November 2018

for her speedy recovery. This perfectly exemplifies the boundless compassion of the Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.
I keenly feel that this spirit of the Daishonin offers us an example of how we should live as practitioners of his teachings. Ultimately, what matters is not worldly power or outward appearances. Rather, it is our efforts to treasure as we would ourselves those who are suffering and those who are making sincere efforts for kosen-rufu. We must never forget that to encourage and care for others in this way is the essence of genuine humanity.
The Soka Gakkai has achieved remarkable development and growth because its members have never lost this spirit and have continued to work wholeheartedly for the happiness of others. This is both the pride and the strength of the Soka Gakkai.
21.6 Nichiren Buddhism Is a Teaching of Unparalleled Humanism
Introduction
Citing a passage from a profoundly moving letter of encouragement that Nichiren Daishonin sent to the lay nun Ueno, who had lost a beloved son at a young age, President Ikeda speaks of the humanism of Nichiren Buddhism, which
Shichiro Goro died. The cause is unclear, but it was apparently a sudden death. He was only 16 years old.8
When the Daishonin learned the news, he immediately sent a letter conveying his heartfelt sympathy and encouragement to Tokimitsu and his mother, the lay nun Ueno. The letter is dated a day after the young man’s death. He writes:
With regard to the news of the demise of Nanjo Shichiro Goro: Once a person is born that person must die—wise men and foolish, eminent and lowly alike all know this to be a fact. Therefore one should not be grieved and alarmed by a person’s death; I know it to be so and teach others to do likewise. And yet when something like this actually happens, I wonder if it is not a dream or an illusion.
And how much greater must be the grief of the mother! She had lost her parents, her siblings, and even her beloved husband had preceded her in death, but still she had her many children to comfort her heart. Yet now her youngest child, her darling, a son, surpassing others in features and form, devoted in heart, in whom his associates took such delight— now all at once he has been taken
teaches us to value each individual.
President Ikeda’s Guidance:
From a speech delivered at
a Nationwide Youth Division Leaders Meeting, Tokyo, April 12, 1992.
On September 5, 1280, Nanjo Tokimitsu’s younger brother Nanjo
away, like a budding flower that withers in the wind or a full moon that is suddenly lost from sight.
I can scarcely believe that such a thing has happened, and cannot even think of what words to write, though there is much more that I would say. . . .
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Postscript: When I met him on the fifteenth day of the sixth month [June 15], I thought what a fine and spirited lad he was. How it grieves me to think I will never see him again! Nevertheless, he had devoted himself to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra, and he died in a fitting manner. I know that in heart he has gone to join his father in the pure land of Eagle Peak, where they will clasp hands and face one another in joy. How splendid, how splendid! (WND-2,
p 887)
As the postscript notes, less than three
months earlier, Shichiro Goro had visited the Daishonin with his older brother Tokimitsu. The Daishonin had delighted in the sight of these two vigorous young men and cherished great hopes for their futures. Hearing that Shichiro Goro had died, he could not properly grasp what had happened, feeling it must be a dream or an illusion. (cf WND-2, p 887) His death left everyone shocked and saddened.
The lay nun Ueno was still pregnant with Shichiro Goro when her husband died. Her grief at losing her beloved son, who had been such a great comfort to her, must have been overwhelming. She was just like the mothers in our Women Division, who have raised their children into fine successors for kosen-rufu.
The Daishonin sends words of profound empathy that reach deep into the bereaved mother’s heart. He embraces her indescribable sadness as his own and weeps in his heart together with her.
This is not just superficial sympathy. It is a genuine sharing of suffering based
on identifying deeply with the other person. It is sharing the innermost heart, the pain, and the sadness of the suffering individual. This was the behaviour of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. Surely no one can fail to be moved by his incomparable humanity. As SGI members, we are carrying on this profoundly humane spirit of the Daishonin.
Offering heartfelt encouragement is what defines a genuine practitioner of Buddhism. Losing no time in encouraging those who are struggling or suffering; helping people transform their sadness into courage, and suffering into hope— this is the spirit of the Daishonin.
(To be continued)
Footnotes:
1. From SGI Newsletter No 9192.
2. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, translated by
David McDuff (London: Penguin Books Ltd., 2003), p 79.
3. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Idiot, translated by David McDuff (London: Penguin Books Ltd, 2004), p 530.
4. Myoho-renge-kyo is written with five Chinese characters, while Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is written with seven (nam, or namu, being comprised of two characters). The Daishonin often uses Myoho-renge-kyo synonymously with Nam-myoho- renge-kyo in his writings.
5. Yojana: A unit of measurement used in ancient India, said to equal the distance that the royal army could march in a day. According to one explanation, it corresponds to about 10 kilometers (6 miles).
6. T’ien-t’ai, Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra, vol 8.
7. Iyo-bo is another name for Nitcho, who was later designated by the Daishonin as one of the six senior priests. He was Toki Jonin’s adopted son, his wife’s son by her first husband.
8. According to the traditional Japanese way of counting, in which a person is counted as one year old on the day of their birth.


