Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In... The Eternal City by the British author Hall Caine (1853–1931), a tale about the lives and struggles of a group of young revolutionaries...we find the words: 'A throne broad-based on the love of the people [is] strong and right.' The people are the most important. A great path forward can only be opened if they are the foundation.
Nothing is more important than the people."Here's another passage from the novel: 'Initiators are always martyrs.' This is true of anyone who starts some great endeavour, who takes the lead--it was true of Mr. Makiguchi; it was true of Mr. Toda; and it's true of me, as well. A martyr is someone who refuses to think of his own comfort but gives his all for a cause he believes in-- and then is abused and persecuted as a result. I realised every single one of Mr. Toda's dreams and goals without the slightest exception.
That's one thing I wish to make perfectly clear."Throughout history, anyone who has tried to do good has been envied and attacked. It's a great crime to stand by silently and watch this taking place without speaking out to denounce it.
"Rossi was a young man of the strongest convictions: 'What a power in martyrdom! [The ancient] Roman Emperors, Roman ladies, Imperial people -- what were they now? Only dust and ashes. But the martyrs were alive!' Who cares about those whose greatness is only superficial or fleeting? It is the martyr --the person who is true to his beliefs no matter what--who is truly noble.."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"When you shake your head, your hair sways; when your mind begins to work, your body moves. When a strong wind blows, the grass and trees can no longer remain still; when the earth shakes, the seas are atremble. Thus if one can move Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, can the grass and trees fail to respond, can the waters remain calm?"
(Concerning the Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Fashioned by Nichigen-nyo - TheWritings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 2, page 811)

No comments: