Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 31 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, July 31, 2014

 

What is the secret to victory? Mr. Toda once described that in a certain sense life is a gamble. "If you are lucky, you will win," he said. "But if you are unlucky, then sometimes no matter how hard you try you lose. This is a hard fact." That is why, in addition to ability, good fortune is essential. The key to creating good fortune is found in faith and daimoku. I hope that you will all act in accord with the fundamental Law of Buddhism and lead victorious lives filled with unsurpassed good fortune.

 

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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Thursday, July 31, 2014

 

Even a wise man cannot become a Buddha through the other sutras, but with the Lotus Sutra, even fools can plant the seeds that lead to Buddhahood. As the sutra passage I have quoted earlier puts it, "Although they do not seek emancipation, emancipation will come of itself."

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 283

The Opening of the Eyes

Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, July 31, 2014

 

What is the purpose of life? It is happiness. But there are two kinds of happiness: relative and absolute. Relative happiness comes in a wide variety of forms. The purpose of Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood. In modern terms, this could be explained as realizing absolute happiness - a state of happiness that can never be destroyed or defeated.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 October 1955) p. 259

 

Suffered all day, immersed in pain. My temperature was 101.3° F. My head hurts, my back hurts. What kind of illness is this? Going to chant a thousand or two thousand daimoku. Must create a wellspring of life force. Must defeat this devilish illness. Must not die.

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 30 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

 

Faith enables us to secure ultimate victory. It enables us to live with vigour and joy and to strive to improve ourselves - to become the very best people we can be. Moreover, faith enables us to walk through life with complete assurance and confidence, unafraid of anything.

 

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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

 

Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as  Mount   Sumeru , but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1026

Letter to Niike

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

 

Religion must teach an "attitude to life." To live a life of true human dignity is certainly difficult. Life is change; it is continuous change. Nothing is constant. The four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death are an eternal theme that no one can escape.

Amid harsh reality, people yearn from the depths of their beings to live with dignity and for their lives to have meaning, and they make efforts toward that end. The product of these human yearnings, these prayers, is religion. Religion was born from prayer. What is Nichiren's response to these prayers of human beings? What attitude toward life does he teach? The answer, in short, is the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (16 October 1955) p. 258

 

A clear autumn day. Not a cloud in the sky.

I adore my sons, Hiromasa and Shirohisa. Don't feel at all like their father. Is it because I'm still so young myself or is it due to my spoiled nature? In any case, all I can do is pray from the depths of my heart that these two will become men of justice who can open their golden wings and take flight as capable people for kosen-rufu.

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 29 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

 

The ultimate essence of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism lies in living on through to the very end, pressing ever forward, courageously taking on each new challenge we encounter and never giving up. Constructing eternal glory - the state of Buddhahood within our own lives is the purpose of our Buddhist practice in this lifetime. Hence the Daishonin's constant urging that we make tenacious efforts in the present.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

 

Believe in the Gohonzon with all your heart, for it is the robe to protect you in the world after death. No wife would ever leave her husband unclothed, nor could any parents fail to feel compassion for their child shivering in the cold. Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra are like one's wife and parents. You have helped me and thereby saved me from disgrace in this life; in return, I will protect you from disgrace in the next. What one has done for another yesterday, will be done for oneself today.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 994

Letter to Jakunichi-bo

Written to Jakunichi-bo Niike on September 16, 1279

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

 

Compassion is the very soul of Buddhism. To pray for others, making their problems and anguish our own; to embrace those who are suffering, becoming their greatest ally; to continue giving them our support and encouragement until they become truly happy - it is in such humanistic actions that Nichiren Buddhism lives and breathes.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (14 October 1955) p. 257

 

Talked with G. at my house. Very low spirits. For both G. and myself, next spring's House of Councillors election will be a decisive first battle. If we fail, the pace of kosen-rufu will be impaired.

Want to score a solid victory in my maiden battle, not for myself, not for honor, but to realize the principles of Buddhism within society. My own mission has become all the more important. When viewed from the standpoint of 'consistency from beginning to end,' this battle will be the beginning, and all future elections, the end. If beginning and end are consistent, then this is the key battle, the one we must win.

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 28 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, July 28, 2014

 

Life is a process of ongoing challenge. Those who lead lives of boundless challenge realize boundless growth. In a time of tumultuous change, what people need most is the vitality to challenge their circumstances and the wisdom to open the treasure-house of knowledge and to ceaselessly strive to create new value.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Monday, July 28, 2014

 

Since I have realized that only the Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of Buddhahood by women, and that only the Lotus is the sutra of true requital for repaying the kindness of our mother, in order to repay my debt to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 931

The Sutra of True Requital

Written to the lay nun Sennichi on July 28, 1278

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, July 28, 2014

 

The Buddha's compassion is perfectly equal and impartial. The Buddha views all beings as his own children and strives to elevate them to attain his same enlightened state of life. It's not that there are no differences among people. Rather, it's that the Buddha, while fully recognizing people's differences, does not discriminate among them.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (07 October 1955) p.254

 

Made many minor mistakes lately. Whatever my past faults or errors, if I can change poison into medicine, I have nothing to be ashamed of.

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 28 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Sunday, July 27, 2014

 

Buddhism is found in the reality of society and daily life. Because Buddhism is in no way separate from this reality, we must strive through our actions and behaviour to be exemplary models for others.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Sunday, July 27, 2014

 

Since childhood, I, Nichiren, have never prayed for the secular things of this life but have single-mindedly sought to become a Buddha. Of late, however, I have been ceaselessly praying for your sake to the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and the god of the sun, for I am convinced that you are a person who can inherit the soul of the Lotus Sutra.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 839

The Hero of the World

Written to Shijo Kingo in 1277

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Sunday, July 27, 2014

 

The brilliance of true humanity lies in surmounting feelings of envy with the resolute attitude "I'll create an even more wonderful life for myself." If you are jealous of others, you will not advance; you will only become miserable. Please do not be defeated or consumed by such emotions.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (06 October 1955) p. 253

 

1. Must take pains to treat people with compassion.

2. Advance with warmth and tolerance.

 

Why? Think it is because I am intense and passionately emotional by nature. Want to be first in Japan and then in the whole world. Is having such a desire a cause for happiness or unhappiness? This I must ask myself.

