Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, June 3, 2013
I would like each of you to rise to the challenge of revolutionizing the area where you live into an ideal community and to do so with the determination to start from where you are right now. This means building a good SGI organization in your local area and building it yourself with loving, painstaking care, the way an artist pours his or her heart and soul into creating a work of art. It also means fostering capable people. Buddhism, after all, can only flourish if there are people who uphold and practice its teachings.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, June 3, 2013
As I said before, though no chapter of the Lotus Sutra is negligible, among the entire twenty-eight chapters, the "Expedient Means" chapter and the "Life Span" chapter are particularly outstanding. The remaining chapters are all in a sense the branches and leaves of these two chapters. Therefore, for your regular recitation, I recommend that you practice reading the prose sections of the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" chapters.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 71
The Recitation of the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters
Written to Hiki Daigaku Saburo Yoshimoto's wife on April 17, 1264
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, June 3, 2013
When we plant the seed of happiness that is faith and carefully tend its growth, it will produce fruit without fail. We have to bear in mind, however, that we cannot plant a seed today and expect it to bear fruit tomorrow. That's not reasonable and Buddhism is reason. If we persevere, bearing in mind the principle faith equals daily life in accord with reason, then our prayers will definitely be answered. This is Nichiren's promise to us. And his words are true beyond any doubt.
Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (01 January 1950 p17)
Slept until 10:00 this morning. Was awakened by the lady next door, who treated me to zoni.
Feel carefree, living in an apartment by myself, but it's rather lonesome.
Hurriedly did gongyo and went to Mr. Toda's house.
Clustered around him were Miss K., I., Y., I. and several others. He offered us refreshments and gave guidance on a variety of subjects until evening. A memorable New Year's.
*Zoni: rice cakes in soup, a traditional New Year's dish.
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