as participating in SGI activities, we will build a profound life condition with which to overcome any obstacle in life.

In this passage, the Daishonin wrote, “Buddhism is reason.” Buddhism is based upon a universal principle that applies to all people. There is nothing magical in how we overcome difficulties and receive benefits; everything is based on the power of the Buddha and the Law that is manifested through the power of our faith and practice. For this reason, when we challenge ourselves with strong faith, we can win over any situation.

Kingo, a respected samurai and skilled physician, was told that if he did not give up his faith, he would be evicted from his land and expelled from service to his lord. Despite this onstacle, Kingo continued to challenge himself based on faith and the guidance given by the Daishonin. Manifesting wisdom and strong life force, Kingo’s perseverance and deep faith finally caused a dramatic change in his circumstances.

At the time, an epidemic was spreading across Japan, and Kingo’s lord fell ill. However, he recovered because of Kingo’s medical treatment. As a result, he was able to win back the trust and appreciation of his lord. He was rewarded with a new property that was three times larger than his previous one. Kingo proved the validity of Daishonin’s teachings, having never given in to demands to renounce his faith.

“Reason will win over your lord”, the Daishonin wrote. Shinjo Kingo won a splendid victory based on his faith and never-give-up spirit. As proven by Kingo, Buddhism is the driving force to all victories in life for it enables us to tap our inner power to win in everything. In this sense, Buddhism can be called the “supreme strategy” for success in life.

SGI President Ikeda said, “Buddhism is win or lose. Life is a struggle. Because you will either win or lose in life, you have no choice but to win. Life is not mere ideology. Each day we must win in the way that befits us most. As we continue in this way, we will be able to build the path of happiness and victory that will last for eternity spanning throughout the three existences of life.”

Forging ourselves in the “fire” of our daily obstacles, let’s resolve to win a new victory each day.

Repaying Our Debt of Gratitude Constitutes Achieving Victory in Kosen-Rufu - On Repaying Debts of Gratitude

The old fox never forgets the hillock where he was born; the white turtle repaid the kindness he had received from Mao Pao. If even lowly creatures know enough to do this, then how much more should human beings! Thus Yu Jang, a worthy man of old, fell on his sword in order to repay the debt he owed his lord Chih Po, and the minister Hung Yen for similar reasons cut open his stomach and inserted the liver of his dead lord, Duke Yi of Wei. What can we say, then of persons who are devoting themselves to Buddhism? Surely they should not forget the debts of gratitude they owe their parents, their teachers and their country.

(Passage from “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude”, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p690-745)

Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this treatise on the 21st day of the seventh month of 1276 upon receiving news of the death of Dozen-bo, a priest of Seicho-ji temple in Awa Province, who had been the Daishonin’s teacher when he first entered the temple as a boy of 12. The Daishonin wrote this treatise to express his gratitude to Dozen-bo and sent it to Joken-bo and Giji-bo, senior priests at the time he entered the temple, who later became his followers. He requested them to read this treatise aloud in front of the tomb of his late teacher and again at Kasagamori on the summit of Mount Kiyosumi where he first chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

This treatise is one of Nichiren Daishonin’s 10 major writings. In it, the Daishonin declared that the propagation of the supreme teaching of the Three Great Secret Laws will enable the people for the 10,000 years and more of the latter Day of the Law to attain enlightenment. He stated that all the benefits he obtained from propagating the Law would be transferred to his mentor, Dozen-bo, thus indicating that the path of repaying gratitude is the supreme path of humanism.

Explanation
The act of repaying one’s debt of gratitude constitutes a fundamental aspect of human behaviour.

Nichiren Daishonin taught us what is the greatest way of repaying one’s debt of gratitude in this Gosho.

At the outset of this passage, the Daishonin cited stories relating how even animals repaid their debt of gratitude and historical instances where wise men repaid it at the cost of their lives. On top of this, the Daishonin taught that as Buddhist practitioners who practice the supreme way of humanism, we must never forget to repay our debt of gratitude we owe our parents, teacher and country.

Of these debts of gratitude, the Daishonin stressed specifically on the importance of repaying the debt to one’s teacher. The fundamental principle that enables one to grow as an individual human being lies in the mentor-disciple relationship.

The greatest way of repaying one’s debt of gratitude is to enable oneself and others to attain supreme happiness based on the supreme teachings of Buddhism.

The Daishonin also revealed here that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws is the supreme law that leads all people to enlightenment. The Daishonin devoted his entire life, waging a struggle against the three powerful enemies in order to propagate the Mystic Law.

In the concluding portion of this treatise, the Daishonin revealed his absolute conviction in the realization of kosen-rufu in this manner: “If Nichiren’s compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for 10,000 years and more, for all eternity for it has the beneficial power to open the blind eyes of every living being in the country of Japan, and it blocks off the road that leads to the hell of incessant suffering.” (WND, p736)

Finally, the Daishonin stated that the great benefit he received from propagating the Mystic Law will surely accumulate in the life of his late teacher, Dozen-bo. In other words, the greatest way of repaying one’s debt of gratitude is to live out one’s life for the sake of kosen-rufu.

SGI President Ikeda said, “Those who cherish a mentor n their hearts are strong; such people can tap a wellspring of inexhaustible wisdom. Those who never forget the debt they owe their mentor are eternally beautiful. Betrayal is ugly. One who betrays others suffers for all time. I have carried the message of Mr Makiguchi and Mr Toda to the entire world. I am working unceasingly to repay my debt of gratitude to them. This is the path of mentor and disciple. This is the life I choose when I was still a young man. In this spirit lies the true essence of the SGI.”

Let us continue to strive for kosen-rufu in the spirit of repaying our debt of gratitude no matter what happens.