THE GREAT SPEECH - 75th Anniversary

Charlie Chaplin is most famous for his memorable on-screen character “The Tramp” from the silent era of movies, and when talking movies first began, he tried to buck the trend believing that talking pictures would undermine the artistry of acting.  In 1940 though, after releasing two movies which were soundtracked but still avoided the spoken word, he made his first true talking movie, The Great Dictator, which features one of the greatest speeches of all time.

The movie is a political satire about two identical characters - a Jewish barber and a dictator called Adenoid Hynkel – both played by Chaplin, and after a series of persecutions, mix ups and confusion, the barber finds himself in a situation where people think he is the dictator.  The movie ends with the barber giving a speech, but instead of a message of hate, it is a call for people to open their eyes, stand up and fight oppression and dictators.
  

Below is a video of this wonderful speech.  Charlie Chaplin may have spent most of his life in silence, but when he did talk he had something important to say, and even though this movie premièred in New York City on 15^th October 1940, the words are as fresh and relevant today as they were 75 years ago.
  

I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible -- Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another; human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.  But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me I say, "Do not despair." The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass and dictators die; and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers: Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel; who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate; only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural.

Soldiers: Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written, "the kingdom of God is within man" -- not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men, in you, you the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then, in the name of democracy, let us use that power! Let us all unite!! Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie! They do not fulfill their promise; they never will. Dictators free themselves, but they enslave the people!! Now, let us fight to fulfill that promise!! Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers: In the name of democracy, let us all unite!!!

---

Hannah, can you hear me? Wherever you are, look up, Hannah. The clouds are lifting. The sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world, a kindlier world, where men will rise above their hate, their greed and brutality.

Look up, Hannah. The soul of man has been given wings, and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow -- into the light of hope, into the future, the glorious future that belongs to you, to me, and to all of us. Look up, Hannah. Look up.

End of the World?

Based on Mayan calendar predications, some people believe that today is the end of the world, but according to Jesus Gomez, head of the Guatemalan Confederation of Mayan Priests, “There is no concept of apocalypse in the Mayan culture.”  December 21^st 2012 is not the end of the world, but the end of a 5,125 year cycle called the Long Count and they believe that a Mayan god, called Bolon Yukte, will return to earth to signal a new age. 

We can already see the beginnings of this new age.  People are tired of politicians lying about expenses, deceiving us with their speeches and scandals.  People are tired of companies like Starbucks and Google trying to evade paying tax.  People have had enough of bankers and other financial institutes gambling with money, being bailed out by the government and still rewarding themselves with huge bonuses.  People are getting tired of greed, ignorance and selfishness.

People are ready for change and they are looking for new solutions to the suffering and inequality in their communities.  The Soka Gakkai International is on the threshold of great growth in many countries all around the world.  The U.K. is seeing a great increase in new members at the moment and as we become more noticeable, people will start to see that there is hope for the future.  There are statesmen and leaders who care about all humanity and are not just looking out for their own selfish interests.  We are those statesmen and leaders.  We can lead the people to a new world.  A world on our doorsteps filled with compassion and hope for the next 10,000 years.

The world is not ending, it’s only just beginning and Nichiren Buddhism holds the answers that people are looking for. 

Want to know more about the Soka Gakkai International?  Check out my first post http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/our-shared-humanity.html for an introduction to Nichiren Buddhism and any of my other posts for further information.

Josei Toda Speech

The rapid growth of the Soka Gakkai in the 1950s led to a plan for the construction of new temples across Japan so that members could receive Gohonzon and develop a connection with the priesthood in their local areas. The first of these temples to be completed and have a Gohonzon enshrining ceremony was Myosho-ji on 10 November 1954. This was followed by Myoke-ji Temple completed on 17 November and Shomyo-ji Temple on 15 December. Here is an extract from Josei Toda's speech on 15 December 1954 at Shomyo-ji.