Letter to the Sage Nichimyō
Bound as we common mortals are by earthly desires, we can instantly attain the same virtues as Shakyamuni Buddha, for we receive all the benefits that he accumulated. The sutra reads, “Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us.”1 This means that those who believe in and practice the Lotus Sutra
are equal to Shakyamuni Buddha.
(The (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1, p 323)
Nov:
Discussion Meeting
Background and Outline
“Letter to the Sage Nichimyo” was composed on May 25, 1272, when Nichiren Daishonin was 51 and in exile on Sado. It was addressed to the mother of Oto (Sage Nichimyo). The mother of Oto was a disciple living in Kamakura who had separated from her husband at a young age. Raising a young daughter single-handedly, she was a woman who maintained pure faith throughout her life.
Amid a time of intense persecution which began in 1271, the Daishonin was exiled to Sado and many of his followers in Kamakura abandoned their faith. However, the mother of Oto burned with ever greater resolve and faith and travelled all the way to visit the Daishonin during his exile on the remote island of Sado.
This letter is a writing in which the Daishonin extols the great seeking spirit of the mother of Oto.
The first half of this letter is devoted to citing stories of the practices undertaken by
various ascetics and practitioners seeking Buddhist teachings, including Aspiration for the Law, the boy Snow Mountain and Bodhisattva Medicine King, who were willing to risk even their lives to practice Buddhism. Through these examples, the Daishonin teaches the importance of cherishing the spirit of selfless dedication when carrying out one’s Buddhist practice.
In the next part, the Daishonin explains how the people in the Latter Day of the Law can attain Buddhahood as compared to the earlier ascetics and practitioners. The Daishonin reveals that the virtues and benefits that the practitioners mentioned earlier gained through practising the six paramitas (or six practices for attaining enlightenment) pursuing a path that required countless eons to achieve that goal are all contained in “the single character myo”.
In addition, the Daishonin teaches that just as “a cub sired by a lion king
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Gosho in Daily Life
御书与生活


十一月份: 座谈会御书学习
致日妙圣人书
我等具缚之凡夫，忽得等同教主释尊之功德， 乃彼之功德，全体受得之故。经云: “如我等无异”，是说心得法华经者与
释尊齐等之文也。(御书1265页)
白话文 我们被烦恼所束缚的凡夫，立刻获得与教主释尊相 等的功德，那是因为完全接收教主释尊的功德所致。 法华经说:“像我(释尊)一样没有差别”(方便品 第二)，就是说明领会法华经的人与释尊相等的经文。
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背景与大意
本篇御文是1272年5月，日莲大圣人51岁 时，于佐渡写给乙女之母(日妙圣人)的一 封书信。
乙女的母亲住在镰仓，与丈夫离别后， 独 自 抚 养 幼 女 ，是 一 位 贯 彻 纯 真 信 心 的 女 门人。
1271年当权者开始采取弹压政策，大 圣 人 遭 流 放 佐 渡 ，镰 仓 的 众 多 门 人 因 而 退 转。但乙女的母亲信心益发强盛，千里迢迢 地从镰仓前往佐渡探访大圣人。本篇御文 里 ，大 圣 人 盛 赞 乙 女 母 亲 的 求 道 心 极 其 尊 贵且罕见。
于御文的前半，大圣人举出乐法梵志、 雪山童子、药王菩萨等为追求佛法而舍身 命的事例，教导我们“不惜身命”的佛道修 行精神。
进而对比昔日的求道方式，阐释末代恶
世 的 众 生 成 佛 ，指 出 过 去 不 惜 身 命 的 求 道 者们从事六波罗蜜的修行，而其经过历劫 修行之后才能获得的功德，如今尽纳于法 华经的“妙之一字”。
同 时 ，大 圣 人 教 导 :诚 如“ 狮 子 王 之 子 是狮子王”(御书1265页)所示，身处于末 法的我们只要受持“妙法莲华经之五字”， 就能够获得与佛完全相同的伟大境界。这 即是此次研读的御文。
大圣人并教示:为获得此妙法的伟大功 德 所 必 要 的 佛 道 修 行 ，是 适 时 的 实 践 。从 而指出，乙女之母一心追随广宣流布的师 匠——日莲大圣人，而踏上不惜身命之旅， 俨然正是以法华经为根本而活的“实语之 女人”(御书1266页)
文末，大圣人由衷地赞扬乙女之母: “ 日 本 第 一 之 法 华 经 行 者 之 女 人 ”( 御 书
Gosho in Daily Life
御书与生活


will become a lion king” (WND-1, p 323), when we, the living beings in the Latter Day, uphold the “five characters of Myoho- renge-kyo”, we can attain a life state equal to that of the Buddha. This is the portion that we are studying this month.
Having said this, the Daishonin also adds that the Buddhist practice that enables one to enjoy the great beneficial power of the Mystic law is one that is appropriate to the time.
On top of this, the Daishonin lauds the spirited dedication of the mother of Oto who undertook the perilous journey at the risk of her life to seek the Daishonin, the mentor of kosen-rufu, praising her as “a woman who believes in the [Buddha’s] true words”. (WND-1, p 324)
In conclusion, offering wholehearted praises to the mother of Oto by lauding her as “the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra among the women of Japan” (WND-1, p 325), the Daishonin bestowed upon her the honourable title of “sage,” naming her Sage Nichimyo (Sun Wonderful).
