YWD STUDY OCTOBER 16TH 2021 – PART 3 OSAKA CAMPAIGN SECOND HALF (PGS 157 –

172)

Thank You Tina for your wonderful study presentation. Now, I will be continuing the study
of the Osaka Campaign where the highlights are of how Sensei encouraged each & every
member from the depths of his heart and his wonderful guidance’s to certain members
who were deeply struggling.

Sensei Daisaku Ikeda always encouraged each and every member and said “The road to
victory starts from encouraging one person. In Thoughts on The New Human Revolution,
Sensei Ikeda writes: There were times when I attended 25 or 26 meetings in a single day,
always on the move, always telling myself, “I have time for one more” and “I can
encourage more members.” While travelling from one meeting place to another, if
someone pointed out a member’s house to me, I would always try to stop by, even if
just for a minute. Whenever a member came to the Kansai Headquarters, I would
always try to make time to speak with him or her, even if just a word of greeting or
encouragement. At times when I simply could not stop, I would wave or acknowledge
people with my eyes, silently sending daimoku to them from my heart.

TAKEAWAY/WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS – how Sensei kept encouraging every member in the
same caring spirit and didn’t want to leave anyone behind. Also, its so important to be there for
our members especially in their trying times cos I remember when I have been extremely low
and bogged down by various karma and had no hope left, it’s the leaders encouragement
which helped me not to give up and pick myself up. Also, even if we are pressed with time,
sending a guidance message or an experience in relation to what a member is going through
can really help a member so no act of kindness or encouragement is small etc.

There was a time when Sensei met a Young Women Division member’s mother who
didn’t practice. He greeted her in a sincere and polite manner and said to her, “Your
daughter is a sensible young woman. She is always doing her best. You don’t have to
worry about her.” Impressed by Sensei’s personality, the mother was very pleased, and
said, “My daughter is fortunate.” Everywhere Sensei went there was rejoicing among all
the people present. It was really “a storm of joy”.

TAKEAWAY/WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS – how Sensei is reassuring a non member about his/her
practicing family member and his conduct is a reflection of our organization so similarly we
must be very courteous when we go to members homes as we are representing the
organization and what it upholds etc.

When a Men’s Division member encountered Sensei on the staircase.

Sensei saw his face, and said, “What’s the matter with you?” At that time the
member had been neglecting daimoku. As if Sensei saw through him, and
said, “Chant daimoku, and your vital power will fill your body like the
sun.” Sensei’s warm consideration went straight to his heart. Later, he
earnestly dedicated himself to chanting daimoku, and overcame his
economic hardship without even realizing he had done so.

TAKEAWAY/WHAT REALLY INSPIRED ME – the lines that the vital power of diamoku will
fill your body like the sun. This truly depicts the real power of chanting which brings out
our potential and reflects in our environment. Also, when we are in rhythm with doing
morning evening gongyo and diamoku its like setting a uplifting tone to our day. I myself
feel when I am off rhythm in chanting, it affects my day and also how I deal with various
situations and challenges etc.)

When Sensei went to his last meeting place in the day, he glanced at a
birdcage in the backyard, and asked, “Who takes care of those birds?” The
lady of the house answered, “My son does. I worry about him not having
faith.” Then Sensei encouraged her, saying “A child who keeps small birds
is kindhearted.”After that, her son took faith and contributed to kosen-
rufu.

TAKEAWAY/WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS – the way Sensei is reassuring the

mother about her sons goodness even if he is not practicing faith and also the way
he appreciates her son by looking at the birdcage is beautiful etc.

At a guidance meeting a Men’s Division member explained his situation that his
transport company had gone bankrupt and he was in the depths of poverty and
asked Sensei who he should do. Referring to the decorative flower on the table in
front of him, Sensei Ikeda remarked: “Take this beautiful flower, for instance. Does it
bloom, thinking it wants to be seen by people? No, it doesn’t. Its mission is simply to
bloom beautifully. Even in the depths of poverty, regardless of what others may think,
you are important. You have a mission. What matters is for you to bloom beautifully. Say
to yourself, ‘It does not matter whether people look at me or not, but I will bloom. This
is the spirit I must have.’” From that point on, he put everything he had into Gakkai
activities despite his extreme financial struggles.

He also then received this guidance from President Ikeda at the Kansai
Headquarters: “Apply yourself to faith with the spirit of permeating your entire
being with the Mystic Law. Doing so will enable you to develop a life-condition of
indomitability, capable of dealing with whatever may happen.” The member then
made a determination to chant 10,000 daimoku a day with the conviction that he
would never again face poverty. Three years later he was able to buy a car, and from
then on his economic revolution took off. Chant one million daimoku without fail —
that is what was engraved in his life during the Osaka Campaign.

