Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 25 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 25, 2025
 
We are no longer in an age when one person can shoulder everything. Of course, for the day-to-day running of the organization someone will still be officially designated as President, but ultimately our future development hinges on every member having the commitment required of a Soka Gakkai President. With this spirit, this sense of responsibility, this leadership in your activities, may you always work for kosen-rufu and for the victory of the people. May you also build a Soka Gakkai where everyone can advance joyfully, a Soka Gakkai of undying progress.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 25, 2025
 
A wife who leads her husband to take faith will enjoy the same benefit as Lady Pure Virtue. All the more fortunate is a case like yours, in which both wife and husband have faith! It is like a bird possessing two wings, or a cart having two wheels. What is there that you two cannot achieve? Because there is a heaven and an earth, a sun and a moon, the sun shines and the rain falls, and the plants and trees of benefit will surely blossom and bear fruit.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 915
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278
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 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 25, 2025
 
The significance of Buddhism lies both in the discovery of the Buddha nature in all beings and in the establishment of a practical method for bringing it out, so that human beings can derive maximum meaning from their lives. This reformation of the inner human world - what we in the Soka Gakkai call human revolution - is especially relevant to modern civilization, which has long been trapped in a sort of spiritual quicksand. We can escape the quicksand by calling forth the supreme human potential available to each of us.
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (18 December 1951) p.122
 
I am realizing all the more that our Soka Gakkai is a religious organization correctly carrying out the Buddha's will. So many other religious bodies in Japan today are merely businesses that, without efforts in propagation, focus on hiding their weakness behind the power of money.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 24 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 24, 2025
 
When we practice gongyo and chant daimoku before the Gohonzon, the good and evil capacities of our lives begin to function as the exalted form of fundamental existence. Lives that are full of the pain of Hell, lives that are in the state of Hunger, lives warped by the state of Anger - such lives too begin to move in the direction of creating their own personal happiness and value. Lives being pulled toward misfortune and unhappiness are redirected and pulled in the opposite direction, toward good, when they make the Mystic Law their base.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 24, 2025
 
I feel great pity for you and the others, but there is little I can do to help. Nevertheless, I pray day and night to the Lotus Sutra. Spare no effort in offering up prayers with firm faith. It is not that my resolve [to save you] is weak. Rather, it depends on the strength of each person's faith.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 678
The Story of Ohashi no Taro
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on March 24, 1276
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 24, 2025
 
The struggle we go through to have our prayers answered makes us stronger. If we were to immediately get everything we prayed for, we would become spoiled and decadent. We would lead indolent lives, devoid of any hard work or struggle. As a result, we would become shallow human beings. What, then, would be the point of faith?
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (18 December 1951) p.122
 
The S. Press stubbornly persists in slandering the Soka Gakkai with a series of unfounded, malicious articles. We cannot suppress our anger. Decided to visit them with several others to negotiate a retraction.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 23 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 23, 2025
 
Let us all set our sights on leading great lives dedicated always to truth and move toward that goal in good health, brimming with hope. Let us live our lives boldly, without regret, advancing with patience, enthusiasm and a genuine spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 23, 2025
 
If only you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offense could fail to be eradicated? What blessing could fail to come? This is the truth, and it is of great profundity. You should believe and accept it.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 130
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 23, 2025
 
I am the father of living beings and I should rescue them from their sufferings and give them the joy of the measureless and boundless Buddha wisdom so that they may find their enjoyment in that - The Lotus Sutra
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (16 December 1951) p.121
 
Mr. Toda then discussed the Suiko Group's significance, mission and conviction. Thirty-eight attended. Young phoenixes, resolutely carrying out their revolution in the realms of religion, politics and society. Each, overflowing with a fighting spirit that seemed to soar into the heavens. Their conviction and courage are strong enough to move the ocean. I trust them deeply I can picture them ten years from now.
 
Must:
1. Exert myself in study
2. Excel in my specific areas of responsibility
3. Carry out my activities with courageous resolve.
4. Become a considerate and decisive leader.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 22 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 22, 2025
 
I call to each of you: Strive for prosperity! Strive for development! Strive for victory! Life is about striving all out to achieve our aims; it is about hard work and effort. Regardless of how smart you may be, intelligence alone cannot guarantee your future.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 22, 2025
 
If a tree is deeply rooted, its branches and leaves will never wither. If the spring is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry. Without wood, a fire will burn out. Without earth, plants will not grow. I, Nichiren, am indebted solely to my late teacher, Dozen-bo, for my having become the votary of the Lotus Sutra and my being widely talked about now, in both a good and bad sense. Nichiren is like the plant, and my teacher, the earth.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 909
Flowering and Bearing Grain
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo in April 1278
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 22, 2025
 
Life is full of unexpected suffering. Even so, as Eleanor Roosevelt said: "If you can live through that [a difficult situation] you can live through anything. You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." That's exactly right. Struggling against great difficulty enables us to develop ourselves tremendously. We can call forth and manifest those abilities lying dormant within us. Difficulty can be a source of dynamic growth and positive progress.
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (14 December 1951) p.121
 
Slept through the morning. I wish I could say I slept well, but I was disturbed by a succession of bad dreams. In the end, I was still tired.
...
Decided to start tomorrow to make year-end preparations for Gakkai activities and for the company.
 
