Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 30 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 30, 2026
 
Faith enables us to secure ultimate victory. It enables us to live with vigour and joy and to strive to improve ourselves - to become the very best people we can be. Moreover, faith enables us to walk through life with complete assurance and confidence, unafraid of anything. 
________________________________
 
From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 30, 2026
 
Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as Mount Sumeru, but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1026
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280
________________________________
 
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 30, 2026
 
Religion must teach an "attitude to life." To live a life of true human dignity is certainly difficult. Life is change; it is continuous change. Nothing is constant. The four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death are an eternal theme that no one can escape.
Amid harsh reality, people yearn from the depths of their beings to live with dignity and for their lives to have meaning, and they make efforts toward that end. The product of these human yearnings, these prayers, is religion. Religion was born from prayer. What is Nichiren's response to these prayers of human beings? What attitude toward life does he teach? The answer, in short, is the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
________________________________
 
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (17 July 1954) p.191
 
Visited Sensei’s home in the evening. Received guidance on various matters. Was also severely reprimanded. This could not be helped; it was totally my fault. Disciples will forge on and grow, no matter how many times they are scolded. Must never become arrogant. For me to think that I, who lacks ability and a solid foundation, am something great – this is arrogance.
Lifelong advancement; lifelong study; lifelong effort; lifelong construction.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 29 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 29, 2026
 
The ultimate essence of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism lies in living on through to the very end, pressing ever forward, courageously taking on each new challenge we encounter and never giving up. Constructing eternal glory - the state of Buddhahood within our own lives is the purpose of our Buddhist practice in this lifetime. Hence the Daishonin's constant urging that we make tenacious efforts in the present. 
________________________________
 
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 29, 2026
 
Believe in the Gohonzon with all your heart, for it is the robe to protect you in the world after death. No wife would ever leave her husband unclothed, nor could any parents fail to feel compassion for their child shivering in the cold. Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra are like one's wife and parents. You have helped me and thereby saved me from disgrace in this life; in return, I will protect you from disgrace in the next. What one has done for another yesterday, will be done for oneself today.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 994
Letter to Jakunichi-bo
Written to Jakunichi-bo Niike on September 16, 1279
________________________________
 
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 29, 2026
 
Compassion is the very soul of Buddhism. To pray for others, making their problems and anguish our own; to embrace those who are suffering, becoming their greatest ally; to continue giving them our support and encouragement until they become truly happy - it is in such humanistic actions that Nichiren Buddhism lives and breathes.
________________________________
 
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (16 July 1954) p.191
 
My oldest son, Hiromasa, is becoming quite a raucous child. What destiny awaits him? Can only pray he becomes a healthy, upstanding individual, a man of pure faith, a believer in the Daishonin’s Buddhism.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 28 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

  

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 28, 2026
 
Life is a process of ongoing challenge. Those who lead lives of boundless challenge realize boundless growth. In a time of tumultuous change, what people need most is the vitality to challenge their circumstances and the wisdom to open the treasure-house of knowledge and to ceaselessly strive to create new value.
________________________________
 
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 28, 2026
 
Since I have realized that only the Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of Buddhahood by women, and that only the Lotus is the sutra of true requital for repaying the kindness of our mother, in order to repay my debt to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 931
The Sutra of True Requital
Written to the lay nun Sennichi on July 28, 1278
________________________________
 
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 28, 2026
 
The Buddha's compassion is perfectly equal and impartial. The Buddha views all beings as his own children and strives to elevate them to attain his same enlightened state of life. It's not that there are no differences among people. Rather, it's that the Buddha, while fully recognizing people's differences, does not discriminate among them.
________________________________
 
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (14 July 1954) p.190
 
Sensei seemed busy with the transcript of his ten major lectures. Disappointed that I could not speak with him for quite some time. Can distinctly sense the power of his wondrous ability.
 
Must accomplish the following:
 
1. Support T. Chapter until the very end.
2. Help K. Chapter from the side.
3. Allow S. Chapter to grow and develop until it is the same as our chapter.
4. Make plans for the youth division to advance several more steps.
 
Must always arrange things in my mind, then put them into practice.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 27 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 27, 2026
 
Buddhism is found in the reality of society and daily life. Because Buddhism is in no way separate from this reality, we must strive through our actions and behaviour to be exemplary models for others.
________________________________
 
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 27, 2026
 
Since childhood, I, Nichiren, have never prayed for the secular things of this life but have single-mindedly sought to become a Buddha. Of late, however, I have been ceaselessly praying for your sake to the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha and the god of the sun, for I am convinced that you are a person who can inherit the soul of the Lotus Sutra.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 839
The Hero of the World
Written to Shijo Kingo in 1277
________________________________
 
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 27, 2026
 
The brilliance of true humanity lies in surmounting feelings of envy with the resolute attitude "I'll create an even more wonderful life for myself." If you are jealous of others, you will not advance; you will only become miserable. Please do not be defeated or consumed by such emotions.
________________________________
 
