kosen The Japanese phrase "rufu expresses a concept fundamentally important to the members of the SGI. It is often used synonymously with world peace, and has been informally defined as "world peace through individual happiness." More broadly, it could be understood as a vision of social peace caused by the widespread acceptance of core values \u200b\u200bsuch as the unfailing respect for the dignity of human life.
The phrase itself is of ancient origin and appears in the 23 th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which says, "In the fifth five hundred years after my death, achieve-rufu kosen and never allow to stop its flow. " Here, the phrase kosen-rufu is written with four Chinese characters that could be translated respectively as "widely", "declare", "flow" and "enact" and in its most literal sense means the large influx and propagation - -application of the teachings contained in the Lotus Sutra. Kosen-rufu involve a focus on Buddhist practice that is deeply committed to the affairs of society and the world.
Nichiren (1222 - 1282) was distinguished from the Buddhists of his time for his frequent use of this term. Nichiren's emphasis on kosen-rufu typifies its approach to Buddhist practice, that our personal happiness-lighting-is inextricably linked to peace and happiness of our fellow humans and society in general. He rejected the idea that enlightenment is something that should be cultivated as a private virtue, interior. He also rejected the idea that the proper goal of Buddhism is to collect some reward in an afterlife. What they have in common these two ideas is resignation about our ability to overcome suffering and positively transform society. For Nichiren, this represented an unacceptable diversion of essential Buddhist concept that people are capable of genuine happiness this world. Both approaches were the target of criticism.
In the view of Nichiren, the lighting is not so much a goal or an end in itself as a basis for altruistic action. The state of life of the Buddha-a condition of boundless vitality, wisdom and mercy, is one that is expressed, maintained and strengthened through committed action to contribute to the welfare and happiness of others.
Nichiren's emphasis on kosen-rufu also reflected his understanding of the nature of time in which he lived. It was widely felt that history had entered the period of "Last Day of the Law "(MAPP in Japanese). That was said, began 2,000 years after Shakyamuni Buddha's death (hence the order "in the fifth five hundred years after my death"), was predicted there would be a period of degeneration, in which the teachings Buddha's lost its power to save people. Estimates of Japanese Buddhists, had since the beginning of the Last Day of Law in 1052, and the arrival of the dreaded time was greeted with great anxiety.
The degenerate nature of the times and the failure of the Buddhist Law seemed to be confirmed by events. In 1221, for example, a year before the birth of Nichiren, a hermit emperor had tried to overthrow the government dominated by the samurai class, getting established Buddhist sects pray for victory. He was easily defeated and spent the rest of his life in exile. In the popular imagination, this represented a defeat unthinkable for the emperor's secular authority and religious authority official in Buddhism. The violent natural disasters, political unrest, famine and plague continued to occur throughout the life of Nichiren, providing a backdrop for the development of his thought.
However, unlike many of his contemporaries, Nichiren did not regard the Last Day as a time of resignation to the inevitable suffering. Rather, it focused the passages in the sutras that predicted that the Last Day be the time Buddhism revived in new forms, and would spread widely to benefit the people. In practical terms, he saw the Last Day as an era of happiness only for oneself was not a viable option. The only way to happiness, from their point of view, was one that actively challenged the root causes of the misery afflicting all people and all of society.
In our time, globalization, deepening of the interaction and interdependence among people in the world, is becoming increasingly clear that peace and prosperity can not be enjoyed only by a limited group or the inhabitants of some isolated country. The simple truth that humanity will rise or fall together, is gaining wide acceptance.
A vision of world peace
Nichiren's vision was not confined to Japan. By 1273, the phrase "the return of Buddhism to the West" begins to appear in his writings. This phrase, which is closely linked to the idea of \u200b\u200bKosen-rufu indicates that Buddhism, having spread to the east to Japan, eventually would spread (would return) to India, and the countries of west, reaching the whole world.
In 1274, Mongol forces first tried to invade Japan. In 1279, the Mongols defeated the Southern Song in Asia, bringing to an end to that dynasty. Many Buddhist priests fled to Japan as refugees, and graphical reports of the invasion increased the feeling of fear that dominated Japan. For the first time in its history, Japan was caught in the vortex of world history, and this formed the background scene to Nichiren's call for the spread of his teachings beyond the confines of Japan.
While Nichiren can stand out among Japanese Buddhists to seek global acceptance of their ideas in the history of world religions, this is far from unique. Over the course of history, many religions have come up with a message of universal salvation, who have sought to perform through a universal propagation.
In this sense, it is important to clarify what is the Kosen-rufu. It does not mean the conversion of all the inhabitants of the earth, without exception, Nichiren Buddhism. Although members of the SGI, deeply convinced of the validity of Nichiren Buddhism, feel anxious to share its benefits with family and friends, faith is not seen as a rigid demarcation of who are "saved" and who not. Because the lives of all people are interconnected at the deepest level, a fundamental change in the life of a person will have a positive influence on everyone with whom that person is exposed, especially with whom he shares an intimate connection. Just as a beacon can guide many ships to safety, the example of one person who shines with conviction and joy can help many people to find direction in life.
In today's world, the darkness more needs to be dissipated is the entrenched inability to recognize the dignity of life. The ideologies that teach that certain people have no dignity, that certain lives are expendable, undermine the common ground of human dignity. The failure to recognize their own potential and the true value is always linked with the denial of the qualities of others. The violence has its source in a lack of confidence in itself.
Thus, for the members of SGI-rufu kosen means ceaseless effort to enhance the value of human dignity for all people awaken to their limitless potential and value. It is for this reason that efforts in the fields of peace, humanitarian aid, educational and cultural exchange are all seen as vital aspects of the movement of Kosen-rufu. Because they promote the values \u200b\u200bthat are integral to human happiness.
Finally, we must understand that Kosen-rufu not a static endpoint. As noted by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda in 1970, "Kosen-rufu not mean an end or termination of a flow, but is the same flow, the pulse itself living in Buddhist society."
In this sense, the "achievement" of Kosen-rufu not suggest the end of history or of the inevitable conflicts and contradictions that drive history. Rather, it could be considered as building a world in which a widely professed deep respect for human life would provide a peaceful and creative. This, however, is not something we should wait passively. Buddhism teaches that it is something we can start implementing right now, wherever we are.
The Buddhist term "Kosen-rufu" means lasting peace, everlasting. Notes
dynamic realms where individual happiness and the flourishing of society come together in perfect harmony, where all people, "all of humanity living, breathing, where the songs that praise and glorify the innermost essence of life are Shared safe and happy.
(From the poem Fighting for Peace, Daisaku Ikeda)
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