TAKEAWAY/WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS – the way Sensei explains him and tells him he is a
Buddha irrespective of his low finances. Similarly no external person or things we require to
make us feel worth. We are complete and whole and worthy just the way we are. My own
example of being unhealthy made me feel unworthy, due to that I couldn’t work made me feel
incomplete etc.
One should chant to ones heart content and fouc on quality of diamoku but when our karma is
deep, we need to push ourselves and come out of our comfort zone and increase the quantity of
diamoku too etc.

Sensei Ikeda, even after making the rounds of the local meeting places,
always sent postcards, letters or poems to members, to continuously
encourage them, writing: “Buddhism is about winning. Those who will
advance until the very end will finally triumph.” For a member, he penned a
poem commemorating their encounter: Dedicating the passion, Welling up in
your youthful body, Struggle and endeavor, In the battle of kosen-rufu. Also, “Final
victory hinges on nothing but the unity and hand- to-hand struggles of
the women’s division members. Hoping for all the more efforts.”

For one member, Sensei gave her the words ‘Great Struggle’ written in bold,
beautiful brush strokes of calligraphy. Subsequently, she also received a
letter of encouragement which said: “In spring the blossoms open, in autumn
the fruit appears. Summer is hot, winter is cold. The season makes it so, does
it not?’ You should consider that being able to exert yourself in this struggle
means being qualified to receive great benefits. I really hope that you will
give thorough and detailed guidance to your members. Take good care of
your health.”

TAKEAWAY – Sensei gives lot of hope that every struggle we exert in, qualifies
us for great benefits etc.

(below the yellow highlighted parts have to be updated, will do so in the morning)

A district leader was exerting himself in Gakkai activities but his

activities were not producing any results. He was neglecting his work and
family and, bogged down by his busy schedule, he didn’t even notice that
he was in such a desperate situation. At this time, he received a letter
from Sensei Ikeda. The letter said, “The great fight of this century is for
the Mystic Law. Please take a brilliant lead as a great soldier. Please
treasure your work and your wife.” He was taken aback. It reminded him
of the Second President Toda’s guidance — “How is your work?” “There are
no problems. I entrusted it to others.” “You shouldn’t leave your work to
others. Work is a part of practicing faith. You have to take responsibility for
it yourself.” That night he apologized to his family for his behavior and
pinned a large piece of paper on a wall in his house, pledging to achieve
his human revolution. On the paper was written this message: “We, the
Okamoto family, have been saved and fostered by the Soka Gakkai. We
will never forget this debt of gratitude.”

EXPLAINATION (our activities are training ground for our human revolution
in our daily real life of work and family ..)

When a Young Women’s Division leader came home, she saw she had
received a postcard from Sensei Ikeda, with this message: “‘A strong
determination can pierce a rock.’ You shouldn’t forget a strong and
spontaneous faith, which can change your karma and unfold your life, no
matter what. Whether you have won or lost is determined at the last
moment of your life. Therefore, you must know that the struggle in
everyday activities is the source for accumulating good fortune. Especially
in this campaign, please don’t forget sincerity, kindness and a smile when
you lead members or give them guidance. I pray for your great
achievement.” After the member lost her parents, she had moved to
Osaka and had suffered from a chest disease and spent seven years in a
sanatorium. Just after she was discharged from the sanatorium, she
received this postcard. Sensei was worrying even about her in such a
situation. Tears were flowing from her eyes as she read the postcard. She
said “I’m going to answer to Sensei’s expectations — to the person who
knows everything about me — and definitely win and become happy.”
The prayer for my own happiness fused into my prayers for kosen-rufu.

EXPLAINATION (change karma …)

At the Kansai Headquarters, Sensei Ikeda came across a pregnant women’s division
district chief. Sensei said to her, “Please take care of yourself.” Several days later, she
received a postcard from Sensei: “Thank you so much for your day-and-night
struggle for the campaign even though you are pregnant. Let’s achieve victory and
report to the Gohonzon. Please stay in good health.” Sensei always concentrated on
encouraging even “one person” from the bottom of his heart.

