Nichiren Daishonin
A series of calamities and disasters, including a devastating earthquake, prompted Nichiren to submit a treatise to the retired regent Hojo Tokiyori on July 16, 1260. What was the title of this treatise? (See The Basics, p. 6)
“On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”
Faith, Practice, and Study: What are the two key aspects of Buddhist practice? (See The Basics, p. 53)
practice for ourselves, striving to gain personal benefit from practicing Nichiren Buddhism; and practice for others, teaching others about Buddhism so that they may also receive benefit.
What significant event took place on November 18, 1930, involving Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda? (See The Basics, pp. 86–87)
On November 18, 1930, Makiguchi published the first volume of his Soka kyoikugaku taikei (The system of value-creating education). This was the first time the name Soka Kyoiku Gakkai had appeared in public, and for this reason the date of the work’s publication, November 18, is celebrated as the date of the Soka Gakkai’s founding.
Nichiren Daishonin writes: “There is definitely something extraordinary in the ebb and flow of the tide, the rising and setting of the moon, and the way in which summer, autumn, winter, and spring, give way to one another. Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood. At such a time, the three obstacles and four Devils will invariably appear, and the wise will _______ while the foolish will _______.” Please fill in the blanks. (See The Basics, p. 63)
rejoice; retreat.
What vow did Nichiren make as a youth while studying at Seicho-ji temple? (See The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism, p. 3)
He made a vow to become the wisest person in Japan.
Faith, Practice, and Study: According to the text, without Buddhist study, what are we at the risk of? (See The Basics, p. 57)
Without Buddhist study, we are at risk of lapsing into our own personal interpretations of Buddhism and may easily be deceived by those presenting erroneous teachings.
When did Josei Toda become the second Soka Gakkai president and what did he resolve to do on that occasion? (See The Basics, p. 95)
His inauguration as the organization’s second president took place on May 3, 1951, and on that occasion, he declared his vow to achieve a membership of 750,000 households.
In “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” the Daishonin states: “Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase” (WND-1, 386). What does it mean to share Buddhism “to the best of your ability”? (See The Basics, p. 110)
“To the best of your ability” means exerting yourself to the fullest.
In triumphing over the Tatsunokuchi Persecution, Nichiren, while remaining an ordinary human being, revealed his original identity as a Buddha possessing infinite wisdom and compassion. This is called _________________________ in Buddhism. (See The Basics, p. 9)
“Casting off the transient and revealing the true”
Faith For Overcoming Obstacles: Why is it that a person who upholds the correct teaching encounters obstacles? (See The Basics, pp. 59–60)
Buddhist practice in particular arouses strong opposition to change from within our own lives or our relationships with others. This may be compared to the way the resistance of the water on the hull of a moving boat produces waves.
What did Josei Toda do on September 8, 1957? (See The Basics, p. 98)
On September 8, 1957, Toda delivered his Declaration for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, which would become the start and keynote of the Soka Gakkai’s peace movement.
In “The Wealthy Man Sudatta,” Nichiren Daishonin says: “The way to become a Buddha easily is nothing special. It is the same as giving water to a thirsty person in a time of drought, or as providing fire for a person freezing in the cold. Or again, it is the same as giving another something that is one of a kind, or as offering something as alms to another even at the risk of one’s life” (WND-1, 1086). In our practice of Buddhism today, offering something precious or important to us means ______________________________________________ in the course of our daily lives while living life to the fullest. Please fill in the blank. (See The Basics, pp. 107–08)
“pledging to carry out kosen-rufu” (In doing so, we devote our lives to Buddhism and thereby open the life state of Buddhahood within us.)
What did Nichiren seek to do in writing and submitting “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land?” (See The Basics, p. 6)
Clarify the fundamental cause of people’s suffering and set forth the means by which people could eradicate such suffering.
Faith Equals Daily Life: Nichiren Daishonin writes, “Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra” (WND-1, 905). What does this passage teach us? (See The Basics, p. 79)
This passage teaches that daily life is the venue for Buddhist practice.
It is the context in which we demonstrate how we live as individuals with faith as our basis. Our regular conduct is none other than an expression of the workings of our inner life. And faith is the power that enables us to transform and fulfill our lives at the deepest level.
Daisaku Ikeda was inaugurated third Soka Gakkai president on May 3, 1960. What did he do just five months later on October 2? (See The Basics, p. 99)
On October 2 that year, Ikeda Sensei left Japan for North and South America, the first step in a journey to spread the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism around the world.
The practice of “almsgiving” is one of the six paramitas, or bodhisattva practices. Among the various types of almsgiving in Buddhism, the two most commonly known are _______________ _________ and _______________________. Please fill in the blanks. (See The Basics, pp. 107–08)
The offering of goods, providing food and other goods to the Buddha and Buddhist Order; and the offering of the Law, sharing or explaining the Buddha’s teachings.
When the government rejected the Daishonin’s final remonstration, he decided to leave Kamakura and, in May 1274, took up residence at Mount Minobu in Kai Province. What activities did he engage in at Minobu? (See The Basics, pp. 12–13)
He composed many of his major works there, including “The Selection of the Time” and “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude.”
Faith Equals Daily Life: Nichiren Daishonin writes, “The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behavior as a human being” (WND-1, 852). What does this passage mean? (See The Basics, pp. 80–81)
Shakyamuni appeared in this world and expounded the Buddhist teachings. His purpose in doing so (the purpose of his advent) was nothing mysterious or special. It was simply to show people the best way to live as human beings. In other words, we show proof of the power of our faith by consistently acting with good sense amid human society and by being people of fine character who are trusted and resp
In 1965, Ikeda Sensei began writing the novel The Human Revolution, which would eventually extend to twelve volumes. His purpose in doing so was to correctly transmit the history and spirit of the Soka Gakkai to future generations. As described in its preface, what is the main theme of the novel? (See The Basics, p. 99)
“A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.”
In “Happiness in This World,” Nichiren says: “Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-rengekyo, no matter what happens. Then you will experience boundless joy from the Law” (WND-1, 681). In likening life to the ocean, what does Ikeda Sensei say about the meaning of this passage? (See The Basics, p. 113)
The ocean, even when waves are crashing on its surface, is calm and unchanging in its depths. There is both suffering and joy in life—the point is to develop a profound, indomitable self not influenced by these waves. A person who does so receives the joy derived from the Law.
While in prison, in addition to exerting himself in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Josei Toda from early 1944 began to read the Lotus Sutra and pondered it deeply. In the process, he experienced two awakenings. What were they? (See The Basics, p. 90)
First, Toda came to the realization that the Buddha is life itself. He also awakened to the deep conviction that he was a Bodhisattva of the Earth who had been present at the Ceremony in the Air described in the Lotus Sutra and whose mission it was to accomplish kosen-rufu.