Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, November 8, 2013
In the "Ongi Kuden" (Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings), Nichiren Daishonin says with reference to attaining Buddhahood, "To attain' means to open'" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 753). Attaining Buddhahood means opening our lives to their fullest potential and revealing our innate Buddhahood. This is the purpose of Buddhism.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, November 8, 2013
If you seek enlightenment outside yourself, then your performing even ten thousand practices and ten thousand good deeds will be in vain. It is like the case of a poor man who spends night and day counting his neighbour's wealth but gains not even half a coin. That is why the T'ien-t'ai school's commentary states, "Unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one cannot eradicate one's grave offenses." This passage implies that, unless one perceives the nature of one's life, one's practice will become an endless, painful austerity.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 3
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, November 8, 2013
The noted pacifist scholar Johan Galtung tells young people, "We must be realists in our brains while keeping the flame of idealism burning in our hearts." Both of these --to see the world as it is and how it could be -- are essential to reform. A firm hold on reality should not entail being swamped by or resting easy in the status quo. To pioneer uncharted ways requires that people today keep the lamp of optimism lit.
Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (11 February 1951) p. 88
Visited Mr. Toda's home at 6:00. He began the second stage of his lecture on "On The Teaching Affirmed By All Buddhas Throughout Time" (GZ, 558). Determined all the more to advance toward kosen-rufu with my teacher.
Today was Mr. Toda's birthday. Sadly reflected that I did not offer him my best wishes.
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