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725 JUNE1-2020 Persatuan Soka Gakkai Malaysia Publication PP 6848/12/2012(031182) RM2.50 UNTUK AGAMA BUDDHA SAHAJA The true purpose of Soka youth is to stand up resolutely, without waiting for someone else to act first. The important thing is to become such an individual of dedicated commitment. I hope that all of you will rouse your courage, break through your inner limitations, and initiate dialogue aimed at spreading our movement, without worrying about what others do or say. — SGI President Ikeda 1· FLOW 725 SGI President Ikeda’s Words of Encouragement Now Is the Time for Spreading the Mystic Law (41) But now … it is even more appropriate that such teachings [the teachings of the Lotus Sutra] be propagated. Even though there are those who have no capacity to receive them, but who oppose them as water opposes fire, how can one fail to propagate them? Now, although one should meet with the kind of persecution experienced by Bodhisattva Never Disparaging, they must be propagated; there can be no doubt of that. “On Reprimanding Hachiman” (WND-2, pg 931) In this passage, Nichiren Daishonin Through sharing our convictions declares with great conviction that the in faith with one person after time for spreading the Mystic Law has another, with unwavering arrived. Taking his words to heart, commitment like that of Bodhisattva the Soka Gakkai has created an ever- Never Disparaging, we can open growing network of people dedicated the way for fresh development in to peace and the happiness of all our movement. People around the humanity, undeterred by even the world are seeking the philosophy most daunting obstacles. The good of Nichiren Buddhism. Let us now fortune and benefit accruing from enthusiastically reach out and engage these efforts are truly immeasurable. in inspiring dialogue with others. Advancing with the Gosho: Words of Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda From SGI Newsletter No. 9504 dated 07.12.2016 2· FLOW 725 CONTENTS Editor-in-Chief Discussion Meeting Gosho Study Material Koh Sia Feai 2 Living a Life of Glory and Victory Based on the Editor Gosho Dinesh Chandren Assistant Editor Questions and Answers from the Discussion Meeting Goh Lim Erng 8 I want to introduce my friend to Buddhism Material Compilation (shakubuku), but I’m not persuasive. Tay Biby Young Women’s Division Gosho Study Art Director Is it acceptable to not understand the meaning Chew Meng Tatt 11 of the Gosho passage that we are studying? Designer Koh Wei Chaw Women’s Division Gosho Study Distribution 12 The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra Chai Siew Lin Ng Shy Huh Lions of Justice: Studying Soka Spirit 17 The Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikko (4) – Advancing Based on the Gosho Buddhist Fundamentals for Youth 20 “An Indescribable Joy” SGI President Ikeda’s Lecture Series Cover Photo Lee Chin Kuan 22 The Buddhism of the Sun — Illuminating the World (51) To My Friends of Each Division Engaged in Our Shared Struggle (Part 5): The Youth Division – Break through Limitations as the Flag Bearers of Fresh Development! Buddhism in Life 35 Every Day is “Time without Beginning” Subscriptions enquiries Gosho Study For enquiries on subscriptions, 38 On Prolonging One’s Life Span please contact: Email: Significant Dates in the Soka Gakkai [email protected] 47 June Tel: 03-9075 6876 / 018-388 4997 1· FLOW 725 Discussion Meeting Gosho Study Material Living a Life of Glory and Victory Based on the Gosho Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase. “The True Aspect of All Phenomena” (WND-1, pg 386) Background and Outline the doctrine that substantiates Nichiren Daishonin wrote this the “enlightenment of all people” letter to Sairen-bo Nichijo while which is only expounded in the at Ichinosawa on Sado Island in Lotus Sutra. the fifth month of the tenth year This letter states that of Bun’ei (1273). For some reason “no phenomenon is in any Sairen-bo, a former Tendai priest, way different from the true was also in exile on Sado, where aspect”, that is, all beings he had been converted by the and environments in the Ten Daishonin. Worlds, from hell, the lowest, The “true aspect of all to Buddhahood, the highest, (all phenomena” is part of the sutra phenomena) are without exception passage of the “Expedient Means” manifestations of Myoho-renge-kyo chapter of the Lotus Sutra that (the true aspect). we recite during gongyo. It is This is followed by a 2· FLOW 725 Discussion Meeting Gosho Study Material Main Points • Buddhism is manifested in the action of those who persevere in the two ways of practice and study. • Exert yourself to the best of