Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 31 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, August 31, 2015

 

As long as we pray earnestly and sincerely with all our being, if we have strong and genuine faith, even though results may not be immediately visible, they will definitely manifest without fail in generations of our children and our children's children. I would like all of you to have absolute confidence in this.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Monday, August 31, 2015

 

Believers in the Lotus Sutra should fear those who attempt to obstruct their practice more than they fear bandits, burglars, night raiders, tigers, wolves, or lions even more than invasion now by the Mongols.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 495

Letter to the Brothers

Written to Ikegami Muneaka and Ikegami Muneaga on April 16, 1275

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, August 31, 2015

 

Overcoming the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death is not just a matter of theory. We mustn't move away from the issues of how we can lead healthy, fulfilling and long lives, and how we can die without suffering. Buddhism teaches the wisdom that enables us to do this.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (27 May 1950) p.27

 

Don't feel well at all. It was 9:50 by the time I got to work. Lost today's battle from the beginning.

May has been a month of grueling struggles, both personally and at work. Only four days left. Must strive till the last moment. Mr. Toda also seems to be weathering great hardships.

I am a man now. It's been twenty years already since I set out on the voyage of life. This must be a time of joy and hope. A time to burn with ideals.

Advance. Only advance.

Time will tell.

 
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 29 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Saturday, August 29, 2015

 

Worldly success and good circumstances based on luck can easily crumble. They are as transient as an illusion. But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Saturday, August 29, 2015

 

[As a youth] he received great wisdom from the living Bodhisattva Space Treasury. He prayed to the bodhisattva to become the wisest person in Japan. The bodhisattva must have taken pity on him, for he presented him with a great jewel as brilliant as the morning star, which Nichiren tucked away in his right sleeve. Thereafter, on perusing the entire body of sutras, he was able to discern in essence the relative worth of the eight schools as well as of all the scriptures.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 650

Letter to the Priests of Seicho-ji

Written to the priests of Seicho-ji temple on January 11, 1276

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Saturday, August 29, 2015

 

Though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered -Nichiren

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (25 May 1950) p.26

 

As the Buddha's disciple I must fear nothing.  All I need to do is accept and uphold his great compassion and dash ahead. Contemplation alone accomplishes nothing. Whoever merely contemplates is not a true disciple.  Am I free from illusion?  Do I display the great life force that springs from faith and practice or not?

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 28 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Friday, August 28, 2015

 

Success is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that, it is not measured in quantity. It means changing the quality of your life. Wealth, power, fame and knowledge alone cannot make you happy, no matter how much of these you acquire. Nor can you take them with you when you die. But by improving the quality of your life you will at last approach true happiness.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Friday, August 28, 2015

 

Everyone in Japan, from the sovereign on down to the common people, without exception has tried to do me harm, but I have survived until this day. You should realize that this is because, although I am alone, I have firm faith.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 614

The Supremacy of the Law

Written to Oto and her mother, Nichimyo, on August 4, 1275

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Friday, August 28, 2015

 

Anger is fundamentally an arrogant state of life. People in the state of anger are attached to the illusory assumption that they are better than others and direct their energy toward sustaining and enhancing this image. To ensure that others think of them in similarly glowing terms, they can never reveal their true feelings. Instead, they act obsequiously while a burning desire to surpass all others is their exclusive focus. With their inner feelings and their outward appearance out of accord, they don't speak from the heart. Buddhism teaches that the heart is most important. Of two people making comparable efforts, the results will differ greatly if one person is motivated by a value that transcends the self-good, beauty, the well-being of others - while the other is motivated by ego.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (22 May 1950) p.24

 

Youth, be messengers of the Buddha!

Youth, be fighters in the revolution!

Because I love humanity,

No hardships, no angry waves can move me.

 

Home at 10:00

Read the Lotus Sutra. Quite difficult.

Our practice demands great courage.

Went to bed at 1:00

 

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 27 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, August 27, 2015

 

The important thing is to keep working for kosen-rufu to the very end. On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway. Likewise, if despite our good fortune in meeting and embarking on the unsurpassed way of Buddhism, we stop halfway, all the efforts we have made thus far will have been in vain, we will not be able to attain Buddhahood.

 

Events

1260 Matsubagayatsu Persecution. Incited by priests, Pure Land believers descend on the Daishonin's hermitage at Matsubagayatsu,Japan, to kill him. He is forced to flee for his life.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Thursday, August 27, 2015

 

Mugwort that grows in the midst of hemp or a snake inside a tube [will as a matter of course become straight], and those who associate with people of good character will consequently become upright in heart, deed and word. The Lotus Sutra exerts a similar influence. The Buddha will look upon one who simply puts faith in this sutra as a good person.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1128

The Bodies and Minds of Ordinary Beings

Recipient and date unknown

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday, August 27, 2015

 

When we create or appreciate art, we set free the spirit trapped within. That is why art arouses such joy. Art - whether skillfully executed or not - is the emotion, the pleasure of expressing life as it is. Those who see art are moved by its passion and strength, its intensity and beauty. That is why it is impossible to separate life from art. Political and economic developments may seem to dominate the news, but culture and education are the forces that actually shape an age, since they transform the human heart.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (22 May 1950) p.24

 

Felt unwell all day. Must chant daimoku.

