Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 30 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 30, 2025
 
President Toda often said: "Those of you who have problems or sufferings, pray earnestly! Buddhism is a deadly serious win-or-lose struggle. If you should [pray with such an earnest attitude] and still have no solution forthcoming, then I will give you my life!" This invincible conviction on which Mr. Toda was willing to stake his life inspired the members.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 30, 2025
 
Though water may be muddied, it will again become clear. Though the moon may hide behind the clouds, it will surely reappear. Similarly, in time my innocence became apparent, and my predictions proved not to have been in vain.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1007
Letter to the Lay Priest Nakaoki
Written to the lay priest Nakaoki and his wife on November 30, 1279
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 30, 2025
 
That we take pains to protect weapons while we expose children - the future of the race - to peril is impermissible. To ignore this absurdity will spell defeat for humanity. We must not live to destroy. We have the spiritual power to create peace and happiness.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (27 December 1956) p.316/317 

Sensei talked about deductive and inductive reasoning. Consciousness as viewed by the Western philosopher Heinrich Rickert of the new Kantian school and the theory of consciousness espoused in Eastern philosophy are diametrically opposed. Western philosophy posits that consciousness begins with the six senses and then arrives at what Buddhism refers to as the seventh, eighth and ninth levels of consciousness. Buddhism, on the other hand, teaches that consciousness arises out of the "Palace of the Ninth Consciousness of Essential Truth" and permeates the eighth, seventh, and first six levels of consciousness. There are deductive civilizations and inductive civilizations. Which surpasses the other? It is important to strike a balance between these two. What will the future hold?
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 29 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 29, 2025
 
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 the Daishonin's Buddhism lives and breathes.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
 November 29, 2025
 
Whether or not your prayer is answered will depend upon your faith; [if it is not,] I will in no way be to blame. When the water is clear, the moon is reflected. When the wind blows, the trees shake. Our minds are like the water. Faith that is weak is like muddy water, while faith that is brave is like clear water. Understand that the trees are like principles, and the wind that shakes them is like the recitation of the sutra.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1079
Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon
Written to the lay nun Nichigon on November 29, 1280
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
 November 29, 2025
 
Do not become subservient. Do not dwell on every tiny setback in the course of pursuing your chosen path. To do so would be foolish. Victory or defeat is determined by our entire lives. Moreover, our final years are the most crucial. What is enviable about the pretentious rich? What is great about conceited celebrities? What is admirable about political leaders who gained their positions of power by treating others with contempt? Dig right where you stand, for there lies a rich wellspring!
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (22 December 1956) p.315
 
In any general meeting, or any important campaign, I am always standing behind the scenes, unknown to anyone, without worrying about pleasing anyone or whether anyone appreciate me; there I pour my entire life into leading the battle and driving a wedge of faith. I smile happily at this destiny. Firmly believe everything is revealed under the light of the Mystic Law.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 28 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

  

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 28, 2025
 
Nichiren Daishonin discusses the meaning of the Chinese characters for the word benefit (Jpn kudoku), as follows: "The ku of kudoku means to extinguish evil and doku means to bring forth good" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 762). We fight against those who try to destroy the True Law. That struggle purifies us and brings forth benefits in our lives. Justice or happiness without a battle is just an illusion. Thinking that happiness means a life free of hard work and effort is fantasy.
Events
SGI Day of Spiritual Independence
1991 Nichiren Shoshu excommunicates 12 million SGI members worldwide.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 28, 2025
 
Buddhism spreads according to the time and the people's capacity. Although I may not be worthy of this teaching, I expound it because the time is right.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 861
This is What I Heard
Written to the lay priest Soya Jiro on November 28, 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 28, 2025
 
Many young women agonize over perceived personality flaws and a lack of self-confidence. Nichiren Buddhism, however, teaches the great path of human revolution that enables each of us to shine in our own unique way. With this philosophy, you can decisively overcome a weak and easily swayed life-state and become a person of strength and purpose. It will allow you to withstand the storms of suffering and build a rock-solid foundation that will support you throughout your entire precious lives.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (20 December 1956) p.314
 
In keeping a diary, am I engraving a glimpse of my life for posterity? Will it remain in history? A free dialogue. In any case, I will write on. There are times, however, when I write about the real state of things and times I do not. Sly, people are. Want to get up early these days. My life is becoming stagnant.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 27 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

  

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 27, 2025
 
Faith is the ultimate essence of intellect. Through the practice of correct faith, the intellect comes to shine. Intellect without correct faith lacks a firm anchor in the soil of life and eventually becomes disordered. This prompted the first Soka Gakkai president, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, to remark that many modern thinkers were suffering from what he termed "higher psychosis." Faith without intellect, meanwhile, leads to blind faith and fanaticism. Faith or intellect alone - one without the other - is unhealthy.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 27, 2025
 
Only in the Lotus Sutra do we read that a woman who embraces this sutra not only excels all other women, but also surpasses all men.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 462
The Unity of Husband and Wife
Written to Nichigen-nyo on January 27, 1275
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 27, 2025
 
The true victors in life are those who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the roots of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 December 1956) p.313/314
 
