The Daishonin's words are guiding principles that have universal, eternal relevance. It is important to study his writings. And it is especially crucial that the members of the youth division gain a solid grounding in Buddhist study. The two ways of practice and study are important. A half-hearted attitude will not allow you to complete these two paths. That would be a truly sad thing.
From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
In describing the first, second, and third of the five stages of practice, the Buddha restricts those at these stages from practicing precepts and meditation, and places all emphasis upon the single factor of wisdom. And because our wisdom is inadequate, he teaches us to substitute faith for wisdom, making this single word "faith" the foundation.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 785
On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
Written to Toki Jonin on April 10, 1277
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
April 10, 2020
Many today regard any kind of belief and religious faith, in particular as somehow in opposition to reason or at the very least as a sort of paralysis of the faculty of reason. There are, indeed, fanatical religions in which faith opposes reason. But it is an erroneous leap of logic to assume on this basis, and without any evidence, that all religions are so. That itself is irrational and can be characterized as a kind of blind faith in its own right.
Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (26 January 1953) p.134
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