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Suggested Study Material for August 2008

SGI-USA Men’s Division Monthly Meetings
Suggested study material for August 2008

We continue this month with material drawn from President Ikeda’s lecture series on “The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin” in the July/August issue (Volume 12, no. 4.)  We want to strongly encourage all Men’s Division members to subscribe to Living Buddhism, read the complete material there, and to attend and participate actively in the 4-divisional study meetings in your local organization.

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Lecture on "On Prolonging One's Life Span"
by SGI President Ikeda

Faith for Leading a Long and Healthy Life

PASSAGES FROM THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN

“When I prayed for my mother, not only was her illness cured, but her life was prolonged by four years.  Now you [the lay nun Toki] too have fallen ill, and as a woman, it is all the more timely to establish steadfast faith in the Lotus Sutra and see what it will do for you…."

“Life is the most precious of all treasures.  Even one extra day of life is worth more than ten million ryo of gold….So you must hasten to accumulate the treasure of faith and quickly conquer your illness.”

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"If you are unwilling to make efforts to heal yourself, it will be very difficult to cure your illness.  One day of life is more valuable than all the treasures of the major world system, so first you must muster sincere faith….You still have many years ahead of you, and moreover you have encountered the Lotus Sutra.  If you live even one day longer, you can accumulate that much more benefit.  How truly precious your life is!"

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EXCERPTS  FROM THE LECTURE
The Power of Faith to Overcome Illness
(LB 12/4, p. 71-72)

The main theme of this letter is that the power of faith in the Mystic Law can transform even fixed karma….The type of karma in which effects are destined to appear at a set time and in a set form is called “fixed’ or “immutable” karma, while the type of karma in which effects are not destined to appear in this way is called “unfixed” or “mutable” karma.  In this writing, the term fixed karma is used specifically with reference to one’s life span.

In the passages preceding those we are studying in this installment, Nichiren emphasizes that, just as a skilled physician can cure even a serious illness, we can change any fixed karma and extend our life spans through the “highly effective medicine” (The Lotus Sutra, p. 228) of the Lotus Sutra…. 

Nichiren then gives a further example, explaining how he had prayed for his own mother’s illness to be cured.  This constitutes great actual proof of the principle of “prolonging one’s life through faith” as taught in the Lotus Sutra.

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(LB 12/4, p. 74)

Life is tenacious; it is endowed with the impulse to survive and the power to heal.  The “highly effective medicine” for drawing forth these innate properties is the Mystic Law.  Ultimately, it is we ourselves who cure our illness, while the decision to undertake this battle to do so arises from faith.

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The Value of Life and the Importance of Action to Challenge Illness

(LB 12/4, p. 72)

Nichiren addresses the lay nun Toki in an ardent appeal to deeply touch her life and rouse her into action.

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(LB 12/4, p. 74)

Once we understand how precious a single day of life is, there is no reason to vacillate about seeking treatment when we are ill.  Don’t put yourself in a situation where you later have cause for regret because you were reluctant or hesitant to take action.

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(LB 12/4, p. 77-78)

Becoming ill in itself is certainly not a sign of defeat.  Even the Buddha, who is said to have “few ills and few worries” (LS, 214), struggles with sickness from time to time.  Accordingly, there will be times when we are confronted with illness.  The important point above all is not to be defeated mentally or emotionally by the prospect of being ill.  Faith is the source of the fighting spirit to stand up to illness….

Next, it is only natural that we exert ourselves in practical and concrete ways to get well. To simply think, I’m practicing Buddhism, so I’ll be OK, or to dismiss illness as “nothing to worry about,” reflects a mistaken attitude of faith and amounts to disrespect for one’s life....

he Mystic Law is the fundamental power for defeating the hindrances of illness and death.  “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion” (“Reply to Kyo’o” WND-1, 412), Nichiren writes. Of key importance in conquering illness are a positive fighting spirit, an effective curative treatment and a vigorous life force.  And in this regard, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is especially crucial in terms of strengthening ourselves mentally and emotionally, getting the most out of the treatment available to us and summoning forth a strong life force.

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(LB 12/4, p. 78)

It could be said that confronting illness is one route to awakening to the eternity of life.  President Toda often said, “A person who has overcome a major illness knows how to deeply savor life.”  Also, those who wage a struggle against illness with such confidence are champions of faith for living long and healthy lives.

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Buddhism is Found in Compassionate Action

(LB 12/4, p. 75-76)

Nichiren put a great deal of thought and effort into writing this letter, offering extremely detailed advice and suggestions so that the lay nun Toki would actually take the step of seeking treatment for her ailment.  His conduct provides a model for Buddhist leaders we should strive to emulate.  It is important to unceasingly value and care for each person.  Only by translating this ideal into concrete action can we ensure the happiness of all humanity and the realization of world peace.

To what extent can we pray for and offer encouragement to each person?  To what extent are we willing to rack our minds to open a way forward for each youth?  These efforts may or may not be seen by others, but Buddhism is found only in such compassionate action.

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Suggested Discussion Questions

1. Have you challenged and overcome situations in your life that may have seemed impossible to change?  Are you facing serious difficulty now that you could that you could fight in the spirit of this Gosho?

2. When confronted with the hindrances of illness and death, we sometimes tend to either resign ourselves to suffering or take our survival for granted.  How do the Daishonin and President Ikeda encourage us to challenge these two erroneous views?

3. President Ikeda asks us to reflect on our own efforts to take action for the sake of others, using Nichiren’s example in this letter.  Have you benefited from others’ compassionate actions, and have you been able to put this spirit into practice yourself?