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (13 July 1954) p.190
 
Good and evil, right and wrong, theory and practice, reason and emotion, material and spiritual, present and future; power, position, authority; the people. Many ideas come and go. From day to day, I sometimes feel I am being drawn into a muddy swamp. Other times, I feel I am soaring in the sky. The human mind is a mysterious thing, never stopping, even for a moment. I wonder what dire circumstances my life would be in by now if I did not have faith or a mentor in life. A frightening prospect.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 26 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 26, 2026
 
 Faith is perseverance. The key to victory in any struggle in life is persistence. That is why Nichiren Daishonin stresses the importance of having faith that flows ceaselessly like water rather than faith that flames up briefly like fire. To advance continuously, it is important never to become exhausted. Carrying out activities until late at night does not equate with strong faith.
________________________________
 
 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
 July 26, 2026
 
 Faith in this sutra means that you will surely attain Buddhahood if you are true to the entirety of the Lotus Sutra, adhering exactly to its teachings without adding any of your own ideas or following the arbitrary interpretations of others.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1030
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280
________________________________
 
 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
 July 26, 2026
 
 What does attaining Buddhahood mean for us? It does not mean that one day we suddenly turn into a Buddha or become magically enlightened. In a sense, attaining Buddhahood means that we have securely entered the path or orbit of Buddhahood inherent in the cosmos. Rather than a final static destination at which we arrive and remain, achieving enlightenment means firmly establishing the faith needed to keep advancing along the path of absolute happiness limitlessly, without end.
________________________________
 
Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (10 July 1954) p.189
 
Visited Sensei's home in the evening for summer season greetings. Imposed on them until late in the evening. They fed me well - feel ashamed. Mrs Toda taught me something about women's kimonos, cooking, important things women must be aware of and other subjects. Left for home a little before midnight.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 25 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 25, 2026

 Buddhism is, in a sense, an eternal struggle between the Buddha and demons; in other words, a contest between positive and negative forces. If we fail to be assailed by negative influences, we cannot be said to be truly practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Buddhist practice lies in bravely facing and overcoming adversity.
________________________________

 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 25, 2026

 A bird's egg contains nothing but liquid, yet by itself this develops into a beak, two eyes, and all the other parts, and the bird soars into the sky. We, too, are the eggs of ignorance, which are pitiful things, but when nurtured by the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is like the warmth of the mother bird, we develop the beak of the thirty-two features and the feathers of the eighty characteristics and are free to soar into the skies of the true aspect of all phenomena and the reality of all things.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1030
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280
________________________________

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 25, 2026

 Many people talk about peace, but few really do anything about it. Very few are willing to fight the battle to the end. Josei Toda instilled in me the hard and fast rule that, even if we stand alone, we must never give up but must see the struggle through to its conclusion.

The year before he died, he said something I have never forgotten for a minute: "If we don't fight, justice will be defeated. Because justice is on our side, we must not lose, we absolutely must win. That's why we fight. The lion is most lion like when he roars."
________________________________

Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (08 July 1954) p.188/9

7:00 - to Tsurumi Chapter to lecture on "The Opening of the Eyes". Put my whole life into it. Returning home, thought of how sorry I will feel for the members who come to my lectures if I do not grow more. True ability. Must always nurture and strive to develop my true ability.
_____________________________

Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 24 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 24, 2026

 Our lives are our own. It is not for someone else to dictate to us how we should live them. All that awaits those who allow themselves to be continually swayed by what other people say or do is unhappiness. We simply need to have the self-belief to be able to say: "This is right. This is the path I will follow. I am content." Happiness is born from such inner fortitude. Moreover, those who earnestly devote themselves in accord with the Mystic Law cannot fail to realize lives of total fulfillment.
________________________________

 From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 24, 2026

 The Great Teacher Nan-yueh has stated, "If one sees a foe of the Lotus Sutra and yet fails to censure him, one becomes a slanderer of the Law and will fall into the hell of incessant suffering." Even a man of great wisdom, if he sees such a person and fails to speak out, will fall into the depths of the hell of incessant suffering, and as long as that hell shall endure, he will never escape.

 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1021
Letter to Akimoto
Written Akimoto Taro Hyo-no-jo on January 27, 1280
________________________________

 Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 24, 2026

 The Argentine educator Almafuerte wrote: "To the weak, difficulty is a closed door. To the strong, however, it is a door waiting to be opened." Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve.
________________________________

Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (07 July 1954) p.188

In good physical condition. Overjoyed. As usual, talked with staff members all morning. Seems that those who lead leisurely, uneventful lives become unhappy, while those who courageously challenge many waves of adversity find meaning in their lives...
 
My wife is three months pregnant. Feeling my responsibility growing heavier each day. As a man of responsibility, I will courageously fight to open the way, no matter what hardships I may face, for my wife and for my children.
_____________________________