“Triumph” chapter, volume 4, pp. 106–16

• Origins of making financial offerings within the Soka Gakkai

• Story of the Wealthy Man Sudatta

• Shin’ichi Yamamoto’s own recollections of striving in his youth to make financial offerings

Financial contributions to the Soka Gakkai were not the same as dona-tions to other organizations, because it was essential that offerings for kosen-rufu be based on faith. As long as the contributors possessed such sincere and ardent faith, they would not fail to receive immeasurable benefit and be praised by Nichiren Daishonin. (p. 108)

n n n

Shin’ichi (Yamamoto) thought about the offerings made within the Soka Gakkai. The offerings and financial contributions the organiza-tion solicited were exclusively to accomplish the Daishonin’s mandate to widely propagate the Mystic Law. Offerings made toward this end were equivalent to offerings made to the original Buddha. There was, then, no greater offering, no greater good. Certainly, nothing could bring greater benefit. (p. 115)

From The New Human Revolution

To repay one’s debts of gratitude is the highest virtue. Neglecting gratitude is a reflection of a life controlled by innate negativity.

As we each deepen our faith in the Mystic Law, break through our fundamental darkness and live true to our greater self, we will come to feel boundless appreciation for all those around us and for all who have nurtured and helped us become who we are. And we will confidently make our way along the invigorating path of

recognizing and repaying our debts of gratitude . . .

Recognizing debts of gratitude expresses the Buddhist spirit of cultivating the richest possible humanity, while repaying that gratitude is the hallmark of a life of wisdom that comes from conquering fundamental ignorance. Hence, the lives of genuine Buddhist practitioners always shine with the inner light of appreciation and gratitude. (The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 222–23)

Kosen-rufu: A Great River Enriching Humanity Eternally

“The Third Day of the New Year”Just as flowers open up and bear fruit, just as the moon appears and invariably

grows full, just as a lamp becomes brighter when oil is added, and just as plants and trees flourish with rain, so will human beings never fail to prosper when they make good causes. (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol 1, p. 1013)

“The Drum at the Gate of Thunder” (pp. 4–7)

The benefit of making offerings to the Lotus Sutra is boundless. Through that benefit, we can triumph over any obstacle and devilish function. And nothing is stronger than a person whose life is instilled with this confidence.

The Lotus Sutra—epitomized by the single character myo—is the source of the enlightenment of all Buddhas of the ten directions and three existences. The sutras teach that countless Buddhas have appeared in the universe from the infinite past and will continue to do so into the infinite future. The Lotus Sutra is the teacher by which all Buddhas attain enlightenment (see WND-1, 948). Therefore, making offerings to the Lotus Sutra is equivalent to making offerings to all Buddhas throughout time and space, and the benefit that derives from doing so is immeasurable. (The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, pp. 4–5.)

Boundless Benefit Resides In Making Offerings to the Lotus Sutra

Please enjoy the following encouragement from The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and SGI President Ikeda on the spirit of offerings for use at meetings and on one-to-one visits.

M A Y C O M M E M O R A T I V E C O N T R I B U T I O N

A C T I V I T Y E N C O U R A G E M E N T R E S O U R C E S

“The way to become a Buddha easily is nothing special,” Nichiren Daishonin says. First, he writes, it is providing others with what they need, for instance, giving water to a thirsty person or providing fi re to someone who is freezing (see WND-1, 1086). In the bodhisattva practice of almsgiv-ing as well, it is when one provides something that the recipient needs that the act of almsgiving becomes meaningful. Second, Nichiren says the way to become a Buddha easily is to offer something that is one of a kind, or something without which one cannot preserve one’s own life (see WND-1, 1086).

Both of these statements can be interpreted as the highest praise for Nanjo Tokimitsu’s sincerity in making an offering to the Daishonin. He is saying that this gift demonstrates that Tokimitsu is already engaged in the practice of becoming a Buddha, walking the path to enlightenment.

People tend to think that attaining Buddhahood requires austere and diffi cult forms of practice—like that

undertaken by the boy Snow Moun-tains, who was willing to give his most precious possession, his life, for the sake of the Law. But ordinary people in the Latter Day of the Law, when presented with such a view of attaining enlightenment, become convinced that such a path is beyond what they can do.

Nichiren, however, states, “Ordinary people keep in mind the words ‘earnest resolve’ and thereby become Buddhas” (“The Gift of Rice,” WND-1, 1125).

When we offer something precious and important to us, then in spirit our offering is the same as that of the boy Snow Mountains, who was willing to give his life to a demon [in exchange for hearing an important Buddhist teaching]. For us, this means pledging to carry out kosen-rufu in the course of our daily lives while living life to the fullest. In doing so, we are devoting our lives to Bud-dhism, and thereby open the life state of Buddhahood within us. (October 2014 Living Buddhism, pp. 28–29)

The way to become a Buddha easily is nothing special. It is the same as giving water to a thirsty person in a time of drought, or as provid-ing fi re for a person freezing in the cold. Or again, it is the same as giving another something that is one of a kind, or as offering some-thing as alms to another even at the risk of one’s life. (“The Wealthy Man Sudatta,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1086)

n n n

Sincere Commitment Is the Key to Attaining Buddhahood

However, as for the matter of becom-ing a Buddha, ordinary people keep in mind the words “earnest resolve” and thereby become Buddhas. When we carefully consider what exactly earnest resolve refers to, it is the doctrine of observing the mind. When we inquire into what exactly the doctrine of observing the mind refers to, it means that offering one’s only robe to the Lotus Sutra is equivalent to

peeling off one’s skin; and that in a time of famine, offering the food that is the only means for sustaining one’s life that day to the Buddha is offering one’s life to the Buddha.

The blessings from this are in no way inferior to those Bodhisattva Medicine King gained by burning his arms, or the boy Snow Moun-tains gained by offering his body to a demon. Thus, what is appropriate

for sages is offering in actuality [offering one’s life itself for the Law]. What is appropriate for ordinary people is offering in principle [sincerely offering what is important to one’s own life]. This is the teaching called the paramita of almsgiving for the observation of the mind that is set forth in the seventh volume of Great Concentration and Insight. (WND-1, 1125–26)

“The Gift of Rice”

Making Offerings With Utmost Confi dence

When we make offerings with utmost confi dence, we are certain to receive even greater good fortune and benefi t in return. An offering made reluctantly and with skepticism is not genuine. What is in one’s heart is all-important. (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 6, p. 15)

The Flame of Good Fortune Burns Brightly

The lamp fueled by the poor woman’s sincere offering of oil could not be extinguished by even the most violent winds. In the same way, it is your dedicated efforts, fueled by the sincere desire for each person’s happiness, that open the way to lasting victory.

No matter how fi ercely the winds of adversity blow, they cannot put out the fl ame of good fortune that we have lit in our lives. Nor can the fl ame of the noble Mystic Law that we have lit in society ever be extinguished. (September 2, 2011, World Tribune, p. 3)