An outstanding person knows what it is to weep, knows when to admonish,, knows how to endure patiently, knows others' suffering. Wish to perfect myself as Nichiren Daishonin's disciple and become an outstanding person.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 26 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

 

We accumulate great good fortune through our earnest prayers, devotion and efforts for the sake of Buddhism, kosen-rufu and humankind. Prayer without action is not the way of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

 

It is easy to sustain our concern for someone who is before our very eyes, but quite a different thing when that person is far away, even though in our heart we may not forget him. Nevertheless, in the five years . . . that have already passed since I came to live here in the mountains, you have sent your husband from the province of Sado to visit me three times. How great is your sincerity! It is firmer than the great earth, deeper than the great sea!

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 933

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

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

 

There is no trace of coercion or concern for appearances in Nichiren's behaviour. He looked on those who were suffering, those who were bravely fighting alongside him, as if they were himself in the same situations. He prized each and every one of them. He encouraged them and sympathized with them, and we must never forget that the true essence of humanity is to be found in this. When we observe Nichiren's actions, we are deeply struck by the conviction that this is the way a Buddhist must live.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (21 May 1950) p.24

 

"If a man builds a road for others and someone loses his way on it, is that the fault of the road builder? If a skilled physician gives medicine to a sick person but the sick person, repelled by medicine, refuses to take it and dies, should one blame the physician? (The Selection of the Time)

Spent a leisurely Sunday for a change. Went to the baths with a friend and had breakfast at a cafeteria where you pay with ration tickets. Bought some toys for the children in my apartment building at a store in from of Omori Station. They seemed very pleased with them.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 25 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

 

Life flashes by in an instant. By devoting our lives to Buddhism, we will live a life of complete fulfillment. We are selling ourselves short if we fail to attain such a wonderful state of life.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

 

This Gohonzon is the essence of the Lotus Sutra and the eye of all the scriptures. It is like the sun and moon in the heavens, a great ruler on earth, the heart in a human being, the wish-granting jewel among treasures and the pillar of a house. When we have this mandala with us, it is a rule that all Buddhas and gods will gather round and watch over us, protecting us like a shadow day and night, just as warriors guard their ruler, as parents love their children, as fish rely on water, as trees and plants crave rain, or as birds depend on trees.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 624

On Upholding Faith in the Gohonzon

Written to the lay nun Myoshin on August 25, 1275

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

 

One of the fascinating things about human beings is this: Believe for long enough that you are not as smart as others and this will actually lead to intellectual ineptitude. But, confronted with the same doubts, if you choose to believe that your mind is merely dormant for now, lacking in exercise, once you begin to train it, there are no bounds to what you can achieve.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (20 May 1950) p.23

 

"Appreciation for one's parents is so fundamental that one scarcely need speak of it, but I particularly respect the kindness of my mother which is indelibly etched upon my heart." - (GZ, 398)

 

Courage is a special talent of youth. To make my mother and father happy, rebuild our business, establish my own foundation and save the nation - courage is the root of it all.

Moved to tears by the Daishonin's concern for his mother.

...

Read until late at night. Distressed by my empty stomach.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 24 August 2015 - Year of Dynamic Development in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, August 24, 2015

 

Advancement - Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat." The point is to continue forging ahead despite any storms or hardships that may arise, to be fearless and advance like a lion.

 

Events

SGI-USA Men's Division Day

1947 Daisaku Ikeda joins the Soka Gakkai at age 19

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Monday, August 24, 2015

 

People have varied tastes. Some prefer good and some prefer evil. There are many kinds of people. But though they differ from one another in such ways, once they enter into the Lotus Sutra, they all become like a single person in body and a single person in mind. This is just like the myriad different rivers that, when they flow into the ocean, all take on a uniformly salty flavour, or like the many kinds of birds that, when they approach  Mount   Sumeru , all assume the same [golden] hue.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1042

The Treasure of a Filial Child

Written to the lay nun Sennichi on July 2, 1280

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Monday, August 24, 2015

 

It has been said that aging gracefully is more difficult than dying, but as long as we have a forward-looking, positive attitude, a spirit to take on challenges, we will gain depth in our lives.

 

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 May 1950) p.23

 

Right now I'm concentrating on public relations as Mr. Toda's advance guard. Public relations is a trying task, but it will let us test our abilities to the utmost.

National politics also demands wise and capable diplomats.

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Diplomacy is necessary to individuals, families, society and the nation.

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Only through diplomacy can we be schooled in courage, wisdom and sincerity.