Daily Encouragement - 31 July 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Sunday, July 31, 2011   What is the secret to victory? Mr. Toda once described that in a certain sense life is a gamble. "If you are lucky, you will win," he said. "But if you are unlucky, then sometimes no matter how hard you try you lose. This is a hard fact." That is why, in addition to ability, good fortune is essential. The key to creating good fortune is found in faith and daimoku. I hope that you will all act in accord with the fundamental Law of Buddhism and lead victorious lives filled with unsurpassed good fortune.       From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Sunday, July 31, 2011   Even a wise man cannot become a Buddha through the other sutras, but with the Lotus Sutra, even fools can plant the seeds that lead to Buddhahood. As the sutra passage I have quoted earlier puts it, "Although they do not seek emancipation, emancipation will come of itself."   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 283 The Opening of the Eyes Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Sunday, July 31, 2011   What is the purpose of life? It is happiness. But there are two kinds of happiness: relative and absolute. Relative happiness comes in a wide variety of forms. The purpose of Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood. In modern terms, this could be explained as realizing absolute happiness - a state of happiness that can never be destroyed or defeated.     Sensei on Attitude - Words of Wisdom   Unless we view things with our heart, we can see nothing. If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us.