Session 3 - Noble Pioneers

The opening line of the novel Human Revolution reads,
"War is barbarous and inhuman. Nothing is more cruel, nothing more tragic."

The foundation of the Soka Gakkai was laid in Japan under the leadership of an educator, Mr. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi. Together with his disciple, Mr Toda, he was imprisoned because of his uncompromising opposition to the government’s policy controlling religion.

Mr. Makiguchi died in prison at the age of 73.

When Mr. Toda was released from Toyotama Prison on 3 July 1945, fired with the determination and a sense of mission that he alone must carry on the will of Mr Makiguchi.

A 19 year-old, Daisaku Ikeda was brought by a friend to a discussion meeting. He was struck my Mr. Toda’s conviction and clarity of wisdom. He resolved at once not only to begin to practise Daishonin’s Buddhism but to personally support Mr. Toda.

He wrote the following poem :
Traveller,
Where do you come from
And where do you go
The moon has set
And the sun has not yet risen
In the darkness before the dawn I advance
In search of light to dispel the dark clouds in my mind
To seek a great tree unbowed by the storm
I spring from the Earth.
- Daisaku Ikeda

Not forgetting his initial resolve and inspired by Mr. Toda’s sense of mission, he was determined to strengthen and improve himself, he wrote the following poem to Mr. Toda,
“Still serving an old and Mystic fate
Though others change
I alter not.”

Mr. Toda replied,
"Whenever I stand on fields of war
Unfailing at my side
You are my sword
Fading, failing at death
I, the king, leave to you, my crown."

Mr. Toda believed that the youth should train themselves as leaders of the next generation.

As the bond of the master and disciple grew stronger between Mr. Toda and Daisaku Ikeda, the young Ikeda was entrusted with greater responsibilty, being the person in-charge for leading the movement of kosen-rufu from the front.

In 1956, President Toda sent the young Ikeda to Osaka to take charge of a campaign culminating in May.

In that single month, 11,111 households received Gohonzon. This seemed an impossible goal; the young Ikeda taught the members the principle of winning in front of the Gohonzon.

When Mr. Toda was first appointed the 2nd President of the Soka Gakkai, he had startled everyone by announcing his goal that the membership should grow to 750,000 households before his death.

In December 1957, this target was surpassed. President Toda proclaimed 3 guiding principles of the Soka Gakkai:
1. Faith for building the peace and happiness of one’s family.
2. Faith for overcoming obstacles and hardships.
3. Faith to win individual happiness.

On 16 March 1957, a commemorative ceremony for kosen-rufu was held. At this historic meeting, President Toda entrusted the future of kosen-rufu to the youth division. They should all encourage each other no matter what obstacles they may face.

On 2 April 1957, President Toda passed away peacefully, having fulfilled all of his life’s goals.

Many non-members believed without Josei Toda, the Soka Gakkai would crumble. However, because of the firm bond of mentor and disciple relationship that has been forged, the movement for kosen-rufu was established for all eternity.

On 3 May 1960, Daisaku Ikeda assumed the position of the 3rd President of the Soka Gakkai at the age of 32.

“As a representative of Mr. Toda’s disciple, although very young, I’m going to take the initiative in order to advance the movement for kosen-rufu.”
- Daisaku Ikeda

“The Soka Gakkai should create the castles of capable people. This is absolutely true. Despite the great obstacles and hardships which attacked the Soka Gakkai recently, we have been steadily moving forward because Mr. Toda and I have devoted ourselves to fostering capable people. Without capable people we could not have continued. What is meant by the Castles of Capable People? It is those who have Gohonzon shining in the centre of their lives and who show actual proof of the power of the Gohonzon in their area and their workplace. Therefore, you are all the Castles of Capable People, the Castles of Myoho and the Castles of Kosen-Rufu. I sincerely hope and pray that you will remain as castles, shining your whole life for the sake of all people in your area, other members and your juniors.”
- Daisaku Ikeda

(Excerpts from Noble Pioneers)

Session 4 - Young Phoenixes

The phoenix byname originated in President Ikeda's frequent reference to the high school division members as “young phoenixes,” signifying the high hopes he held for them. They possess limitless potential, boundless hope, passion and desire for self-improvement.

The phoenix is a mythological bird revered from ancient times in China. As an auspicious symbol, it was thought to herald the appearance of a monarch who would govern with justice and humanity. Nichiren Daishonin also likened the Lotus Sutra to the phoenix.

