Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 25 November 2011

 

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, November 25, 2011

 

 

Please do not forget your mother's love or the hardships she has endured for you. I am convinced that while people keep the memory of their mothers' loving faces alive in their mind, they will never go far astray. Similarly, as long as we bear in mind the Daishonin's profound compassion and live in deep appreciation of it, our lives will be illuminated brightly by the light of Buddhahood. And enveloped in the Gohonzon's great compassion, we will walk along a path that is filled with tranquillity and immeasurable joy.

 

 

 

 

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, November 25, 2011
 

Strive ever harder in faith, and never give in to negligence. All the people appear to believe sincerely when they first embrace the Lotus Sutra, but as time passes, they tend to become less devout; they no longer revere nor make offerings to the priest, giving themselves up to arrogance and forming distorted views. This is most frightening.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1027
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

 

 

 

 

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, November 25, 2011
 

Suppose that a person is standing at the foot of a tall embankment and is unable to ascend. And suppose that there is someone on top of the embankment who lowers a rope and says, "If you take hold of this rope, I will pull you up to the top of the embankment." If the person at the bottom begins to doubt that the other has the strength to pull him up, or wonders if the rope is not too weak and therefore refuses to put forth his hand and grasp it, then how is he ever to get to the top of the embankment? But if he follows the instructions, puts out his hand, and takes hold of the rope, then he can climb up - Nichiren

 

 

  

Daisaku Ikeda – A Youthful Diary (1951) p. 114

 

Awoke at 6:50.  Did gongyo, feeling refreshed both in body and spirit. 

Not to be filled with vitality and burning with passion during the precious years of youth would be a waste.  Advancement – what a youthful word, filled with possibilities for the future.  I will, throughout my life, use and practice this word both in name and in reality.  Advancement – this word implies growth, hope, courage, youth and justice.