Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 08 November 2012 - The Year of Developing a Youthful SGI

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, November 8, 2012   In the "Ongi Kuden" (Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings), Nichiren Daishonin says with reference to attaining Buddhahood, "To attain' means to open'" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 753). Attaining Buddhahood means opening our lives to their fullest potential and revealing our innate Buddhahood. This is the purpose of Buddhism.     From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Thursday, November 8, 2012   If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain. It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbour's wealth but gains not even half a coin. That is why the T'ien-t'ai school's commentary states, "Unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one cannot eradicate one's grave offenses." This passage implies that, unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one's practice will become an endless, painful austerity.   The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 3   On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime Written to Toki Jonin in 1255     Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Thursday, November 8, 2012   The noted pacifist scholar Johan Galtung tells young people, "We must be realists in our brains while keeping the flame of idealism burning in our hearts." Both of these --to see the world as it is and how it could be -- are essential to reform. A firm hold on reality should not entail being swamped by or resting easy in the status quo. To pioneer uncharted ways requires that people today keep the lamp of optimism lit.     Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (1958) p.401   Left Kyoto Station for Tokyo on the 1:07a.m. special express.  Traveled third class.  Completely worn out, both physically and spiritually.  Could not even think straight. Arrived in Tokyo just before 8:00.  Went to the headquarters immediately.  Did morning gongyo. An image of Sensei gazing strictly through his glasses came to my mind.  His large, warm face seemed to be encouraging me… Let me raise my spirits and fight this month again.