Compassion is the very soul of Buddhism. To pray for others, making their problems and anguish our own; to embrace those who are suffering, becoming their greatest ally; to continue giving them our support and encouragement until they become truly happy—it is in such humanistic actions that the Daishonin's Buddhism lives and breathes.
http://www.sgi-usa.org/encouragement/index.php?m=11&d=29&y=2011
Nichiren Daishonin discusses the meaning of the Chinese characters for the word benefit (Jpn Kudoku) as follows: "The ku of kudoku means to extinguish evil and doku means to bring forth good" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 762). We fight against those who try to destroy the True Law. That struggle purifies us and brings forth benefits in our lives. Justice or happiness without a battle is just an illusion. Thinking that happiness means a life free of hard work and effort is fantasy.
from SGI-USA
"For Today & Tomorrow"
http://www.sgi-usa.org/encouragement/index.php?m=11&d=28&y=2011
The raids, the arrests and the police violence are about trying to silence a movement that is giving voice to the accumulated discontent of the working-class majority in U.S. society. They're also about showing who's the boss--the political and business establishment.
http://socialistworker.org/2011/11/22/occupys-next-struggleWhat we're seeing is as old as the rise of the moneyed elite itself. A working-class, populist movement gives voice to widespread discontent with the status quo, and after a few perfunctory claims to respecting 'free speech,' the reaction from the elite is swift and violent. This is the way the elite maintain power: they do not respect the needs of the working class (that's a given), and any talk of respecting the rights of that class is ultimately for show.
First of all, when it comes to the Lotus Sutra, you should understand that, whether one recites all eight volumes, or only one volume, one chapter, one verse, one phrase, or simply the daimoku, or title, the blessings are the same. It is like the water of the great ocean, a single drop of which contains water from all the countless streams and rivers...
http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=69&m=0&q=
"The basic foundation of humanity is compassion and love. This is why, if even a few individuals simply try to create mental peace and happiness within themselves and act responsibly and kind-heartedly towards others, they will have a positive influence in their community."
https://plus.google.com/108551811075711499995/posts/Go5GWjkGCZ4
More fundamental than religion is our basic human spirituality. We have a basic human disposition towards love, kindness and affection, irrespective of whether we have a religious framework or not. When we nurture this most basic human resource – when we set about cultivating those basic inner values which we all appreciate in others, then we start to live spiritually.
https://plus.google.com/108551811075711499995/posts/SThCj7Pbb6d
In this age, it is as natural for a woman to change her fixed karma by practicing the Lotus Sutra as it is for rice to ripen in fall or chrysanthemums to bloom in winter. When I prayed for my mother, not only was her illness cured, but her life was prolonged by four years. Now you too have fallen ill, and as a woman, it is all the more timely for you to establish steadfast faith in the Lotus Sutra and see what it will do for you.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 955
On Prolonging One's Life Span
Written to the lay nun Myojo in 1279
http://www.sgi-usa.org/encouragement/dw.php?m=11&d=19&y=2011
Daniel Andreas San Diego, 33, who has ties to animal rights extremist groups, is wanted for his alleged involvement in two bombings in the San Francisco, California, area, according to Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers of the Boston Division. DesLauriers spoke at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/fbi_fugitive_terror_suspect_da.htmlWhile conflating property destruction with "terrorism" - in violent actions in which no beings were harmed - is itself a bit of needless hysteria, it's at least an unexceptional part of the conventional thinking; in capitalism, profit and property ownership "rights" trump even concern for human need, more often than not, so it's not unusual that they'd unquestioningly swallow the "terrorism" meme. As usual, the anti-AR, anti-vegan brigade will want to jump on this; no, I'm not advocating property destruction, but no, property destruction in and of itself is not automatically terrorism, either - it depends entirely on what is being destroyed, and why. From MassLive's updated report:
On August 28, 2003, two bombs exploded approximately one hour apart on the campus of Chiron, a biotechnology corporation in Emeryville, according to the FBI. DesLauriers said the second bomb may have targeted first responders.