Advancing Along the Shared Path of Oneness with Our Mentor
This is a passage that reveals Nichiren Daishonin’s powerful conviction that one who embraces and upholds the teachings of the Mystic Law in the Latter Day of the Law will attain a life state equal to that of the Buddha.
A passage from the Expedient Means (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra expounds, “Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us.” (LSOC, p 70) This passage expresses Shakyamuni Buddha’s vow to enable all living beings to attain the same life state of enlightenment just as he has. And it is with this vow that
1 2 6 7 页 )，并 赠 予“ 日 妙 圣 人”这 象 征 最 高 荣誉的称号。
迈步于“不二”之道
大 圣 人 于 本 文 段 明 示“ 于 末 法 时 代 ，只 要受持妙法，就能获得与佛完全相同的伟 大境界”此一大确信。
法华经《方便品第二》有云:“如我等无 异 。 ”( 法 华 经 第 1 4 0 页 ) 意 即 ， 释 尊 立 下 誓 愿“要开启所有人生命之中，与自身相同的 佛 界 境 涯 ”而 弘 扬 了 佛 法 。日 莲 大 圣 人 进 而阐述:“诚如此经文所说，我等凡夫乍看 之 下 为 无 明 与 苦 恼 所 笼 罩 ，但 在 自 身 生 命 奥底中，其实已经具备与释尊相同的卓越 境界与功德。”
大 圣 人 并 在 另 一 篇 御 文 说 示 :“ 说 如 我 等无异，顺易得成与释尊同等之佛也。”(御 书1518页)明确指出，“如我等无异”才是佛 的大愿;而在末法能够成就此愿的大法，唯 有“妙法莲华经五字”，此外无他。
下一句御文是“心得法华经者与释尊齐 等 ”，所 谓“ 心 得 法 华 经 ”，意 指 依 循 法 华 经 的 经 文 所 说 的 加 以 实 践 、弘 通 。对 我 们 来 说 ，即 是 遵 循 《 御 书 》 的 教 导 ，勤 励 于 自 行 化 他 的 实 践 。正 如 御 文 所 示 ，为 广 宣 流 布奋战之人，必定会成就与佛相同的伟大 境界。
池田先生指导:“要使所有众生的境 界 ，提 升 至 与 自 身 同 样 的 佛 界 ，是 佛 的 誓 愿。当我们将佛的志向化为自己的志向，迈 向‘不二’之道时，会提升成为与佛‘不二’ 的境界，这正是法华经的真髓。
而体现此真髓，极其尊贵的和合僧团 体，就是创价学会。为了救助不幸之人、贫 困 之 人 、痛 苦 之 人 而 不 惜 身 命 ，这 正 是 大 乘佛教、创价学会的精神。”
一言以蔽之，身为学会员的我们都拥有
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Shakyamuni propagated the teachings of Buddhism. Quoting this passage, the Daishonin teaches that although the lives of all of us, common mortals, may seem to be clouded by earthly desires and sufferings, a magnificent life state and virtues equal to that of Shakyamuni Buddha exist deep within our lives.
The Daishonin also teaches in another Gosho, “As the sutra says, ‘hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us,’ you can readily become as noble a Buddha as Shakyamuni.” (WND-1, p 1030) The passage, “Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us”, is the Buddha’s fundamental wish and what makes this possible in the Latter Day of the Law is none other than the great teaching of the “five characters of the Mystic Law”.
Subsequently, the Daishonin says, “This means that those who believe in and practise the Lotus Sutra are equal to Shakyamuni Buddha.” Here, “those who believe in and practise the Lotus Sutra”, refers to those who practise in exact accord with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and propagate its teachings. In our context, it means to diligently carry out the practice for oneself and others just as the Gosho teaches. In other words, those who dedicate themselves for the sake of kosen-rufu will surely attain the great life state equal to that of the Buddha.
SGI President Ikeda says in his guidance, “The Buddha’s vow is to enable all people to attain the same life state of Buddhahood as he has attained. In this sense, as long as we advance along the shared path of oneness with the Buddha by making the Buddha’s vow our own, there is no doubt that we will attain the same life state of enlightenment just as
尊贵的使命，是与佛同样尊贵之人。让我们 胸怀此大确信，一同爽朗地昂首阔步在广 宣流布的大道吧!
(转载自《教学研习》2017年12月号)
词语解释
具缚之凡夫:为烦恼与生死之苦所束缚的人们。
如我等无异:法华经《方便品第二》的经文，意指“像
我 一 样 没 有 差 别 ”。换 言 之 ，释 尊 的 誓 愿 是 引 导 众 生 达 到与自己(佛)相同的境地。
齐等:齐、等皆是“相等“之意。 ****
the Buddha did. This is the essence of the Lotus Sutra. And, the noble community of practitioners that embodies this very essence is none other than the Soka Gakkai. The members of the Soka Gakkai wholeheartedly exert themselves to lead people who are suffering, miserable and impoverished to happiness. This is the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. This is the very spirit of the Soka Gakkai.”
