Do we really gain fortune by making offerings for Buddhism?

Answer: Yes! Nichiren Daishonin stresses that unseen virtue— good deeds that may go unnoticed or unheralded by others— results in visible rewards.

This study series focuses on Nichiren Daishonin’s disciples, who faced challenges we can still relate to today, and his enduring encouragement to them that we can apply to dynamically transform our lives.

Everything we do in our SGI activities directly connects to helping people change their destiny and become absolutely happy. And much of what we do is modest and may go unnoticed.

Whether we offer our time to support others’ Buddhist practice or make financial offerings to support our growing kosen-rufu movement, Nichiren Daishonin assures us that “where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward” (“Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 907).

This is a point that he repeatedly stressed to his disciple Shijo Kingo. Let’s learn more about the meaning of these words of encouragement.

Shijo Kingo’s Perseverance Pays Off

Shijo Kingo’s relationship with Lord Ema was close at the outset, given that his father had also faithfully served the Ema clan.

However, those intimate ties deteriorated soon after Kingo introduced Ema to Nichiren’s teaching out of concern for the latter’s safety in the face of an impending Mongol invasion.

A few years later, prompted by false accusations made against Kingo by jealous colleagues, Ema ordered him to abandon his faith in Nichiren’s teaching or have his estates confiscated and be reassigned to a remote province.

Following Nichiren’s thorough guidance, Kingo continued to challenge his predicament with faith and sincerely dedicate himself to serving his lord.

When in 1277 Ema fell ill, he summoned Kingo, a skilled physician, to treat him. Ema was cured by his treatment and renewed his trust in his vassal. The following year, Kingo was bestowed an estate three times larger than the one he already had.

Delighted with Kingo’s victory, the Daishonin says:

As I have often mentioned before, it is said that, where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward. Your fellow samurai all slandered you to your lord, and he also has wondered if it was true, but because you have for some years now honestly maintained a strong desire for your lord’s welfare in his next life, you received a blessing like this. This is just the beginning; be confident that the great reward also is sure to come. (“Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward,” WND-1, 907)

The Efforts We Make for Kosenrufu Return to Us as Benefit

For us, “unseen virtue” can take many forms—organizing a discussion meeting, encouraging another person, introducing a friend to Buddhism, treating others with respect and consideration, offering our time, finances and other resources to support Buddhist activities and more.

Buddhism assures us that all these efforts will result in “visible reward” in our lives.

Ikeda Sensei states:

All the actions we take for kosenrufu will become a cause toward attaining Buddhahood and enable us to reveal our Buddha nature. And by revealing our Buddha nature, the “heavenly deities”—the positive functions of the universe—will assist and protect us. As Nichiren writes, we will surely gain “visible reward” and be “openly rewarded.”

Buddhism does not exist somewhere apart from reality. Therefore, the efforts you make for the sake of kosen-rufu will all become your own benefit. And they will also become a cause that will lead your family and loved ones to enjoy great benefit in lifetime after lifetime. Whether or not your efforts may be recognized by others, please be assured that you will most certainly be rewarded by the workings of the Mystic Law. (Youth and the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 193)

Developing faith in Nichiren’s teaching means gaining the wisdom and strength of heart never to be swayed by unfounded or unfair criticisms. It means trusting that, whether our efforts are recognized or not, we are making the most significant causes for our lives by supporting the greatest aim of kosen-rufu—the peace, harmony and happiness of all humanity.

“Unseen virtue bringing visible reward” is another way of expressing the workings of the law of cause and effect. The more seriously we pray and exert ourselves in faith, the stronger we become and the deeper our joy will be.

Just as Shijo Kingo sought the guidance of his mentor, the more we seek the guidance of our mentor in faith and apply that guidance to each situation, we can “be confident that the great reward is sure to come.”