Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 20 October 2012 - The Year of Developing a Youthful SGI

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Saturday, October 20, 2010   President Toda detested formality. And for this reason, as his disciple, I have tried to place foremost emphasis on substance. Formalities are important in certain cases, but mere formality without substance is evil. Formalities in and of themselves have no life; whereas substance is alive. Formality is provisional and substance essential. Formality is conventional and therefore conservative, but substance provides the impetus for progress and development.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Saturday, October 20, 2010   From here we are going to cross the sea to the island province of Sado , but at the moment the winds are not favourable, so I do not know when we will depart. The hardships along the way were worse than I could have imagined, and indeed more than I can put down in writing. I will leave you to surmise what I endured. But I have been prepared for such difficulties from the outset, so there is no point in starting to complain about them now. I shall accordingly say no more of the matter. Letter from Teradomari Written to Toki Jonin on October 22, 1271     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Saturday, October 20, 2010   We should all develop the mind to rejoice in, praise and share in the gift of those who have artistic talents and a richness of heart, whether they achieve wide recognition or not. Cultivating such a beautiful mind is a very worthy effort. Culture and art are not just decorations. They are not just accessories. What matters is whether culture enriches the essential substance of our lives.     Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1958) p.389   To Sensei's home in the morning.  Immediately took a taxi with Sensei's wife to the Japan University Hospitality in Surugadai.  The room was not very good.  Negotiated again and again.  Earnestly requested the best room possible, but to no avail.  Truly regrettable.  Dr. H. also asked for our understanding, calling it only temporary.  An unavoidable choice.  But sincerely urged the hospital to provide its best possible treatment.   Went back to the head temple…  Immediately reported to the board of directors and the general director.   Sensei's condition is quickly worsening.