Blue Deeper Than Indigo

113
Buddhist Concepts FOR

DISCUSSION MEETINGS
What is the principle of

a blue deeper than
indigo'?
BLUE [The Daishonin:] Tien-
DEEPER t'ai states, "From the in-
THAN digo, an even deeper
INDIGO blue." This passage
means that, if one dyes
ITSELF something repeatedly in
indigo, it becomes even
bluer than the indigo
leaves. The Lotus Sutra
is like the indigo, and the strength of
one's practice is like the deepening
blue.
('Hell ls the Land of Tranquil Light',
WND-1, 457)
When applied to faith, 'a blue deeper

than indigo' means.
a).. deepening our prayers

[D]eepening our faith means deepen-
ing our prayer. Our prayers are a re-
flection of our life state. As we con-
O
tinue in our Buddhist practice, our
prayers will evolve and our conviction
will deepen.
(VC, May 2007, 94)
b).. strengthening our resolve

[The Daishonin:] The Lotus Sutra re-
mains the same, but if you repeatedly
strengthen your resolve, your color will
be better than that of others, and you
will receive more blessings than they
do.
(The Supremacy of the Law', WND-1,
615)
C. making greater efforts each day

Our practice of Nichiren Buddhism is
the engine for unceasing growth and
development.
"This year, I will challenge myself
with a renewed spirit!" "I will push to
114
achieve a breakthrough in my life!"
such fresh determinations will enable
you to open the way to victory based
on the simultaneity of cause and effect.
Striving to make even greater efforts
in faith is the essence of Nichiren
Buddhism. By recommitting to our
practice each day and continually
C
challenging ourselves, we can imbue
our lives with the eternally brilliant
hues of Buddhahood.
(VC, Mar 2017, 45)
[T]he Daishonin urges even followers

of exemplary faith to keep strengthen-
ing their resolve all the more. Put an
other way, the spirit to keep striving
even harder is the essence of faith and
the most fundamental key to practicing
the Daishonin's Buddhism.
(VC, Dec 2009, 70)
d)... deepening our bond with the

mentor
If the mentor is likened to the indigo
plant, by absorbing the mentor's teach-
ings, the disciple can achieve an even
more splendid "blue'. This illustrates
that the ultimate goal of the relation-
ship is to enable the disciple to sur-
pass the mentor.
(www.joseitoda.org)
How do we deepen our faith and

practice unceasingly?
Striving and exerting ourselves in our
Buddhist practice day after day to real-
ize our wishes and goals strengthen
O
our prayers and deepen our faith.
Reading the Gosho does the same. By
reading the Gosho again and again in
the midst of our struggles, we engrave
in our lives the Daishonin's coura
geous and just actions, his boundless
compassion for his disciples, and,
above all, his passionate commitment
to propagating the Mystic Law. In this
way, we imbue, or 'dye', our lives with
Buddhahood. As the Daishonin as
sures us in another letter, "[T]hose who
are imbued with the Lotus Sutra [Nam-
myoho-renge-kyo] will invariably be
come Buddhas" ("Snow and Lacquer,
WND-2, 675).
When we persevere in our Buddhist
practice, seeking to approach the
Daishonin's state of life and to deepen
Our conviction that we are
Bodhisattvas of the Earth and the em-
bodiments of the Mystic Law, we can
attain a state of absolute happiness in
which being alive is itself the greatest
joy.
(Faith, Practice and Study, 85)
[O]ur faith should. continue to grow

and deepen surely and steadily day af-
ter day as we exert ourselves in our
practice of gongyo and in SGI activi-
ties. Persevering in the two ways of
practice and study in the SGl t h e oor-
ganization advancing kosen-rufu in ex
act accord with the Daishonin's teach-
ings continually functions to deepen
our faith toward attaining Buddhahood
in this lifetime.... Through our efforts in
faith each day, our lives are increas-
ingly imbued with Myoho-renge-kyo.
(VC, May 2007, 93)
Why is the principle of 'a blue

deeper than indigo' important to
practitioners of the Daishonin's
Buddhism?
a). for the eternal flow of kosen

rufu
Kosen-rufu is a great tapestry that
extends
115
horizontally' from one person to an-
other throughout the world and 'verti-
cally' from one generation to the next.
Fostering people who will become
even more capable than the generation
before, in accord with the principle of
from the indigo, an even deeper blue'
-
this is the way to ensure the ongoing

