AppreciationSGI-USA Discussion Meeting

May 2020

Expressing Gratitude Enriches Your Life A study by psychology experts Robert Emmons andMichael McCullough revealed the positive impact ofgratitude based on observations of three groups thatkept weekly journals. The first group focused onrecording things they were grateful for, the secondnoted events (good or bad) that affected them, whilethe third indicated hassles and complaints.

After 10 weeks, researchers observed that, comparedto the other two groups, people in the first groupwere more optimistic, and felt better about their livesand their relationships with others.

- worldtribune.org/2019/04/enriches-our-lives/

The Origins of SGI Nichiren Buddhism Are in Appreciation

Nichiren Daishonin launched his great struggle to enable all people to attain enlightenment in order to repay his debt of gratitude to his mother, who gave him life. He writes, “Since I have realized that only the Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of Buddhahood by women, and that only the Lotus is the sutra of true requital for repaying the kindness of our mother, in order to repay my debt to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra” (“The Sutra of True Requital,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 931).

It was Nichiren’s appreciation—based on his vow to advance kosen-rufufor the happiness of all people—that gave him the strength to overcome all the hardships and persecutions he faced in his battle to spread the Mystic Law.

Share one thing you have found to appreciate at this time.

How do we develop a sense of appreciation, especially in the midst of difficulties?

1. Change Starts in Our HeartsWhen grappling with problems, it can be hard to appreciate the things we have or challenges we face. Nichiren Buddhism teaches the key to transforming our circumstances begins in our hearts.

2. Start by Saying, “Thank You”SGI President Ikeda suggests that the simple act of saying “thank you” is a wonderful way to express and develop appreciation.

3. Practicing Buddhism Filled With GratitudeThe important thing is to continue praying each day and taking action for our own happiness and the happiness of those around us.

Change Starts in Our Hearts“Changing our heart is not a matter of doing something that will only temporarily lift our mood or make us feel better, without changing our reality. A true change in our heart is more profound; genuine inner change produces actual change in our lives. Deepening our ‘heart’—our life state—is the essence of our religion of human revolution. When we speak of obtaining benefit through our Buddhist practice, we are ultimately referring to our inner transformation at the deepest level.”

- President Ikeda, September 2018 Living Buddhism, p. 52

Start by Saying, “Thank You”“ ‘Thank you’ is a miraculous expression. It energizes us when we say it to others, and encourages us when we hear it said to us … and each time we say those words, our hearts sparkle and life force wells up within us. … When we cannot say thank you, our personal growth has stopped. When we are growing, we can see how wonderful others are too. When we stop growing, all we see are other people’s faults.”

- President Ikeda, The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 2, p. 198

Practicing Buddhism Filled With Gratitude

“If … we engage in our Buddhist practice with a spirit of goodwill toward others and a desire to praise and support everyone,” President Ikeda says, “we will experience a deep sense of joy and appreciation. Everything in life will seem rewarding and enjoyable. In fact, this is proof of our human revolution and the true embodiment of happiness.”

- The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, p. 301

Brief Experience in Faith

Appreciation Is What Makes Us Truly Human

“Appreciation is what makes people truly human … Having a spirit of appreciation for someone from whose actions we benefit, a sense that ‘this is the rarest and noblest thing,’ produces in our hearts a feeling of pride and self-esteem: ‘I am worthy of receiving such goodness.’ It provides us with spiritual support to go on living.”

- President Ikeda, Learning From the Gosho: The Eternal Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 28

Discussion Questions

1. How has expressing appreciation enriched your life, especially when faced with difficulties?

2. What is a practical action you can take to show gratitude at this time?

May 2020 District Discussion Meeting Presentation Notes

Theme: “Appreciation”

Slide1:

• Welcome and thank you for joining today’s meeting!!

• The theme for today’s discussion is “Appreciation!”

Slide 2:

• There have been studies done within the last few years that show living with appreciation is good for our health.

• A study by psychology experts Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough revealed the positive impact of gratitude based on observations of three groups that kept weekly journals. The first group focused on recording things they were grateful for, the second noted events (good or bad) that affected them, while the third indicated hassles and complaints.

• After 10 weeks, researchers observed that, compared to the other two groups, people in the first group were more optimistic, and felt better about their lives and their relationships with others.

Slide 3:

• The origins of Buddhism lie in appreciation.

• Nichiren Daishonin launched his great struggle to enable all people to attain enlightenment in order to repay his debt of gratitude to his mother, who gave him life. He writes, “Since I have realized that only the Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of Buddhahood by women, and that only the Lotus is the sutra of true requital for repaying the kindness of our mother, in order to repay my debt to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra” (“The Sutra of True Requital,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 931).

• It was Nichiren’s appreciation—based on his vow to advance kosen-rufu for the happiness of all people—that gave him the strength to overcome all the hardships and persecutions he faced in his battle to spread the Mystic Law.

Slide 4:

• Now let’s share!

• Let’s take a couple minutes and briefly share one thing we have found to appreciate at this time.

**(please allow a few minutes for people to answer as a group)**

Slide 5:

• Thank you all for sharing!

• So how can we develop a sense of appreciation, especially during a time of difficulty?

• We can break down our development of appreciation into 3 points:

1. Change starts in our hearts

2. Start by saying, “thank you”

3. Practicing Buddhism filled with gratitude

Slide 6:

• Buddhism teaches us that we can change any external situation through our own inner transformation—in other words—a change in our hearts.

• This is exactly what human revolution is all about.

• SGI President Ikeda says: “Changing our heart is not a matter of doing something that will only temporarily lift our mood or make us feel better, without changing our reality. A true change in our heart is more profound; genuine inner change produces actual change in our lives. Deepening our ‘heart’—our life state—is the essence of our religion of human revolution. When we speak of obtaining benefit through our Buddhist practice, we are ultimately referring to our inner transformation at the deepest level.”

Slide 7:

• So we have started a change in our hearts, but what can we do, practically speaking, to help show appreciation?

• We can start by saying, “thank you.”

• President Ikeda says: “ ‘Thank you’ is a miraculous expression. It energizes us when we say it to others, and encourages us when we hear it said to us … and each time we say those words, our hearts sparkle and life force wells up within us. … When we cannot say thank you, our personal growth has stopped. When we are growing, we can see how wonderful others are too. When we stop growing, all we see are other people’s faults.”

Slide 8:

• We chose to practice Buddhism, meaning we can choose how to view our activities.

• “If … we engage in our Buddhist practice with a spirit of goodwill toward others and a desire to praise and support everyone,” President Ikeda says, “we will experience a deep sense of joy and appreciation. Everything in life will seem rewarding and enjoyable. In fact, this is proof of our human revolution and the true embodiment of happiness.”

Slide 9:

**(Optional slide, please share a brief 2-3 min experience related to this topic)**

Slide 10:

• To conclude, President Ikeda says: “Appreciation is what makes people truly human … Having a spirit of appreciation for someone from whose actions we benefit, a sense that ‘this is the rarest and noblest thing,’ produces in our hearts a feeling of pride and self-esteem: ‘I am worthy of receiving such goodness.’ It provides us with spiritual support to go on living.”

Slide 11:

• Now let’s discuss!! (Feel free to utilize the zoom breakout rooms as a tool for small group discussion)

• Please use these questions as a starting point.