Sensei's Daily Encouragement -31 August 2018 - ‘Year of Brilliant Achievement in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

            

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

August 31, 2018

 

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

August 31, 2018

 

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

August 31, 2018

 

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 Ike

Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (29 January 1955) p.218

 

Went to the headquarters at 3:30 to work on public relations matters. It seems others are not given much responsibility. Cannot help feeling the responsibility always falls on me. Am I complaining?

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -30 August 2018 - ‘Year of Brilliant Achievement in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

            

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

 August 30, 2018

 

The Daishonin states, "The voice does the Buddha's work" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708). To chant the Mystic Law is to praise the Gohonzon. Hearing the sound of our daimoku, the heavenly deities will be set into motion and work to protect us. A weak and unclear voice will not move the heavenly deities. That is why it is important for us to chant daimoku with voices that are clear, strong and brimming with joy.

 

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

 August 30, 2018

 

Misfortune comes from one's mouth and ruins one, but fortune comes from one's heart and makes one worthy of respect.

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1137

New Year's Gosho

Written to the wife of Omosu on January 5, year unknown

 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

 August 30, 2018

 

Buddhism stresses the interconnectedness of all life. It is only the limited capacity of our senses that causes us to place so much stock in the separation between "them" and "us." Because of this interconnectedness, by using violence, you not only injure or destroy the other person but also yourself. Those who use violence and devalue others' lives actually devalue and ruin their own lives.

 

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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (28 January 1955) p.218

 

At 4:20 in the afternoon, my second child was born. Relieved to see he is healthy and normal. Feel great appreciation to the Gohonzon.

The mystery of life. Scholars, medical doctors, scientists, politicians or diplomats – none can solve, with even the slightest confidence, the indeterminable question of this child's destiny. Ultimately, life's fundamental questions can be answered nowhere but within Buddhism's essence. From today, my awareness of my responsibility as a parent, and for my entire family has deepened. Must have strength. Must protect my children and my family and bring them happiness.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -29 August 2018 - ‘Year of Brilliant Achievement in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

           

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

August 29, 2018

 

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

August 29, 2018

 

[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

August 29, 2018

 

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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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (13 January 1955) p.215/16

 

Went to T.'s home for a study meeting. All were serious. Ashamed of my own lack of study. No matter how high our leadership positions, if we fail to study seriously, our juniors will eventually surpass us. Frightening. The Daishonin's words, "Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study," apply equally to everyone. I am no exception.

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -28 August 2018 - ‘Year of Brilliant Achievement in the New Era of Worldwide Kosen Rufu

            

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

August 28, 2018

 

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

August 28, 2018

 

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

August 28, 2018

 

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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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (12 January 1955) p.215

 

Awaiting the growth of the Seikyo Press as a pioneer of journalism. It must set the pace for Kosen Rufu's progress.

The paper began with just one or two amateurs and has now grown to a circulation in the tens of thousands. People laughed. "What can amateurs accomplish?" they asked. But Sensei replied, "In five years' time, even amateurs will turn into professionals."