Sensei's Daily Encouragement - January 24 2024 - Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
January 24, 2024
 
We use our voices not only to chant daimoku but to guide, encourage and introduce others to the Daishonin's Buddhism. Our voice, therefore, is very important. An angry voice, a coarse voice, a cold voice, an imperious voice - none of these will communicate how wonderful Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is. I would like you to be humanistic leaders who can encourage others with bright warm voices, so that they will say, "What a lovely voice!" and "I'm always so inspired when I hear you speak." Becoming this kind of leader is one actual proof of your human revolution.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
January 24, 2024
 
I explained the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to you before. Matters of minor importance arise from good, but when it comes to a matter of great importance, great disaster without fail changes into great fortune.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 824
A Warning against Begrudging One's Fief
Written to Shijo Kingo in July 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
January 24, 2024
 
Buddhism teaches equality and absolute respect for the dignity of life. Educating people to be citizens of the world begins with cultivating respect, compassion and empathy for others. I am certain that friendship and limitless trust in people can empower us to overcome socially disruptive discrimination and hatred. Open-minded exchanges on the popular level will be increasingly important in the years to come. When people engage in mind-to-mind dialogue, they are grateful to see ethnic and cultural differences not as obstacles but as expressions of society - enriching diversity that engenders respect and a desire for further exploration.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (27 November 1957) p.358
 
Attended a private funeral service for Nichiko Hori. High priest Nichijun led gongyo at 1:00pm at Sessen Manor. At 2:00, the casket was brought out.
His sublime countenance at death is that of a great philosopher of this century who, throughout his ninety-one years, devoted himself to an exhaustive study of the profound principles of this great Buddhism. Boundlessly moved. It is clear-cut proof of the power of Buddhism. We recently bid farewell to Nissho, and now we pay our last respects to Nichiko. It's as if the grand stage is changing in preparation for kosen-rufu. I have one request (of Nichiko): that you continue to encourage and guide me until the day of kosen-rufu, and when I die, that you will take my childish hand and welcome me.
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