Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 15 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 15, 2024

There is no need to be impatient. Anything that is accomplished quickly and easily will not long endure. Now is the time to concentrate on the construction of a solid foundation. I hope you will complete this work slowly but surely, filled with hope and joy.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 15, 2024
Do not these interpretations make clear that, among all the teachings of the Buddha's lifetime, the Lotus Sutra is first, and that, among the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, that of women attaining Buddhahood, is first? For this reason, though the women of Japan may be condemned in all sutras other than the Lotus Sutra as incapable of attaining Buddhahood, as long as the Lotus Sutra guarantees their enlightenment, what reason have they to be downcast?"

The Sutra of True Reqluita
Written to the lay nun Sennichi on July 28, 1278
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 15, 2024
I view things through the Buddha eye, I see the living beings in the six paths, how poor and distressed they are, without merit or wisdom, how they enter the perilous road of birth and death, their sufferings continuing with never a break, how deeply they are attached to the five desires, like a yak enamored of its tail, blinding themselves with greed and infatuation, their vision so impaired they can see nothing. They do not seek the Buddha, with his great might, or the Law that can end their sufferings, but enter deeply into erroneous views, hoping to shed suffering through greater suffering. For the sake of these living beings I summon up a mind of great compassion -The Lotus Sutra
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (28 October 1955) p.263

Fall, the season for reading. No, I would rather make each of the 365 days of the year a "day for reading."
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1. Must read the Gosho in its entirety.

2. Will thoroughly read Nichikan's Six-volume Writings.

3. Will carefully read good books of past and present, East and West – especially during the next three years.

The course of my life will be determined over these three years.

Fate, destiny – they are like the flow of a great river.

No one to confide in, no one to blame.

To the dentist in the afternoon. Can everything be this bad?   

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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 14 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 14, 2024
 
True joy is to be found in working for kosen-rufu, in practicing and taking action for the happiness of oneself and others. The greatest joy in life is to be found in SGI activities. Our activities for kosen-rufu become memories that shine ever more brilliantly in our lives as time goes by.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 14, 2024
 
Make every possible effort for the sake of your next life. What is most important is that, by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo alone, you can attain Buddhahood. It will no doubt depend on the strength of your faith. To have faith is the basis of Buddhism.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 832
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 14, 2024
 
Life is best lived by being bold and daring. People tend to grow fearful when they taste failure, face a daunting challenge or fall ill. Yet that is precisely the time to become even bolder. Those who are victors at heart are the greatest of all champions.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (27 October 1955) p.262/263
 
Thought about the following points:
 
1. Don't be a person who makes excuses.
2. Feel joy at others' prosperity and happiness.
3. Don't meddle in others' affairs.
 
Visited S.'s home in Yaguchi after the lecture. Was joyfully welcomed by all present. Home a little after 10:00. My two children are sleeping quietly. They are so cute. Want them to become excellent, capable people for kosen-rufu.
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How trivial are worldly conflicts. How empty, the glories and pleasure of this world, vanishing before a single breeze. Fame and riches, too, vanish like a solitary bubble on a mighty river's surface.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 13 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 13, 2024
 
Once we have attained Buddhahood, we will be Buddhas in lifetime after lifetime. We will enjoy a state of absolute freedom throughout eternity. The Daishonin's golden words say so. This is the reason we practice faith.
 
Events
1282 Nichiren Daishonin dies.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 13, 2024
 
The present age has developed exactly as the Buddha predicted it would, and Nichiren may be the person of wisdom whom the Buddha described. Though some people wish to help me, either their determination is weak, or, though firmly resolved, they are unable to act on their intentions. Thus, you are one of the very few whose action match their will. You surpass others in your resolve, and it is because of your devoted support that I have been able to survive.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 753
Propagation by the Wise
Written to Shijo Kingo on September 6, 1276
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 13, 2010
 
Josei Toda explained the supreme benefit of faith as follows: "Attaining Buddhahood means achieving the state in which we are always reborn overflowing with abundant and powerful life force; we can take action to our heart's content based on a profound sense of mission; we can achieve all our goals; and we possess good fortune that no one can destroy." The purpose of faith is to realize a state of eternal happiness. This existence is as fleeting as a dream. We practice faith to awaken from this dream and firmly establish a state of eternal happiness in the depths of our lives during this lifetime.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (26 October 1955) p.262
 
The average person's mind always changes rapidly. At times, it expresses the world of Anger; then, the suffering of Hell; and next, the joy of Heaven. With faith as our basis, our lives naturally become attuned to express the virtues of eternity, happiness, true self and purity.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 12 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 12, 2024
 
The Gohonzon encompasses the entire universe. Therefore, we who believe in and chant daimoku to the Gohonzon can live out our lives with the greatest serenity and composure. Please be confident that through faith in the Mystic Law we can definitely lead a wonderful and unsurpassed existence.
 
