HARMONY-April 2015

Mon, 13th Apr 2015  
Category: Harmony, News (All), Publication

harmony April 2015
Dear Members and Friends of SGI,

This month we are pleased to present you with a great special features regarding the long awaited upcoming exhibition “The Lotus Sutra – A Message of Peace and Harmonious Coexistence” that will be held in May of this year at the HKSGI Culture Center.

This exhibition, organized by the Institute of Oriental Philosophy and the HKSGI, highlights the history of the importance given to the Lotus Sutra and explains why it has been widely accepted by various cultures over time.

In addition to the texts, visitors will be able to see reproductions and replicas of various artifacts related to the transmission of the Lotus Sutra.

As explained on page 26 in this months Buddhist Concepts column, “A core theme of the sutra is the idea that all people equally and without exception possess the ‘Buddha nature.’ The message of the Lotus Sutra is to encourage people’s faith in their own Buddha nature, their own inherent capacity for wisdom, courage and compassion.”

We hope that everyone, members and non-members alike, will have a chance to visit the Lotus Sutra Exhibition.

Also this month we celebrate the establishment of Nichiren Buddhism. On April 28, 1253 Nichiren Daishonin first chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Having widely studied all the Buddhist sutras, Nichiren concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood.

The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. But to Nichiren, Myoho-renge-kyo was far more that the title of a Buddhist text, is was the expression, in words, of the Law of life which all Buddhist teachings in one way or another seek to clarify.

Because of his compassion for all humanity, Nichiren provided a means by which all people could fundamentally change their lives, that of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

As President Ikeda reminds us: “Life is an everlasting struggle with ourselves. It is a tug of war between moving forward and regressing, between happiness and unhappiness. Outstanding individuals didn’t become great overnight. They disciplined themselves to overcome their weaknesses, to conquer their lack of caring and motivation until they became true victories in life. One reason Buddhist chat Nam-myoho-renge-kyo each day is to develop strong will and discipline and, along with those, the ability to tackle any problem seriously with the determination to overcome it.”

We hope that you will enjoy this issue of Harmony as you deepen your faith and understanding of this great Buddhism.

Skip Williams

Quotes of the Month:

“Metal has the power to cut down trees and plants, and water has the power to extinguish any kind of fire. In like manner, the Lotus Sutra has the power to bring all living beings to the state of Buddhahood.” –WND, p.512