Daily Encouragement - 02 August 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Tuesday, August 2, 2011   The greater our efforts to advance kosen-rufu, the greater the benefit and eternal good fortune we will accumulate in our lives. The more outstanding people we can foster, the stronger and healthier we will become. The more aware we are of our responsibility, the more joy we will experience. Such are the workings of the Buddhist Law.       From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Tuesday, August 2, 2011   The heart of the Lotus Sutra is the revelation that one may attain the supreme enlightenment in one's present form without altering one's status as an ordinary person. This means that, without casting aside one's karmic impediments, one can still attain the Buddha way. Thus T'ien-t'ai says, "The other sutras only predict Buddhahood . . . for the good, but not for the evil. . . This [Lotus] sutra predicts Buddhahood for all."   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 410 Reply to Hakiri Saburo Written to Hakiri Rokuro Saburo on August 3, 1273     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Tuesday, August 2, 2011   Why was Shakyamuni Buddha so respected? One of the reasons was the power of his voice. His voice is recorded as "beautiful, sweet like honey, warm and graceful, resounding and clear." He is also described as an individual who "speaks brightly, remarks brightly, narrates gracefully, talks clearly, expresses himself eloquently to make himself understood." Shakyamuni called to anybody who visited him, "Welcome, welcome." It is expounded that he associated with people with his friendliness, joy and gentleness. He always politely greeted any person he encountered. He never greeted them in an unfriendly manner. It is said that he first opened his mouth to speak to the other person so that he or she would have an easier time to open up to Shakyamuni.      Sensei on Strength - Words of Wisdom   Every hardship is an opportunity to strengthen ourselves, to temper our life and make it shine with greater luster.