President Ikeda’s Lecture on ‘The Three Kinds of Treasure’ (From the December 2009 Issue of Daibyakurenge)
“Treasures of the Heart Are Foremost”: The Key to Ultimate Victory
“The treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all.”
“Strive to accumulate the treasures of the heart.”
This passage represents the ultimate guideline for victory given by Nichiren Daishonin to Shijo Kingo in the midst of hardship.
The “heart” is the greatest treasure in life because it is endowed with boundless potential and supreme dignity.
The heart can expand, deepen, and grow stronger without limit.
Victor Hugo wrote: “There is a spectacle greater than the sea, and that is the sky; there is a spectacle greater than the sky, and that is the interior of the soul.”
To live fully, how should we expand our inner world? How should we forge our minds and accumulate the “treasures of the heart”? The Mystic Law exists for this very purpose.
In the latter half of this letter, the Daishonin teaches that “treasures of the heart are foremost.” For genuine victory in life, manifesting the Buddha nature through faith in the Mystic Law is the supreme treasure.
Two months prior to this letter, Shijo Kingo faced the crisis of estate confiscation by Lord Ema. Kingo resolved to maintain his faith in the Lotus Sutra even at the cost of his estates. Praising his resolve, the Daishonin instructed: “Even if you must become a beggar, never bring disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra.”
This instruction established the standard that the “treasures of the heart” accumulated through faith surpass land, status, or secular standing. When Kingo fought with this spirit, light broke through the darkness: his lord fell ill, Kingo cared for him, and trust was restored, while his detractors suffered retribution.
The Daishonin reveals that this initial victory was achieved through the principle of internal manifestation and external protection, praising Kingo’s faith.
When Shijo Kingo stood up with unshakeable faith, his Buddha nature manifested from within. Through this internal power, protective functions were activated, resulting in his lord employing him once again.
However, Kingo’s circumstances remained challenging.
To consolidate this victory, the Daishonin repeated various precautions: remain vigilant against attacks, maintain humility in interactions, and foster harmony with brothers and comrades. He strictly cautioned Kingo against impatience, preventing carelessness from undermining the momentum of victory.
Unshakeable victory requires genuine transformation of destiny through human revolution—conquering one’s fundamental ignorance. Carelessness is a dangerous foe. If complacency takes root and one loses the fighting spirit, fundamental weaknesses resurface.
Therefore, the Daishonin emphasized that faith is the supreme treasure. Let us examine the philosophy of “treasures of the heart are foremost.”