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.
