
佛教的要旨是扎根於所有人皆本有佛性來達至真正平等和正義,從而賦予所有人力量來建立一個真正和平的社會。
(佛陀視)任何人、任何生命都是尊貴平等的。我確信《法華經》的人性主義才是下一個千年所需要的「宇宙性人性主義」。
佛法是在根底層次,闡揚最高的「敬人之道」。佛法教示能夠展現我們本有佛性的,唯有我們為人處世之道。所有人皆是平等的,所有人皆具最尊貴的本質,而所有人皆有獲得幸福的權利。
有人簡單地把支配現代的風氣說成是一種「無能為力」的感覺。誰都認為非改變現狀不可,但不管政治、經濟、環境等問題,皆非一人能力所及,這些問題全都被掌握與操縱著……這種無能為力的感覺促使事態更加惡化,形成惡性循環。
與這種感覺相反的,就是《法華經》的哲學……教導一個人的「一念」可以改變一切,並且明確地教示我們,人擁有無限潛能與尊貴的生命。……
不管身在何處都必須從「一個人的蘇生」開始出發。這就是「透過人間革命來實現社會革命、地球革命」,其法理就是《法華經》。

佛教的要旨是扎根於所有人皆本有佛性來達至真正平等和正義,從而賦予所有人力量來建立一個真正和平的社會。
釋尊是一個的王子,養尊處優……各個季節有不同的宮殿,身邊總有侍者撐傘,遮陰避暑。
促使釋迦牟尼出家修行並且成為整個佛教起源點的力量,是要超越人類生命本有苦難的熱切渴求。
釋尊的口才和誠懇,是佛教在當時深入及廣泛地銘刻在民衆心裡的原由。
如是我聞。
二十八品的《法華經》能夠整理出來,是因為(釋尊)有一些弟子……決意立於與佛同樣的境涯,救渡全民眾,實踐「如是我聞」。
這兩個人感到滿意,其根源所在,他們能夠把個人感情和偏見放在一邊,而認真地去追求真理。
所有的人都是我的兒女,我希望我自己的兒女在這個和下一個世界裡能有一切福利和幸福,也希望所有人都能有。

《法華經》裡述說與邪惡奮戰的正義觀,有鼓勵疲憊的人的溫馨場面,也有鼓舞人們消除恐懼的勇氣。
經文裡有三世自由自在的歡喜合唱、自由的飛翔、燦爛的光芒、花草、綠樹、音樂、繪畫和故事。亦有最高的心理學、人生學、幸福學、和平學,是健康的根本軌道。亦能使人領悟宇宙的真理――「心變則一切改變」。
更賜壽命。
以永恆的生命來看,……壽命的長短並不重要,而是在於這一生是怎樣過的?做了什麼?如何改變了自己的境界?令多少人們幸福?才是重要。於今世開啟、鞏固了佛的境界者,將永恆持續此境界。
汝等皆行菩薩道,當得作佛。
照顧他人,不但可以引出他人的活力,也會加強自己的生命力。擴大他人的生命,自己的境涯隨之提升,利他與自利一致,此即菩薩道之妙。
此經能救一切眾生者,此經能令一切眾生離諸苦惱,此經能大饒益一切眾生,充滿其願。如清涼池,能滿一切諸渴乏者。……此法華經亦復如是,能令眾生離一切苦、一切病痛。
諸佛世尊,唯以一大事因緣故,出現於世。……諸佛世尊欲令眾生開佛知見。
開顯眾生的佛知見,表示眾生本具備著佛知見……(釋尊)這句話等於宣言「眾生乃極尊之存在」。
廣說諸經,
而於其中,
此經第一。

要傳播表現佛教最高教義的《法華經》,無疑需要具有菩薩或菩薩們那樣真正特殊的覺悟和決心。
我等於如來滅後,周旋往返十方世界,能令眾生書寫此經,受持讀誦,解說其義,如法修行,正憶念。
釋尊的佛教,不單純是印度民眾的狹隘民族宗教。它帶有普遍性,具有一種超越國境、超越民族差異、逐漸向全世界普及的世界宗教――也可以稱之為「人類宗教」――的性質。
成為此路交通工具之一的,即號稱為「沙漠之舟」的駱駝。畫家常書鴻先生(中國敦煌研究院名譽會長,已故)曾說:「駱駝於沙上留下來的足跡,宛如一條連綿不絕的蓮花絮。」
把佛教的肝要正確無比傳至中國的,就是著名的佛學家鳩摩羅什。
(佛教徒)出於一種要把佛法傳到異國的弘教熱誠。正因為有著這種帶有崇高使命的火熱決心,所以才能衝破一切艱難困苦。
中國的敦煌被稱為「砂漠的大畫廊」,具有千餘年(公元四世紀以來)歷史的佛教美術寶庫。

