World Peace through Inner Happiness: The Path of Nichiren Buddhism Spreading Seeds of Hope

By Lela Ryterski

Nichiren, a thirteenth-century Japanese Buddhist monk, discovered a secret teaching that presents a powerful, practical method to create inner happiness. It is known as a “wish-granting jewel” or a “cluster of blessings.” Practitioners of this method gain wisdom, courage, confidence, and fortune in their lives.

In World Peace through Inner Happiness, Lela Ryterski provides a concise history of the development of this practice used today by the Soka Gakkai, the organization that emerged from Nichiren’s teachings. The Soka Gakkai has fostered a revolutionary worldwide Buddhist movement.

Ms. Ryterski has been a member for over thirty-five years. She admits to having been a shy and timid person. Making wrong decisions and living according to others, she felt like a leaf in the wind. Through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, she has become strong. She’s learned that she’s an important person, and so is everyone. We’re all born because we have a mission, and we’re on this path together.

By infusing society with this teaching, we can transform the world from one mired in suffering to one of peace. World Peace through Inner Happiness gives a rational account of how to make the impossible possible.

You cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798369402092

Lela Ryterski

N/A

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 by Lela Ryterski.

For info on joining our movement for peace,

contact www.lelaryterski.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

The faded lotus flower in the front cover and interior images are by the author.

Rev. date: 10/17/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

852206

CONTENTS

Dedication

Sources And Inspiration

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Quotes From The Lotus Sutra

Chapter 1     Introduction to Buddhism

Chapter 2     Shijo Kingo Learns the Basics (1230–1271)

Chapter 3     Nichiren Challenges the Nembutsu (1260–September 12, 1271)

Chapter 4     The Exile (1271–1274)

Chapter 5     Shijo Kingo’s Challenges (1277)

Chapter 6     The Atsuhara Persecution (1268–October 15, 1279)

Chapter 7     Nichiren’s Closing Chapter (1278–October 13, 1282)

Chapter 8     The Priesthood (1282–1641)

Chapter 9     Persecutions (1718–1867)

Chapter 10   Modern Priests (1872–1912)

Chapter 11   Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (June 6, 1871–November 18, 1930)

Chapter 12   World War II (December 6, 1941–August 6, 1945)

Chapter 13   Josei Toda Takes the Lead (July 3, 1945–May 3, 1951)

Chapter 14   Daisaku Ikeda and His Mentor (August 14, 1947–March 30, 1958)

Chapter 15   Ikeda Takes the Lead (May 3, 1958–November 1963)

Chapter 16   The Human Revolution and Future Divisions (1964–1967)

Chapter 17   Philosophy

Chapter 18   Global Citizens (1967–1971)

Chapter 19   Environment (1972–2020)

Chapter 20   World Affairs, Dialogue, SGI is Born (1972–January 26, 1975)

Chapter 21   Devedatta and the Worms within the Body (April 1975–August 1979)

Chapter 22   Next Phase (1979–81)

Chapter 23   Culture Festival, the UN, (March 1982—August 1983)

Chapter 24   Ambassador for Peace (February 1984–October 31, 1990)

Chapter 25   Operation C (1990)

Chapter 26   The Excommunication (1991)

Chapter 27   Worldwide Propagation and the Nichikan Gohonzon (January 1993–November 1995)

Chapter 28   SGI Charter (November 23, 1995)

Chapter 29   Dialogue (1996)

Chapter 30   Seven Bells (1997–2253)

Chapter 31   Destruction of the Grand Main Temple (1998)

Chapter 32   Educating (2000–2018)

Chapter 33   Youth Take the Lead (2018–2022)

Chapter 34   Encouragement and Experiences

Chapter 35   Culture

Chapter 36   Shakabuku

Chapter 37   Soka Gakkai Buddha

Chapter 38   Summary and Conclusion

Afterword

Appendix A: Notable Priests (1330–1726)

Appendix B: Persecutions (1763–1876)

Appendix C: More Notable Priests (1872–1931)

Appendix D: Three Thousand Realms in a Life Moment (Ichinen Sanzen)

Appendix E: My Story (1947–2022)

Appendix F: Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra

Glossary

Index Of References

Endnotes

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Sensei, Daisaku Ikeda.