All of us, members of the Soka Gakkai are individuals with a noble mission who are as noble as the Buddha. Cherishing this conviction in our lives, let’s continue advancing joyfully on this great path of kosen-rufu.
(Translated from the November 2017 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.)
Footnote:
1. “Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us.”: Appearing in the “Expedient Means” (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the passage “Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us” is the essence of the sutra, expressing the Buddha’s vow to enable all to attain the same life state of enlightenment just as he has.
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Question:
Are There “Winners” and “Losers” in the Realm of Faith?
问:在信心的世界里，有“赢家”“输家” 之分吗?
Mr Tan
陈先生
Men Division District Leader 地区部长
Mrs Lim
林太太
Women Division District Leader 地区妇人部长
Li Peng
丽萍
Young Women Division new member 新女子部员
Iris
爱丽丝
Young Women Division member 女子部员
Peter
彼得
Young Men Division member 男子部员
Li Ping: Excuse me.... I have some questions with regard to the discussion meeting Gosho that was explained by Mr Tan just now.
Mr Tan: Please feel free to ask anything.
Peter: If I may confirm, what we learnt today was that if one devotes oneself in the practice of faith, one will attain the same enlightened state of life as Shakyamuni. He or she will receive all the benefits that Shakyamuni Buddha accumulated, right?
Li Ping: Yes... but I just don’t seem to be able to accept this portion.
Iris: Oh, what do you mean?
丽萍:那个......我想提出一些疑问，是 关于陈先生刚才的御书讲义的内容。
陈先生:你尽管问吧!
彼得:今天我们学到的是:“只要勤励 于信心，任何人都能拥有与释尊相同的境界， 获得与释尊相等的功德。”
丽萍:是的......可是我好像就是不能接 受这一部分。
爱丽丝:怎么说呢?
丽萍:在任何领域里，总会有人获益， 有人损失，对吗?有胜者的话，就会有败者。 有一段时期也常常听到“赢家”“输家”的说 法。我认为信心的世界也是那样的。
林太太:哎呀，我觉得所谓的“赢 家 ”“ 输 家 ”，是 就 经 济 能 力 、学 历 、地 位
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Questions and Answers from the Discussion
Meeting
座谈会问答


Li Ping: In any field,
there are people who
gain while there are
those who lose out, right?
This means that if there is
a winner, there will also be a loser. I heard that there was a time in Japan when the expressions, “winning camp” and “losing camp” became extremely popular among the Japanese. This shows the way this world works. That’s why I believe the same holds true even
in the realm of faith.
Mrs Lim: Well.... I believe the popular
camp”
而论的。可是在信心的世界里，就不是这 么回事了。比起“仓之财”与“身之财”， 累积不败给任何事物的“心之财”，才是
信心最大的充实感啊!
丽萍:我也是透过勤励信心，才知道比 起单单满足个人的欲望，为他人尽心尽力，能 获得更大的喜悦。可是......
陈先生:别客气，有话就尽管说吧!
丽萍:我相信学会员当中也有各种各样 的人。有些得到很多功德，过着悠然自得的生 活，有些却即使踏实地勤励信心，烦恼依旧无 法解决。就连我本身，目前也还不能展现任 何实证......
彼得:过去我在工作上也曾遇到过很倒 霉的事，当时我心想:“我这么拼命信心，为 什么偏偏是我?”
陈先生:的确，学会员当中，每 个人抱着的烦恼都不尽相同，克服的 方式也各不相同。日莲大圣人在一篇 御书中列举了各种各样祈求应有的
态 度 ，以 及 功 德 展 现 的 方 式 之 后 ，教 示:“但要紧的是，致力于这部经的信 心，所祈求现在世和未来世的心愿才会满 足。”
林太太:说起来，“赢家”“输家”不就 是从自己跟别人的比较之后，得出的说法。即 便羡慕周围的人，也改变不了什么。
爱丽丝:在女子部的指导 集《华阳之誓》里，池田先生教 导:“一般人总是爱拿自己与他
人做比较。当然，学习他人优点 的精神十分可贵，但若是只有羡 慕他人‘真好啊!看起来真幸福、
“winning and “losing were used frequently in the context of economic and academic achievements and social status. But in the realm of faith, things are different. Through our practice of faith, besides accumulating the “treasures in a storehouse” and “treasures of the body”, we can accumulate “treasures of the heart”, which remains indestructible no matter what happens. This is the greatest sense of fulfilment we gain from our
phrases camp”
practice of faith, isn’t it?
Li Ping: Since I began exerting myself in my practice of faith, I began to realise that I experience greater
joy in striving for the happiness of others rather than working solely
to satisfy my personal desires. However...
56 | Nov:2018


Mr Tan: It’s okay. Please don’t hesitate. Just share what you have in mind.
Li Ping: I believe there are all kinds of people in our organisation. While on one hand, we see members who seem to be enjoying numerous benefits and leading a comfortable life, there are also members who are striving sincerely with all their might, yet they don’t seem to be able to resolve their problems. Even for myself, I don’t
think I have been able
to show any visible
actual proof...
Peter: I believe I
can understand where
you are coming from.
In the past, there was
a time when I had some unpleasant experiences at work, I thought to myself, “Why is this happening to me when I am striving so diligently in faith?”