若善男子、善女人於法華經,……受持、讀誦、解說、書寫,……是人一切世間所應瞻奉。
若眾生無佛知見,何所論開?當知,佛之知見,蘊在眾生也。
同樣是《法華經》,但依佛、時和眾生的機根不同,表現形態就會不同。極理雖只有一個,但也會因各時代眾生的佛緣深淺不一,而有種種差別。

法華……是一切眾生皆成佛道之教。
廣宣流布於閻浮提,無令斷絕。
法不自弘,人弘法故,人法共尊。
晝夜常精進 為求佛道故。
我……手握法華經,披蓑衣、戴斗笠而居之(佐渡國)。

南無妙法蓮華經雖是一句一偈,然、同一句之中,此一句最為肝心。……一切事皆有其所詮、肝要。法華經一部之肝心,即南無妙法蓮華經之題目。……唱此經題目……即成大善根!
南無妙法蓮華經,非僅為一代之肝心,乃法華經之心也、體也、所詮也。
妙法蓮華經五字,非經文,非其義,祇唯一部之意耳。初心行者,雖不知其心,行之而自然當意。
如斯易持、易行之法,是佛留為末代……一切眾生而說。
但心唯貴耳!
汝其早改信仰之寸心,速歸……(《法華經》)之一善。若然,三界皆佛國。佛國焉衰?
匯眾流而成大海……日蓮之始信法華經,於日本國如一渧……。得二人、三人、十人、百千萬億人齊來唱傳法華經時,是……大涅槃之大海。
佛教是教導人如何發現自身內在的「至尊生命」,此「至高的希望」。
能發覺自身擁有「至尊生命」此「至高希望」的人,同時也能從他人的生命中發現希望的光輝。並且,通過自他這根源性的共鳴,自覺到構築「生命尊嚴,尊敬人性」的新世界,就是「自己的使命」。
依附於權力的宗教,當然不會為了民眾而變革現實社會,也沒有創造現實社會的力量。

牧口(會長)以御書為師,迎向大難,在法滅的危機時代使佛法復蘇。
伸一,我會奠定日本廣宣流布磐石般的基礎,由你開拓世界廣宣流布的大道!我只能預先替你構思計畫,你要將這一切全部都付諸實現啊!
釋尊在《法華經》中說示:「我常在此娑婆世界,說法教化」。
在社會中奮戰!
切勿離開民眾!
絕對不可忘記於此才有以「立正安國」、「人類和平」為使命的創價之永遠大道。
如是我聞。
如是我聞之心,就是指弟子毅然立起,決心宣言「要與師同心,救渡民眾」。

Now I entrust it to you. You must single-mindedly propagate this Law abroad, causing its benefits to spread far and wide.
Nichiren chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, vowing to make it possible for all [living beings] to attain Buddhahood.
Everything depends on how earnestly one can accept and act on even a single word of the mentor. A true disciple strives to actualize the mentor’s vision—not by mimicking the mentor but by putting into action what the mentor has taught.

Who is capable of broadly preaching the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law?
If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one’s own way.
When we fully integrate both the practice for ourselves and the practice for others, we get in sync with the rhythm of the universe.
The more we advance in the practice for oneself, the more our practice for others develops. And as our practice for others advances, our practice for oneself deepens.

Our wish is that in future ages we may use our long lives to save living beings.
The Buddha’s preaching of the Law is called the lion’s roar, and the Lotus Sutra is the foremost roar of the lion.
As long as we have faith, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome. The great life force of the lion king wells up in our lives.
When we devote ourselves to the happiness of others, when, of our own free will, we undertake the struggle of a bodhisattva, the immense force of life without beginning or end wells up in our being. The eternal life of the Buddha permeates our being like a rising tide. Then, there is no way that we cannot dramatically change our lives for the better.

The benefits gained by this person will be such that when he is reborn he will be in a place where the Lord Shakra is seated.
What a joy it is for us to have been born in the Latter Day of the Law and to have shared in the propagation of the Lotus Sutra!
When we possess the kind of strong faith where we love the Gohonzon, love chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and love SGI activities, our life overflows with the “benefits of responding with joy.”

At that time in the Buddha’s presence there was a tower adorned with the seven treasures …that rose up out of the earth and stood suspended in the air.
No treasure tower exists other than the figures of the men and women who embrace the Lotus Sutra.
We can attend the eternal Ceremony in the Air here and now. We can cause the treasure tower to shine in our lives, our daily existence, our homes. That is the greatness of faith in the Gohonzon. It is always close at hand and always reflected in our immediate reality.

