Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
What is true joy in life? This is a difficult question and one which has occupied a great many thinkers and philosophers. Joy can quickly give way to suffering. Joy is short and suffering long. Also what passes for joy in society is superficial. It cannot compare with the joy deriving from the Mystic Law. The key then lies in cultivating a state of mind where we can declare without reservation that life itself is a joy. This is the purpose of our Buddhist practice.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
"Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha" may be read as follows: single-mindedly observing the Buddha, concentrating one's mind on seeing the Buddha, and when looking at one's own mind, perceiving that it is the Buddha.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 389
Letter to Gijo-bo
Written to Gijo-bo on May 28, 1273
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The belief taught in the Lotus Sutra provides no easy answers, no escape route from the difficulties of human life. In fact, it rejects such easy answers; instead it implores us to take up the two tools for exploring life, belief and understanding, and use them to continually challenge and work to perfect ourselves. And it also provides us the energy to do just that.
Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (25 October 1949) p.12
Went in the autumn rain to visit the artist A. An unhappy man.
I told him about the Daishonin's philosophy, wanting him to find happiness as soon as possible. Went to the Ginza library this evening for I.'s pen-and-ink drawing of Magellan discovering the Pacific. Went to a movie in Shinbashi on the way back. Feel keen remorse about missing the discussion meeting.
Well, there's tomorrow. Tomorrow brings hope.
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