Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, June 15, 2012
The Daishonin teaches the meaning of true happiness and the true purpose of life. Fame and momentary glories are no more than illusions. True happiness lies in cultivating the great state of Buddhahood within one's life. This is life's true purpose. By chanting daimoku, we can change all of our sufferings into the ingredients for attaining a Buddha's lofty state of life.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, June 15, 2012
Furthermore, human beings have two heavenly gods who always accompany them, just as a shadow follows the body. One is named Same Birth and the other Same Name. Perched on one's left and right shoulders, they protect one [by reporting all of one's deeds to heaven]. Therefore, heaven never punishes those who have committed no error, let alone people of merit. That is why the Great Teacher Miao-lo stated, "The stronger one's faith, the greater the protection of the gods." So long as one maintains firm faith, one is certain to receive the great protection of the gods.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 614
The Supremacy of the Law
Written to Oto and her mother, Nichimyo, on August 4, 1275
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, June 15, 2012
The joy of heaven is ephemeral like a mirage or a dream. A life spent in pursuit of a mirage is itself a mirage. The purpose of Buddhist practice is to establish an eternally indestructible state of happiness, not a fleeting happiness that perishes like a flower but an internal palace of happiness that will last throughout all time.
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1956) p.285/86
Left Tokyo Station at 12:30 on the Dove, the express for Osaka, for the Study Department exam. Thought I would study on the train, but couldn't. It was awful. Couldn't concentrate at all. Practice, training. Recalled Musashi*.
Answered exam prep questions until after 11:00. Overly tired. Feel a neuralgia-like pain in my left hand…
At 1:20, 423 people took the written exam. There were five questions. The quality of my lecture will be reflected in the examinees' performance. The responsibility is ultimately my own.
*Miyamoto Musashi (famed swordsman 1584 – 1645)
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