If after the Buddha has passed into extinction
one can understand the meaning of this sutra,
one will be the eyes of the world
for heavenly and human beings.
Nichiren, who propagates [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo], the heart and core of the Lotus Sutra, throughout the country of Japan—is he not the “eyes of the world for heavenly and human beings”?
The SGI members who are carrying on [Nichiren]’s legacy are the “eyes” of … the world in the 21st century. Hope for the new century rests with the victory of the SGI. Resolutely defeating all unjust slander, let us cause the great light of justice of the SGI to shine in our communities and throughout the world.

Those who are able to embrace this sutra... Their virtue will be uppermost, immeasurable and boundless as the open sky.
When once we chant Myoho-renge-kyo, with just that single sound we summon forth and manifest the Buddha nature of all Buddhas; all existences; … the sun and moon, and the myriad stars; … human and heavenly beings, and all other living beings. This blessing is immeasurable and boundless.
Human beings are children of the stars, of the universe. Our lives are one with the great life of the universe. The benefit of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is literally the benefit of the entire universe. It is inexhaustible. Limitless.

Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha.
Single-mindedly observing the Buddha, concentrating one’s mind on seeing the Buddha, and when looking at one’s own mind, perceiving that it is the Buddha.
The mind of an ordinary person who seeks the Buddha becomes the mind of the Buddha itself.
The heart is what really matters. One simply cannot understand Buddhism without a pure seeking spirit stemming from the depths of one’s heart.

The benefits gained by such a person
are boundless and inexhaustible,
like the vast sky in the ten directions
that no one can set a limit to.
When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo single-mindedly with strong faith, this ordinary body of ours will immediately become the body of the Buddha.
Could there ever be a more wonderful story than your own?
The fundamental teaching of the Lotus Sutra and of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is that ordinary people—just as they are—should live, assert themselves, and strive wholeheartedly for happiness while fully expressing their humanity. To do so is to throw oneself completely into the struggle, to stand up against adversity. This is what it means to practice without begrudging one’s life. Apart from this, there is no “living Lotus Sutra.”

His pure light, free of blemish,
is a sun of wisdom dispelling all darkness.
He can quell the wind and fire of misfortune
and everywhere bring light to the world.
There are no living beings that do not possess the true aspect of Buddhahood.
Just as a seed will grow into a great tree with the passage of time, the branches of good fortune and benefit in our lives will thicken and produce abundant flowers and fruit as we continue to practice.
A tree of good fortune and benefit that is thus rooted in the earth of life will not fall over. It stands firm even when buffeted by a fierce storm.

If a person who has an illness is able to hear this sutra, then his illness will be wiped out and he will know neither aging nor death.
“Myo” is the elixir of immortality.
We can develop our lives to the extent that, as we overcome various hardships, we will live each day, each moment, savoring the joy of being alive. This is true health.
To be healthy in body and mind is to live vigorously, dedicated wholeheartedly to accomplishing one’s mission in this existence. It means that, as long as we are alive, even should illness overtake us, we will continue chanting [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo] and telling others about the Mystic Law. It means living fully for our mission throughout eternity. To have such faith is to possess a state of life free from aging and death.

This bodhisattva manifests himself in various different bodies and preaches this sutra for the sake of living beings in various different places.
“Wonderful sound” refers to the unfathomable and wonderful sound made at the present time, in the Latter Day of the Law, when Nichiren and his followers now chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
When we tune and practice the instrument of the self, we cause the wonderful sound of the universe to pulse in our lives; we cause it to reverberate and ring out. Buddhist practice teaches us how to do this.
While we may exert ourselves in different areas, we are all motivated by compassion and humanity. We should burn with a spirit and determination to become the foremost ally of those who are suffering.

This sutra is to be honored
as highest among all sutras.
Constantly I guard and protect it.
If one fails to denounce the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, it will be impossible to attain the way.
The Soka Spirit is the courage to speak out for the sake of truth. We must strive undauntedly to ensure the triumph of justice.

He views human beings with compassionate eyes.
The sea of his accumulated blessings is immeasurable.
It could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.
When we take action for kosen-rufu with a selfless spirit, the microcosm of our lives fuses with the macrocosm of the universe and our prayers are answered.
To walk the essential path of humanism throughout life, the path of kosen-rufu, is to lead an unsurpassed existence. Therefore, we need to forge ahead on this path without retreating a single step. There is no need to hold back.

The moon appears in the west and sheds its light eastward, but the sun rises in the east and casts its rays to the west. The same is true of Buddhism. It spread from west to east in the Former and Middle Days of the law, but will travel from east to west in the Latter Day.
This worldwide spread of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism of the sun, with its teaching of respect for all people, is essentially what is meant by the statement that “[Buddhism] will travel from east to west in the Latter Day."
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.
Above are quotes from the Humanism of the Lotus Sutra exhibit at the SGI-USA Plaza. Only quotes that can be sourced from material available to SGI-USA members are listed. For World Tribune and Living Buddhism references beyond 2019, please use the e-reader at:https://sgiusapublications.pressreader.com/