Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Of foremost importance are the people - not celebrities, the powerful, the rich, scholars or others whom society deems great or praiseworthy. The purpose of all things must be the happiness of the people. Everything else should be but a means to that end. Those who fail to recognize this fundamental point and look down on the people and exploit them are thoroughly vile and contemptible, they are a hindrance to people's happiness.
From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Buddha explained how difficult it is for a one-eyed turtle to find a floating sandalwood log with a suitable hollow, even after immeasurable, boundless kalpas . He employed this analogy to illustrate the rarity of encountering the Lotus Sutra. One should be aware, however, that, even if one should encounter the floating sandalwood log of the Lotus Sutra, it is rarer still to find the hollow of the Mystic Law of the daimoku, which is difficult to chant.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 958
The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log
Written to the widow of the lay priest Matsuno on March 26, 1279
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
When experiencing failures and disappointments, frustrations or illness, people tend to lose confidence and let fear overtake them. At such times, however, we need to make a conscious effort to move forward with strength and courage. When you say to yourself, "Next time I'll succeed!" or "I'm going to get better and make it through this!" you have already won.
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (18 Mar. 1960) p.490
My seniors, please become people of true courage. I, too, will become a courageous, yet ordinary man. This is my responsibility to my juniors.
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