Mr Tan: Yes, I do understand what you are saying. I agree that among the members, problems that each one of
us is experiencing differ according
to individuals. At the same time, how each one of us overcome the problems also differ according to individual. In one of his letters, after stating that different individuals offer prayers differently and benefits manifest in different ways, Nichiren Daishonin says: “... the only essential
看起来好了不起啊......’这样的想法不仅无 意义，对自己一点帮助也没有。磨砺自己，体 悟出自我的生存价值，才是人生的胜利者。”
林太太:虽然在学会 里，常常强调要胜利、要胜 利 。其 实 最 重 要 的 ，是 在 与自身的奋战中获胜。
陈先生:许多学会员 以信心为根本，挑战人生的课 题，为了克服困难而奋斗。他们的奋斗姿态没 有“赢家”“输家”之分。佛法里没有败者。 不论发生任何事，都要大大地发挥自己的潜 能 ，以 幸 福 来 装 点 自 己 的 人 生 。— — 信 仰 是 为此而有。
(转译自《大白莲华》2017年11月号)
答:不是跟他人比较， 信仰的目的是为了让我 们以幸福来装点自己的 人生。
Nov:2018| 57


point is that, if you believe in the Lotus Sutra, all your desires will be fulfilled in both the present and the future.” (WND-1, p 750)
Mrs Lim: I believe that the concept of “winning camp” versus “losing camp” arise when we compare ourselves with others. Merely envying others changes nothing.
Iris: In The Vow of the Ikeda Kayo- kai, a collection of SGI President Ikeda’s guidance for the Young Women Division, President Ikeda said, “People tend to compare themselves to others. Of course, it is important to try to learn from others’ good traits. But it is petty to envy what appears to be their happiness and good fortune. Nothing comes of that. Those who focus on polishing themselves and living with a sense of purpose are the
victors in life.”
Mrs Lim: Although in our organisation, we often emphasise on the importance of “keep winning”, we are actually talking about winning over our own weaknesses. It is to
achieve victory in our inner battle.
Mr Tan: Many SGI members are continuously exerting themselves to prevail over the many adversities in life based on faith. There are no “winning camp” or “losing camp” for people who are exerting their utmost to take on the challenges in life based on faith. There are no losers in Buddhism. The purpose of faith is to help us manifest our potential to the fullest and to adorn
our own lives with happiness.
(Translated from the November 2017 issue of The Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly study journal.)
Answer: Instead of always comparing ourselves with others, the purpose of faith is to help us adorn our lives with happiness.
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[34] Great Figures of the World 畅谈世界伟人
Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev, Former Soviet President and First Lady: Set Your Own Personal Goals
前苏联总统戈尔巴乔夫与
赖莎夫人要明确自己的“目标”!
A new series of encouragement from SGI President Ikeda addressing members of the Primary Division.
这是池田SGI会长为激励小学部员而撰写的特别系列。
A new year is starting, bringing with it new hopes and dreams.
Happy New Year, to my dear friends of the future division!
新的一年开始了。是新希望的开始。 新年快乐! 很高兴(日本)创价大学能出赛今年
(2017年)1月2日和3日举行的东京箱根大
I’m delighted to share that Soka University in Japan will participate in the upcoming Hakone Ekiden1 men’s relay marathon this year (on January 2–3, 2017).
In this relay, each runner runs his assigned distance while wearing his team’s sash, which he then hands to the next runner at each station. The Soka University team has been encouraging one another and training hard to shave off every possible second from their goal time.
Those who make efforts towards a goal shine brightly. I hope all of you will set goals for yourselves this year and make an energetic start towards achieving them.
I also have a goal that I have worked towards for many years—to rid the
学生马拉松接力赛注1。 各队选手把“彩带”一个传一个，进行
接力长跑竞赛。他们定下目标，为了能跑 得更快，队友之间互相鼓励，竭尽全力练 习。
朝向目标努力的人朝气勃勃，所以，请 大家也定好今年的目标，精神奕奕地出发 吧!
我有一个一直以来非常重视的目标，就 是透过每个人的“人间革命”，令悲惨从 世界上消失，扩展和平。这目标承传自恩 师、创价学会第二任会长户田城圣先生， 我一直视它为自己的使命。
今年(2017年)是我初次邂逅户田先生 的70周年。作为户田先生的弟子，我与世界 上同样以人类和平与幸福为目标的人不断 对话，缔结友情。
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Rainbow of Hope
希望的彩虹


world of misery and build peace through each person undertaking their human revolution. I inherited this goal from my mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, and made it my own mission.
This year (2017) marks exactly 70 years since I first met Mr Toda. As his disciple, I have spoken and made friends with many people around the world who share the same goal of bringing peace and happiness to humanity.
Two of those friends are Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev. Mr Gorbachev used to be president of the world’s largest country in land area—the Soviet Union, which included Russia and many other small republics.