You can see that from 2:10 to 2:15 there is a message to SGI members to return to Nichiren Shoshu. This is followed by images from Taiseki-ji including the interior of the building where the Dai-Gohonzon is enshrined. A building that replaced the one donated by the Soka Gakkai that was controversially demolished by High Priest Nikken.

The NST often uses President Toda's speeches to highlight the close relationship that existed between the Soka Gakkai and the priesthood, but during the 1950s the relationship between the two was generally okay. It was only when the priesthood started to deviate from the teachings of respect and equality found in the Gosho that President Ikeda challenged these beliefs leading to the excommunication of the SGI. I'm sure if they were alive, neither Tsunesaburo Makiguchi nor Josei Toda would have tolerated this behaviour either.

Ten Worlds - You Got This

This is a short 4 minute film by a motivational speaker called Sean Stephenson who has a genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, which is more commonly known as "brittle bone disease". I don’t know if he is a Buddhist but this video, written and starring him, is a nice introduction to some of the life states from the Ten Worlds.






And if you are interested, here is a bit more information about Sean.

How the Universe Works

I Asked For Strength

I asked for strength, I was given difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom, I was given problems to solve.

I asked for courage, I was given obstacles to overcome.

I asked for favors, I was given opportunities.

I asked for love, I was given people who need love.

I received nothing I thought I wanted and everything I needed.

Live each moment without fear.

Confront the difficulties, problems and obstacles before you and you will overcome them.

Recognize opportunities and you shall learn to learn from everything.

Love yourself, and others will love you.

And always…remember to breathe.

This poem has appeared on the internet in many versions in support of various faith groups, often starting with “I asked God for…” or “I asked Allah for…” but this non-denomination version is the only one I’ve found on the internet which credits the poem to a writer - Aaron Hoopes.

Helping a Hundred People

A really great leader always thinks of helping a hundred people to advance, though it be but a step, rather than making one man alone leap a hundred steps forward. (Daisaku Ikeda, The Human Revolution, Vol. 3, p 4)

The last year has been very eventful with many challenges.  My wife and I had to come to terms with the death of a close family member, but we have also been making plans for our future with a change of job for my wife and a promotion and then a change of career for myself.   It's taken a combination of determination, chanting and action, but all in all the last twelve months have been good to us and both my wife and I have made a massive leap forward in both our working and spiritual lives. 

In the midst of everything that was going on in our personal lives, on 8^th March 2012, I become the Men’s Leader for my district and the above quote kept going through my mind.   Most of my energy had previously been spent on primarily helping Miki and myself to advance, but how could I help every member to advance?

After chanting for many hours, I decided that The Human Revolution E-mail Project I had been planning might be an interesting thing to share with the district, and that receiving daily e-mails based on short extracts from The Human Revolution with a short contextual commentary and points to ponder might be one way to achieve this.

My thoughts were that members that find it difficult to attend meetings due to work, family or study commitments, would feel more connected to Buddhism and feel they are still a part of the district, that members who were overcoming challenges in their lives might find a few words of comfort or inspiration, and that members who were happy and enjoying what there is to enjoy, would at least feel motivated by President Ikeda’s story of the growth of the SGI.

We are now two months in to the project (only 10 to go!) and I hope that all of you are taking steps in faith month by month.  Hopefully by the end of Volume 12, ALL of us will have leapt a hundred steps.   

I also started this blog at the end of March to explain different aspects of the SGI's beliefs and practice.  This was intended to be a supplement to the daily e-mails and would allow me to make the e-mails a little briefer with optional information available for those that were interested.  Even though it's part of the public domain, I hadn't really anticipated this blog spreading much further than my district, but so far in addition to interest in the U.K., I have had  more than 300 visits from around the world, including people visiting my site from the U.S., Canada, Russia, China, India, the Phillipines, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong, Venezuela, Malaysia and Switzerland!

P.S.

