In his 2016 (35th) Peace Proposal, Universal Respect for Human Dignity: The Great Path to Peace, Daisaku Ikeda states that all people have a right to live in happiness.
The United Nations has declared as its objective the building of a world free from the scourge of war, where human rights are respected, and discrimination and oppression eliminated. This vision is deeply compatible with our core values of peace, equality and compassion, that we, as Buddhists, uphold.
Too often our political discourse is infused with the mistaken belief that only certain groups of people have a right to happiness -- that their beliefs grant them special consideration at the expense of others. The problems that arise from this outlook can be overwhelming as can my own frustration with these negative attitudes.
Unfortunately, children often learn these behaviors from their adult caregivers. My parents were racially prejudiced as were their parents. And it embarrasses me that I once joined in teasing someone in junior high school about his speech impediment. On the other hand, I was treated badly for being the only Jewish student in one of the elementary schools I attended and, later in life, MBO and I were evicted from our rental home for having Buddhist discussion meetings. So, I have experienced both sides of these phenomena as an instigator and a recipient. Fortunately, I was able to embrace the practice of Nichiren Buddhism at the relatively young age of 19.
My Buddhist practice has taught me that all humans have the potential to be Buddhas, enlightened individuals who make a difference in the world regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation or political persuasion. This is an ultimate source of hope for humanity. Rather than exist in isolation by itself, this inner enlightenment manifests itself within our lives at the same time we are experiencing joy, anger, desire, tranquility, learning or the urge to help others.
Whenever I lost the belief that I could make a difference in the world I sought out encouragement from studying and having dialogues with fellow Buddhists and others whose opinions and worldview I respected. Then I chanted about what I learned and reignited my determination to put hope into practice.
In 2017, I gave a guest lecture on Creating Hope from a Buddhist Perspective at the West Seattle Unitarian Universalist church. It was a wonderful opportunity for the 150+ people there (including myself) to be reminded to self-reflect on their beliefs and behavior especially in light of the shootings that had just occurred earlier that morning in a Club in Orlando, Florida. I continue to reawaken my own hope and respect for others on a daily basis with the belief that this is the only path that leads to lasting peace.