Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 19 August 2021 - Year of Hope and Victory

              

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
August 19, 2021

Buddhism is wisdom. As long as we have wisdom, we can put all things to the best use, we can turn everything in the direction of happiness.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
 August 19, 2021

During [Sudatta's] last period of poverty, when all the people had fled or perished and only he and his wife remained, they had five measures of rice that would nourish them for five days. At that time, five people , Mahakashyapa, Shariputra, Ananda, Rahula and Shakyamuni Buddha came one after another to beg for the five measures of rice, which Sudatta gave them. From that day on, Sudatta was the wealthiest man in all India, and he built the Jetavana Monastery. From this, you should understand all things. 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1086
The Wealthy Man Sudatta
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on December 27, 1280
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
 August 19, 2021

Ultimately, we are responsible for our own destiny. It may seem to us that our fate is predetermined, whether by our genes or by our environment. What really matters, however, is how we can improve ourselves from this moment forward, how we can change the circumstances that we find ourselves in. This enormous transformative force is what Buddhism is all about. In this struggle lies the source of never-ending youth and vitality.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (13 October 1954) p.202 

Walked home alone from Kamata Station. The autumn moon shone brilliantly. The heartbeat of youth – pristine, praiseworthy. One who protects the Mystic Law must become like the lotus, blooming amid the muddy swamp of our complicated society. Even if we find ourselves lonely, heartbroken, afflicted with sadness or in the midst of a trying or difficult time, we still have the Mystic Law. Never forget the moon and the greenery of nature. They are good friends.
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