"When One Sun Rises, Everything is Illuminated" Daisaku Ikeda

Today is the anniversary the day Nichiren Daishonin "inscribed his life in sumi" by inscribing the first Gohonzon to lead all of humanity to happiness. October 12th. That day the world was changed. Forever. 
In honor of this day, I share these words of our mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, from the November Living Buddhism magazine. Enjoy!

Change Starts With One Person

Let us make this planet 
a place where the hearts of people who have risen up 
from the deepest depths of suffering 
can shine like Sirius, 
the brightest star in the heavens. 
This is the vision 
that the Brazilian astronomer Ronaldo Moroau 
and I shared in our discussions. 

No matter how humanity advances, 
the fundamental sufferings of human existence  - 
birth, aging, sickness and death -
will always remain with us. 
No one is without problems or suffering of some kind. Everyone is struggling 
with some aspect of their karma, their life. 
But we all possess within us
the light of hope 
that can break through 
and dispel the greatest sorrow and darkest despair. 

Nichiren Buddhism 
teaches how to illuminate the entire world 
with that light 
starting with one person 
courageously shining with hope 
which will then spread to a second, 
a third, a hundred, and eventually to people everywhere. 

Nichiren Daishonin writes, 
"The Lotus Sutra offers a secret means for leading all living beings to Buddhahood. It leads one person in the realm of hell, one person in the realm of hungry spirits, and thus, one person in each of the nine realms of existence to Buddhahood, and thereby the way is opened for all living being to attain Buddhahood" (Letter to Horen." The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 512). 

We can all attain Buddhahood. 

We can all triumphantly open 
the state of Buddhahood within us. 
The great wisdom of equality of the Mystic Law 
embraces everyone without exception, 
transcending differences of nationality, 
ethnicity or personal circumstances. 
It represents a truly all-encompassing philosophy, 
applying equally to all living beings, to all humanity. 

The sound and rhythm of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
revive the spirit of an individual. 
That individual then goes on to revive their family, community and society. 
We of the SGI, united by the bonds of mentor and disciple, have spread the joy of human revolution 
to 192 countries and territories...

All it takes is one person to change. 
Change starts with one person. 
Let us continue to courageously press forward 
along this path of self-transformation - 
the surest path to achieving kosen-rufu. 

We will definitely fulfill
the great vow of kosen-rufu
through compassionate propogation 
all across the globe!
This is our greatest pride. 

Daisaku Ikeda
From The November, 2013 
Living Buddhism magazine, pages 4-5.