SGI-USA Essentials Exam Part 2 Study Guide History of Buddhism: The Life of Shakyamuni The Lotus Sutra Mahayana Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra Practicing the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law Soka Spirit From A Revolution Dawns: A Brief History of Soka Spirit Introduction A Revolution Dawns essay by SGI President Ikeda Spiritual Independence Freed From an Authoritarian Priesthood A Struggle That Continues Forever Learning From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory Selected Sections From SGI President Ikeda s Study Lecture Series Buddhist Concepts: Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life The Oneness of Body and Mind The Oneness of Life and Its Environment Sample Questions
For more information and a free electronic copy of the Essentials Exam, Part 2, Study Guide, go to the SGI-USA website: sgi-usa.org/essentialstudy ISBN: 978-1-935523-75-8 Cover and interior design by Lightbourne, Inc. Published by the SGI-USA 606 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 www.sgi-usa.org 2015 SGI-USA. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Essentials Exam, Part 2, Study Guide Contents 5 Explanation of the Essentials Exam, Part 2 History of Buddhism 6 The Life of Shakyamuni 9 The Lotus Sutra: Opening the Way for the Enlightenment of All People 14 Mahayana Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra 16 Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra 20 Practicing the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law Soka Spirit From A Revolution Dawns: A Brief History of Soka Spirit 25 Introduction 28 A Revolution Dawns, an essay by SGI President Ikeda 31 Spiritual Independence Freed From an Authoritarian Priesthood 34 A Struggle That Continues Forever Learning From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory Selected Sections From SGI President Ikeda s Study Lecture Series 39 The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, Special Lecture Commemorating May 3, Soka Gakkai Day 42 The Opening of the Eyes, Special Lecture Commemorating November 18, Soka Gakkai Foundation Day Buddhist Concepts 46 Three Thousand Realms in a Single Moment of Life 51 The Oneness of Body and Mind 53 The Oneness of Life and Its Environment Sample Questions 55 Sample Questions ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 2 3
Daigo Otobe
What Is the Essentials Exam? Explanation of Essentials Exam, Part 2 Study is a vital element for maintaining throughout our lives a consistent Buddhist practice and an ever-deepening faith. The SGI-USA study program aims to encourage members to strengthen their understanding of Nichiren Daishonin s teachings through the study of his writings, various Buddhist concepts, the history of Nichiren Buddhism and the SGI, and SGI President Ikeda s commentaries. President Ikeda says: Study exams provide opportunities for accumulating immense benefit not only for the examinees working hard to deepen their understanding of Nichiren Buddhism but also for everyone else involved, including those who support them in their studies, those responsible for administering and marking the exams, as well as the event staff. As Nichiren states, Where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward ( Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward, The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 907). All who participate in and support the study exams are sowing the seeds for becoming outstanding philosophers, educators and leaders of abiding happiness and victory. (September October 2010 Living Buddhism, p. 10) The first level of the SGI-USA study program is the Introductory Exam. Those who have passed this exam are eligible to take any of the three Essentials exams Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3. This three-part Essentials Exam series can be taken in any order. Once members pass all three exams, they will receive a completion certificate. This study guide includes all the study material for Essentials Exam, Part 2. Audio files for this material are available for free download at: sgi-usa.org/essentialstudy For further information, please contact your local organization. ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 2 5