I met Mr Gorbachev on 10 different occasions, and also published a dialogue with him.2 I once welcomed him and Mrs Gorbachev at Soka University in Hachioji,
这些朋友中包括米哈伊尔·戈尔巴 乔夫(Mikhail Gorbachev)和夫人赖莎 (Raisa)。戈尔巴乔夫先生是前“苏联” 总统，当时“苏联”是由俄罗斯和其他国 家所组成、全世界面积最大的国家。
至今我与戈尔巴乔夫先生曾会面10次， 并 一 起 发 行 对 谈 集 。我 亦 曾(于 1 9 9 3 年 4月)在八王子的创价大学迎接过戈尔巴 乔夫夫妇，当时种植了“戈尔巴乔夫夫妇 樱”做纪念，他们非常高兴。很遗憾赖莎 夫人在18年前(的1999年)去世，但我与戈 尔巴乔夫先生的深厚友情至今依然一点 也没有变。
戈尔巴乔夫先生在1931年3月出生于俄 罗斯西部的农村，家里以农为生。
第二次世界大战爆发时他大约10岁，父 亲被征召入队到战场打仗。戈尔巴乔夫先 生与我同样在少年时代饱受战争的残酷
60 | Nov:2018
Tokyo (in April 1993), where we planted a pair of cherry trees in the couple’s honour. This delighted them both. Sadly, Mrs Gorbachev passed away in 1999, but I remain close friends with Mr Gorbachev.
Mr Gorbachev was born in March 1931, in a rural village in western Russia. His parents were farmers.
World War II started when he was around 10 years old, and his father was sent to fight in the war. Both Mr Gorbachev and I experienced the terrible cruelty of war when we were children.
His mother would wake up at dawn every morning to plow and tend the fields so that she could support her family. Mr Gorbachev took on many tasks in order
体验。 为了维持一家生计，他母亲从早到晚耕
田、除草等，拼命工作。戈尔巴乔夫少年亦 为了分担母亲的辛劳而努力帮忙，例如喂 饲养的牛吃草，把动物粪便凝固成燃料 等，因此不能到学校学习。
直到两年后，他才有机会再次返回学 校学习。尽管如此，在学校的他仍然担心 家里的事，因而无法专心上课。不但把之 前学习过的东西忘记，上课时也不明白老 师在说什么。
有一天，戈尔巴乔夫少年对母亲说:“我 不再上学了!”母亲虽然很痛心，但仍然购 买很多书本给他。戈尔巴乔夫少年虽然执 地说“我说了不上学就不上学!”，然而当 他一页一页的翻阅书本时，慢慢开始入迷 起来，并决心再次到学校上课。自此之后， 他拼命努力学习。


to help her, including feeding hay to the cows and making heating fuel out of dry manure. Because of this, he had to stop attending school for a while.
Even after he was able to return to school two years later, he was so concerned about his family and what was happening around him that he found it difficult to concentrate on his studies. He had forgotten what he had learned in school before, and even though he
SGI President and Mrs Ikeda welcome former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev (second from right) and his wife (second from left), Raisa, at the Kansai Soka Junior and Senior High Schools in Katano, Osaka (November 20, 1997)
池田SGI会长与夫人热烈欢 迎前苏联总统戈尔巴乔夫 (右二)与赖莎夫人(左二) 。他们到访坐落在大阪交 野市的关西创价初中和高 中。(1997年11月20日)
在战场上的父亲寄了一封信给母亲， 说“就算把全部家财变卖，都要让米哈伊 尔有衣服穿、有鞋子穿。你要给他买书本， 一定要让他上学。”
得到父母那深厚的爱，戈尔巴乔夫少年 边努力读书，边在田里工作。之后，他考入 拥 有悠久 历史的名门学府 — — 莫 斯 科大 学，并在那里邂逅日后的妻子赖莎。
与戈尔巴乔夫先生一样，赖莎夫人同 样在年幼时经历战争，留下许多痛苦的回
listened carefully, he couldn’t grasp what was being taught.
At last, he told his mother that he wasn’t going to school anymore. She was saddened by his decision, but then went out and bought him a pile of books. Mr Gorbachev insisted that he still wasn’t going back to school. However, when he opened the books and began reading, he found himself unable to put them down. He decided to go back to school and, from then on, studied very hard.
His father sent his mother letters from the battlefield. He asked her to make sure that their son had clothes, shoes, and books, even if she had to sell all their belongings, and that he applied himself to his studies.
忆。因此，当戈尔巴乔夫先生大学毕业后 成为政治家、为俄罗斯的民众努力活动 时，赖莎夫人亦以同样的心情去支持她丈 夫。
与我一起进行对谈时，戈尔巴乔夫先 生谈到他学生时代的决意。那就是“使现 实与理想合而为一!”就是说，要改革大 家生活艰苦的“现实”，实现和平幸福生 活这“理想”。
戈尔巴乔夫先生被选为国家领导人 时，他也抱着这决心，努力实现他所揭出 的“新思惟(Perestroika)”目标。当时的 英国首相(玛格丽特-撒切尔，Margaret Thatcher，1925年至2013年)称此为“和平 革命”。
戈尔巴乔夫先生曾经说过一番令我
Supported by his parents’ deep love
Nov : 2018 | 61


and concern, Mr Gorbachev gave his all to his studies and helping out his mother in the fields. Eventually, he was accepted to Moscow State University, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious schools. It was there that he met his future wife, Raisa.
