Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 15 July 2012 - The Year of Developing a Youthful SGI

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Sunday, July 15, 2012   What is the treasure of youth? It is struggle; it is hard work. Unless you struggle, you cannot become truly strong. Those who fight hard during their youth will have nothing to fear when the time comes to put the finishing touches on their lives. They will possess a great state of life that towers strong and unshakable. In Buddhism, we call this the state of Buddhahood, which nothing can undermine or destroy. It is a state of mind enjoyed by invincible champions of life.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Sunday, July 15, 2012   I, Nichiren, am hated by the people of Japan . This is entirely due to the fact that the lord of Sagami regards me with animosity. I grant that the government has acted quite without reason, but even before I encountered my difficulties, I foresaw that troubles of this kind would occur, and I resolved that, whatever might happen to me in the future, I must not bear any hatred toward others. This determination has perhaps acted as a prayer, for I have been able to come safely through any number of trials.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 686 On Consecrating an Image of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Shijo Kingo Written to Shijo Kingo on July 15, 1276     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Sunday, July 15, 2012   Daily life can seem all too drab and unexciting. Living itself can sometimes seem a strain, and few of us realistically expect what joy we feel to last forever. But when we fall in love, life seems filled with drama and excitement. We feel like the leading character in a novel. But, if you get lost in love just because you are bored, and consequently veer from the path you should be following, then love is nothing more than escapism.   Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1956) p.313/314   Confucius said: "At thirty, I stood tall. "At forty, I was free from doubt. "At fifty, I realized heaven's will." Yet, as a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin, it is not necessary to delineate things in terms of age.  This is due to 'the simultaneity of cause and effect,' the 'three thousand realms in a single moment of life.'  This is true as long as I feel my mission and maintain the unity of 'many in body, one in mind.'  This should be the absolute basis of everything. In any event, all I need is to continue my human revolution throughout my life based on faith.