Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 01 September 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, September 1, 2011   A mother's beliefs have a powerful influence on her children. In the realm of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, too, the children of families where the mother's faith is strong invariably develop into admirable adults.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Thursday, September 1, 2011   In kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required  a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 880 How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1277      Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, September 1, 2011   We must establish the correct standard of value upon the foundation of the dignity of life. Leaders of society, including politicians and schoolteachers, should teach children the distinction between good and evil and lead society in the direction of goodness. Today, however, the higher the status that people achieve, the more wrongdoings they tend to commit. Those in high status think only of their selfish interests while exploiting ordinary people. The "me first" attitude prevails. Looking at those adults, children cannot possibly grow up right. Such social trends, in a sense, are destroying our children. Adults must first reflect on their own way of life. Without self-reflection, adults are not qualified to scold children.      Sensei on Human Rights - Words of Wisdom   Our ability to respect others is the true mark of our humanity. Respect for other people is the essence of human rights.