NEW YEAR’S DAY 1948
[Toda]...finished gongyo, chanting
daimoku three times. With a beaming
smile, he turned to look at the leaders’ faces.
Although they were shabbily dressed as usual, their faces were bright
and ... every eye was ... shining.
Koichi Harayama saluted him formally,
“A happy new year to you, sir. Please
continue to support us, just as last year.”
Toda responded with a smile, “A happy
new year to everyone. But not “just as
last year”. If we continue this year “just
as last year”, kosen-rufu will not be achieved.
Mr. Hirayama, will you continue your inactivity “just as last year”?”
A roar of laughter greeted this
observation. “I will be greatly
distressed if Mr. Mishima is always complaining, if Mr. Konishi sulks and Mr.
Seki looks pale and worried, just as they did last year.
Even louder laughter greeted this
comment. ... “I hope every one of you
will, with strong faith, make the most of your abilities and carry out splendid
shakubuku activities. ... I hope you will change a great deal for the better
this year.”
(Human
Revolution: Vol. 3, p3-4)
As Toda says, each year shouldn’t be
“just as last year”. Each year through chanting, study and taking action
based on wisdom, courage and compassion, we can grow in faith and introduce our
friends, family, co-workers and neighbours to Nichiren Buddhism, as well as supporting
and encouraging other members to deepen their understanding of our practice.
New Year’s resolutions are a great
opportunity to give up addictions to alcohol, tobacco or chocolate, strive to
become a better person and overcome some of your negative traits and
tendancies, but the greatest resolution at New Year (or any time of the year) is
to renew your vow as a Bodhisattva of the Earth and a Votary of the Lotus
Sutra.
The SGI has named 2014 as “The
Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-Rufu” but this new era of
kosen-rufu won’t open itself. All of us as individual members and as
districts need to take action and “at all times ... think to [ourselves] “How
can I cause living beings to gain entry into the unsurpassed way and quickly
acquire the body of a Buddha?” (The
Lotus Sutra, Chapter 16, p273)
See also:"Happy New Year 2015" (from 1st January 2015)
"New Year Resolutions" (from 1st January 2013)
"Ready, Willing & Able" (from May 2012)