Then, on September 26, 2003, one bomb strapped with nails exploded at Shaklee, a nutritional and beauty products corporation in Pleasanton. San Diego was indicted in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, in July of 2004.
San Diego is known to cook, bake and follow a vegan diet, eating no meat or food containing animal products. In the past, he has worked as a computer network specialist and with the operating system LINUX. DesLauriers said he may make his living with these skills.
If he has continued his vegan lifestyle, San Diego also wouldn’t wear anything made from animals, such as leather.So, let's unpack, shall we?
San Diego is white with a light complexion, six feet tall, 160 pounds, wears eyeglasses...Because, well, you know. PETA. Gives money to the ALF. Or something I heard, somewhere.
Since 1997, when Darien’s First Selectman appointed the Darien Deer Management Committee with Kent Haydock as chair, the town has pursued deer “as Public Enemy Number 1,” Priscilla Feral said, president of the Darien-based Friends of Animals.When, oh when will humans stop arrogating to themselves the excuse to kill animals on the grounds that we have a 'right' or a 'need' to 'manage' their populations?
Re: Ward Chanley. While Clinton is not a strict vegan, we nonetheless congratulate him on rejecting meat, dairy, and eggs. He has chosen a healthier, more compassionate diet that causes far less suffering than his previous diet had. PETA is thrilled that Clinton, a man of such prominence, has chosen a plant-based diet, and for this, we have named him PETA's 2010 Person of the Year.This in response to my comment on the story, here:
http://www.peta.org/features/bill-clinton-named-petas-2010-person-of-the-year.aspx?c=weekly_enews
Given that Clinton admits to eating fish on his so-called "plant based diet" (http://www.fitsugar.com/Bill-Clinton-Eats-Plant-Based-Diet-Loses-Weight-Hopes-Healthier-Heart-11150638), PETA's award for "promoting" veganism isn't actually, you know, promoting veganism....are PETA's comment moderators really this tone-deaf? From the actual piece, here's the bolded, pullquote:
Because he uses his influence to promote the benefits of following a vegan diet, PETA is pleased to name Bill Clinton its 2010 Person of the Year.
Friends of Animals’ brief supported a filing for an injunction submitted and argued by Attorney Jay Tutchton of WildEarth Guardians on behalf of an alliance of non-profits litigating to return federal protection to the wolves of the northern Rocky Mountains. The case asserts that Congress used an unconstitutional method (slipping a rider onto a must-pass budget bill in April) to remove Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana, and parts of Oregon, Washington and Utah. http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2011/november/back-from-pasadenath.html
Even an individual at cross purposes with himself is certain to end in failure. Yet a hundred or even a thousand people can definitely attain their goal, it they are of one mind. Though numerous, the Japanese will find it difficult to accomplish anything because they are divided in spirit. In contrast, although Nichiren and his followers are few, because they are different in body but united in mind, they will definitely accomplish their great mission of widely propagating the Lotus Sutra. Though evil may be numerous, they cannot prevail over a single truth, just as many raging fires are quenched by a single shower of rain.
Continues on Nichiren Daishonin's Gosho
Great compassion is the root of altruistic action. It really is a source of wonder. There is no greater source of help and happiness. The capacity to devote yourself to the welfare of others yields otherwise unobtainable power and potential for good. Generate great compassion and you become a friend of the world and a companion of the warm-hearted. https://plus.google.com/u/0/108551811075711499995/posts/Z6NK94EFqzJ
Human beings are not intrinsically selfish, which isolates us from others. We are essentially social animals who depend on others to meet our needs. We achieve happiness, prosperity and progress through social interaction. Therefore, having a kind and helpful attitude contributes to our own and others' happiness. https://plus.google.com/u/0/108551811075711499995/posts/TxoBJPwzuAc
The more adept we become at cultivating an altruistic attitude, the happier we will feel and the more comfortable will be the atmosphere around us. But if our emotions fluctuate wildly and we easily give in to hatred and jealousy, even our friends will avoid us. So even for people with no spiritual beliefs, it is important to have a peaceful mind.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/108551811075711499995/posts/h1CTBMc6t8M
