Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 17 August 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Wednesday, August 17, 2011   There is nothing more noble than inviting our friends to discussion meetings, gathering together to enable them to establish a connection with Buddhism, to talk about Buddhist teachings, and to deepen our faith. As the Lotus Sutra clearly indicates, through such steady, dedicated efforts to teach others about Buddhism, you are accumulating the good fortune and benefit to be reborn as great leaders and savour a state of unsurpassed freedom in lifetime after lifetime.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Wednesday, August 17, 2011   Rice is what sustains life. It is like the oil that sustains the life of the lamp. The Lotus Sutra is a lamp, and its votary is the oil that sustains it. Or again, the lay supporters are the oil that sustains the lamp of the votary.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 983 King Rinda Written to Soya Doso on August 17, 1279     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Wednesday, August 17, 2011   The Buddhist teaching of the oneness of life and its environment tells us that humanity and the natural world are one. That is why if we wish to protect the environment, we must transform and purify the three poisons - greed, anger and foolishness - that exist in people's lives. The principle of human revolution focuses on precisely that: inner transformation at the most fundamental level.     Sensei on Self-Mastery - Words of Wisdom Only when we learn to channel the energy we direct toward winning over others into winning over ourselves can we begin to develop our humanity.