We are born in this world to enjoy life. We are not born to suffer. This is the basic premise of the Lotus Sutra about the nature of human existence. To be happy and at ease in this world means to enjoy one's work and family life, and to enjoy making efforts to help others through Buddhist activities. If we have a truly high state of life, then, even when unpleasant things happen, we can view them as making life all the more interesting, just as a pinch of salt can actually improve the flavour of a sweet dish. We can feel true delight in life, whatever happens. Take for example : The bad economies crisis in Asia
To experience the "joy derived from the Law" means to fully savour the eternally inchanging Mystic Law and enjoy the power and wisdom that derive from it. In contract to this joy, we may speak of the "joy derived from desires" --this is the enjoyment that comes from fulfilling desires of various kinds. While it might seem like genuine happiness, such joy is only temporary and superficial. It does not arise from the depth of life, and it soon gives way to a sense of unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
Faith enables us to receive the eternal joy deriving from the Law. Let us engrave in our hearts the point that we ourselves receive this joy. Because we receive it ourselves, our happiness does not depend on others. No one else can make us happy; only by our own efforts can we become happy.
Therefore, there is no need to feel envious of others. There is no need to bear a grudge against someone, or to depend on another person for our happiness. Everything comes down to our state of life. We have it within our power to take our lives in any direction we wish.
To be dragged around by other people or the enviroment is not the way of life that the Lotus Sutra teaches. True happiness is not feeling happiness one moment and misery the next. Overcoming the tendency to blame our sufferings on others or on the enviroment enables us to greatly expand our state of life.
True "Peace and Security" Is Having the Courage to Overcome Hardship
Nichiren Daishonin declares that, ultimately, for all people -- whether they are poor or wealthy, famous or unknown, powerful individual or ordinary citizens, artists or scientists -- apart from chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, there is no true happiness, no true joy and fulfilment in life. That's because when we chant daimoku, our lives become one with the life of the Buddha, enabling us to draw forth the inexhaustible strength to carry out our own human revolution and help others do the same.
Fame, wealth or social status alone do not guarantee happiness. Many wealthy individuals suffer terribly within their mansions. Some people may be so bound up by vanity that they can find no peace of mind. Many famous people feel miserable the moment they slip from the limelight.
There may be two people who work in the same company, perform identical jobs and have equivalent material resources and social standing; yet one feels happy while the other feels nothing but despair. It is not at all uncommon to find such disparities among people whose lives are otherwise quite similar. They arise due to differences in people's inner states, in their hearts.
Nor can it be said that the advance of science or economic development in itself necessarily brings happiness. Without changing our own state of life, we can find no true happiness. But when we do change our inner state, our entire world is transformed. The ultimate means for effecting such change is chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Attaining a state of "peace and security in this life" does not mean having a life that is free of all difficulties, but that whatever difficulties arise, without being shaken in the least, one can summon up the unflinching courage and conviction to fight against and overcome them. This is the state of life of "peace and security in this life". And, as indicated by the dictum, "If you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present", establishing a great state of happiness that in the happiness and security in this life is proof that in the future we will experience the effect of good circumstances, that is, be born into a place conducive to our further growth.
Some religions teach that people will become happy after death even if their present lives are filled with misery. But this is not the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, which explains that we can thoroughly enjoy both the present and the future. This is the essence of Buddhism. Towards the end of establishing such an existence, we need to develop a strong life force by chanting daimoku, and thoroughly challenge the realities of our lives. It is through such efforts that we can realize true "peace and security in this life" and "good circumstances in the next".
Being able to chant daimoku is itself happiness.In life, there are both times of suffering and times of joy. These are all irreplaceable scenes in the drama of life. Without suffering, we could not appreciate joy. Without knowing the flavours of both suffering and joy, we could not savour life's profundity.
When Nichiren Daishonin was being taken to be executed at Tatsunokuchi, Shijo Kingo ran straight to his side. Clutching the reins of the horse on which the Daishonin rode, he resolutely stood at Daishonin's side, vowing to kill himself and join the Daishonin in death. He was a person of immensely strong faith who boldly ran forward along the path of mentor and disciple.
Even to Shijo Kingo, who possessed such strong faith, the Daishonin says,"strengthen your faith more than ever." It's not a matter of what we've done in the past; it's what we do from now on that counts. Everything comes down to our strength of faith. Faith is strength. It is the greatest power people have
We receive the power of the Buddha and power of the Law embodied in the Gohonzon in accordance with our powers of faith and practice. Faith is the "secret art" for thoroughly infusing our daily lives with the inherent power of the universe.
Shijo Kingo exerted himself in faith just as the Daishonin instructed. After his difficulties had passed, he showed actual proof by regaining the firm trust of his lord and having the size of his land doubled. And those colleagues of his who had harassed him suffered consequences most pitiful.
To practise just as the Daishonin instructs is the fundamental spirit of the SGI. We are advancing in strict accord with the teachings in the Gosho.
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