Sources And Inspiration

My sources were The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, The Untold History of the Fuji School, Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, Daisaku Ikeda’s The True Object of Worship, The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, You Can Do It!, Buddhism Day by Day, and mostly Ikeda Sensei’s writings and documentation of the development of the Soka Gakkai in his serialized books, The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution. This, along with commentaries that I gleaned through reading the Soka Gakkai monthly magazine, Living Buddhism, and their weekly newspaper, World Tribune. Gosho Zenshu is the collected writings of Nichiren Daishonin.

I include my direct experiences and those of others. I quoted Nichiren, Makiguchi, Toda, and Ikeda as much as I could to let these bodhisattvas speak for themselves.

A sincere student of Nichiren Buddhism would be wise to read Daisaku Ikeda’s books, The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution, for an inspiring account of the history of the Soka Gakkai. He began writing The Human Revolution on December 2, 1964, and completed it in November 1992. He then started The New Human Revolution on August 6, 1993, and completed it on August 6, 2018, at the age of ninety. For fifty-four years, he dedicated his life to recording the history of the Soka Gakkai for the purpose of spreading Nichiren Buddhism throughout the world.¹

Mr. Ikeda says, Our friends are to be found in every country and region. The world’s people are waiting for us. With fresh determination, let us embark anew toward achieving worldwide kosen-rufu, the goal of world peace that humankind so earnestly longs for.²

Soka Gakkai members regard these novels as textbooks for kosen-rufu (spreading the teachings for peace). Ikeda Sensei refers to himself in his novels as Shin’ichi Yamamoto. I took the liberty of substituting his real name.

This book is my attempt to repay the debt of gratitude I owe to my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda.

Acknowledgments

This book was developed through the help of my family and friends, some of whom went through readings with me. All contributed ideas which I incorporated. I am grateful to each for their part in helping me pull this work together:

Edie Alter, Rachel Cummings, Elizabeth (Liska) Kandror, Joanna Tornes, Gail Lordi, Jan Gitnes, Margret Calica, Ann Igou, Kayla Stelling, Debbie Alter-Johnson, Ariana Kaminskas, Wendi Ben-Ari, Jess Tenhoff, Charles Mabbot, Kate Rich, Cynthia Ross, Joe Craig, Jerry Sattler, Mary Odden, William Miller, Anne Boxenhorn, Brian Odermatt, and many other supporters

Introduction

Do you think Buddhist practice is calm, passive, quiet meditation? Well, not Nichiren Buddhism! We chant out loud and engage in society to create a better world. Without effort, nothing will happen.

I’m not saying quiet meditation is bad or useless. It’s just not powerful enough or fast enough to change this world from its current path of self-destruction. We can’t wait.

Nowadays, people want to fight. They’re not happy with the way things are going. They want a revolution. They want war. However, a more effective revolution is possible without war—a human revolution—in which we fight against the detrimental negativity in our own lives. As we progress, we become empowered. Our true selves shine. When we change, our environment also changes.

I’ve become hopeful and optimistic because there are many people chanting and working toward the same goals of inner happiness and world peace. We are supported and encouraged as part of a Buddhist order, and I have gained confidence that good will prevail. I’m doing my part in this fight. I can wield a powerful tool that can vanquish evil. I’m convinced of the power of this tool. I have seen that it works. It can help us achieve the life we want and become happy and at ease.

Through this daily practice, we become people who are aware of our own potential. We become people of wisdom, courage, and compassion. I hope this book will inspire you.

Quotes From The Lotus Sutra

The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni, taught for forty years. He taught The Lotus Sutra during the last eight years of his life. This was his most important teaching, which he affirmed within that text. Here are some examples:

"I have preached various sutras and among those sutras the Lotus is the foremost."³

"If there are monks who are able to expound this Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law, their minds will be free of jealousy and anger, of all worry and hindrance. No one will trouble them, curse or revile them. They will know no fear . . ."⁴

If far and wide a person listens to this sutra or causes others to listen to it, embraces it himself or causes others to embrace it, copies it himself or causes others to copy it, or presents flowers, incense, necklaces, streamers, banners, silken canopies, fragrant oil, or lamps of butter oil as offerings to the sutra scrolls . . . the blessings of such persons will be immeasurable, boundless, able to inspire in him the wisdom that embraces all species.⁵