transmission of the Law into the eternal
future of the Latter Day.
O
(VC, Jan 2020, 43-44)
[President Ikeda:] Both the Daishonin

and Shakyamuni exerted themselves
with an ever-fresh and unflagging com-
mitment, living with a fighting spirit to
the very end. The same can be said of
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei
Toda, the first two Soka Gakkai presi
dents. And I now want to teach this es-
sential spirit of faith to my disciples.
(VC, Dec 2009, 70-71)
Kosen-rufu is an undertaking that ex-

tends into the eternal future of the
Latter Day of the Law. As such, our
struggle has only just begun! Let's call
forth countless new friends in faith who
will join our ranks and become succes
sors embodying the principle from the
indigo, an even deeper blue' (cf.
Offerings in the Snow', WND-2, 809).
Ensuring the steady emergence of
the Bodhisattvas of the Earth that the
times need hinges on the ability of
each on of us to inspire people
through dialogue.
(VC, Jan 2020, 38)
O 4
b). to overcome obstacles
The struggle between the Buddha and
devilish functions within our own lives
is not an easy one to win. To beat dev-
ilish functions, we have to make un-
ceasing efforts to chant Nam-myoho
renge-kyo and teach others to do the
same, and to strengthen and deepen
our faith.
(Faith, Practice and Study, 85)
The essence of faith lies in always

striving "more than ever".
When we deepen our prayer and
challenge our situation with the resolve
that everything starts from now, we can
break through all obstacles.
(VC, Feb 2015, 47)
"Repeatedly strengthen your resolve,"

says the Daishonin. Perseverance and
tenacity are crucial in any struggle.
There will be times when things
don't go as you hope. But don't let mi-
nor setbacks pull you down. Keep on
pressing forward with persistence, pa-
tience, and fortitude until you are victo-
rious.. Such unwavering power of faith
and practice moves the Buddhas and
heavenly deities throughout the uni
verse, and brings forth the resolute
O
protection that is a manifestation of the
power of the Buddha and the Law.
(VC, Nov 2010, 85)
c)... to emerge victorious in life

While all of us who practice the
Daishonin's Buddhism embrace faith in
the same Lotus Sutra (the Mystic Law)
and Gohonzon, it is the strength of our
faith that determines the outcome. The
stronger the faith we summon, the
greater the benefits we will experience
and the more expansive and fulfilled
the life state we will achieve. Aware of
this truth, our members round the
world are showing wonderful actual
proof of the power of faith.
(VC, Dec 2009, 70)
116
If we maintain strong faith, we can turn

back the tide of any adversity. That is
why developing an even stronger foun
dation in faith is the ultimate source of
victory..
IT]hrough faith that grows ever
stronger, we will enjoy increasing en
ergy and vibrancy both mentally and
physically, while benefit will manifest it
self ever more clearly in our life. By re-
peatedly strengthening our faith, we
can bring forth the indestructible, dia-
mond-like state of Buddhahood within
us.
(VC, Dec 2009, 69)
To personally endeavor to keep ad-

vancing with more vitality and enthusi-
asm today than yesterday, this year
than the last, is the hallmark of a gen-
uine leader of kosen-rufu.
As human beings, we have the ca-
pacity to transcend our present selves
and grow to become people of greater
strength and resilience, who are not
defeated by anything.
That's why it is important for us to
unceasingly train and develop Our
selves. With our mentor always in our
hearts, let us rise to life's challenges.
(Vc, Mar 2017, 105)
**** ***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

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113

Buddhist Concepts FOR

What is the principle of

When applied to faith, 'a blue deeper

a).. deepening our prayers

b).. strengthening our resolve

C. making greater efforts each day

[T]he Daishonin urges even followers

d)... deepening our bond with the

How do we deepen our faith and

[O]ur faith should. continue to grow

Why is the principle of 'a blue

a). for the eternal flow of kosen

this is the way to ensure the ongoing

[President Ikeda:] Both the Daishonin

Kosen-rufu is an undertaking that ex-

The essence of faith lies in always

"Repeatedly strengthen your resolve,"

c)... to emerge victorious in life

If we maintain strong faith, we can turn

To personally endeavor to keep ad-

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