Create Some Hope!

The Driving Source for Being Ever Victorious - The Mentor Disciple Relationship

The following passage is from the October 2013 edition of Living Buddhism magazine, from a passage from the New Human REvolution, Volume 25, Chapter 4, installments 14-28. Some of you have written me that you are interested in really engraving the master disciple relationships in your hearts, and in deepening your understanding of this important concept. I offer you these words in your quest towards the deepening of your faith and happiness: 

Together with me, they (the members) have refreshed their commitment ot kosen-rufu and are striving their hardest. THis is what it means to have an inner dialogue with one's mentor every day. 
The same is true of me and Mr. Toda. I talk with Mr. Toda in my heart every single day as I carry on with my struggles. He is always in my heart. 
My standards are Nichiren Daishonin's writings and Mr. Toda., who read Nichiren Daishonin's writings and put them into practice with his entire being. 
I am always asking myself, "What would Mr. Toda do in this situation?' 'Were my actions today in line with Mr. Toda's spirit?''Would Mr. Toda be happy or sad if he could see me right now?"
I've always inspired myself by striving to win and bring joy to Mr. Toda. That's the source of my courage. It's the driving force for being ever-victorious



The oneness of mentor and disciple starts from living life with the same spirit as one's mentor and always keeping the mentor firmly in one's heart. It is easy to talk about the way of mentor and disciple, but if our mentor isn't in our heart we aren't genuinely practicing Buddhism. 
By thinking that the mentor exists outside oneself, he mentor's actions and guidance no longer serve as a spiritual compass. In that case, when the mentor's external evaluation of oneself becomes the standards for one's actions, one will strive hard when the mentor is strictly watching, but when the mentor isn't looking, one may become calculating and stop trying one's best. The faith of such a person will not deepen, and they won't be able to achieve their human revolution. 
If leaders fall prey to this tendency, they will extinguish the true spirit of Buddhism, and the pure realm of faith will become a realm of worldly affairs ruled by personal advantage and  calculation.  
Only by firmly establishing the great way of the oneness of mentor and disciple in one's own heart can one further the eternal perpetuation of the law. 

Be BOLD and DARING!

Hope is Life's Treasure

The purpose of this blog is to give you hope and inspiration....to keep that fire burning in you --- even when it seems like everything is rising up against you. Hope is the most important thing. It is important for me. It is important for you. It is important for all those around you that you maintain hope!
I hope you enjoy this poem as much as I do.
I am reading it over and over as I face the challenges in my life!
Enjoy!

Daisaku Ikeda wrote this for us on January 2nd, 2012...his 84th birthday.

Hope Is Life's Treasure

Hope is
life's treasure.

Those
who have hope
are always happy.

One can have
all the wealth, power and fame
in the world,
but if one loses hope,
one will falter and stumble
in life.

The ancient Roman orator
Cicero wrote:
"Our capital is invested in hope
rather than in money;
if that hope be abandoned,
all else will be amassed
only to be lost later on."

The arrogant
who ridicule the hopeful
invariably fall in defeat,
left with naught but regret.

On no account
must we ruin
our lives,
which shine with such promise!

Hope is
a jewel that inspires and uplifts.
As long as we have hope,
we will never be deadlocked.

Victory always awaits
and happy smiles spread
where there is hope.

In the words of
the admirable Wangari Maathai,
the Kenyan environmental activist
and friend whom my wife and I
will never forget:
"Hope is like a flower,
which, when it blooms,
does so no matter
what mood it's in
or who is watching.
It always gives its best.
We can too."

Hope is
a flower that blossoms
in effort and perseverance.
Hope is
the noble visible reward
of those who accumulate unseen virtue.

People who live out their lives
with hope
never become jaded
or apathetic.

A contributive life
of giving hope
to those who are suffering
is a source of growth,
fulfillment,
learning,
creativity
and solidarity.

The great Spanish author
Miguel de Cervantes wrote,
"Just as light shines
more brightly in darkness,
so hope should be
more steadfast in trials."

Hope is the hallmark
of invincible fortitude.
Life is a struggle -
hence, our challenge is to live
with optimism and strength,
year after year.

InazoNitobe,
the great Tohoku-born educator,
friend of first Soka Gakkai president
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi,
declared that hope
can be found
even in the darkest gloom.

Such hope, he said,
is "visible only
to the eye of
faith and courage."

Even while imprisones dor his beliefs,
President Makiguchi wrote serenely,
"Depending on one's frame of mind,
even hell can be enjoyable."

Josei Toda later said
in gratitude to his martyred mentor,
"In your vast and boundless compassion,
you let me accompany you
even to prison."

As the third Soka Gakkai president,
I have steadfastly walked
the profoundly solemn
path of selfless dedication
of mentor and disciple.

I have given my life
to realizing all
the cherished hopes of
my mentor.
My heart is clear and bright,
without a cloud of regret.

As Nichiren Daishonin writes,
"The sun breaks through
the pitch-black dark."
Courageous faith is
the sun of limitless hope.

Mentor and disciple
committed to the noblest cause
will rise above all trials and adversity;
the unsurpassed brilliance of their lives
shining on forever.

Infinite hope!
The mystic law is the source.
A boundless state of life!
Faith and practice are the key.

