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Daily Gosho for Monday, August 6, 2007 from Seikyo Shimbun 2007-08-06 14:17:07
MONDAY, August
6th, 2007
– TO MY FRIENDS –
Peace is something
we must make every possible effort to achieve.
Let us spare no words to reiterate
the importance of respect for the dignity of life.
Let us together
reach out to the world!
MONDAY, August 6th, 2007
— DAILY GOSHO —
“When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated. Similarly,
when one knows the Lotus Sutra, one understands the meaning of all
worldly affairs.’”
(The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind Established in the
Fifth Five-Hundred- Year Period after the Thus Come One’s Passing -
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 376) Selection
source: Learning from Gosho, Seikyo Shimbun, August 2nd, 2007
Translation courtesy of: SGI-ToMyFriends-Wagatomo Yahoo Group Read more:Daily
, Monday
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 6, 2007 2007-08-06 10:24:42
“Though numerous, the Japanese will find it difficult to accomplish anything, because they are divided in spirit. In contrast, although Nichiren and his followers are few, because they are different in body, but united in mind, they will definitely accomplish their great mission of widely propagating the Lotus Sutra.”
Reference:
WND Page 618
Page 618 Many in Body, One in Mind
Written to Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe on 6 August
1275 from Minobu
photo courtesy of SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 6 2007-08-06 09:33:32
Youth, and indeed life itself, flashes by in the blink of an eye. That is why it is important for you to ask yourselves what you can do for those who are suffering, what you can do to resolve the mournful contradictions that plague society, and boldly take on these great challenges without shunning the problems and difficulties you will inevitably face. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 5, 2007 2007-08-05 10:23:08
“The great lantern that illuminates the long night of the sufferings of birth and death, the sharp sword that severs the fundamental darkness inherent in life, is none other than the Lotus Sutra.”
Reference:
WND Page 1038
Page 1037 A Comparison of the Lotus and Other Sutras
Written to Toki Jonin on 26 May 1280 from Minobu
photo courtesy of SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, August
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 5 2007-08-05 09:32:46
We cannot build true character if we allow ourselves to be swayed by passing praise or censure. “Don’t concern yourself with petty criticisms! Commune constantly with fine books and fine people and improve yourself!” This was the creed by which Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda lived their lives. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 4, 2007 2007-08-04 10:21:48
“I spoke out solely because I had long known that the people of Japan would meet with great suffering, and I felt pity for them. Thoughtful persons should therefore realize that I have met these trials for their sake. If they were people who understood their obligations or who were capable of reason, then out of two blows that fall upon me, they would receive one in my stead.”
Reference:
WND Page 828
Page 827 Reply to Yasaburo
Written to Saito Yasaburo on 4 August
1277 from Minobu
photo courtesy of SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
Richard Gere and Mastering the Mind 2007-08-04 10:17:34
A very well-known Tibetan Buddhist, Richard
Gere, was interviewed recently by Metro.co.uk of the
United Kingdom. Although he is NOT a Nichiren Daishonin Buddhist, I thought his comments were pretty interesting especially considering the power of our faith.
Here are some excerpts from the interview.
You juggle Buddhism with Hollywood superstardom. Do you feel any sort of conflict?
The practice of Buddhism is just exploring your mind. And certainly what one faces as an actor is no different from what everyone faces in their lives. It’s just a little bigger and more colourful. We work hard doing what we do and there’s a whole dance around it but I know the reality of it. So exploring the nature of the mind, with all these forces that potentially can throw you off-base, just makes you stronger. I don’t see any conflict at all. If anything, it feeds the exploration. It shows you those dark crevices that you really have to work on, whether it’s anger, hatred, jealousy, envy Read more:Mastering
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 4 2007-08-04 09:31:46
The resolve to accomplish your goals is what counts. If you earnestly put your mind to something, your brain, your body, your environment-everything-will start working toward achieving that end. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
It’s That Time…..(I hate to ask but..) 2007-08-03 12:23:29
Although I don’t want to be the one to ask, someone has to do it. It’s time for the 2007 Blogger Choice Awards. It would be great if someone (is anyone reading this?) would nominate Voices from the Shadows blog for an award. It will truly help the blog gain steam as well as introduce other people to the site and to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. I believe that the blog is a great service to our faith and should be promoted to others. Please take a moment to nominate and then vote for VFTS. There are several categories that VFTS.net could be nominated for such as: “Best Religion Blog” or “Best Blog About Stuff” or anything else that you may think is appropriate. The nominations start now and the voting runs until 11:55 PM on October 19, 2007. The winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 10, 2007.
Good luck to VFTS.net.
Thank you & NMRK,
Enlightened Sun Read more:hellip
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 3, 2007 2007-08-03 10:20:28
“Judging from these examples, we may conclude that for evil people living in the latter age the attainment of Buddhahood does not depend upon whether their offenses are slight or grave, but solely upon whether or not they have faith in this sutra.”
