Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, March 29, 2013
Molly Brown was on board the Titanic when it tragically sunk in 1912. Although she knew the ship was taking on water, she shouted to a panic-stricken fellow passenger: "There's no danger. It simply can't go down, because I'm on it and I'm unsinkable." Her bantering words, which rang out with the determination never to be defeated and never to give in to despair are said to have given courage to her fellow passengers. Those who stand up at a crucial moment demonstrate genuine greatness.
From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 29, 2013
Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in a next one. Ah, you should be ashamed of them! And you should fear them too!"
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown, written in March 1263
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, March 29, 2013
Nichiren spoke of earthly desires being used as fuel for the flame of wisdom. Buddhism teaches the converting of personal ambitions and desires, even base ones, into good traits like wisdom through altruistic living. A Buddhist doctrine that earthly desires are enlightenment indicates that greed, anger (violence) and egocentricism can be transformed into altruistic traits like compassion, trust and non-violence. The underlying delusions that drive our desires - including the desire for the development of science and civilizations can be essentially transformed in a way that changes selfishness into altruism, violence into non-violence and suspicion into trust.
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (21 Mar. 1960) p.491
This April 2 will mark the beginning of the third year since my mentor's passing. What have I accomplished over the past two years? What can I, as my mentor's direct disciple, report to him? Lacking in courage, I deserve only his reprimand on many accounts.
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