Gosho: On Prolonging Life
Kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, is the process by which we enable one person after another to awaken to the priceless jewel of Buddhahood within his or her life by teaching each one to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. A commitment to this lofty goal opens your life to a degree of good fortune and satisfaction that someone bound by purely egotistical concerns could never experience. I am convinced that when you live your life on the basis of a deep desire to contribute to kosen-rufu, you can change any immutable karma, no matter how stubborn it may be. But without a real determination to strive for kosen-rufu, you cannot change it substantially. Juse mouthing your determination has no place in Buddhist practice - you must work to materialize it through your actions adn cherish it in your heart, or ichinen.
When are firmly resolved that, no matter what, you must live to fulfill your mission for kosen-rufu, then you can summon the life-force to conquer illness and prolong your life. In a sense, the least we can do for kosen-rufu is to live long. Moreover, we must be healthy if we are to fulfill our mission. This means that being healthy is our responsibility. We cannot afford to flirt with illness, so to speak. As President Toda once said, we may become ill occasionally, but we should never allow our illness to defeat us in our determination to attain enlightenment and to propagate the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.
Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI
Kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, is the process by which we enable one person after another to awaken to the priceless jewel of Buddhahood within his or her life by teaching each one to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. A commitment to this lofty goal opens your life to a degree of good fortune and satisfaction that someone bound by purely egotistical concerns could never experience. I am convinced that when you live your life on the basis of a deep desire to contribute to kosen-rufu, you can change any immutable karma, no matter how stubborn it may be. But without a real determination to strive for kosen-rufu, you cannot change it substantially. Juse mouthing your determination has no place in Buddhist practice - you must work to materialize it through your actions adn cherish it in your heart, or ichinen.
When are firmly resolved that, no matter what, you must live to fulfill your mission for kosen-rufu, then you can summon the life-force to conquer illness and prolong your life. In a sense, the least we can do for kosen-rufu is to live long. Moreover, we must be healthy if we are to fulfill our mission. This means that being healthy is our responsibility. We cannot afford to flirt with illness, so to speak. As President Toda once said, we may become ill occasionally, but we should never allow our illness to defeat us in our determination to attain enlightenment and to propagate the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.
Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI
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