Confucius said:
"At thirty, I stood tall.
"At forty, I was free from doubt.
"At fifty, I realized heaven's will."
Yet, as a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin, it is not necessary to delineate things in terms of age. This is due to 'the simultaneity of cause and effect,' the 'three thousand realms in a single moment of life.' This is true as long as I feel my mission and maintain the unity of 'many in body, one in mind.' This should be the absolute basis of everything.
In any event, all I need is to continue my human revolution throughout my life based on faith.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 26 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

 

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 26, 2025
 
Buddhism teaches that being led astray by evil friends, (negative influences) is to be feared more than being killed by a mad elephant. A mad elephant can only destroy our physical body, but evil friends, if we allow ourselves to be influenced by them, will drag us down into a state of hell.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 26, 2025
 
Even if we should gather all the water of the four great oceans to wet inkstones, burn all the trees and plants to cinders to make ink, collect the hairs of all beasts for writing brushes, employ all the surfaces of the worlds in the ten directions for paper and, with these, set down expressions of gratitude, how could we possibly repay our debt to the Buddha?"
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 44
The Four Debts of Gratitude
Written to Kudo Sakon-no-jo Yoshitaka on January 16, 1262
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 26, 2025
 
Life is long. The important thing is to remain true to a lofty goal to the very end. Buddhism enables you to adorn the final chapter of your life with brilliant success, just as the golden sun colours the sky in glorious crimson hues and beams of sublime light. To do so, you need to keep making efforts year after year and winning year after year.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 December 1956) p.313
 
Overslept this morning. This day in my life's battle got off to a slow start. Considered my determination and reviewed our household budget. I have been selfish. Told we are a little short on living expenses. Must think about my personal spending.
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 25 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

  

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 25, 2025
 
Please do not forget your mother's love or the hardships she has endured for you. I am convinced that while people keep the memory of their mothers' loving faces alive in their mind, they will never go far astray. Similarly, as long as we bear in mind the Daishonin's profound compassion and live in deep appreciation of it, our lives will be illuminated brightly by the light of Buddhahood. And enveloped in the Gohonzon's great compassion, we will walk along a path that is filled with tranquillity and immeasurable joy.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 25, 2025
 
Strive ever harder in faith, and never give in to negligence. All the people appear to believe sincerely when they first embrace the Lotus Sutra, but as time passes, they tend to become less devout; they no longer revere nor make offerings to the priest, giving themselves up to arrogance and forming distorted views. This is most frightening.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1027
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 25, 2025
 
Suppose that a person is standing at the foot of a tall embankment and is unable to ascend. And suppose that there is someone on top of the embankment who lowers a rope and says, "If you take hold of this rope, I will pull you up to the top of the embankment." If the person at the bottom begins to doubt that the other has the strength to pull him up, or wonders if the rope is not too weak and therefore refuses to put forth his hand and grasp it, then how is he ever to get to the top of the embankment? But if he follows the instructions, puts out his hand, and takes hold of the rope, then he can climb up – Nichiren
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (16 December 1956) p.312
 
Slept well – very well. Completely relieved the anxiety built up over the past week. My wife really has been taking care of things. Sincerely thank her. Now I must face the tempestuous battlefield ahead. My wife lives for the Mystic Law and exerts herself beside this young revolutionary. Believe the Gohonzon warmly watches over her.
 
What is the meaning of status? What is a position? Honor? Popularity?
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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -November 24 2025- Year of Soaring Higher Toward a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

  

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
November 24, 2025
 
Rosa Parks wrote in her book Quiet Strength: "I find that if I am thinking too much of my own problems and the fact that at times things are not just like I want them to be, I do not make any progress at all. But if I look around and see what I can do, and then I do it, I move on." Youth, and indeed life itself, flashes by in the blink of an eye. That is why it is important for you young people to ask yourselves what you can do for those who are suffering, what you can do to resolve the contradictions that plague society and to boldly take on these great challenges.
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From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
November 24, 2025
 
A person of wisdom is one who, understanding the time, spreads the teachings of the Lotus Sutra accordingly; this is his most important task. If a person's throat is dry, what he needs is water; he has no use for bows and arrows, weapons and sticks. If a person is naked, he wants a suit of clothes but has no need for water. From one or two examples you can guess the principle that applies in general.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 518
Letter to Horen
Written to Soya Kyoshin in April 1275
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
November 24, 2025
 
There is no one lonelier or more unhappy than a person who does not know the pure joy of creating a life for himself or herself. To be human is not merely to stand erect and manifest intelligence or knowledge. To be human in the full sense of the word is to lead a creative life. The struggle to create new life from within is a truly wonderful thing. There is found the brilliant wisdom that guides and directs the workings of reason; the light of insight that penetrates the farthest reaches of the universe; the undaunted will to see justice done that meets and challenges all the assaults of evil; the spirit of unbounded care that embraces all who suffer. When these are fused with that energy of compassion that pours forth from the deepest sources of cosmic life, an ecstatic rhythm arises to colour the lives of all people.
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Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (12 December 1956) p.310
 
Felt empty this morning. Today I must bid my father a final farewell. Will it be an eternal separation? Or, as the sutra phrase hoben gen nehan indicates, is death simply an expedient? This is a crucial point for one who studies Buddhism.
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