Sensei Ikeda was going to Tokyo on urgent business and the visiting leaders
told him, “Please be rest assured ...” They all relaxed at the Kansai
Headquarters for a while, deciding that they could take a rest because
Sensei Ikeda had returned to Tokyo. Suddenly the door opened and Sensei
came back as there had been a sudden change of plans. Seeing the
leaders’ attitude, he said: “‘Same Birth and Same Name are looking at
everything, even if no one else is looking at you. Faith is not trying to look
good, but exerting yourselves steadily behind the scenes. ‘Where there is
unseen virtue, there will be visible reward’ (WND-1, 907). Faith means
unseen virtue.” All of them expressed regret and reflected seriously on
themselves, and transformed themselves into “fully-committed individuals”,
moved by President Ikeda’s strong inner determination.

EXPLAINATION (no efforts will go wasted even if its unseen …)

The campaign drew closer. All youth division leaders were in a hurry to
reach their base of activities, but Sensei Ikeda told them, “Please wait. Go
after listening to a record.” They thought, “What is this for? Everyone is
waiting for us at the central meeting place.” Sensei coaxed them: “The
expression in your eyes has changed as you all rush to your meeting places.
You need ‘Stillness in Movements’.” They listened to a music piece. While
listening, they developed a sense of space in their hearts. Sensei then sent
them off.

Once we climbed to the top of Osaka Castle. President Ikeda said,

“Sometimes you should view the future of kosen-rufu with a broad mind,
from a high place like this. Then he asked a member, What would you do
if you got exhausted?” He said “I would take a nap, of course,” Sensei said,
“Taking a nap is one way, but I suggest that you listen to an excellent piece
of music and you will recover from your mental fatigue.”

While Sensei was visiting members to encourage them, he suddenly got

out of his car, looked up at the night sky, and said, “What a beautiful
moon.” Members were touched by his attitude of ‘Stillness in
Movement’.

EXPLAINATION (when we are all over the place, take a moment a breath be
calm and be more aware of your surroundings and the power of music ..be
present in the now present moment ..)

During the campaign, Sensei Ikeda had discussions with each member and
asked about their lives. One of the youth division leaders at that time said:
“Sensei asked me about my friends. As he asked one question after another, I
became unable to answer them. I realized that I didn’t know that much
about my friends. That’s when Sensei said ‘Pray by remembering the name
of each person.’ He told us the importance of having strong determination
to care about each person.” Also that, just one stride of a hundred people is
more valuable than a hundred strides of one person.’

EXPLAINATION (know about your friends, keep a check on them, be it

members or non members .. )

President Ikeda gave guidance about a leader’s attitude. “Leaders must be

sensitive. Being sensitive to everything is another word that describes ‘faith’.
As Nichiren Daishonin states in the Gosho, ‘When water is clear, the moon is
reflected. When the wind blows, the trees shake. Our minds are like the
water. Faith that is weak is like muddy water, while faith that is brave is like
clear water’. The moon is not reflected in muddy water. When your faith is
clear, you will be sensitive.”

President Ikeda gave us guidance: “The last moment is crucial in struggle.

Even if you have tried very hard up to this point, if you allow your spirit to
slacken, everything will have been in vain: ‘This is where you will cross the
Uji River. This is where you will ford the Seta. This will determine whether
you win honor or disgrace your name’” “What is important is when you are
in the last ‘spurt’, or when you finally cross the bridge of Seta: ‘The reason
that you have survived until now when so many have died was so that you
would meet with this affair’”

EXPLAINATION (reason you are alive is because you have a mission. Don’t
slacken your faith in the last few crucial steps left in the struggle ..)

Sensei met a Women’s Division District Chief who had lost her husband. He
recalled that six months ago he had encouraged her. She had five
children to take care of. He said to her, “Don’t cry. I know it hurts, but
you should remember that you are the happiest person no matter what
happens to you, because you were able to meet the Gohonzon.” He told
her with joy, “Now you really look good. I can tell that you have been
determined. You have changed. You really have changed. I had really
worried about you. I truly felt pain for you.” A few days later, Sensei Ikeda
wrote to her, quoting a Gosho passage: “… sacrificing your life for the Lotus
Sutra is like exchanging rocks for gold or dung for rice” She cried holding
his letter. She became even more determined to devote herself to kosen-
rufu and to transform her karma.

EXPLAINATION – my example of Daddy

While people in the Kansai Headquarters were overjoyed at the news of

the great victory in the Osaka Campaign, Sensei was preparing to leave.
Sensei said, “Thank you for everything over such a lengthy period of time.
Everyone looks so delighted. I’m happy to see that. In the Russo-Japanese
war, General Nogi made his name at the cost of thousands of lives. I,
however, rather than desiring to attain fame for myself, only hope that all
the Kansai members, without exception, will become happy.” Uttering
these words, Sensei departed from Osaka.

EXPLAINATION (fortunate to be his disciple ..)