Like Mr Gorbachev, Raisa had been a child during the war and experienced tremendous hardship. Therefore, when Mr Gorbachev graduated from university and decided to go into politics so he could serve the Russian people, she supported him wholeheartedly.
When Mr Gorbachev and I were carrying out our dialogue, he shared with me his resolve from his student days—to bring reality closer to the ideal. In other words, it was to reform the harsh reality that was causing the people to suffer and instead enable them to enjoy lives of
非常怀缅的话:“我为自己的父母而感到非 常骄傲和自豪。”他父母那含辛茹苦的样 子从未在他的心中消失过。因此，无论发 生什么事他都能坚持努力下去。为了达成 自己所设定的目标，他像他父母一样能坚 忍，也为了像他父母一样善良勤劳的庶民 而不断努力。
戈尔巴乔夫先生还说:“朝向达成目标 的真诚态度最为重要，亦最为困难。”
戈尔巴乔夫先生所迈进的道路荆棘满 途。反对“新思惟”的人和不理解他的人 为数不少。不顺利时，便会遭人谩骂，甚至 危及性命。
尽管如此，戈尔巴乔夫先生并没有因 此而却步不前，放弃目标。后来，他成为苏 联总统，为了在世界上实现令人人能和平 幸福地生活这“理想”，他一方面裁减军 队和武器，同时促进文化与经济的交流。
最后，他与美国总统里根(Ronald Reagan，1911年至2004年)进行对话，把
peace and happiness.
When Mr Gorbachev was selected to
lead his country, he expressed this resolve in the slogan “perestroika”—which is Russian for “reform”—and made that his goal. The British prime minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), called Mr Gorbachev’s effort a “peaceful revolution”.
I fondly remember Mr Gorbachev telling me how proud he was of his parents. He never forgot how earnestly they strove, which inspired him to always do his best, no matter what. Like his parents, he persevered tirelessly to achieve his goals, and gave his all to serving the hardworking, ordinary people.
Mr Gorbachev said that having a
长 期 令 世 界 分 裂 和 对 抗 的“ 冷 战 ”时 代 结束。
戈尔巴乔夫先生与赖莎夫人在20年前 的1997年(11月)到访关西创价学园(初中 和高中)。继戈尔巴乔夫先生之后，赖莎夫 人满面笑容地对园生说:“人生也许会有 艰难或不如意的时候，但必定会有‘能达 成的事情’和‘能实现的梦想’。因此，跌 倒后站立起来继续前进的人，就是最后 得胜的人。”
如被问及自己的“目标”时，有些人可 能会觉得是一个重压，或害怕遭遇挫折。 然而，正如赖莎夫人所说，即使跌倒，只 要 重 新 站 起 来 便 可 。向 着 自 己 想 挑 战 的 事，踏出第一步便可。
62 | Nov:2018
今年让我们确立一些目标——早上要


Each of you has unlimited potential, so try your hardest, and don’t hold back. People who strive to realise their goals are truly admirable. Those who continue doing their best will be victorious.
你们每一个人的可能性是无限 大的，因此要全力以赴地努力。 向着目标努力的人是伟大的， 不断继续努力的人是胜利者。
single-minded resolve to achieve your goals is the most important thing and, at the same time, the most difficult.
Mr Gorbachev’s quest was filled with hardship. Many people were either opposed to or unable to understand his goal of reform. When things didn’t go
Illustrated by Chan Yan Jun Wendy 插图·陈妍君
自己起床。要与人打招呼说“早安!”要 帮妈妈做家务。要尽量坐在御本尊前勤 行唱题。这些全都是出色的“目标”，都不 需要担心能否达成。
你们每一个人的可能性是无限大的， 因此要全力以赴地努力。向着目标努力 的人是伟大的，不断继续努力的人是胜 利者。
参加马拉松接力赛的选手只要不断努 力向前跑，一定会到达终点。还有一起互 相鼓励的队友，以及衷心为大家的努力送 上的掌声。选手把大家给予的声援作为鼓 励，努力向着终点的目标奔走。
少年少女部的各位，大家都拥有绝对 胜利的题目。各位的爸爸妈妈，还有全日 本和全世界的创价家族都会支持和声援 各位。因此，没有任何担心的事情。
来吧，是愉快的一年的开始!大家都是 自豪的“正义后继”。要确立自己的目标， 忠于自己，以崭新的心情向前迈步!
****
注解:
注 1 :东 京 箱 根 大 学 生 ( 男 子 ) 马 拉 松 接 力 赛 是 每 年 1 月 2 日 至 3 日 举 行 的 两 日 马 拉 松 接 力 赛 。路 程 是 从 东 京 开 始 到 神 奈 川 县 箱 根 的 芦 之 湖 ，分 两 个 阶 段 进 行 。选 手 在 第 一 天 跑 到 箱 根 ，而 在 隔 日 返 回 东 京 。此 2 1 8 公 里 长 的 跑 道分10站。最具挑战的是须穿过箱根山跑上芦之湖。
Nov:2018| 63


well, he was attacked and criticised, and his life was even threatened.
