Part 2: Human Revolution
Chapter 16: Buddhism Is about Winning [16.2]

Human revolution is a constant struggle with ourselves and with the devilish functions that try to undermine our faith and obstruct our Buddhist practice. The idea that “Buddhism is about winning” is a call to us to win over ourselves—over our limitations and our negative tendencies.

I would like to discuss the assertion that Buddhism is about winning.

My mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, who often gave guidance on this subject, said: “Faith is a struggle against deadlock—for the individual and for humanity. It is a struggle between the Buddha nature and devilish functions. That is the meaning of ‘Buddhism is about winning.’”

There are bound to be times when we become stalled in our progress. That’s when we need to chant and take action with even stronger determination. When we do so, we will definitely cultivate a more expansive state of life and be able to move forward once again. Continually repeating this process is the heart of our Buddhist practice.

Our victory is determined by whether we win or lose in this struggle with ourselves, with stagnation, and with devilish functions.

Those who neglect this fierce, unrelenting struggle with their inner weaknesses are already on the path of decline. They treat life like a game. Such complacency is the very hallmark of defeat.

Nichiren Daishonin writes:

“Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat, while secular authority is based on the principle of reward and punishment. For this reason, a Buddha is looked up to as the Hero of the World, while a king is called the one who rules at his will.” (WND-1, 835)

Rewards and punishments can be measured by degree and are relative by nature. For example, one can score 10 or 60 out of 100 on an exam, or receive awards of various rankings. In this way, rewards and punishments can be compared with one another as better or worse, because they are relative.

But victory and defeat are absolute. You either win or you lose. There is no middle ground. A Buddha is one who has achieved victory. A “hero of the world”—one of the titles of the Buddha—is an unrivalled champion in the human world, in society.

Various Buddhist scriptures give the Buddha similar names, such as “Victory in Battle,” “Victorious Leader,” “Triumphant Force,” “Superior One,” “Superior Banner,” “Heroic Subduer of Devilish Forces,” and “Ten Power–Wielding1 Conqueror of Devilish Forces.”2

In other words, the Buddha is the leader who triumphs in the struggle against devilish functions. Victory attests to the power of Buddhism, the power of faith.

Referring to his battle with devilish forces, Nichiren Daishonin writes:

“The devil king of the sixth heaven3 has roused the ten kinds of troops and, in the midst of the sea of the sufferings of birth and death, is at war with the votary [practitioner] of the Lotus Sutra to stop him from taking possession of and to wrest away from him this impure land where both ordinary people and sages dwell.4

“It has been twenty or more years now since I found myself in that situation and began the great battle. Not once have I thought of retreat.” (WND-2, 465)

The “ten kinds of troops” refers to various kinds of earthly desires or deluded impulses. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom5 lists them as follows: