Richard Causton's Channel on YouTube!

To access rest of the videos, please visit this channel

I am very excited to feature the official YouTube channel which contains Richard Causton lectures on Buddhist concepts and Gosho. This channel contains lectures on basics such as Nam myoho renge kyo, Gongyo, and Gohonzon. It also contains Gosho lectures on 'Letter to the brothers' and 'Rissho Ankoku Ron."

Richard Causton (17 February 1920 – 13 January 1995) was a British author, businessman, and the first chairman of the Soka Gakkai International in the UK (SGI-UK). He has also written The Buddha in Daily Life, one of the my favorite books ever. It is one of the best books to help you understand and apply Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.
Sincerest thanks to those pioneering SGI-UK members who have made audio cassette copy recordings of his lectures, which are the sources for the uploads on this channel. They have kept these recordings all their lives, testimony to the incredible encouragement and inspiration deriving from Mr Causton’s lectures and his incredible ability to connect to audiences all around the UK.

You can subscribe to this channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCUCr0QuC4lvgzAQ5DjlfCQ

Sensei's Guidance on Reading

Question (by a young adult): Even when I set out to read a book, I get bored in a minute. I always give up halfway through..

What is the secret to learning how to read without getting bored. 

Sensei says, "As for your question, let me say this: why not begin by reading a book on a topic that interests you? 

Go ahead and read something that deals with a topic that you are concerned about. 

Beyond that, make up your mind to plough steadily through works you know you must read, even if you dislike doing so  - text books for example. 

Even if you think the task at hand is difficult, or even if you should find the book hard to understand, never mind, go ahead and finish reading it. 

Whenever you manage somehow to read a whole volume, you'll gain a sense of fulfillment from having completed it. And out of that satisfaction will come the desire to read still another book. 

The point is that you must first of all complete one book on a topic that interests you. Your success in finishing will give you a sense of satisfaction and a taste of the joy of reading. You will not be able to stick to your plan unless you do experience such a sense of fulfillment and joy. 

As long as you keep a distance, printed words are especially difficult to become 'chummy' with. On the other hand, words in print have the characteristic that their 'foreignness' disappears when you get used to dealing with them. Then they become surprisingly good friends. But of course you have to make some effort to develop to that point. I would like you to take it as a challenge to do so and by all means, I hope you will not accept your present attitude as the last word. 

Source: Advice to Young People, written by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

Importance of Gosho Study- NHR

Shinichi concluded that this (walking unerringly on the path to happiness) could only be achieved by each member engraving the teachings of the Gosho in their lives and making the Gosho their foundation. The Daishonin's writings are clearly expressed in his writings. The Gosho elucidates the laws of life and guidelines for our behaviour and existence in this world; it explains why it is important to strive hard in the buddhist practice and why obstacles and persecution beset those who uphold the True Law. Reading the Gosho also helps a person understand and appreciate the Daishonin's spirit and indomitable conviction. This would serve as a driving force for people's faith, giving rise to courage, hope and wisdom and forming a solid foundation for thier lives.
To achieve this, Shin'ichi felt it vital to establish the Gakkai spirit as an integral core of each person's life and that this be achieved through promoting a great study movement - not one dedicated to abstract buddhist theory but to living buddhist principles relevant to actual practice.
From the NHR Volume 6, Acceleration Chapter.  

Sung Chiang: General of Generals - Why?

Exerpt from the HR Volume 7 - The oath of suiko.

The members finished one volume after another of 'The Tale of Suiko.' Finally they came to the scene in which Sung chiang, the centreal figure, comes to the fortress of Shui Hu (Suiko) and is installed by the people as their head.
"Now, about this man Sung Chiang. He was nothing but a minor local official, but here he is, respected by all the tough fellows as their leader. Can anyone explain the reason for this?"Toda asked the members with a smile....
...One answer followed anohter. Each man frankly expressed his own view as it had occured to him....
...The discussion became more and more abstract and aesthetic. Everyone admitted that Sung Chiang was a very attractive human being but no one could discover specifically from where his charm derived. When the young men had finished talking, Toda began to give a deeper analysis of Sung Chiang's personality.
"Sung Chiang was a man of medium build and dark-complexion, combining all the appearances of the inferior local officials of whom he was one. In other words, he was an ordinary person. He was never popular with women. He had no outstanding talent either in literary or military arts. He was devoted to his parents, honest and faithful to the moral code, and these were about the only virtues he possesed. This world abounds with men like Sung Chiang.
...In other words, he was mediocre. Why then was he one of the Chinese heroes of his day? anyone would be mystified by this...
...In outward appearance Sung Chiang was a featureless man, but he was equipped with a marvelous ability to throughly read the characters of other people. He had a keen insight for discovering talent in whomever he met - he heartily loved that talent and respected it."
Toda's analysis came as quite a surprise to the youth. They stared at Toda in wonder.
"Sung Chiang saw the good as well as the bad in others. No devious strategy works in the presence of one who knows your strengths and weaknesses. So, it all boils down to the saying "A virtuous man is ready to die for one who appreciates him.' It is no accident that Sung Chiang was installed as the head of Lian Shan Po. Nothing pleases a soldier more than to meet one who appreciates him. Nothing gives him greater purpose. Not everyone can see both the strengths and the weakness in another person and still appreciate him. Sung Chiang could. This is the reason he was looked up to as a general of generals. As long as you acquire another's favor by force of authority, money, position, or learning, you remain merely a general over privates. When you have developed the unerring ability to judge and appreciate other people, you will have become a general of generals."

NHR - Sensei's Guidance

From NHR  Vol 9  Page212  Very encouraging guidance from Sensei - Mrs Usha

Faith is meaningless unless we carry it through until the very end.  If we dont persevere in faith , we cant transform our karma or build a foundation for genuine happiness.  But people have a tendency to be defeated by their own weakness. They may practise in earnest for a time, but then grow cowardly when faced with opposition or criticism  to their faith.  Or when they fall ill or hit a deadlock, they may become fainthearted and start having doubts.

Others abandon their faith because of a grudge held against another member arising from some minor personal conflict and then leave the Soka Gakkai the harmonious community of lay believers with a direct connection to the Buddha.  To avoid this, it is important that we base our lives not on our subjective emotions but on the teachings of Buddhism and the Gosho.