Going back to the quote above, even if you are not a district or chapter leader within the SGI, everyone has a part to play.  All of us that chant “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”, believe in the Lotus Sutra of Shakyamuni Buddha and follow Nichiren Daishonin's Writings are leaders within society.  We can all help non-members to advance one step or even take one giant leap by introducing them to Nichiren Buddhism.

If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one's own way.      (Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: Volume 2, p 1060)

Buddhism for Kids

Rob Koo has written a wonderful book called Great Buddhist Stories which tells 14 stories from the Lotus Sutra and Gosho which teach children (and adults!) important virtues such as compassion, gratitude, etc.  This one comes from this month's Art of Living magazine, but it originally appeared in the SGI-USA magazine Living Buddhism.

Why not check out Rob's book "Great Buddhist Stories" which is available from most SGI websites' bookstores.

UK   -   http://www.sgi-uk.org/shop/book/great-buddhist-stories
USA -   http://bookstore.sgi-usa.org/product_p/6163.htm

Getting Along With Friends

This guidance is President Ikeda’s response to a child’s question and comes from an article in The Seikyo Children’s News (Japanese) from June 8, 1997.

Q. I have quarrelled with my friend. What should I do?

A. Though you may have had a disagreement with your friend, there is no reason to feel bitter about him, or think about parting ways. Change the mood of the situation, and try to approach it with a new and fresh perspective. In some cases, it could be that you are more at fault than your friend. In other cases, your friend may be more at fault than you. However, at that stage, take some time to reflect and then initiate a discussion with him. If you did something wrong, you should apologize. If you behave in this way, you will turn your quarrel into a chance to develop an even better friendship with him.

To Be Or Not To Be

The Lotus Sutra contains many Bodhisattvas who live shining lives and are an inspiration to others.  Here's my growth tip for today.

STEP ONE – Make a “To Be” list

Many of us make to do lists to try and focus our time, but my stepdad used to recommend making a “To Be” list to focus your personality.

 Make a list of the kind of qualities you’d like to be: patient, forgiving, confident, punctual, determined

STEP TWO – Create your own Bodhisattva name

 Using your “To Be” list from STEP ONE, create your own Bodhisattva by combining positive words like always, excellent, paramount, eternal, vibrant, stunning, outstanding, etc.  You may need to change the adjectives from STEP ONE into their noun form.

i.e.  Bodhisattva Steadfast Patience, 
        Bodhisattva Effortless Forgiveness,

       Bodhisattva Supreme Confidence,
        Bodhisattva Perfect Punctuality       
        Bodhisattva Unsurpassed Determination

STEP THREE – Become the Bodhisattva

Keep your “To Be” list or Bodhisattva name next to the Gohonzon or somewhere you will frequently see it and chant to awaken these valuable qualities in your life. 

The Abundance of Life

Today,

I re-dedicate my life to

Kosen-rufu: To be strong so that

nothing can upset my peace of mind. To talk of

health, happiness and hope to every person I meet. To

make friends feel that there is something good and beautiful in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and to be optimistic about life.

To think only the best, and work towards doing and expecting only the best. To be just

as happy about the successes of others as I am about my own. To forget any

mistakes of the past and press forward to greater achievements

in the future. To give so much time to improving myself,

that I have no time to criticise others. To be too strong

for fear, too kind for anger and too happy

for worry. To lift my heart in faith

each day, so the Gohonzon

may show forth in

my life.

(based on The Optimist Creed by Christian D. Larsen)

The Far Reaching Sound

Chanting is one of the core components of Nichiren Buddhist practise.  By chanting "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" we can tap into the Buddhahood within our lives.

Alan Smallwood is a composer and producer from Washington DC who has combined inspirational music with Buddhist chanting.

His CD, "The Far Reaching Sound", consists of twelve pieces of music with "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" as an accompanying vocal.  

Here is one of the "songs".  Enjoy.

If you want to check out more samples from the CD go to             
                                                                                            http://www.alansmallwood.com/index2.html