ENGLISH OKO
Shakubuku Part 2
REVEREND YOSAI YAMADA CHIEF PRIEST
May 20, 1984 Thank you very much for attending English Oko. Some members who have practiced for a long time have no big problem enjoying chanting Daimoku more than watching T.V. But at the same time, many people are still not accustomed to easily doing Shakubuku; and if you practice without Shakubuku, your practice has to be regarded as lacking true mercy and being a selfish Hinayana Buddhism.
This time period, the Latter Day of the Law, is described in the Lotus sutra as the dread, evil day; or the age of conflict. People's nature concerning the True Law is very negative. Therefore, it is a matter of course that you experience discomfort at Shakubuku. But this this experience helps you to become aware of your own negative nature, and Shakubuku is the indispensable practice to attain Buddhahood.
Today, I would like to talk about Shakubuku, which is the basic practice in Nichiren Shoshu, instead of the difficult teachings of Buddhism.
In the Lotus Sutra, there is the story of Bodhisattva Fukyo. His name, "Fukyo", literally means, "to never despise or slight". In terms of our own actions, this means we respect the dignity of all lives based on our conviction that Buddha nature is inherent in all life in the universe. Also, in regards to all opposition that we meet in the practice of True Buddhism, it implies that it is a great chance go lessen our negative Karma.
The reason behind our effort to do Shakubuku is that we recognize all people as having the potential to awaken the Mystic Law within their lives. There would be no point to doing Shakubuku if a person did not have the Mystic Law within his or her life.
Once you do Shakubuku to someone, even though he may not join right away, he will definitely begin to practice as the innate seed of his Buddhahood grows, stimulated by the relationship established with the Mystic Law through! Shakubuku. Nothing is more honorable than doing Shakubuku because we do it based upon our belief that everybody is potentially the entity of the Mystic Law. You don't have to hesitate to Shakubuku someone fearing that maybe they will stop practicing after they join. Rather, you should fear not doing Shakubuku at all.
People who do not do Shakubuku are not capable of overcoming the devil within their own minds and they fall into the lower worlds when the crucial moment comes. Through Shakubuku, they are building great fortune that prevents them from falling into unhappiness. There is definitely a big difference between the person who has been consistent in his efforts to do Shakubuku and the person who is negligent in this endeavor. Nichiren Daishonin says:
"Shakubuku is a most difficult task."
And it is. It is the type of Buddhist practice which you have to do consistently with strong faith in Gohonzon. If you get discouraged at the ineffectiveness of your ShaKubuku efforts over a period of several months, your attitude is not that of a lifelong believer. It is a fact that Shakubuku is not so easy. But only when you can convince somebody of the greatness of faith through your painstaking efforts will true joy arise within your own life.
Helping unhappy people, one by one, is the activity to promote Kosen-Rufu in modern times. There is no way to accomplish it other than to patiently conduct a dialogue and convince others of the greatness of the True Law, Myoho. The Daishonin states:
"The teaching of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is a practice one should do incessantly and wholeheartedly."
No one will join Nichiren Shoshu unless we Shakubuku them, and it is important that we should chant Daimoku to help them for the sake of their own happiness.
Even though a Shakubuku campaign is underway, there may be some members who are not good at doing Shakubuku because of their weak character or poor speaking ability. However, as long as these members practice with joy and appreciation, this itself is meaningful.
There may be some leaders who push their members to do Shakubuku without considering their individual character. Even if a person cannot produce good Shakubuku results, as long as he appreciates Gohonzon, he is great. All leaders have to do is encourage such a member to keep practicing sincerely. Then, as that person receives benefits, he will naturally talk about the greatness of the Gohonzon to others and Shakubuku will take place naturally. Doing Shakubuku with all of your life out of a great feeling for the benefit derived from the Dai-Gohonzon is only natural.
Ignoring the circumstances of a person and just pushing him to practice is not the correct way to do Shakubuku. You should understand this point that Shakubuku should be done in a very respectful manner. However, we should never be hesitant about doing Shakubuku. I hope you will do shakubuku sincerely and seriously help others grow in faith. Whatever age may come, those people who have been doing Shakubuku courageously and consistently will be protected and praised by Nichiren Daishonin.
I hope you will realize that Shakubuku is the greatest act in your life. Please do it spontaneously! The Daishonin also states,
"If you befriend another person but lack the mercy to correct him, you are in fact his enemy...To remove a man's evil is to be like a parent to him."
If we know the power of the Gohonzon, yet let unhappy people go without telling them about the Gohonzon's benefit, this is a selfish act. Worshipping the Gohonzon for only your own sake is what the Buddha abhors. The Anrakugyo chapter of the Lotus Sutra expounds it as the error of, "Falling into selfish avarice", and this is strictly admonished by Nichiren Daishonin himself.
Nevertheless, there are some members who are reluctant to do Shakubuku, as if Shakubuku were an act of forcing someone to do something they did not want to do. This is sad to see. Shakubuku is not something which you do painfully. It should be an enjoyable practice.
Some people mistakenly think that unless the person receives the Gohonzon, they have not really done Shakubuku. This is not correct. Even though a person may not receive the Gohonzon, if you praise the greatness of the Gohonzon, this is Shakubuku.
Finally, I hope you do Shakubuku confidently, based upon your absolute faith in Gohonzon. Thank you very much.