One who upholds this sutra upholds the body of a Buddha and practices the deeds of a Buddha. You should know that such a person is an envoy sent by the Buddhas.⁶

Therefore, a person of wisdom, hearing how keen are the benefits to be gained, after I have passed into extinction should accept and uphold this sutra. Such a person assuredly and without doubt will attain the buddha way.⁷

CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Buddhism

I will start by letting Ikeda Sensei explain the word Bodhisattva: The term ‘Bodhisattva’ describes anyone—of whatever culture or religion—who acts for the sake of others. Bodhisattvas do not only seek simply their own release from suffering, rather, they are prepared to risk everything in order to take action on behalf of those who suffer. Efforts on behalf of others is their greatest source of benefit and joy. The capacity for altruism is something inherent in every human heart.⁸

Bodhisattva practice leads to enlightenment. One who is enlightened is called a Buddha. Why aspire to enlightenment? An enlightened person experiences fearlessness, joy, freedom, compassion, and wisdom. He or she is a person who has awakened to the truth of life. We all live in this saha world, this world of endurance and suffering. Buddhas are born into this world to help people rid themselves of suffering. Buddhas are bodhisattvas on steroids—the epitome of bodhisattvas—and they have appeared at different times and places in the universe.

Buddhism emerged from the teachings of Shakyamuni, the first historical Buddha. He was originally thought to have lived around one thousand years before Christ (1000 BC). Some sources say he lived around 600 BC. No one knows for sure, but I’m inclined to believe the first date because it seems more accurate in the light of this story and history. Shakyamuni (sage of the Shakya clan) is also known as Siddhartha, Gautama, Thus Come One, Tathagata, Lord of Teachings, Hero of the World, and probably more monikers. He was born a prince in Nepal near India. He traveled through India on a quest to find solutions to the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

Imagine the Buddha’s delight when finally, after years of austerity, he realized the truth of life and his powerful Buddha nature, thereby overcoming suffering. He began to teach.

Shakyamuni Buddha taught according to the people’s capacity to understand. To a blacksmith, he might talk about forging faith; to a tailor, he might talk about how life is like an interwoven tapestry. Many schools of thought, or sects, arose out of his various teachings (compiled as sutras or scriptures).

After he had been teaching for forty years, he told his disciples that he had not yet revealed the truth of his own enlightenment. His disciples were now ready to understand this teaching, and the time had become right. They asked him three times to reveal it to them, so he finally expounded The Lotus Sutra.

The lotus, because it is the only plant that flowers and seeds at the same time, symbolizes cause and effect. Each chapter of The Lotus Sutra is titled Myoho Renge Kyo, meaning the teaching of the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect. This sutra implies that we are all connected to this wonderful, mystic universal law of cause and effect. And, like the lotus, people can bloom beautifully, even though we emerge from the muddy swamp of our personal tragedies.

Key within The Lotus Sutra’s teachings is that everyone already has Buddhahood in their lives, signifying everyone’s life is noble and worthy of respect. A Buddha, in this Latter Day of the Law (the age we are living in), is an ordinary human being, not a resplendent Buddha with superhuman attributes. We do not need to try to impress others, put on airs or pretend to be something we’re not, said Ikeda Sensei. "We ordinary people living in this saha world are all inherently Buddhas, endowed with supreme dignity."⁹

In this sutra, the Buddha also explains his life span as immeasurable—that he had lived countless lifetimes. By extension, it suggests the concept of reincarnation for all of us.

Over the years, Shakyamuni’s teachings spread from India to China, to Korea, and then to Japan.

Historians and scholars divided the time after Shakyamuni’s death into three periods: Former Day of the Law, Middle Day of the Law, and Latter Day of the Law.

During the Former Day of the Law, Buddhism was a living religion. Those who practiced it attained enlightenment. It lasted one thousand years.

During the Middle Day of the Law, Buddhism gradually became formalized, the people’s connection to it weakened, and fewer people gained enlightenment through its practice. It lasted one thousand years.

In the Latter Day of the Law, the last of the three periods, Buddhism falls into confusion, an age of conflict, and the teachings lose their power to lead people to enlightenment. This lasts for ten thousand years and more.

The Buddha knew that his teachings would fade after two thousand years, which marks the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law, so he embedded a solution into his last teaching, The Lotus Sutra.

