Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 23 August 2021 - Year of Hope and Victory

                    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
 August 23, 2021

Shijo Kingo, a person of strong faith, was at one point envied and slandered by others, earning the disfavour of his lord. But later he received a new estate from him. In modern terms, we might say that Shijo Kingo scored this victory by showing wonderful actual proof of faith at his place of work. The test of faith is winning in daily life and society, since that is where Buddhism finds expression.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
 August 23, 2021

How wondrous it is that, around two hundred years and more into the Latter Day of the Law, I was the first to reveal as the banner of propagation of the Lotus Sutra this great mandala that even those such as Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu, T'ien-t'ai and Miao-lo were unable to express! This mandala is in no way my invention. It is the object of devotion that depicts Shakyamuni Buddha, the World-Honored One, seated in the treasure tower of Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas who were Shakyamuni's emanations as perfectly as a print matches its woodblock.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 831
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
 August 23, 2021

Ralph Waldo Emerson says, "Good-nature is plentiful, but we want justice with a heart of steel, to fight down the proud." If people are merely good-natured, then those who are arrogant and highhanded will have free rein to carry on as they please. Only those who fight with hearts of steel are people of justice.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (27 December 1954) p.206 

Sensei scolded me severely. Like the strict anger of a father, the intensity of his voice made me want to cringe.
Ah, I was at fault. It is exactly as Sensei said. His strict love aims to prevent me from becoming a failure in life. He admonishes me so I will not become a general defeated in battle. Over the past several days, I have looked hard at my negative karma – my destiny. I have shed tears, felt frustration and pondered deeply. Determined to reply to Sensei's expectations.
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