Do not wish to have regrets in this lifetime.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 26 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Saturday, July 26, 2014

 

 Faith is perseverance. The key to victory in any struggle in life is persistence. That is why Nichiren Daishonin stresses the importance of having faith that flows ceaselessly like water rather than faith that flames up briefly like fire. To advance continuously, it is important never to become exhausted. Carrying out activities until late at night does not equate with strong faith.

 

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 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Saturday, July 26, 2014

 

 Faith in this sutra means that you will surely attain Buddhahood if you are true to the entirety of the Lotus Sutra, adhering exactly to its teachings without adding any of your own ideas or following the arbitrary interpretations of others.

 

 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1030

Letter to Niike

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

 

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 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Saturday, July 26, 2014

 

 What does attaining Buddhahood mean for us? It does not mean that one day we suddenly turn into a Buddha or become magically enlightened. In a sense, attaining Buddhahood means that we have securely entered the path or orbit of Buddhahood inherent in the cosmos. Rather than a final static destination at which we arrive and remain, achieving enlightenment means firmly establishing the faith needed to keep advancing along the path of absolute happiness limitlessly, without end.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (05 October 1955) p. 253

 

At 8:30, in reception room # 1, the Seikyo Shimbun sponsored a discussion meeting on the condition of the erroneous sects. The writers have grown considerably. Trust their conviction as bold, youthful pioneers. Awakened with indignation to the poisonous nature and the devilish reality of other sects. Strengthened and solidified my resolve to stand alone and fight. Though others do not see, Dosho and Domyo*, the guardian deities, know all. When I realize that all is apparent to the Mystic Law, my heart fills with joy.

 

*Dosho and Domyo: Two gods said to dwell on a person's shoulders from the time of birth and record all of his or her actions, to report to King Emma, who judges the dead. They represent the law of cause and effect operating within one's life.

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 25 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Friday, July 25, 2014

 

 Buddhism is, in a sense, an eternal struggle between the Buddha and demons; in other words, a contest between positive and negative forces. If we fail to be assailed by negative influences, we cannot be said to be truly practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Buddhist practice lies in bravely facing and overcoming adversity.

 

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 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Friday, July 25, 2014

 

 A bird's egg contains nothing but liquid, yet by itself this develops into a beak, two eyes, and all the other parts, and the bird soars into the sky. We, too, are the eggs of ignorance, which are pitiful things, but when nurtured by the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is like the warmth of the mother bird, we develop the beak of the thirty-two features and the feathers of the eighty characteristics and are free to soar into the skies of the true aspect of all phenomena and the reality of all things.

 

 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1030

Letter to Niike

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

 

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 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Friday, July 25, 2014

 

 Many people talk about peace, but few really do anything about it. Very few are willing to fight the battle to the end. Josei Toda instilled in me the hard and fast rule that, even if we stand alone, we must never give up but must see the struggle through to its conclusion.

The year before he died, he said something I have never forgotten for a minute: "If we don't fight, justice will be defeated. Because justice is on our side, we must not lose, we absolutely must win. That's why we fight. The lion is most lion like when he roars."

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (05 October 1955) p. 252/253

 

A clear autumn day. Can't stop thinking about Sensei, even for a moment. Actually, my lifelong destiny was determined when I met him and will continue to be guided by him until the end. How fortunate! Though I began poor and sick, nothing could be more glorious than to have Sensei watch over me throughout my life. Articles criticizing the Gakkai have appeared in several magazines. Have gradually sensed the presence of the three powerful enemies. Never fear. What is crucial now is the spirit never to retreat or regress in faith.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 24 July 2014 - Year of Opening a New Era of Worldwide Kosen-rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, July 24, 2014

 

 Our lives are our own. It is not for someone else to dictate to us how we should live them. All that awaits those who allow themselves to be continually swayed by what other people say or do is unhappiness. We simply need to have the self-belief to be able to say: "This is right. This is the path I will follow. I am content." Happiness is born from such inner fortitude. Moreover, those who earnestly devote themselves in accord with the Mystic Law cannot fail to realize lives of total fulfillment.

 

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 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Thursday, July 24, 2014

 

 The Great Teacher Nan-yueh has stated, "If one sees a foe of the Lotus Sutra and yet fails to censure him, one becomes a slanderer of the Law and will fall into the hell of incessant suffering." Even a man of great wisdom, if he sees such a person and fails to speak out, will fall into the depths of the hell of incessant suffering, and as long as that hell shall endure, he will never escape.

 

 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1021

Letter to Akimoto

Written Akimoto Taro Hyo-no-jo on January 27, 1280

 

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 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, July 24, 2014

 

 The Argentine educator Almafuerte wrote: "To the weak, difficulty is a closed door. To the strong, however, it is a door waiting to be opened." Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (03 October 1955) p.251

 

Don't think well of Chief Secretary I.'s sly tactics. She has become rude and demeaning toward me and others, often distorting the truth. She has no reason to hold herself above those around her and should not take advantage of the kindness and consideration shown her by Sensei. Women can be particularly fearsome. Must be very careful in the future. Strictly warned Miss I., the chapter women's division chief, and Miss U. regarding their arrogance. Worried that several people are hesitating to practice their faith freely.