What is “Human Revolution”?

“Human revolution” is a term used by Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, to describe the process by which an individual gradually expands his life, conquers his negative and destructive tendencies, and ultimately makes the state of Buddhahood his dominant life condition. The idea of revolution as most people understand it usually refers to a political or economic revolution. Such a revolution usually imposes new ideas upon people at large, and thereby effects change. The idea and the goal of human revolution is very different.

Rather than changing society directly, through improving or reforming social or political systems, the object of change lies deep within the life of each individual. As Josei Toda states: “‘The human revolution’ I am talking about…refers to the establishment of one’s ultimate purpose in life and working towards the perfection of self. We carry out our daily lives according to our own views on life and society. However, ‘human revolution’ refers to the change that we bring about in the way we view life, society and the world. A fundamental change occurs in the way one has led his or her life up until that point. The ‘human revolution’ of an individual becomes apparent when he or she establishes an unwavering and absolute conviction in the eternity of life. Rather than focusing on short-term goals which apply only to one’s present lifetime, this conviction becomes the basis for the pursuit of loftier goals and greater good, in contrast to one’s previous satisfaction with the accomplishment of lesser goals and good.”

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda wrote a twelve-volume account of Josei Toda’s life and the growth of the Soka Gakkai in postwar Japan, titled, The Human Revolution.  Within these stories we find the keys for building lives of genuine happiness.  In the foreword to this novel, President Ikeda writes, “A great revolution of character in just a single man will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of all humankind.”

Is chanting a form of meditation or is it positive thinking?

Chanting is neither meditation, nor positive thinking, though it reaps the benefits of both these practices and much more. The essence of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is that in the very act of doing so we are expressing our Buddha nature. Meditation and positive thinking do not have Buddhahood as their objective. It is not possible to express Buddhahood through these means. Although meditation and positive thinking may have value they cannot change the fundamental element in our lives which makes us unhappy and unfulfilled as human beings — our karma, nor can they bring out the highest condition of life, Buddhahood.

Meditation is a more passive exercise than chanting; one usually calms one’s mind by concentrating on a particular phrase or image. At first glance this may seem close to the practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, but actually the difference is apparent. The practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo enables us to express and experience our innate Buddhahood and release the powerful energy contained within that, rather than to calm our minds or negate certain ways of thinking.

Again, while it is true that our thinking does become more positive as a result of chanting, this is because chanting draws out our Buddhahood which, in turn, influences every aspect of our lives, both mental and physical. Therefore, chanting is not so much a question of “thinking positively” or exercising “mind over matter,” which implies restriction; rather, through chanting, our highest state of life naturally influences our thoughts and actions towards the most valuable ends.

How Do You Practice Buddhism

There are three basics in applying Buddhism: faith, practice and study. They are the primary ingredients in the recipe for developing our innate enlightened condition, or Buddhahood. All three are essential. With this recipe, we will experience actual proof of our transformation in the forms of both conspicuous and inconspicuous benefit. The recipe is universal. These basics are the same in every country where this Buddhism is practiced.

Faith — in Buddhism, faith is based on experience. Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism emphasizes obtaining “actual proof” of the teaching’s power. Faith begins as an expectation or hope that something will happen. At the start of our journey, if we are willing to try the practice and anticipate some result, we will then develop our faith brick by brick as examples of actual proof accrue.

Practice — To develop faith, we must take action. We strengthen our wisdom and vital life force by actualizing our Buddhahood each day in a very concrete way. Practice in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism consists of two parts: practice for ourselves and practice for others. Practice for ourselves is primarily the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Each morning and evening, believers participate in a ritual that, along with chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, includes recitation from two significant chapters of the Lotus Sutra chapters which explain that each individual holds the potential for enlightenment and that life itself is eternal. This ritual has been traditionally referred to as gongyo (literally, “assiduous practice”). Practice for others consists of action based on compassion to help give others the means to make fundamental improvements in their lives, similar to what we are undergoing through our own engagement with Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings. The development of our compassion through such practice for others is also a direct benefit to us.

Study — To gain confidence that this practice is valid, and to understand why your efforts will bring about a result, it is essential to study the tenets of this Buddhism. The basis of study comes from the founder himself, Nichiren Daishonin. More than 700 years ago, he instructed followers in the correct way to practice; and his writings, which have been preserved and translated into English, give us valuable insight into how this practice will benefit us today.

The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was formed to support practitioners of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism and help them teach others about it on a global scale. Today, there are some 12 million members in 190 countries, and the American branch is called SGI-USA.

The SGI has prepared numerous study materials that offer deeper looks at Buddhist theory, as well as practical applications through members’ testimonies. There are also English translations of the original teachings of Buddhism, such as the Lotus Sutra. By helping to build understanding and confidence, the study material provides vital encouragement for us especially at crucial moments.

The basic prayer or chant is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is the name of the Mystic Law that governs life eternally throughout the universe. Nichiren Daishonin revealed this law as the underlying principle contained in Buddhism’s highest teaching, the Lotus Sutra. All life is an expression or manifestation of this law. Thus when we chant this Mystic Law, we attune our lives to the perfect rhythm of the universe. The result is increased vital life force, wisdom, compassion and good fortune to face the challenges in front of us.

The translation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is as follows:

Nam — Devotion. By devoting our lives to this law through our faith, practice and study, we will awaken the life-condition of Buddha, or enlightenment, inside ourselves.