Shakyamuni predicts, in The Lotus Sutra, that within the first five hundred years of the Latter Day, the four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth were to begin to make their appearances, starting with Bodhisattva Superior Practices: "Among these bodhisattvas were four leaders. The first was called Superior Practices, the second was called Boundless Practices, the third was called Pure Practices, and the fourth was called Firmly Established Practices. These four bodhisattvas were the foremost leaders and guiding teachers among all the group ¹⁰. . . with great transcendental powers, unfathomable in wisdom, firm in their intent and thought, with the power of great perseverance, the kind living beings delight to see."¹¹

These leaders were to uphold and spread The Lotus Sutra. He had entrusted them with the mission to lead people to enlightenment and, consequently, to world peace into the ten thousand years of this Latter Day of the Law.

Referring to the four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, The Lotus Sutra explains, You should understand that these people are great bodhisattvas who have succeeded in attaining supreme perfect enlightenment . . . These people voluntarily relinquish the reward due them for their pure deeds and, in the time after I have passed into extinction, because they pity living beings, they are born in this evil world so they may broadly expound this sutra.¹²

Shakyamuni Buddha called, Go forth for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many.¹³

Shakyamuni, in addition, predicts that its votaries (people who vow to uphold The Lotus Sutra) will be banished again and again, suffering persecution. After all, if the negative forces in the world didn’t try to obstruct the teachings for peace and happiness, how would they know they were on the right path?

Nichiren

In the year 1222, on February 16, a child given the name Zennichi-maro was born. He would become the first leader of the bodhisattvas, discovering the secret within The Lotus Sutra.

He grew up in a fishing village in the province of Awa, Japan. At the age of twelve, he left home to study at a nearby temple called Seicho-ji and became motivated to solve the eternal mystery of death. Seeking the truth, he prayed to be the wisest person in all of Japan. Through his prayers and meditations, he received a jewel of wisdom, awakening to the ultimate reality of life and realizing his enlightenment. However, to help others attain enlightenment, he had to organize his ideas.

Concerning him was the fact that there were so many different sects with contradicting doctrines. He decided to enter the priesthood at sixteen, took the religious name Zesho-bo Rencho, and sometime later, left Seicho-ji to travel around Japan to study the different schools of Buddhism at different temples.¹⁷

He became well educated. He noted, "I have extracted and written down the main points of the 3,000 volumes of non-Buddhist writings and the 5,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures . . .¹⁸

In judging the relative merit of Buddhist doctrines, I believe that the best standards are those of reason and documentary proof. And even more valuable than reason and documentary proof is the proof of actual fact for discerning the truth, validity, and superiority of various Buddhist teachings and other things.¹⁹

After about twenty years of study, he concluded that the true teachings of Buddhism are to be found in The Lotus Sutra. All other sutras are mere expedients leading up to the Lotus. Faith in The Lotus Sutra, which, above all, respects human life, was the key to transforming an age mired in misery and war.

He went back to Seicho-ji to report his discovery. On April 28, 1253, at the age of thirty-two, he chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the first time in front of his teacher and other priests and villagers who had gathered in one of the temple gardens. He declared that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the essence of The Lotus Sutra, is the only teaching that can lead the people of the Latter Day of the Law to enlightenment. He then changed his name to Nichiren, meaning sun and lotus.²⁰

It was, indeed, Nichiren who took on the role of Bodhisattva Superior Practices as he unleashed the secret hidden within The Lotus Sutra. He wrote, "Like in a dream, I started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo ²¹. . . I vowed to summon up a powerful and unconquerable desire for the salvation of all beings and never falter in my efforts."²²

Persecutions were immediate. The group that had gathered that first day was quite upset that he proclaimed their teachings were misguided. He had to leave quickly to escape their wrath. Before leaving town, however, he visited his parents and converted them to the new faith.²³

Unlike stories from ancient times that were handed down through the generations verbally, this Buddha, this leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, wrote down his own story. He wrote letters to his disciples and treatises that contained his profound discoveries.

The Latter Day of the Law

These evil times of the Latter Day manifest the three poisons of greed, anger, and foolishness in which lying and cheating are prized as valuable traits. Those who don’t lie and cheat are looked down upon as being weak and naive. It is a time when people blame others for their own infractions. In this period in history, many people take advantage of others and look out only for themselves. War and corruption are everywhere.

