Byakuren Study Day 4

The Honor of Making Unseen Efforts for Kosen- Rufu 

Part 1 of 2 (World Tribune October, 21, 2011) 

The 17th installment in SGI President's youth study series "Youth and The Writing of Nichiren Daishonin" 

(President Ikeda)
"These are difficult economic times, and social ties in our communities in Japan have also grown strained and distant. Many people have their hands full just dealing with their own problems and situation. Nevertheless, our members are exerting themselves selflessly for the welfare of kosen-rufu even when their own situations may be challenging.There is no more noble work of the Buddha than this. " 

"The record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings states: "The Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra over a period of eight years, and eight characters sum up the message that he has left behind for living beings in this later age, the Latter Day of the Law. It is [the eight characters that make up the passage, which reads] you should rise and greet [others] form afar, showing [them] the same respect you would a Buddha. "

"There are days when the cold winter winds blow. when the hot summer sun is beating fown, when it's poring rain or what challenges our young men and women of the Soka Group, Gajokai, and Byakuren face, they always greet those arriving at our facilities with the respect befitting Buddhas, just as the passage from the Lotus Sutra states. They are carrying out their duties with a spirit of venerating and serving everyone as Buddhas. There is nothing more praiseworthy. Through their behavior, they are putting into practice the passage." 

"By devoting yourself for the sake of your fellow members, you are all accumulating immeasurable and boundless benefit and good fortune. Your unseen efforts for kosen-rufu will surely activate the positive forces throughout the universe to reward and protect you in accord with the workings of cause and effect. "

"The Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe are aware of all the noble unseen efforts you are making to chant for others and support your fellow members, and of hw much thought and care you are putting into fulfilling your responsibilities. By the token, they also know when you are neglecting your duties, thinking that no one will notice. This is merely another way of expressing the law of cause and effect, the workings of which are inescapable. " 

"How seriously we pray and exert ourselves are all engraved in our lives. Those who practice sincerely and earnestly will definitely win in the end. They will accrue immense benefit and good fortune without fail. "

"In any general meeting, or any important campaign, I am always striving behind the scenes, unknown to anyone, without worrying whether anyone appreciate me.. there I pour my entire life into leading the struggle and ensuring the success of the events. I smile happily at this destiny. I firmly believe that everything is revealed under the light of the Mystic Law." (Youthful Diary P.315) 

(President Ikeda) 'Even if no one appreciate or praised me, or if they instead criticized or spoke ill of me, I was still determined to carry out my mission with a smile. All I cared for was to respond to my mentor and strive for kosen-rufu. That was how I spent my youth. 

"Because I strove tirelessly in my youth, I fully understand the feelings of the youth division members and everyone else making efforts behind the scenes. I can relate to their problems and difficulties as if they were my own. This is also why I've continuously focused on encouraging those working out of the limelight. And they have responded to my encouragement. Because of this the Soka Gakkai has grown into the global organization it is today.