Commencing A New Dawn

“A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation, and further, can even enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.” With this as his main theme, Daisaku Ikeda wrote his twelve-volume account of Josei Toda’s life and the phenomenal growth of the Soka Gakkai in postwar Japan. This work paints a fascinating and empowering story of the far-reaching effects of one person’s inner determination. Josei Toda’s awakening and transformation, his efforts to teach others the unlimited power of faith, his dedication in leading thousands out of misery and poverty, the efforts of his devoted disciple Shin’ichi Yamamoto—within these stories we find the keys for building lives of genuine happiness. (Please return here each Wednesday for a new passage.)

Excerpts from Volume 1, Dawn Chapter, p. 16-17

From the day President Toda was released from prison...

"I’m going upstairs to rest a while. Please don’t wait for me.”
So saying, Toda went upstairs. Ikue went after him to help and found him on his knees, bowed and motionless before the family altar.
After a while he raised his head and gazed steadily at the Gohonzon. The bitter memories of those two years and thirteen days seemed strangely remote, as though they had melted away in a single moment.
And in that moment, he had clearly perceived his true self. He recited the evening prayer quietly. Ikue joined in behind him with her prayer beads in her hands, but she could not stop staring at his gaunt neck. Not only was his neck thinner—when she looked at his upright back for the first time in so long, his entire body seemed to have shrunk. She chanted fervently to the Gohonzon for the recovery of his strength.
At last, he chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Ikue could not help weeping, and the tears streamed steadily down her cheeks. For the past two years, she had chanted morning and night for her absent husband’s welfare and for his earliest possible release. Now he was home safe, in front of the Gohonzon. After seemingly endless hardships, her long-cherished dream had been fulfilled. She stifled her weeping and joined her voice with his in the harmony of chanting.