Nichiren said, This world is the domain of the devil king . . . All of its people have been under the rule of this devil king since time without beginning. Not only has he built the prison . . . and confined all humankind within it, but also he has made wives and children into shackles, and parents and sovereigns into nets that block off the skies. To deceive the true mind of the Buddha nature, he causes the people to drink the wine of greed, anger, and foolishness, and feeds them nothing but dishes of evil that leave them prostrate on the ground of the three evil paths. When he happens on persons who have turned their hearts to goodness, he acts to obstruct them.²⁴

The devil, historically, delights in causing pain and suffering. In Buddhism, he is the personification of the negative impulses within all of us. Negativity causes slander of the noble Buddha nature in ourselves or others.

When we consume the three poisons of greed, anger (hate), and foolishness (or ignorance), the three calamities and seven disasters arise (described in various Buddhist scriptures).²⁵ Commenting on the situation, Nichiren says, Because people turn their backs on what is right . . . famine and disease rage more fiercely than ever, beggars are everywhere—scenes of death fill our eyes.²⁶

Here is a brief example of how the three poisons manifest today:

Greed causes the disaster of famine: For example, profit being their goal, the CEOs of, for instance, oil companies and other big companies are not concerned about the welfare of people or the planet, only their bottom line. They downplay the fact that they are aiding global warming, which causes floods, droughts, and failed crops, which, in turn, cause shortages of grain, high grain prices, inflation, and starvation.

Anger causes the disaster of warfare (internal strife and foreign invasion): Conspiracy theories broadcast through the media instill anger, fear, and suspicion in a large part of the population. The truth is made false. Good people are made bad. This creates division, hostility, and violence. Anger over poverty and injustice creates gangs, terrorists, riots, mass shootings, and war. Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen; Turkey and the United States bombed Syria, displacing three hundred thousand people; Rwanda killed one million of their minority sect in three months; Israel and Palestine are still in conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine, displacing millions of people. There is fighting and unrest in most countries in the world. In the United States, there is discrimination against Negroes, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, Asians, dark-skinned people, migrants, and the poor, causing hate crimes. Guns are not restricted. Democracy remains a dream for some and useless to those who seek control. Money is worshipped. Compassion and empathy are lacking.

The poison of foolishness causes pestilence/epidemics: Ikeda Sensei points out, For example, from commonly held misunderstandings about diet, sanitation and such.²⁷ The global pandemic called COVID-19 started in 2019 and has killed over five million people in two and a half years. There is speculation that the virus came from an open wild meat market (think bats, etc.) in Wuhan, China. There is a rumor that the virus was developed in an international lab in Wuhan. Everyone is blaming everyone else.

Because of greed, anger, and foolishness, people are fleeing their homes to find a safe place to live. They migrate, risking their lives. Many die or find they are not wanted in other countries, where they continue to experience harsh conditions.

This evil Latter Day needs a strong practice and a sound philosophy to lead us in a positive direction so we can regain hope for the future. Nichiren presented one. The practice of The Lotus Sutra has the power to wrest the world away from the devil.

"The Daishonin declares that those who stand up with ‘the heart of a lion king’ to protect the correct teaching of Buddhism when evil forces combine to oppress it are sure to gain the life state of Buddhahood.²⁸ Unless we protect and spread the correct teaching, the way to happiness for all people will be closed. That is why making selfless efforts to share the supreme teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the Buddhist practice most suited to the Latter Day, and why its practitioners will become Buddhas without fail,"²⁹ said Ikeda Sensei.

The mentor–disciple relationship is extremely important in passing the teachings from person to person. The texts say that lifetime after lifetime, a mentor and a disciple are born together. The Lotus Sutra reads, Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their teachers.³⁰ This passage reveals the depth of the mentor–disciple bond.

CHAPTER 2

Shijo Kingo Learns the

Basics (1230–1271)

I would like to introduce Shijo Kingo, one of Nichiren Daishonin’s main disciples, with a partially fictional account of his life. Since we don’t have Shijo Kingo’s actual words, I filled in some of the dialogue to flesh out the scenes.

In the year 1230, Shijo Nakatsukasa Saburo Yorimoto was born, the son of a samurai warrior. In Japan, names are reversed. Your last or family name would be said first. His middle names describe