your ability to propagate Buddhism and expand Buddhist bonds. description of the “Ceremony in devotion for all the people in the the Air” depicted in the Lotus Latter Day of the Law. Hence, the Sutra to explain the profundity Daishonin claims that “Nichiren of “the true aspect of all alone took the lead in carrying phenomena”. In the Ceremony in out the task of the Bodhisattvas of the Air, a colossal treasure tower the Earth.” (WND-1, pg 385) He emerges from beneath the earth further declares that the votaries and is suspended in mid-air. In of the Lotus Sutra who remain the tower, Shakyamuni Buddha his disciples and uphold the same takes a seat beside Many Treasures spirit as him in striving for kosen- Buddha. They entrust the mission rufu must be the Bodhisattvas of of propagating the fundamental the Earth. Moreover, there should great Law to which all Buddhas be no discrimination among those were enlightened – kosen-rufu in who propagate the five characters the Latter Day of the Law – to the of Myoho-renge-kyo, be they men innumerable Bodhisattvas of the or women. Earth who emerge from beneath The Daishonin further the earth. elaborates that at first only he Born in the Latter Day of the himself chanted Nam-myoho- Law, the Daishonin propagated renge-kyo, but then two, three, the Mystic Law which was and a hundred followed, chanting originally entrusted to Bodhisattva and teaching others, which Superior Practices, the leader of signifies “emerging from the the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, earth”. He shows his absolute and used the Ceremony in the conviction that kosen-rufu will Air to inscribe the Gohonzon certainly be realised. as the fundamental object of Finally, the Daishonin reminds 3· FLOW 725 Discussion Meeting Gosho Study Material his followers to firmly believe Buddhism. in the Gohonzon and exert The Daishonin teaches that themselves in the two ways of without practice and study, practice and study. there can be no Buddhism. The advancement of kosen-rufu stems from the actualisation of both Living a Life of Glory and practice and study. Victory Based on the Gosho The Daishonin further This Gosho passage elucidates the emphasises, “Both practice and fundamentals of faith, practice and study arise from faith. Teach study, as the correct attitude in faith others to the best of your ability, for the Bodhisattvas of the Earth who even if it is only a single sentence shoulder the mission of kosen-rufu or phrase.” in the Latter Day of the Law. Here, “to the best of your In the Gosho passage prior to abilities,” in the context of our this section, the Daishonin points attitude towards faith, may be out that upholding absolute and interpreted as “to exert all efforts.” doubt-free faith in the Gohonzon Soka Gakkai members who is the core. In the Gosho passage are awakened to their mission as we are studying, he teaches the Bodhisattvas of the Earth engage importance of the two ways of in dialogues for the sake of the practice and study. happiness of their friends wherever “Practice” means to actualise, they are. Through such steadfast and it comprises of practice for actualisation of faith, the SGI has oneself (Jpn jigyo) and practice for now expanded to 192 countries others (keta). Practice for oneself and territories throughout the means to perform gongyo and whole world. chant daimoku, while practice In this regard, Buddhism is for others is achieved through manifested in the action of those propagating the correct teaching, who persevere in the two ways of as well as carrying out various practice and study. kosen-rufu activities. SGI President Ikeda writes: “Study” means to study the Daishonin’s teachings, with the The writings of Nichiren Gosho as our basis, in order to Daishonin are teachings of deepen our understanding of hope. When we study these 4· FLOW 725 Discussion Meeting Gosho Study Material writings and chant Nam- of practice and study that myoho-renge-kyo, our lives we lay the foundation for come to shine all the more victory for both our own brightly and overflow with lives and kosen-rufu.”1 courage, the wisdom of the Basing everything on the Mystic Law, and the power Gosho and being directly- of the Buddha. connected to the Daishonin – The Daishonin these are indeed the Soka Gakkai’s encourages us to talk to tradition and key to expansion. Let others about Buddhism. us create a golden history of our Let’s vibrantly reach out to own human revolution and kosen- others in dialogue. The more rufu through studying the Gosho we talk to others about our and expanding our dialogues of practice, the more people we encouragement every day.
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