The Teachings for Victory, vol. 3 (Learning from Nichiren's Writings)

by Daisaku Ikeda

Those who uphold Nichiren Buddhism and stand

up in faith with a profound awareness of their mission can bring forth the immense potential that resides within them. Their inner transformation will unfailingly impact the lives of others and enable those they have a connection with to tap their inner potential, thus causing ripples of joy to spread far and wide. The experiences of SGI members are eloquent testimony to the truth that when we change, the world around us also changes.

is so often confirmed by our members in their experiences in faith, it is precisely when we think we can’t go on, when we feel hopeless and unable to find a way forward, that we should open Nichiren’s writings, study the guidance of the SGI, and seek out encouragement from our fellow members

As SGI members striving diligently in faith, practice, and study, we can develop a strong, invincible self through our personal experiences of overcoming all kinds of hardships and obstacles through the power of the Mystic Law. Surely none epitomize the life state of Buddhahood more than our confident and self-assured pioneer members who are utterly fearless.

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with all our heart is what activates the protective functions of the universe. It is our inner transformation—namely, bringing forth our Buddha nature—that spurs them to action. Just expecting their protection from the outside without transforming our own life is not the correct way of prayer in Nichiren

Mr. Makiguchi discussed the process of elevating our humanity as a shift from a dependent life, to an independent life, and finally to a contributive life.

assert that a philosophy based on a spirit of fundamental respect for all people and one that fosters unity and cooperation—building a network of compassion, courage, and wisdom—can create genuine positive value for humanity in the twenty-first century.

Toda once listed four criteria for identifying a religious philosophy that genuinely benefits humanity: (1) it must help all people free themselves from suffering; (2) it must help all people become happy; (3) it must help all people purify their lives; and (4) it must help awaken all people to the true,

felt a tremendous sense of joy at being able to read the Lotus Sutra with his life, risking even death, but at the same time, he was deeply grieved by the fact that those who persecuted him were creating negative karma through their actions. His words indicate a state of mind that seems quite extraordinary, coming from someone in the dire situation of exile in thirteenth-century Japan. Allow me now to briefly summarize

read the Lotus Sutra with our lives means to actualize the Buddha’s intent; it means to fulfill our vow for kosen-rufu—that is, to carry out the noble mission of leading all people to enlightenment in the evil age after the Buddha’s passing. When we read the Lotus Sutra with our lives, we can open the way for kosen-rufu into the eternal future.

Everyone we encounter in this lifetime is someone to whom we owe a debt of gratitude from past existences.

As practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism, we strive to support our fellow members and help others become happy—since we owe them all a tremendous debt of gratitude. If we lose sight of this important spirit of practice for others, we will close ourselves off in a world of self-interest.