Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace

From Inner Change to Global Change

Faith Equals Daily Life

Faith equals daily life is one of the key principles of Nichiren Buddhism. Ikeda Sensei says,
“Buddhism is a teaching that directly manifests itself in daily life” (NHR2, 244). It defines the
purpose of Buddhism and the reason why Shakyamuni Buddha expounded this philosophy in
the first place—to free human beings from the sufferings of life and death. It also explains the
reason why you and I took up the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is to win
over our problems and become happy.

Ikeda Sensei states, “Splendid faith creates a splendid life” (VC, Nov 2006, 18). The
practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo focuses on enabling us to face life’s challenges with
courage and wisdom and turn each ‘poison’ into great ‘medicine’.

The correct attitude in faith

In order to practise correctly and experience the Gohonzon’s great power in our life, it is vital
that we develop the attitude of taking all our problems to the Gohonzon—no matter how small
or big! Sensei says faith exists in daily life. In other words, we should base our life on the
Gohonzon. For example, when we are suffering or feeling confused, instead of worrying or
working out our own strategies, we should employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra. We should
develop the courage to sit and pray before the Gohonzon with all our heart.

Sensei once observed that when faced with a big problem, different people react
differently. Some sit and cry, others reach out to talk or complain about their destiny. But a
person of strong faith will immediately rush to the Gohonzon and pray about it. It is also
important to take guidance from a senior to understand how to challenge the situation
through faith.

Nichiren Daishonin writes: “...though one might point at the earth and miss it, though
one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise in the
west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go
unanswered” (‘On Prayer’, WND-1, 345).

Explaining this passage, Sensei states that while every prayer is definitely answered, it is
important to examine “whether we are practitioners of the Lotus Sutra—that is, of Nam-
myoho-renge-kyo—whether we are really putting the teachings of the Daishonin’s Buddhism
into practice” (Discussions on Youth, vol. 2, 125).

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 Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change

Applying the Gosho and Sensei’s guidance in one’s life

The second aspect of ‘faith equals daily life’ is to live our life based on the wisdom of the Gosho
and Sensei’s guidance. Sensei says, “Your daily actions and conduct are manifestations of faith”
(NHR2, 210). Therefore, it is not enough to chant to the Gohonzon; there is need to do one’s
human revolution, change one’s behaviour and become a better person.

Sensei clarifies, “No matter how people may insist they have attained enlightenment, if
they do not behave compassionately, then they are lying. Wisdom is invisible. A person’s
conduct, therefore, is the yardstick or barometer for gauging his or her wisdom. The purpose of
the Buddha’s appearance in the world, after all, is accomplished through his behaviour as a
human being” (WLS2, 80). Therefore, even if one chants a lot, but if one’s behaviour is negative,
one will not be able to experience the great power of the Gohonzon. For example, in the
Gosho, ‘The Three Kinds of Treasure’, the Daishonin says, “The worthy man Confucius held to
his belief ‘Nine thoughts to one word,’ which means that he reconsidered nine times before he
spoke. Tan, the Duke of Chou, was so earnest in receiving callers that he would wring out his
hair three times in the course of washing it, or spit out his food three times in the course of a
meal [in order not to keep them waiting] .... What is called Buddhism is found in this behavior”
(WND-1, 851). The Gosho is filled with nuggets of wisdom on how to manifest Buddha-like
behaviour in our daily life and make the causes to win over our challenges. The Daishonin also
clearly indicates what kind of behaviour eradicates good fortune in the following passages:

Your face bears definite signs of a hot temper. But you should know that the
heavenly gods will not protect a short-tempered person, however important
they may think he or she is. (‘The Three Kinds of Treasure’, WND-1, 849)

Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of
your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself
exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. (‘Questions and Answers about
Embracing the Lotus Sutra’, WND-1, 58)

In the Gosho, the Daishonin also tells us about the correct attitude to have at work, in
relationships, towards illness, and so on. Studying the Gosho fills our life with wisdom, courage
and compassion to adopt the right attitude and take the right action at a crucial time. In fact,
Sensei compares the Gosho to the mighty sword of a great samurai—without studying and
applying the Gosho, we cannot win over our problems or experience the Gohonzon’s great

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 Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change

power. Therefore, Sensei always urges us to make Gosho the foundation of our faith so that we
can build a strong inner self that is not swept away by our emotions and karma.

As Sensei says in the poem Dawn of India:

My dear friends, never forget that Buddhism

is the fundamental Law
through which to create an inner self
that, like the Himalayas,
is noble, powerful, indomitable.
To this end, I urge you—
be victorious in your daily struggles,
gain victory over yourself.
Please realise that
the correct path of human revolution
is only to be found in ceaseless effort,
based on the principle
“faith manifests itself in daily life”.

(‘Dawn of India’, 15–16)

Daily practice of gongyo and daimoku and kosen-rufu

Sensei explains that human revolution—that is, a revolution in our fundamental attitude, way
of thinking, actions—takes place when our lives are in the state of Buddhahood. “When we fuse
our lives with the enlightened life of the Buddha, we can tap the power within to change
ourselves in a fundamental way” (‘Discussions on Youth’, vol. 2, 76).

The way to manifest the state of Buddhahood is through the daily practice of gongyo
and daimoku. Sensei says, “Gongyo, which we perform morning and evening, is a joyous
ceremony in which we return to the great life state of time without beginning [that is,
Buddhahood] and set forth anew with fresh energy and vitality enfolded in the protective
embrace of the heavenly deities and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the ten
directions and three existences” (VC, Oct 2015, 3).

In another guidance Sensei has said that while the difference between those who do
gongyo regularly and those who do not may not be apparent immediately, in the long run those
who are regular are able to change the deepest of their karma.

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 Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change

In The Human Revolution, Toda Sensei says: “To be really happy, you must have money,
good health and, more than anything else, a strong life force. This final condition defies all
ordinary reason and effort. You cannot acquire it unless you vigorously chant to the
Gohonzon.... I compare the Gohonzon to a machine that produces happiness. Its operation is
quite simple. You only have to observe morning and evening gongyo every day and strive to
[shakubuku] 10 people each year” (HR7, 177–78).

So, the crucial factor in manifesting faith in daily life, in becoming happy, is the daily
practice of gongyo and striving to advance kosen-rufu through sharing the joy of practising
Nichiren Buddhism with others.

How does one understand the connect between kosen-rufu and oneself? When we
work at manifesting faith in our daily lives and do shakubuku, we will also be able to change our
immediate environment and society at large. As Ikeda Sensei states, “The aim of our movement
for kosen-rufu is to cause a warm current of compassion to course ever more vibrantly through
our cold-hearted society and open the way to a new age of humanity characterised by peace
and happiness” (SGI Newsletter No. 9282).

At this very crucial never-to-be-repeated time, let us advance joyfully to create a new
India envisioned in the poem Dawn of India:

Buddhism does not exist apart from society.

Faith that ignores people is meaningless.
Therefore let us polish our wisdom,
develop our characters,
that we may spread the
luxuriant branches and leaves
of our humanity throughout society.

(‘Dawn of India’, 20)

As we advance towards November 18 and the Year of Expansion in the New Era of
Worldwide Kosen-rufu, let us challenge all our deadlocks based on the principle of faith equals
daily life through regular gongyo and abundant daimoku. Let us all report breathtaking victories
so that the Mystic Law can spread to the farthest corner of India and the world!

[Courtesy Value Creation November 2015]

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This document can be photocopied for the exclusive use of activities of Bharat Soka Gakkai. This document may not be
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