Events
1279 Nichiren Daishonin inscribes the Gohonzon for all humanity.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 12, 2024
 
This Gohonzon is also found only in the two characters for faith. This is what the sutra means when it states that one can "gain entrance through faith alone." Since Nichiren's disciples and lay supporters believe solely in the Lotus Sutra, honestly discarding the expedient means and never accepting even a single verse of the other sutras, they can enter the treasure tower of the Gohonzon. How reassuring!"
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 832
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 12, 2024
 
Today there are people who have faith in the Lotus Sutra. The belief of some is like fire while that of others is like water. When the former listen to the teachings, their passion flares up like fire, but as time goes on, they tend to discard their faith. To have faith like water means to believe continuously without ever regressing - Nichiren
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (22 October 1955) p. 260
 
It's Saturday; the weekend is already here. People in the Meiji period called Saturday handon, a combination of Japanese and Portuguese meaning to "rest half-a-day." None can resist the tide of the times, no matter how they may try. A life based on the Mystic Law will be in rhythm with the great power of the natural law. In Europe and America, people have both Saturdays and Sundays off. Will Japan someday follow suit?
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 11 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 11, 2024
 
It is important to have a sufficiently elevated life-condition so that you will be able to calmly accept whatever happens in life, striving to put problems into proper perspective and solving them with a positive attitude. Happiness blossoms forth from such a strong and all-encompassing life-condition.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 11, 2024
 
Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse one another. All those who keep faith in the Lotus Sutra are most certainly Buddhas, and one who slanders a Buddha commits a grave offence.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 756
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 11, 2024
 
It's valuable to look for the strengths in others - you gain nothing by criticizing people's imperfections. In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, for even a moment each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of others of whom you are critical.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (21 October 1955) p. 259/260
 
Quite fatigued. Understand the severe difficulty of changing my destiny and transforming my fate and the strictness of my past slander's effects. Truly sense life's eternal nature with my entire being. Without this, it would be a contradiction to say I understand this life. Remained in the office all day, resting my body and thinking about many things.
Life is like a dream. Since this is the case, I shall be satisfied if I can spend each day, my entire life, fully exerting myself.
Wouldn't mind being a businessman or a politician or even an average person who lives life deeply.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 10 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
October 10, 2024
 
It doesn't matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating a life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day. And the growth and transformation we achieve in this way can convince people of the greatness of the Daishonin's Buddhism more eloquently than anything else.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
October 10, 2024
 
The moon appears in the west and sheds its light eastward, but the sun rises in the east and casts its rays to the west. The same is true of Buddhism. It spread from west to east in the Former and Middle Days of the Law, but will travel from east to west in the Latter Day.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 401
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
October 10, 2024
 
Shakyamuni taught that the shallow is easy to embrace, but the profound is difficult. To discard the shallow and seek the profound is the way of a person of courage - Nichiren.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (20 October 1955) p. 259
 
 (Next day) Body and mind are out of rhythm. Could not see Sensei during the day again. Felt empty and lonesome. Isn't life force the key to happiness? Clearly this is the most important requirement. Over the next several years, I will put this to the test and prove it decisively. Healthy ones, don't forget to appreciate!
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -October 9 2024- Year of Fresh Departure for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

October 9, 2024

 

There may be times, certainly, when being a member of an organization seems bothersome and we just want to be alone. But how sad it is if we are left alone without any support and then lose our faith. True growth comes from striving together with our fellow members in the living realm of human beings, experiencing the rich gamut of human emotions.

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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

October 9, 2024

 

Admirable Nichiro, because you have read the entirety of the Lotus Sutra with both the physical and spiritual aspects of your life, you will also be able to save your father and mother, your six kinds of relatives, and all living beings. Others read the Lotus Sutra with their mouths alone, in word alone, but they do not read it with their hearts. And even if they read it with their hearts, they do not read it with their actions. It is reading the sutra with both one's body and mind that is truly praiseworthy!"

 

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 204Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison

Written to Chikugo-bo Nichiro on October 9, 1271

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

October 9, 2024

 

Those who say "I'll do it," who are willing to take on a challenge even if they are alone, are true winners. The determination, the commitment to take action yourself, is the force that leads to victory. As Buddhism teaches in the principle of a life-moment possesses three thousand realms, our mind or attitude can change everything.

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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 October 1955) p. 259

 

Suffered all day, immersed in pain. My temperature was 101.3° F. My head hurts, my back hurts. What kind of illness is this? Going to chant a thousand or two thousand daimoku. Must create a wellspring of life force. Must defeat this devilish illness. Must not die.

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