President Ikeda called the high school division members young phoenixes as an expression of his heartfelt desire to see them develop into great leaders of the next generation- not just for Soka Gakkai but for the world.

The Future Division was established on 1 June 1964. It was formed to provide FD members a platform to mutually encourage each other in studies and faith.

"Through study and earnest effort create a life of brilliant triumph"

- Daisaku Ikeda

Session 5 - Life of Nichiren Daishonin

Nichiren Daishonin was born in a small fishing village in Awa, Japan, to a poor family. He was
born on Feb. 16, 1222. His childhood name was Zennichi-maro. At the age of 12 he entered a nearby Buddhist temple where he studied many things. After becoming a priest at the age of 16, he went to several other temples to continue his studies.

His goal was to understand how Buddhism could help people attain enlightenment. After much studying, he was sure that the Lotus Sutra was the most important subject of Shakyamuni’s teachings.

Early on the morning of April 28, 1253, the 32-yearold priest climbed to the top of a hill at Kasagamori, which had a clear view of the Pacific Ocean. There, as the sun rose, he greeted it with the first invocation of the Supreme Law: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Before heaven and Earth, with the sun as his witness, he had proclaimed the correct practice for people of the modern era.

From that moment, he started to teach the people that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the only law that can save the people and make them happy. At this time, he changed his name to Nichiren, which means “Sun Lotus.”

During the ensuing years, the Daishonin encountered many life-threatening persecutions, including his first exile for which he was later pardoned. The greatest of these persecutions
was an attempt to execute him on the beach at Tatsunokuchi one night in 1271. As the executioner was about to behead him, a meteor lit up the sky, terrifying the soldiers. Then he was exiled to an island called Sado.

The Daishonin, as he recounted later, passed over "mountains beyond mountains," and now before him lay "waves upon waves" of raging sea, a sea that he had never before seen. Beyond that lay Sado Island, cold and forbidding, waiting to swallow him in an exile from which none of his enemies ever expected him to return.

During the exile at Sado, he completed several letters (called Gosho), including "The Opening of the Eyes" and "Heritage of the Ultimate Law." He was living in a small shack and only had a few supplies to support him throughout the winter. He had to fix holes in his shack.

Why did he encounter so many persecutions? Because he had the strong will and compassion to help every human being to realize that they, too, have a Buddha nature. Despite the difficulties, he never stopped his effort, and he became stronger as he faced each obstacle and set an example for his followers.

His life ended after he wrote a paper called "Document of Entrusting Minobu-san." That was the
last thing the Daishonin wrote. Early on the morning of Oct. 13, 1282, he took his last breath. It was three years and one day after he inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon (Oct. 12, 1279), so that all people could be happy.

(Based on Living Buddhism, December 1997)

Session 6 - The Gohonzon

The Gohonzon is the object of devotion, in the form of a scroll, that practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism enshrine in their homes and is the focal point of their daily practice of morning and evening sutra recitation and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. (Go means “honorable” and honzon, “object of devotion.”)

“This Gohonzon is the essence of the Lotus Sutra and the eye of all the scriptures,”Nichiren Daishonin states. “It is like the sun and the moon in the heavens, a great ruler on earth, the heart in a human being, the wish-granting jewel among treasures, and the pillar of a house” (“On Upholding Faith in the Gohonzon,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 624).
In the center column of the Gohonzon are the characters “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” and under that, “Nichiren,” surrounded by various other Chinese and Sanskrit characters that depict historical and mythological Buddhist figures. Together they represent profound philosophical principles and conditions of life.

Like a musical piece or a painting that reflects the life-state of the person who created it, the Gohonzon reflects Nichiren’s life-state: Buddhahood. It is not merely a symbol, or something to focus on while chanting. Since it embodies the state of enlightenment, Nichiren’s life, it is the actual reality of the Buddha’s life. It is the link between the Buddha state within ourselves and in the environment. It is an instrument to see our true potential and use it. Therefore, by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon, we call forth our own Buddhahood, tapping our inherent wisdom, compassion and life force. Gradually, day after day, our own life-state is influenced and strengthened through our daily practice to the Gohonzon.

SGI President Ikeda states, “Just as a mirror is indispensable for putting your face and hair in order, you need a mirror that reveals the depths of your life if you are to lead a happier and more beautiful existence” (My Dear Friends in America, p. 94).Nichiren cautions: “Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” (“The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,” WND-1, 832). In other words, our faith and practice make the Gohonzon an external stimulus to awaken our internal life of Buddhahood.

(Source: SGI USA Website)

Session 7 - Revision

Session 8