Sensei's Daily Encouragement -August 4 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
August 4, 2026
 
The resolve to accomplish your goals is what counts. If you earnestly put your mind to something, your brain, your body, your environment - everything will start working toward achieving that end.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
August 4, 2026
 
I spoke out solely because I had long known that the people of Japan would meet with great suffering, and I felt pity for them. Thoughtful persons should therefore realize that I have met these trials for their sake. If they were people who understood their obligations or who were capable of reason, then out of two blows that fall upon me, they would receive one in my stead.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 828
Reply to Yasaburo
Written to Saito Yasaburo on August 4, 1277
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
August 4, 2026
 
In Buddhist terms, the great universe and the self - the great macrocosm and the microcosm are one. Since the self and all phenomena are one, all things are interrelated. Termed dependent origination, this teaching explains that all things weave a single whole in which individuals live in relation to all others.
In other words, all beings and phenomena exist or occur because of their relationship with other beings and phenomena, and nothing in either the human or the nonhuman world exists in isolation. All things are mutually related to and interdependent with all other things. They all form a great cosmos maintaining the rhythms of life.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (26 July 1954) p.195
 
Today was the first summer like day of the season. Worried if the low temperatures continue, the rice crops will suffer. Praying for an abundant harvest…
In this world, economic collapse means the end of everything – the nation, the individual and the family. Is this the way it should be? No, the ultimate problem lies in preventing the environment from sapping people’s determination, in other words, their resolution to defeat devilish forces. Either our determination is destroyed by the environment or we develop a condition of life powerful enough to reconstruct the environment. Must ponder deeply the relationship between life and its environment.

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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -August 3 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
August 3, 2026
 
As human beings, let us reach beyond our small, limited selves and attain an all-encompassing state of being, our hearts communing with the vast universe.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
August 3, 2026
 
Judging from these examples, we may conclude that for evil people living in the latter age the attainment of Buddhahood does not depend upon whether their offenses are slight or grave, but solely upon whether or not they have faith in this sutra.
 
 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 409
Reply to Hakiri Saburo
Written to Hakiri Rokuro Saburo on August 3, 1273
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
August 3, 2026
 
Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life. Only then will you realize that earthly desires are enlightenment, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana. Even embracing the Lotus Sutra would be useless without the heritage of faith – Nichiren
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (22 July 1954) p.193
 
Opportunities to talk with Sensei are few. Feel a sense of solitude. Cannot comprehend his life force and sublime state of mind. He is truly awakened to the mysterious law of Buddhism. Passionate, quiet, cool, insightful, composed, domineering, severe, compassionate…
Want to purify my faith, step by step. Deeply ashamed of my lack of ability, my tendency to rely on shallow understanding.

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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -August 2 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
August 2, 2026

The greater our efforts to advance kosen-rufu, the greater the benefit and eternal good fortune we will accumulate in our lives. The more outstanding people we can foster, the stronger and healthier we will become. The more aware we are of our responsibility, the more joy we will experience. Such are the workings of the Buddhist Law.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
August 2, 2026
 
The heart of the Lotus Sutra is the revelation that one may attain the supreme enlightenment in one's present form without altering one's status as an ordinary person. This means that, without casting aside one's karmic impediments, one can still attain the Buddha way. Thus T'ien-t'ai says, "The other sutras only predict Buddhahood . . . for the good, but not for the evil. . . This [Lotus] sutra predicts Buddhahood for all."
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 410
Reply to Hakiri Saburo
Written to Hakiri Rokuro Saburo on August 3, 1273
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
August 2, 2026
 
Why was Shakyamuni Buddha so respected? One of the reasons was the power of his voice. His voice is recorded as "beautiful, sweet like honey, warm and graceful, resounding and clear." He is also described as an individual who "speaks brightly, remarks brightly, narrates gracefully, talks clearly, expresses himself eloquently to make himself understood."
Shakyamuni called to anybody who visited him, "Welcome, welcome." It is expounded that he associated with people with his friendliness, joy and gentleness. He always politely greeted any person he encountered. He never greeted them in an unfriendly manner. It is said that he first opened his mouth to speak to the other person so that he or she would have an easier time to open up to Shakyamuni.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (20 July 1954) p.192/3
 
Returned home alone, immersed in thought. Besides President Toda, I shall bow my head to no one. After Sensei dies, I must act in a pivotal role, taking on heavy responsibilities. Lets storms and raging waves come as they may! Resentment, criticism and trickery mean nothing!
Nothing in the universe surpasses the strict law of Buddhism.

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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -August 1 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

    

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
August 1, 2026
 
We must not allow ourselves to become bureaucratic and take for granted the efforts of those working behind the scenes. Nor must we ever forget to be considerate of those members of our families who may not be practicing the Daishonin's Buddhism. We must remember that for every person involved in SGI activities there is another, supporting him or her behind the scenes.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
August 1, 2026
 
If Nichiren's compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity, for it has the beneficial power to open the blind eyes of every living being in the country of Japan, and it blocks off the road that leads to the hell of incessant suffering.
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 736
On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
August 1, 2026
 
By wholeheartedly and directly meeting life's challenges, we bring forth from within ourselves the "three bodies of the Buddha," which are truth, wisdom and compassion. The light of this internal wisdom constantly encourages and guides us toward true and correct action.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (20 July 1954) p.192
 
Deep agony day after day. Could finally see the sun break through the clouds. The daily papers are filled with articles about the atomic and hydrogen bombs. My head hurts from reading them. This is an age in which science’s pure essence has been defiled by the worlds of Anger and Hell. In this period of threatened crop damage due to unseasonably cold weather, we can strongly sense the validity of the “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land” prophecies.

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Sensei's Daily Encouragement -July 31 2026- Year of Vibrant Growth for a Youthful Soka Gakkai Worldwide

 

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
July 31, 2026
 
What is the secret to victory? Mr. Toda once described that in a certain sense life is a gamble. "If you are lucky, you will win," he said. "But if you are unlucky, then sometimes no matter how hard you try you lose. This is a hard fact." That is why, in addition to ability, good fortune is essential. The key to creating good fortune is found in faith and daimoku. I hope that you will all act in accord with the fundamental Law of Buddhism and lead victorious lives filled with unsurpassed good fortune.
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From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
July 31, 2026
 
Even a wise man cannot become a Buddha through the other sutras, but with the Lotus Sutra, even fools can plant the seeds that lead to Buddhahood. As the sutra passage I have quoted earlier puts it, "Although they do not seek emancipation, emancipation will come of itself."
 
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 283
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
July 31, 2026
 
What is the purpose of life? It is happiness. But there are two kinds of happiness: relative and absolute. Relative happiness comes in a wide variety of forms. The purpose of Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood. In modern terms, this could be explained as realizing absolute happiness - a state of happiness that can never be destroyed or defeated.
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Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (19 July 1954) p.192
 
Monday – a day on which I tend to lose my rhythm and feel off-balance. Since it’s the first step of the week, must make a healthy start on this day. In the afternoon, a special staff conference to determine summer propagation activities. The meeting was somewhat restrained; dull. How self-serving I am. Strictly reflected that this is my greatest weak point. Then again, I am obstinate.
Highly value my great teacher, excellent seniors, fine friends and good neighbours! Must care for and respect them.

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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. 
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. 
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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
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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.
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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.
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