Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
Faith is light. The hearts of those with strong faith are filled with light. A radiance envelops their lives. People with unshakable conviction in faith enjoy a happiness that is as luminous as the full moon on a dark night, as dazzling as the sun on a clear day.
From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
First of all, as to the question of where exactly hell and the Buddha exist, one sutra states that hell exists underground, and another sutra says that the Buddha is in the west. Closer examination, however, reveals that both exist in our five-foot body. This must be true because hell is in the heart of a person who inwardly despises his father and disregards his mother. It is like the lotus seed, which contains both blossom and fruit. In the same way, the Buddha dwells within our hearts.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1137
New Year's Gosho
Written to the wife of Omosu on January 5, year unknown
New Year's Gosho
Written to the wife of Omosu on January 5, year unknown
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 5, 2012
One of the epithets of a Buddha is, "Hero of the World." A Buddha is a valiant and noble champion who has conquered the sufferings of life in the real world. Nichiren writes: "Buddhism is like the body, and society like the shadow. When the body bends, so does the shadow." People cannot live apart from society. But to be constantly at the mercy of society's ups and downs is a miserable existence. It is crucial for us to be strong and wise. The "body" Nichiren refers to is, on the personal level, our faith.
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1953) p.144
A steady autumn rain. Appreciative in many ways for my circumstances, which allow me to grow while fighting courageously day after day and night after night. How fortunate that I can dedicate myself heart and soul to my job, my mission and my activities during this active time of my youth. Next year I'll be twenty-six. Construction, improvement, fierce struggle, devotion – with these I will live, fight and advance under my mentor, in a way befitting a youth and a disciple.
No comments:
Post a Comment