Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 22 September 2011

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, September 22, 2011   The principle that "Buddhism equals life" means that everything in one's life is itself Buddhism. The principle that "Buddhism becomes manifest in society" means that society, too, is at one with Buddhism. The struggle for kosen-rufu can be waged only within the realities of life and society. Those who earnestly grapple with these realities develop strength and inner substance. They develop and grow.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Thursday, September 22, 2011   I cannot see the sun in the daytime or the moon at night. In winter there is deep snow, and in summer the grass grows thick. Because so few people come to see me, the trail is very hard to travel. This year, especially, the snow is so deep that I have no visitors at all. Knowing that my life may end at any time, I put all my trust in the Lotus Sutra.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 779 The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra Written to the lay nun Konichi in 1276     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, September 22, 2011   Buddhism views illness as an opportunity to attain a higher, nobler state of life. It teaches that, instead of agonizing over a serious disease, or despairing of ever overcoming it, we should use illness as a means to build a strong, compassionate self, which in turn will make it possible for us to be truly victorious.     Sensei on Life's Potential - Words of Wisdom   Life is filled with potential that is truly unfathomable. At last we are coming to see the enormous power it possesses. That is why we must never write anyone off. In particular, we mustn't put boundaries on our own potential. In most cases, our so-called limitations are nothing more than our own decision to limit ourselves.