Our Attitude Toward Shakubuku and The Benefits We Gain

Last year, on March 7th and 8th, the Grand Ceremony commemorating the 770th anniversary of the birth of Second High Priest Nikko Shonin was splendidly conducted with successful achievement of the great objective of increasing our Hokkeko membership by 50 percent. Now, we are advancing toward our new goal of establishing an organization of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021, the 800th anniversary of the birth of our Founder Daishonin. This is a great objective that must be achieved without fail by the Hokkeko chapters in each temple in Japan and throughout the world, under the guidance of High Priest Nichinyo Shonin. On the occasion of the Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony last June, High Priest Nichinyo Shonin presented the following instructions:

When I look at the conditions of the world today, I see that ethnic conflicts are happening constantly across the globe. I also see mounting problems that might escalate into a war. This precisely shows the aspect of the defiled age of the Latter Day of the Law—the age of conflict, when the pure Law becomes obscured and lost.... Shakubuku is the ultimate act of compassion. We conduct shakubuku in order to remove every kind of suffering from this earth, and to eliminate conflicts and wars. This, then, enables us to establish a peaceful land, and the people around the world will be led to true happiness. (Dainichiren, No. 833, p. 57)

One person’s happiness invariably will spread to one’s family, friends, and acquaintances. By the same token, in our activities in society, we also share our misfortunes, hardships, and suffering with others. For example, if someone in a household suffers from a serious illness or disability, everyone in the family will have a heavy heart from being anxious and worried about him. It is impossible to be completely disconnected from one’s family and society and be happy all alone. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin instructs us:

Anyone who sees a person drowning will rush to save him. In the same way, we...must save those who are unfortunately committing the sin of slandering true . That is our duty as members of the Hokkeko. (Shakubuku yōmon, p. 29)

Shakubuku is the practice of compassion to lead people away from provisional teachings, so that they can embrace true Buddhism. There may be family members and friends at work who are suffering from illnesses and hardships in life. There may be others who are hurting in human relationships and still others who have reached an insurmountable obstacle both materially and mentally. There are many people even now who are unaware of the path to

1 resolution. When we teach these people about true Buddhism, we can save them from their suffering. In fact, their troubles and pain can become the triggers to bring about their happiness. As we see in this manner, first and foremost, the significance of shakubuku and our attitude while doing it is humbly take the important role as an envoy of the Buddha by upholding a spirit of compassion and sympathy toward others, wishing for the happiness of all people in the world. In other words, it is for the actualization of world peace and kōsen-rufu.

The following passage is contained in the Expedient Means (Hōben; second) chapter of the , which we recite every day during Gongyo:

The Thus Come One knows how to make various kinds of distinctions and to expound the teachings skillfully. His words are soft and gentle and can delight the hearts of the assembly. (Hokekyo, p. 89; Lotus Sutra, Watson, p. 24)

Shakyamuni expounded the Law according to the character and circumstances of each individual. He was courteous and kind and used gentle words. But he did not engage in flattery or condone the errors of others. Thus, “delight the hearts of the assembly” means that those who were performed shakubuku and preached the Buddhist teachings having overjoyed heart hearing the true Law and to be led to true Buddhism. When we correct the erroneous ways of others, our words may seem harsh. However, those words will save them, so they are, in fact, words of truth that are kind and compassionate. In the Gosho, Teaching, Practice, and Proof (Kyō gyō sho-gosho), Nichiren Daishonin states:

Use determined but gentle words. Narrow your eyes [with a smile] and hold a settled expression as you speak quietly. (Gosho, p. 1107)

Here, the Daishonin instructs us about our demeanor in doing shakubuku. We should face people and look them in the eye with a smile on our faces; we should be soft-spoken but firm and speak with conviction; and we should calmly and quietly engage in discussions to convince. The second issue to keep in mind in our attitude and demeanor in doing shakubuku is that we are not only seeking the happiness of others but are also working to expiate the negative karma in our own lives. Nichiren Daishonin states in the Letter from Sado (Sado-gosho):

Indeed, I must eradicate in this lifetime the grave karmic sins from the past, so that I can eliminate the three evil paths in my future existences. (Gosho, p. 580)

Each one of us has had past lives, and we all will have future lives. We may be able to remember what occurred yesterday or last year, but we have no recollection of what happened in the past existences, before we were born into this life. Even if we exert the exact same 2 efforts, the effects that we will encounter in this and future lifetimes will be different, according to the karma we created in our past existences. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin states:

As individuals who do not possess the seed of Buddhahood (hon mi uzen), we all have carried over different karmic sins from past lifetimes....When we do shakubuku, we will encounter various persecutions and difficulties. As a result, we will increasingly strengthen our faith. Furthermore, by encountering difficulties, we will be able to expiate the numerous karmic offenses from our past existences. (Shakubuku yōmon, p. 12)

We, who live in the Latter Day of the Law, do not know what karmic offenses we have accumulated from the past. However, if we can extinguish these karmic sins from the infinite past, then we can receive the benefit of attaining enlightenment in this lifetime. Nichiren Shoshu is the one and only religion in the world that enables us to eradicate our negative karma. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin further says:

When we do shakubuku, we can eliminate the karmic sins of slandering the Law from the infinite past and we can receive benefits that extend from the present into future existences. As a result, we can achieve happiness for ourselves and for others. (Dainichiren, No. 771, p. 66)

Shakubuku is the supreme and ultimate act of compassion that truly characterizes the will of the Gohonzon and the True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin. Therefore, the powerful benefits of doing shakubuku naturally will enable us to expiate our own negative karma, attain enlightenment in this lifetime, and fulfill all our prayers in this and future existences. Shakubuku practice by each and every individual is the only way that can we establish the Buddha land in this real world in which we live, and bring about true world peace. Nichiren Daishonin states the following in Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra (Jimyō hokke mondō-shō):

I believe that embracing Myoho-Renge-Kyo, which ensures “peace and security in this lifetime and good circumstances in the next,” is the only honor to pursue in this lifetime and is the guide to maintain enlightenment in the future. Single-mindedly chant Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo and encourage others to do the same. This will remain as your only memory from this present, human life. (Gosho, p. 300)

Thus, it is of foremost importance to advance with devotion every day in the practice for ourselves and for others. As priests and lay believers of Nichiren Shoshu, let us all devote ourselves in conducting shakubuku more than ever, as we strive to accomplish the objective set for 2021, to establish a solid Hokkeko membership of 800,000 believers, under the direction of our High Priest.

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