INTRODUCTION.
Joselyn Dumas, featured in ASSUMPTA weekly magazine title: ‘Always with Joselyn’ to introduce her students to important Gosho passages, which we will learn to apply in our lives.
The Children who once ran with ignorance have become “Heroes of the World” after they have read and studied the Gosho and learned the correct attitude and behaviour needed to practise Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. So, what is written in these Gosho letters?
The Gosho letters contain words of encouragement to Nichiren Daishonin’s disciples who were facing various difficulties and hardships.
Nichiren Daishonin wrote these Gosho to help all people everywhere become happy and win in life. Therefore, members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), all over the world, read, study and apply the Gosho very seriously to their lives. Don’t you think this is amazing?
Whatever Happens, Let’s Persist in Our Vow. Well, we did apply the wrong method in our efforts to make the apple tree survive by cutting it down.
Indeed, In the course of life, more than once, one has been too ignorant to know that something was impossible before they did it anyway.
Whatever happens, Kofi and Adjeley persist in their vows! In a world full of ignorance some things might seem just impossible and there are often limits, but studying a Gosho passage, Kofi and Adjeley persisted in their vows!
● I will be the pillar of Japan.
● I will be the eyes of Japan.
● I will be the great ship of Japan.
This is my vow, and I will never forsake it!
( The Opening of the Eyes; WND-1, 280-81.)
Here is a case where Nichiren Daishonin defined courage.
Unlike some of us in society, who allow the surrounding culture to push them towards even more aridity, sometimes the only alternative to humiliation in the face of a withered community is an act of courage.
Courage means following the heart. Every day, millions of young people perform acts of courage. It is not the individual acts that reshape an arid community, but their continuity.
Furthermore, our inherent potential in most cases is oppressed because our creative life is put into question.
A girl raises her head. I think I want to ask; why do we consider Nichiren Daishonin to be great?
Miss Joselyn : The first five sections in this chapter tell us about Nichiren Daishonin, the founder of Nichiren Buddhism.
Shall we begin? This is the first passage that we are going to study from the Gosho! It is called ( The Opening
This Gosho was written when Nichiren Daishonin was in one of the most difficult situations of his life. As the title of this Gosho says, when we open our eyes and see things clearly, we come to understand how wonderful the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is, and how great Nichiren is!
Nichiren Daishonin made a great vow to ensure that all people on this globe become happy. This deep resolve of Nichiren Daishonin, as expressed in this Gosho passage can be understood as:
● I will be the pillar that supports all people in the world!
● I will be the eyes which lead all people in the right direction!
● I will be the great ship which saves all people without exception!
The smile on the class faces wilted as they realised how deep they have fallen into the discussion, and how many of them wanted Miss Joselyn to dig deeper into Nichiren Daishonin’s pledge.
Miss Joselyn glanced from Kofi then to the whole class, and when she did, a young boy asked; “Why should we not spare our life in performing our correct Buddhist practice.
Miss Joselyn said; “I will never forget what Mr. Toda replied when a young man asked him: “Why is it important to strive in our Buddhist practice without scaring life.” His words were; On our planet, human beings kill each other, in endless wars, our economies are based on the survival of the fittest, and not necessarily lead to the happiness of the population, and much of society’s leaders, even when they should help their fellows by definition, instead they despise and exploit people.
And the same is seen in politics, science, and religion. We may think it is the karma of humanity, but society is complex and abounds in contradictions.
Nowhere is an essential path to the happiness of all people. Only Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism sets out the means to radically transform our karma.
It teaches that way to eternity, happiness, true identity, and purity; the way to lasting wholeness and satisfaction. There can’t be any more sublime way of life than this.
Therefore, if they wholeheartedly devote themselves to Buddhist practice they will have nothing to reproach.
This is Nichiren Daishonin’s pledge. In modern times, we can take the word “Japan” written in this Gosho passage to refer to Ghana, the “world” or “globe.”
Anyway, Nichiren Daishonin declared that he would never renounce this vow, no matter how hard his life became, even if he had to die as a result of being persecuted by his enemies.
Aren’t these the qualities of a great person? Isn’t he one?
Today, it is the Soka Gakkai that practises this philosophy in exact accordance with Nichiren Daishonin’s vow.
With the same spirit as Nichiren Daishonin, your parents, family members, and brothers and sisters of the youth division are working hard to achieve this vow.
When we try our best for the sake of others’ happiness, we can develop ourselves, grow and surely become happy. It is Nichiren Daishonin who teaches us this way of life.
“I will be the pillar of Japan. I will be the eyes of Japan.
I will be the great ship of Japan.
This is my vow, and I will never forsake it!
Thank you Miss Joselyn; the class shifted their eyes from left to right not quite sure what to say next.
Miss Joselyn : What do you think I will propose for part (2) Discussion? At one point; Using our abilities to make the people of the world happy will be the next lesson on Thursday 19th. Thank you everyone.