1. Detailed planning.
2. Well-organised administration.
3. Ability to take broad-minded action.
4. Unyielding progress.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 21 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 21, 2025
 
Why is it that sometimes our prayers seem to not be answered? This is a manifestation of the Buddha's wisdom - so that we can deepen our prayers, become stronger people, live more profound lives and secure deeper, more lasting good fortune. If our slightest prayer were answered immediately, we'd become lazy and degenerate. And we couldn't hope to build a life of great dignity and substance.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 21, 2025
 
Now in the Latter Day of the Law, any person whether wise or ignorant, priest or lay believer or of high or low position who embraces Myoho-renge-kyo and practices it in accordance with the Buddha's teaching cannot fail to gain the fruit of Buddhahood.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 482
The Teaching, Practice, and Proof
Written to Sammi-bo on March 21, 1275
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 21, 2025
 
The function of fire is to burn and give light. The function of water is to wash away filth. The winds blow away dust and breathe life into plants, animals, and human beings. The earth produces the grasses and trees, and heaven provides nourishing moisture. The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo are also like that. They are the cluster of blessings brought by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, disciples of the Buddha in his true identity - Nichiren.
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (10 December 1951) p. 120
 
Having my own family has changed my life in many ways from the days when I was single. There are good sides and troublesome sides to married life. On one hand it has been a real help to me, while on the other, I sometimes feel as if my freedom has been curtailed.
Convinced that the direct path, the shortest route to a happy life for oneself and one's family, in a spiritual, physical and material sense, is absolutely nothing other than faith.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 20 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 20, 2025
 
There may be times when life seems gloomy and dull. When we feel stuck in some situation or other, when we are negative toward everything, when we feel lost and bewildered, not sure which way to turn - at such times we must transform our passive mind-set and determine, "I will proceed along this path," "I will pursue my mission today." When we do so a genuine springtime arrives in our hearts and flowers start to blossom.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 20, 2025
 
It is impossible to fathom one's karma. Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Worthies and sages are tested by abuse. My present exile is not because of any secular crime. It is solely so that I may expiate in this lifetime my past grave offenses and be freed in the next from the three evil paths.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 303
Letter from Sado
Written to Toki Jonin on March 20, 1272
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 20, 2025
 
Buddhism aims to make people free in the most profound sense, its purpose is not to restrict or constrain. Buddhist prayer is a right, not an obligation. Because Buddhism entails practice, tenacious efforts are required, but these are all for your own sake. If you want to have great benefits or to develop a profound state of life, you should exert yourself accordingly.
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (10 December 1952) p. 120
 
Attended a discussion meeting at 6:30 in the evening at Kigetsu in Kawazaki. Overjoyed to see the members' fresh and lively spirits. Headed for home, praying they will all still be striving in such high spirits five or ten years from now.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -March 19 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

 

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
March 19, 2025
 
By devoting ourselves earnestly to SGI activities, we gain the ability to turn all difficulties and obstacles into benefit, recognizing that earthly desires and delusions are enlightenment and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana. No matter how unpleasant the circumstances we find ourselves in, we can transform them into hope and good fortune - into eternal happiness. How incredible this is!
 
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
March 19, 2025
 
Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbor doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does no lend you protection. Do no be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life. This is what I have taught my disciples morning and evening, and yet they begin to harbour doubts and abandon their faith.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 283
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
March 19, 2025
 
There are many elements involved in a prayer being answered, but the important thing is to keep praying until it is. By continuing to pray, you can reflect on yourself with unflinching honesty and begin to move your life in a positive direction on the path of earnest, steady effort. Even if your prayer doesn't produce concrete results immediately, your continual prayer will at some time manifest itself in a form greater than you had ever hoped.
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Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (9 December 1952) p. 120
 
Since the end of the war, the word revolution has come to be used quite frequently. It has even become somewhat fashionable. The term human revolution, however, has real meaning. Have come to realize that this revolution, in other words the transformation of our destiny, can only be accomplished through faith.
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