Reference:
WND Page 409
Page 405 Reply to Hakiri Saburo
Written to Hakiri Saburo on 3 August
1273 from Sado - Ichinosawa
photo courtesy of SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 9, 2007 2007-08-09 10:05:01
“The Buddha promised in the Lotus Sutra that, for women, the sutra will serve as a lantern in the darkness, as a ship when they cross the sea, and as a protector when they travel through dangerous places.”
Reference:
WND Page 614
Page 612 The Supremacy of the Law
Written to Nichimyo Shonin on 4 August
1275 from Minobu
photo: SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 9 2007-08-09 09:45:15
The course of our lives is determined by how we react-what we decide and what we do-at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person’s true worth and greatness. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 8, 2007 2007-08-08 10:03:03
“The sutras expounded prior to the Lotus Sutra cannot lead to Buddhahood because they are provisional and expedient teachings that separate reality and wisdom. The Lotus Sutra, however, unites the two as a single entity. The sutra says that the Buddhas open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings, show it, cause them to awaken to it, and induce them to enter its path. By realizing this Buddha wisdom, one attains Buddhahood.”
Reference:
WND Page 746
Page 746 The Essentials for Attaining Buddbahood
Written to Soya Jiro Hyoe-no-jo Kyoshin on 8 August
1276 from Minobu
photo: SGI USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 8 2007-08-08 09:44:26
The present, as I am sure you all sense, is an age pervaded by great weariness and apathy. I would like you to be aware that the power and energy to serve humanity in such an enervated age can only be born from a vigorous, indomitable, noble will. Though the times may be rife with petty human conflicts, a pervading sense of hopelessness and all manner of turbulent storms, I hope that all of you will forge ahead boldly, with unflagging good cheer. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 7, 2007 2007-08-07 09:55:29
“When praised highly by others, one feels that there is no hardship one cannot bear. Such is the courage that springs from words of praise.”
Reference:
WND Page 385
Page 383 The True Aspect of All Phenomena
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on 17 May 1273 from Sado - Ichinosawa
photo courtesy of SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
, August
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 7 2007-08-07 09:43:00
Gandhi stressed the importance of being resolute in one’s determinations: “A man who says that he will do something as far as possible’ betrays either his pride or his weakness, though he himself may attribute it to his humility. There is, in fact, not a trace of humility in such an attitude of mind.” In short, he asserts that someone who makes halfhearted pronouncements is either arrogant or cowardly. Read more:Daily
, August
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 12, 2007 2007-08-12 10:09:04
“What caused you to inwardly believe in the Lotus Sutra and to make offerings to me during my more than thirty-day stay there? I was hated and resented by the steward and the people of the district even more than I was in Kamakura. Those who saw me scowled, while those who merely heard my name were filled with spite. And yet, though I was there in the fifth month when rice was scarce, you secretly fed me. Have my parents been reborn in a place called Kawana, in Ito of Izu Province?”
Reference:
WND Page 35
Page 35 The Izu Exile
Written to Funamori Yasaburo on 27 June 1261 from Izu
photo: SGI-USA.org Read more:August
, Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 12 2007-08-12 09:49:38
Courage is free. Anyone can have it. Courage is another name for the SGI spirit. Mr. Toda said: “The Buddha is filled with compassion, but it is hard for us common mortals to show compassion. So we must have courage instead.” In other words, when we work courageously for kosen-rufu, our actions by their very nature, become compassionate. Read more:August
, Daily
, President
Please Vote for VFTS - 2007 Blogger Choice Awards 2007-08-11 17:14:12 Hello VFTS Readers,
This is a friendly reminder to vote for VoicesFromTheShadows.net on the 2007 BloggerChoiceAwards
. The blog has been nominated in 4 categories:
Best Blog Design
Best Blog of All Time
Best Religion Blog
Best Pop Culture Blog
Please
take a moment to boost VFTS.net’s presence on the web and in the blog awards. And if there is a category that you believe is more appropriate for the site and it is not mentioned here, please nominate us in that category. It’s pretty easy to nominate and vote. Simply click on the link (badge icon) on the right hand side. The link takes you directly to the site where you register and vote.
Quick, easy, and painless.
Thank you and NMRK,
Enlightened Sun and Bodhi
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 11, 2007 2007-08-11 10:07:39
“Even an individual at cross purposes with himself is certain to end in failure. Yet a hundred or even a thousand people can definitely attain their goal, if they are of one mind.”
Reference:
WND Page 618
Page 618 Many in Body, One in Mind
Written to Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe on 6 August
1275 from Minobu
Photo: SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 11 2007-08-11 09:46:46
Let’s read the Gosho regularly. Even just a little is fine. Even a single sentence. Just opening the Gosho is a start. At any rate, let’s strive to read the Daishonin’s writings. It’s important to have the spirit to study the Gosho, to open up the Gosho. Even if you forget what you’ve read, something profound will have been engraved in the depths of your life. Read more:August
, Daily
, President
Inconspicuous Response - Thoughts on August 10th’s Daily Wisdom 2007-08-10 11:16:23 Today’s guidance really hit home for me. There have been times in my life when I chanted for a particular event to happen in my life and it didn’t materialize. And then my lesser self let disappointment set in. Ooh, human nature. So, I would then chant for the wisdom of the situation and a higher life condition. I know deep down, to my life’s core, that when I chant, the best thing for my life will occur. However, I learned that in the moment, what you think is the best thing may not be the most ideal thing for you at this point in time.
