Transcript Buddhism_A_Dynamic_H.. - SGI-USA South Bay Community Center

BuddhismA Dynamic Humanism
Creating a world of peace and
happiness!
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Overview
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Introduction to SGI and Nichiren
Buddhism
Experience in faith by members.
Q&A
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SGI-USA -An Introduction
 Soka Gakkai International-USA
 A lay association based on the teachings of the
Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism.
 A member of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
with more than 12 million members in 187 countries
and territories worldwide.
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Who was Nichiren?
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Nichiren (1222-1282)
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Japanese Buddhist teacher and reformer.
Founder of the Buddhist teaching upon which the SGI bases
its activities.
Inscribed the object of devotion for observing one’s mind
(Gohonzon) and established the invocation of Nam-myohorenge-kyo as the universal practice for attaining
enlightenment.
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Everyone can be a Buddha!
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The Lotus Sutra declares:
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All living beings have the potential to attain enlightenment or
Buddhahood.
Life is eternal, with neither beginning nor end.
Nichiren further taught:
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The only difference between a Buddha and a common mortal
is that a common mortal is deluded.
A Buddha is one who perceives the true nature of life and
leads others to attain the same enlightenment.
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allows people to directly tap
their enlightened nature and is the primary practice of SGI
members.
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What does Nam-myohorenge-kyo mean?
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Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the fundamental law of the
universe expounded in Nichiren Buddhism.
All life is an expression or manifestation of this law. When
we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we attune our lives to the
perfect rhythm of the universe. The result is increased life
force, wisdom, compassion and good fortune to face the
challenges in front of us.
Nam (devotion), the action of practicing Buddhism.
Myoho (Mystic Law), the essential law of the universe and
its phenomenal manifestations.
Renge (lotus flower), which seeds and blooms at the same
time represents the simultaneity of cause and effect. We
create causes through thoughts, words and actions.
Kyo (Buddha’s teaching), all phenomena.
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Chanting for our own
happiness and for world
peace!
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So what do SGI members chant for?
Everything!
 Health
 Finances
 Relationships
 Grades
 Job
 Wisdom
 WORLD PEACE!
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Happiness through
fulfillment of desires?
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Nichiren taught that both “earthly desires” and
“enlightenment” are intrinsic to our lives, so any attempt to
deny either is itself a delusion.
The spirit to use problems as fuel or “firewood” to empower
our prayer and thus to bring forth wisdom, is the key to
realizing the principle that “earthly desires are
enlightenment.”
Nichiren teaches us how to create the greatest possible
value from our desires and suffering, while neither denying
them nor abandoning ourselves to them.
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Human Revolution
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A practical method for not only helping individuals overcome
various sufferings, but changing society as a whole.
Human revolution is the name Josei Toda, Second President of
Soka Gakkai, used to describe this process--the liberation of the
spirit from within.
It is a continual process of renewal and invigoration, the
development of one person's boundless inner capacity to lead a
creative and contributive life through his or her own effort.
"A great revolution of character in just a single individual will
help achieve a change in the destiny of a society, and further,
will enable a change in the destiny of humankind."
- SGI President, Daisaku Ikeda
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SGI- Peace,Culture and
Education
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As "engaged Buddhists," SGI members strive in their
everyday lives to live with confidence; to create value in
any circumstance; and to contribute to the well-being of
family, friends and community.
The promotion of peace, culture and education is central to
SGI's activities.
SGI often works in partnership with other groups including
United Nations agencies that share common values.
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