Published by Soka Spirit Editor
Posted on August 11, 2009
Welcome to our newly redesigned SGI-USA Soka Spirit website on Nichiren Buddhism! We hope you will enjoy our new look.
At its core, Soka Spirit is about changing suffering into happiness—in particular, it’s about protecting and propagating the correct practice and teachings of Nichiren Daishonin that can bring about this transformation. This is always the larger context of any discussion pertaining to Soka Spirit.
Buddhist scripture explains that the current age, known as the Latter Day of the Law, is dominated by the three poisons of greed, anger and foolishness that arise from life’s fundamental darkness. For example, the poison of greed leads to economic crisis, the poison of anger leads to wars and conflict, and the poison of foolishness leads to epidemics. The point of these limited examples is that contamination by such toxins is reflected in every aspect of our environment.
Nichiren Daishonin assures us that faith in the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will diminish the influence of the three poisons and improve the world around us. He emphasizes that practicing Buddhism as he intended is crucial in making this happen.
“Although people study Buddhism, it is difficult for them to practice it correctly either because of the ignorance of their minds, or because, even though wise, they fail to realize that they are being misled by their teachers” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 894).
Because the influence of fundamental darkness is so prevalent in our minds and surroundings, the tendencies to distort Buddhist teachings and underestimate our own power can be overwhelming. For that reason, Nichiren strictly urges practitioners to seek a “good teacher” who demonstrates an exemplary Buddhist practice. Nichiren writes, “If one does not meet up with a teacher, one’s perverse wisdom will grow day by day” (WND-2, 7).
To attain the ultimate empowerment that changes suffering into happiness, three things are needed: “a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching” (WND-1, 880). A bad teacher or erroneous teaching negates our ability to make this transformation. In its association with the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood, SGI members witnessed the emergence of a bad teacher in 67th High Priest Nikken and bad teachings in his contention that priests occupy a higher religious status than lay believers, among other distorted views. In a futile attempt to make Buddhist practitioners subservient to himself and his clergy, he ordered the SGI to disband, hoping its members would meekly align themselves with local temples.
The priesthood instructs its believers that the essence of practice is “absolute faith and strict obedience” toward the high priest (Dai-Nichiren Special Edition, The Correct Way of Faith in Nichiren Shoshu, p. 13).
This is antithetical to Nichiren’s statement: “Shakyamuni Buddha, the Lotus Sutra, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. To chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death. This is a matter of the utmost importance for Nichiren’s disciples and lay supporters” (WND-1, 216).
The notion of inequality among believers is a monumental distortion. It feeds an already powerful doubt about our own Buddha nature that arises from our fundamental darkness. To resolve this doubt and subdue the three poisons requires a determined, self-reliant faith, something a good teacher and good teaching will nurture.
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda states: “The purpose of Buddhism is not to produce dupes who blindly follow their leaders. Rather, it is to produce people of wisdom who can judge right or wrong on their own in the clear mirror of Buddhism” (My Dear Friends in America, pp. 102–03).
That’s why our ability to discern what is good or bad, right or wrong, is essential. This is the purpose of Buddhist study and Soka Spirit.
“Battling obstacles and devilish functions, persevering in faith, and realizing victory—these are truly the essence of Buddhism. Fundamental darkness or ignorance is the true substance of obstacles and devilish functions. This ignorance is the source of misfortune inherent in the lives of all human beings. The Buddha’s fundamental purpose in expounding the Law is to enable all people to triumph over their innate delusion [suffering], manifest their fundamental enlightenment [happiness] and attain Buddhahood.” (The World of Nichiren Daishonin’s Writings, vol. 4, p. 75–76).
—SGI-USA Soka Spirit Committee