In the Lotus Sutra,
we find these truly generous words:
"We beg that the merit (we have) gained...
may be spread far and wide to everyone,
so that we and other beings
all together may attain the Buddha way."

Kosen-rufu us
the supreme and colossal hope
of elevating
all humanity
to a vast life-state
of peace and happiness.

Ah---
Hope! Hope! Hope!
Hope is life's treasure.

At the start of a new year,
a new day,
let us set forth,
brimming with bright hope,
the sun of time without beginning
brimming in our hearts!

Let us boldly break through
even the deepest turmoil
of these troubled times,
and be the ones to create new hope!

Let us advance in triumph,
imparting the hope
of absolute victory
to one person after another!

The French writer and activist
Romain Rolland said,
"The last hope of our day
lies in youth."

I now wish to declare for all to hear:
"The greatest hope for the future lies in Soka youth."

My young friends,
never be defeated!

No matter what trials and hardships
may befall you,
never lose sight of
the golden light of hope!

Oh my friends,
my beloved friends
whom I trust with all my heart,
live out your lives with hope!
Be victorious without fail!

Daisaku Ikeda
--on my 84th birthday,
January 2nd, 2012

Our True Battle Begins!

Master and Disciple PowerPrayer and Explanation

What is the Mentor Disciple Relationship? Yesterday a reader wrote me and asked that question. 

As many of you know, I am facing a huge challenge...a crucial moment that I can use to deepen my faith!

I am putting the master and disciple relationship at the center of my life. Here is my understanding of it: 

Daisaku Ikeda, the President of the Soka Gakkai International has committed his life the happiness of each individual through peace, culture and education. Since the age of 19 he has spent every moment working towards our happiness, and the happiness of all mankind. He has published hundreds...hundreds of books, written more speeches and essays than I can possibly count, visited with world leaders throughout the globe inspiring them to be their best selves, founded cultural institutions, universities, grade schools, kindergartens and museums. He has received over 300 honorary doctorates...more than any living human has ever received. And he has inspired ME with his heart for us all. So the mentor disciple relationship for me, is chanting to feel his heart, and chant with the depth of his prayer for the whole world. 

When I chant, I chant to see the world through his eyes, to feel the world through his heart and to have the depth of prayer and compassion towards others that he has. I literally chant to deepen all my levels of compassion so that my prayer is as deep as his. I know he is a human being. A deeply committed human being. I am a deeply committed human being who has the wonderful fortune to be alive at the same time as Daisaku Ikeda. I respect him as a towering force of good for all of humanity and I aspire to chant like him and have his heart. 

This morning I chanted with this 

Master and Disciple PowerPrayer:

I chant to experience the deep faith of my mentor! I chant to deepen my faith so that I chant with the same ICHINEN as Daisaku Ikeda. 

Life!

Deepen my prayer a million times so that I realize
beyond a shadow of ANY doubt
that I AM THE BUDDHA
I AM THE BUDDHA
I AM THE BUDDHA

Remove any part of me
                               DOUBT
                                  Hesitation
                                     Confusion
                                         FEAR
That is not the BUDDHA!

Reveal the brilliant burning core of my life 
and burn this bad karma away!

Strip away the hopelessness
Wash away the fear

I am chanting with the Pure Heart Of Kosen Rufu
for those I love, for my readers, for my members, and for those who are searching to find this practice and put it to use in their lives! I chant to meet those who are ready to hear of this practice and to help them change their lives! 
I chant for the land, for the planet, for the universe. 

May every breath I breathe 
every word I write 
everything I say
Serve to strengthen EVERYONE'S FAITH! 

Shoten Zenjin! 
Support me in all my efforts for Kosen Rufu! 
This is what I am making happen through my strong determination right now!!!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!

The Universal PowerPrayer

I heard Linda Johnson, the incredible SGI-USA Women's Division leader talk about the Universal Prayer a few years ago. She talked about a person suffering from an "incurable" jaw disease. Linda recommended they chant the Universal Prayer and they were able to cure the jaw disease.  This is my version of the Universal PowerPrayer. Feel free to devise your own. I like to picture every single one of you in front of your Gohonzon chanting, and feel us chanting deeply together.

Universal PowerPrayer

As I am chanting, with every Daimoku I chant

I feel every other person who is chanting deepening their faith and belief in the power of their own lives! 
As I feel my strength growing, may everyone chanting feel their strength growing! 
As I polish the diamond of my life, may ALL polish the diamond of their lives with renewed conviction, increased energy and life! 

I deepen the power of my daimoku 10,000 X,

and feel all who are chanting deepen their faith, so that their benefits are overflowing and they show brilliant actual proof to all who are still suffering! 
The energy of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo spreads to create a happy world of Kosen Rufu where everyone respects everyone and no one wishes anyone harm! 

I chant that every single person who is chanting 

feels the full power 

sees the full power

experiences the full power

of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in their OWN lives. 

I chant for all members to praise their lives

receive incredible benefits

and to know, within their DNA ~

within every cell in their body

that this practice works!

I chant in unison with all who are chanting. 

May my own deepened prayer (feeling of connection with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the power within) serve to help all deepen their prayer!