Friday 31 July 2020

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 31 July 2020 - Year of Advancement and Capable People

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

July 31, 2020 

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.
 

 

From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

July 31, 2020 

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
 

 

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

July 31, 2020 

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.
 

 

Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 July 1954) p.192 

Monday – a day on which I tend to lose my rhythm and feel off-balance. Since it's the first step of the week, must make a healthy start on this day. In the afternoon, a special staff conference to determine summer propagation activities. The meeting was somewhat restrained; dull. How self-serving I am. Strictly reflected that this is my greatest weak point. Then again, I am obstinate.

Highly value my great teacher, excellent seniors, fine friends and good neighbours! Must care for and respect them.











Thursday 30 July 2020

Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 30 July 2020 - Year of Advancement and Capable People

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

July 30, 2020 

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.
 

 

From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

July 30, 2020 

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 Nike

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280
 

 

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

July 30, 2020 

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.
 

 

Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (17 July 1954) p.191 

Visited Sensei's home in the evening. Received guidance on various matters. Was also severely reprimanded. This could not be helped; it was totally my fault. Disciples will forge on and grow, no matter how many times they are scolded. Must never become arrogant. For me to think that I, who lacks ability and a solid foundation, am something great – this is arrogance.

Lifelong advancement; lifelong study; lifelong effort; lifelong construction.