Myoho — Mystic Law. As Nichiren Daishonin explained in one of his writings: “What then does myo signify? It is simply the mysterious nature of our life from moment to moment, which the mind cannot comprehend or words express. When we look into our own mind at any moment, we perceive neither color nor form to verify that it exists. Yet we still cannot say it does not exist, for many differing thoughts continually occur. The mind cannot be considered either to exist or not to exist. Life is indeed an elusive reality that transcends both the words and concepts of existence and nonexistence. It is neither existence nor non-existence, yet exhibits the qualities of both. It is the mystic entity of the Middle Way that is the ultimate reality. Myo is the name given to the mystic nature of life, and ho, to its manifestations” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 4; see “Suggested Readings”).

Renge — Literally, the “lotus flower,” which seeds and blooms at the same time. This represents the simultaneity of cause and effect. We create causes through thoughts, words and actions. With each cause made, an effect is registered simultaneously in the depths of life, and those effects are manifested when we meet the right environmental circumstances. Life itself is an endless series of causes and simultaneous effects. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the deepest cause we can make in order to produce our desired effect.

Kyo — Sound or teaching. This is how the Buddha has traditionally instructed — through the spoken word, which is heard.

 

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How it all began

My personal experience chanting Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo

by Ed Williams

There are advantages and disadvantages to growing up in a small town. As a matter of fact the country is no bigger than one of the smallest urban communities in the US. A population of 180 thousand spread across eight thousand eight hundred and sixty four square miles, Belize is where it all began for me. I grew up with superstition and old fashion values. I found myself working for the customs service and having a friend and fellow alumni of St Johns college Charles Chevannes. I remember like it was yesterday when he walked into my work station with a wide grin and said, “What you doing later?” as if there was a whole lot to do in a little town like Belize City. He proceeded to invite me to the humble begginings of the local Buddhist discussion meeting at the house of ,then the only Japanese in Belize, Kensuky Inoue ,on assigment with the United Nations in Belize. These discussion meetings actually started out as drinking sessions charactersitics of a small town like Belize where one of the favorite past time was to gather drink alcholic beverages and talk about whatever, sports, women, cars and even life. I ofcourse had nothing better to do so I went and that was the beginning of the most important phase of my life. At that time I was beginning to question a lot of things somewhat superstitious in nature. So the timing was right I was challenging everything and if I could punch holes in it I sort of moved on mentally. I finally encountered a philosophy that welcome my challenging approach as a matter of fact I was told faith is actual proof. So no proof no faith that resonated with where I was at that time. That along with a strong lure to the orient, a sort of beckoning as if my subsoncious knew things I did not forced me to see this through. To put this to the test. I heard if you chanted Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo you can accomplish anything. Great there were some things I wanted, simple things like a motor bike. I chanted I got it! and so on and so on, Cool! Then Kensuky Inoue challenged a small group of us myself, Charlie Chavannes, Freddie hunter, Arturo Gamero and our wives, girlfriends whatever to take a pilgrimmage to Japan to visit the head temple and chant to the original gohozon, the Diagohozon. That was indeed a challenge for us all at the time. Myself, I grew up in this little town and I was twenty something and never left the country. Not to mention the fact that we were all broke. So we embarked on yet another challenge of the practice of chanting Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo. we made plans. We chanted two and a half hours a day and one hundred days later we were drinking cocktails on flight to Japan pinching ourselves to make sure it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t it was real! We did it again! and again and again until it finally sunk in that this was the way it is. In Japan we met my mentor Daisaku Ikeda. I didn’t feel anything at the time I was numb from culture shock first time out of my little cocoon. I did notice however that the fishes in an acquariom nearby tried their best to get as close to this person as they possible could within the acquarium. I felt this guy really cares and has big plans but at the time I did not realize he would become my mentor. As a matter of fact I could not see myself having a mentor as such as arrogant as I was. I remember vaguely whilst in Japan getting into what could have deteriorated into an argument about whose work was more important house wife or Breadwinner. Whereas everyone else at the table were expressing appreciation for the work of house wives in nurturing the entire family I was adamant that I worked harder than my wife and the work she does can in no way compare with the importance of what I did. In my culture the man was head of household, king and reigned suppreme. I remember growing up as a boy no one worked harder than my dad who worked in road construction, a real man’s job. Anyway at the time I was insensitive to all that, today I look back and realize how limited I was. I have come a long way. I returned from that trip confused there was a whole lot coming at me but I knew one thing, I would sort it all out over time. I will hang in there! There is something here that’s got me. I was swept along by a powerfull movement that I did not quite understand at the time. I plunged myself into veracious reading of the teachings of this great man Nicheren Daishonin. Realizing more and more as time went by how fortunate I was to have encountered this in this lifetime.

Well I have run now promised my daughter I would pick her up from school. In my next post I will tell you about the next challenge the biggest one of the all- sickle cell anemia! Thanks for your time. See Ya!

Introduction

Hi my name is Ed Williams. I am a member of SGI-USA an organization of people from all walks of life working together for world peace through individual happiness and fulfillment. I am District chief for Victory District a local division of SGI organization in the central Los Angeles Area and beginning with this blog and other web based resources we are embarking on a what we call Victory Districts Global World Peace Outreach. Utilizing technology we would like to share our local activities and our individual experiences hoping that in doing so we might be able to encourage someone somewhere somehow. We believe that if even one person can relate to the experiences we share via this blog and be encouraged to persevere through their adversity our mission would have been accomplished. Please allow us to share our experience, awakening and personal growth with you with profound respects for your beliefs and conviction. We firmly believe in the charter of the SGI and wish to reach out creating global friendships. Please bookmark and come back to our blog and let us know what you think with your comments and suggestions.

We thank you for your time and courtesy.