Part of the Chapter:
Adorn your life with the virtues of “Eternity, Happiness, True self and Purity” (Page 48 –52).

I would like to say a word here about the gravity of a leader’s responsibility. At the beginning of the treatise “On Protecting the Nation,” the Daishonin states: “There is more than one cause that will lead one to fall into the evil paths”. (Gosho Zenshu, p.36)

The Daishonin then clearly points out the following as one such cause: “To become the ruler of a nation and yet pay no heed to the cries of the people”.

“Such an irresponsible and unmerciful ruler, or such an arrogant leader, is committing a serious offence. Seen in the light of the strict law of causality as it operates within life, such a person will invariably fall into the evil paths and undergo enormous suffering”.

This short passage reveals a very important principle and can be taken as a warning to all people in leadership positions everywhere in the world. The mission of a leader is to know the sufferings of the people, to listen to their voices, and to exert all effort for their happiness. He should give the utmost priority to the welfare of the people. Leaders exist for the sake of the people.

While this may seem obvious, there are actually very few leaders who live their lives based on these principles. There are too many leaders who serve not the people, but their own egos.

The workings of the Law of cause and effect are very strict. Those who abuse their positions of power – which they enjoy only because of the support of the people – cannot have a true sense of fulfilment, no matter how they may try to adorn the surface of their lives with the trappings of fame and wealth and honours. Rather, the more they try to adorn themselves, while ignoring the people, the more certainly they engrave in their lives the causes for their own future suffering brought on by this corrupt way of life.

By elucidating the strict realities that exist in the depths of life, the Daishonin points out the attitude a true leader must maintain. He urges leaders to know the sufferings of the people and fight for their happiness, because to do so is an essential prerequisite for leadership.

Although the Daishonin directed this guidance towards secular leaders, it also applies to leaders in the world of Buddhism. Rather, those Buddhist leaders who neglect their responsibility to help people and correctly guide them are committing an incomparably more grievous offence. How much more grave is the error of those who look down on, exploit or harass the children of the Buddha whom they are supposed to protect!

In contrast, as leaders of Kosen-Rufu, listening to the cries of the people, night and day you chant and take action for their happiness. From the perspective of Buddhism and the law of cause and effect, you are even more praiseworthy than the most celebrated leaders. There can be no doubt that this seemingly unrewarded effort that you make out of your own convictions is the object of the original Buddha’s praise and earns you the protection of the Buddhist deities throughout the universe.

I will continue fighting. As a leader, I could not rest even if I wanted to. I cannot stop moving forward. This is because I believe that the essence of the Daishonin’s Buddhism comes alive only through our dedicated efforts for the realization of Kosen-Rufu.

We must view life from the standpoint of eternity. Then the true nature of society and life in this world becomes vividly clear. If one averts his eyes from the reality of life and death and looks only at the superficial aspect of life, in the end he will fail to perceive life correctly.

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This page was last modified on Sunday, August 20, 2006.