Yet he never stopped pressing ahead to achieve his goal. Later, he became president of the Soviet Union and, towards realising the ideal of peace and happiness for people everywhere, he reduced his country’s military and weapons, and actively supported cultural and economic exchange with other nations.
Finally, he was able to engage in dialogue with former United States President Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) and bring an end to the long period in history known as the Cold War.
Mr and Mrs Gorbachev visited the Kansai Soka Junior and Senior High Schools in November 1997. Mrs Gorbachev said to the students with a smile: “You will
around the house; chanting even a little in front of the Gohonzon. These are all wonderful goals. Don’t think too much about whether or not you can achieve them.
Each of you has unlimited potential, so try your hardest, and don’t hold back. People who strive to realise their goals are truly admirable. Those who continue doing their best will be victorious.
The runners participating in the Hakone Ekiden relay marathon will reach the finish as long as they keep running. They have their teammates encouraging them. They have spectators cheering them on along the way. That support will spur them to continue onward to their goal.
My dear friends of the Boys and Girls Division, you have daimoku, which is the key to absolute victory. Your fathers and mothers, and the members of the SGI
64 | Nov:2018
experience all kinds of hurts in life. Not all of them will heal. But there is something that you can achieve. There is a dream that you can make a reality. Therefore, the person who triumphs in the end is the person who gets up after each fall and pushes onward.”
When you hear the word “goal”, you may imagine something difficult to achieve. You may find working towards a goal daunting or frustrating at times. But as Mrs Gorbachev said, even if you stumble, just get back up and keep going. All you need to do is take the first step towards the goal you have set.
Let’s set some goals for this year. For example, getting up in the morning on your own; greeting others with a cheerful “good morning” every day; helping out
family around the world are rooting for you, so you have nothing to worry about. An exciting new year has now begun! You are all proud “torchbearers of justice”. Set your own goals and start running
forward with a fresh spirit!
Footnotes:
1. The Hakone Ekiden is a two-day race held on January 2–3 each year. It is run from Tokyo to Lake Ashi in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, in two stages. On the first day, runners make their way to Hakone, and on the second, they return to Tokyo. The 218-kilometre (135-mile) distance is broken up into 10 stations, with the hardest being the challenging climb up to Lake Ashi through the Hakone mountains.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev and Daisaku Ikeda, Moral Lessons of the Twentieth Century (New York: I. B. Tauris and Co. Ltd., 2005).


SSA Youth Participate in Post-National Day Rally Dialogue
SSA青年参加国庆群众大会对话会
On September 2, 17 youth leaders from 9月2日，17名SSA未来部和学生部的干部
SSA’s Future Division and Student
Division participated in Voices of Youth, a post-National Day Rally Dialogue held at the
Canberra Community Club. The event was
organised by the Youth Executive Committees
of Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC). Coordinating Minister 区议员。 for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan, Education
Minister Ong Ye Kung, and other Sembawang
GRC Members of Parliament were also present
at the event.
This event aims to expose youth to national issues, deepen their interest, knowledge and insight on current affairs, as well as help them understand the trade-off in policy-making. In particular, the dialogue hopes to gather feedback from youth on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech that year.
(Please refer to issue 592 of the SSA Times for more details of the above event.)
“青年论坛”旨在为年轻的国人提供接触国 家课题的平台，加深他们对时事的兴趣、知识 和洞察力，并帮助他们理解政策制定中的权衡 考量。对话的目的主要是为听取他们对李显龙 总理在国庆群众大会演讲的反馈。
(有关报道的详情见《创价时报》592期)
代表参加了在坎贝拉民众俱乐部举行的 国庆群众大会对话会—“青年论坛”。此活动由 三巴旺集选区青年执行委员会主办。出席会议 的嘉宾有新加坡基础设施统筹部长兼交通部 长许文远、教育部长王乙康及其他三巴旺集选


Discussion Meetings Where Youth Shine
青年生辉的座谈会
Nothing is more certain than actual proof. From“TheTeaching,Practice,andProof”(WND-1,p478)
一切不如现证。 (《教行证御书》，御书1334页)
白话:一切莫过于现证(现实的结果)!
The beneficial power of the Mystic Law is absolute. We can show actual proof of that power in our lives without fail. First Soka Gakkai president Mr Makiguchi urged members to share with guests and young people at discussion meetings their experiences of “surefire actual proof” of the benefit of
practising Nichiren Buddhism.
Today, inviting guests, sharing experiences in faith, and
having young people play a central role have become a tradition at SGI discussion meetings throughout the world.
Let’s all encourage young people and make wonderful flowers of benefit bloom!
(President Ikeda’s Words of Encouragement: “Advancing with the Gosho ” [10])
妙法的功力是绝对的，一定能够出示现证。创价学会初 任会长牧口先生常说，要在座谈会上，对新来的朋友或 年轻人诉说“百发百中”的实证体验。
如今于世界各地举办的“Zadankai(座谈会)”也是， 散发着“畅谈体验”、“以青年为主角”、“邀请友人” 的传统。
让我们一起鼓励年轻朋友，尽情绽放功德之花吧! (“池田SGI会长鼓舞同志——与御书前进2”[10])