Sensei's Daily Encouragement - December 17 2022 - The year of Youth and Dynamic Progress



    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
December 17, 2022

We are all human beings; in that regard, we are all the same. The only real difference lies in people's life-conditions. Our life-condition continues beyond death, into eternity. Therefore, as the Daishonin says, "Faith alone is what really matters."
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 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
December 17, 2022

The Buddha's utterances have become the works that compose the entire body of sutras and bring benefit to all living beings. And among the sutras, the Lotus Sutra is a manifestation in writing of the Thus Come One Shakyamuni's intent; it is his voice set down in written words. Thus the Buddha's heart is embodied in these written words. To illustrate, it is like seeds that sprout, grow into plants, and produce rice. Though the form of the rice changes, its essence remains the same.

Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Pure and Far-Reaching Voice
This letter was written at Ichinosawa on Sado Island in 1272 and addressed to Shijo Kingo
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
December 17, 2022

There is no self-improvement without effort. Without taking action, happiness will never come, no matter how long you wait. A life without peaks and valleys is a fairy tale. Reality is strict, because it is a win or lose struggle. This is the way it is for human beings. Therefore, you should not allow yourselves to be battered about by reality but rather willingly rise to its challenges and use them as opportunities to train and strengthen yourselves.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (17 July 1957) p.335

July 3 was the anniversary of President Toda's release from prison.

At 4:00 p.m. on this very significant anniversary, I entered the Osaka Prefectural police headquarters. The charge: door-to-door vote solicitation. I was held for fifteen days for interrogation by the prosecutors – the first few days in various cells at the police headquarters, then for ten days at the detention centre.
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