Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, May 28, 2012
What is true joy in life? This is a difficult question and one which has occupied a great many thinkers and philosophers. Joy can quickly give way to suffering. Joy is short and suffering long. Also what passes for joy in society is superficial. It cannot compare with the joy deriving from the Mystic Law. The key then lies in cultivating a state of mind where we can declare without reservation that life itself is a joy. This is the purpose of our Buddhist practice.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, May 28, 2012
"Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha" may be read as follows: single-mindedly observing the Buddha, concentrating one's mind on seeing the Buddha, and when looking at one's own mind, perceiving that it is the Buddha.
Letter to Gijo-bo
Written to Gijo-bo on May 28, 1273
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, May 28, 2012
The belief taught in the Lotus Sutra provides no easy answers, no escape route from the difficulties of human life. In fact, it rejects such easy answers; instead it implores us to take up the two tools for exploring life, belief and understanding, and use them to continually challenge and work to perfect ourselves. And it also provides us the energy to do just that.
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1955) p. 259
Suffered all day, immersed in pain. My temperature was 101.3° F. My head hurts, my back hurts. What kind of illness is this? Going to chant a thousand or two thousand daimoku. Must create a wellspring of life force. Must defeat this devilish illness. Must not die.
…
(next day) Body and mind are out of rhythm. Could not see Sensei during the day again. Felt empty and lonesome. Isn't life force the key to happiness? Clearly this is the most important requirement. Over the next several years, I will put this to the test and prove it decisively. Healthy ones, don't forget to appreciate!
No comments:
Post a Comment