I remember when I first started practicing Buddhism; I simply wanted to feel better about life. I wanted to experience a high life condition, increase my self-esteem and self-confidence, and feel more happiness than sadness. That’s what I wanted. I wanted strength and courage. I thought if Buddhism can make me feel better about life, then it would truly be the religion for me. And Buddhism did make me feel better, almost right away. I Read more:August
, Daily
, Wisdom
, Response
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 10, 2007 2007-08-10 10:06:32
“Concerning prayer, there are conspicuous prayer and conspicuous response, conspicuous prayer and inconspicuous response, inconspicuous prayer and inconspicuous response, and inconspicuous prayer and conspicuous response. But the only essential point is that, if you believe in this sutra, all your desires will be fulfilled in both the present and the future.”
Reference:
WND Page 750
Page 750 Letter to the Lay Priest Domyo
Written to Domyo Zemmon on 10 August
1276 from Minobu Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 10 2007-08-10 09:46:01
From one perspective, Buddhist practice means plunging into the midst of the people and striving to strengthen our life force to the greatest extent. The purpose of SGI activities is for each of us to be able to build a strong, invincible, diamond-like self that can overcome every difficulty and blaze a way forward wherever we go. Obstacles are a golden opportunity to quickly forge an inner self that is as indestructible as a diamond, able to endure for eternity. Read more:August
, Daily
, President
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 15, 2007 2007-08-15 10:22:50
“I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in sumi ink, so believe in the Gohonzon with your whole heart. The Buddha’s will is the Lotus Sutra, but the soul of Nichiren is nothing other than Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.”
Reference:
WND Page 412
Page 412 Reply to Kyo’o
Written to Shijo Kingo on 15 August
1273 from Sado - Ichinosawa
Photo: SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 15 2007-08-15 09:13:27
The first thing is to pray. From the moment we begin to pray, things start moving. The darker the night, the closer the dawn. From the moment we chant daimoku with a deep and powerful resolve, the sun begins to rise in our hearts. Hope-prayer is the sun of hope. To chant daimoku each time we face a problem, overcoming it and elevating our life-condition as a result-this is the path of “changing earthly desires into enlightenment,” taught in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
Events:
1964: World Tribune publishes first issue. Read more:August
, Daily
, President
Happiness in this World - A Favorite Gosho of VFTS Readers 2007-08-14 13:13:33 In keeping with our discussion on studying the Gosho, the post “A Reminder to Myself & Others to Read The Gosho” received several interesting comments. I would like to highlight a favorite Gosho of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging (BND) and Lotus In Bloom. Please read the comment below and the Gosho. And please keep posting your comments. I would love to post your favorite Gosho. Enjoy!
NMRK,
Enlightened Sun
********************
From Lotus In Bloom:
I really like that Gosho too, BND! My favorite is: Happiness In This World
. Whenever I read this Gosho it reminds me the importance of having faith in NMRK and yourself. I am a Buddha. It also helps me to remember to meet each struggle as part of life, to never give up and to keep chanting no matter what happens.
Here is the gosho for your reading pleasure.
Keeping the faith!
Lotus In Bloom
***************************
Happiness in This World
There is no true happiness for human beings other than chantin Read more:Favorite
Daily Wisdom: From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin - August 14, 2007 2007-08-14 10:20:37
“Let us openly and clearly outline the virtues of Myoho-renge-kyo! Just as poisonous compounds are changed into medicine, so these five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo change evil into good.”
Reference:
WND Page 1064
Page 1061 White Horses and White Swans
Written to Lady of Utsubusa on 14 August
1280 from Minobu
Photo: SGI-USA.org Read more:Daily
, Wisdom
, Writings
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for August 14 2007-08-14 09:12:31
The German author Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) writes that the more one matures, the younger one grows. And certainly there are many people who, as they age, become increasingly vigorous and energetic, more broad-minded and tolerant, living with a greater sense of freedom and assurance. It is important to remember that aging and growing old are not necessarily the same thing. Read more:August
, Daily
, President
A Reminder to Myself & Others To Read the Gosho 2007-08-13 14:38:52 I’ve received several (let’s call it) “signs” over the past two weeks about the importance of reading the Gosho (“The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin”). And I mean, sincerely reading the Gosho (letters) of my own volition. Sure, we all read The World Tribune and Living Buddhism. And some of us even take it a step further and read the Gosho referred to by the stories from our publications. But how many of us actually take the time to read the Gosho for its own worth?
My vice-area young women’s division leader is an inspiration to my “Gosho-reading practice”. She has read almost all of “The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,volume I” and marked each of them with a tab. The tabs help her remember the significance of the Gosho to her. The markers also help her turn to a Gosho when she needs guidance or would like to point out a special passage to a member or prospective member. I found her spirit so encouraging and in line with Sensei’s heart that I have Read more:Reminder
, Others
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