Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"'If one is not to stagnate, one must be constantly changing, regenerating oneself, growing young again,' said Goethe, one of my favourite writers, at the age of 80. What is it that makes us young? Our spirit. Though our body inevitably ages with the passage of time, we mustn't allow our spirit to grow old and withered."

Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'You will grow younger, and your good fortune will accumulate' (WND-1, 464). To work earnestly to fulfil our great and noble mission in this existence, growing ever more youthful, savouring ever greater good fortune, and shining with sublime dignity and serenity--this is the Soka journey, a life pervaded by the four virtues of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity.

"When we dedicate our lives to the lofty cause of kosen-rufu, there is no chance for spiritual old age or decrepitude to creep up on us."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"This sutra is superior to all other sutras. It is like the lion king, the monarch of all the creatures that run on the ground, and like the eagle, the king of all the creatures that fly in the sky."

(The Sutra of True Requital - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 929)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Every individual deserves respect. Every individual must be valued and appreciated. This is the Gakkai spirit. The wisdom of Buddhism is the very foundation of genuine democracy."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Speaking of the chapter as a whole, the idea of gradually overcoming illusions is not the ultimate meaning of the 'Life Span' chapter. You should understand that the ultimate meaning of this chapter is that ordinary mortals, just as they are in their original state of being, are Buddhas."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 752, The Record of the Orally TransmittedTeachings, page 124)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Don’t be cold, distant, or haughty. Be warm and genuine and sincerely devote yourself to everyone’s welfare. Be so considerate and thoughtful that you impress and delight all with whom you come into contact."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"If teacher and disciple are of different minds, they will never accomplish anything."
(Flowering and Bearing Grain - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1,page 909)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"..those who practice the Daishonin's Buddhism must have the awareness and confidence that they can definitely change their lives on a profound level. The reason the Daishonin says, 'Never seek any other way [than this] to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life,' is that the heritage of the Law does not exist apart from faith in the Buddhism of true cause, which enables each person to transform themselves inside and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime based on chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"It is the heart that is important."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1000)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"In the closing passage of 'The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life,' the Daishonin seems to be calling out to us: 'Awaken to the vast power you possess!' 'Chant daimoku with the firm belief that you will achieve a wonderful life of great fulfilment!'

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Let others hate you if they will. What have you to complain of, if you are cherished by Shakyamuni Buddha, Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas of the ten directions, as well as by Brahma, Shakra, and the gods of the sun and moon? As long as you are praised by the Lotus Sutra, what cause have you for discontent?"
(The Unity of Husband and Wife - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1,page 464)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'If one can move Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, can the grass and trees fail to respond, can the waters remain calm?' (WND-2, 811). In other words, as long as we base ourselves on the Mystic Law, the foundation of all existence, we can change anything."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Little streams come together to form the great ocean"
(The Selection of the Time - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1,page 579)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Mystic Law is the fundamental means for drawing forth the limitless power we inherently possess. This power enables us to change earthly desires, or deluded impulses, into wisdom -- just as a fire burns firewood to produce light. We can also transform a life that has been filled with the sufferings of birth and death into one pervaded by a vibrant and unbounded joy -- just as spring sunshine can melt ice and snow to create a flowing stream."
Self-transformation -- this is the main theme of Buddhism. The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is a teaching for actually transforming our own lives. Everything starts with ourselves, with our own human revolution. This forms the basic underpinning of the Daishonin's Buddhism and the activities of the Soka Gakkai."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Many of the practitioners from Sado Province have made the long journey all the way to this place, and that is why I have expounded for them the teaching that I am propagating now, which will become the seed of Buddhahood in their future lives as well."
(Reply to the Lay Priest Misawa - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 2, page 534)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"When we bring forth from within us the great joy that comes from realising that we are entities of the Mystic Law, we can change even the most intractable problems and sufferings into wisdom, and freely use them as a force for value-creation. We inherently possess within us the fundamental power to overcome any seemingly impossible situation or deadlock. When we believe with unshakable certainty in our innate power to 'change poison into medicine' -- the power to turn any hardship or suffering into a springboard to absolute happiness -- we have nothing to fear."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"It is not that he leaves his present place and goes to some other place."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 781, The Record of the Orally TransmittedTeachings, 192)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Kosen-rufu is a ceaseless struggle waged with words. It entails communicating to others the greatness of Buddhism and the Gakkai's commitment to truth and justice. It also involves exposing the erroneous ideas and philosophies that bring misfortune on people."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law?"
(Happiness in This World - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1,page 681)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Buddhism teaches the spirit of not begrudging one's life. It demands an all-out effort."
In the Soka Gakkai, no one is above others. Respectworthy are those who strive for kosen-rufu and support their fellow members. This is the starting point and end point of our organisation."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Some may wonder where the spirit of the late Abutsu-bo may be at this moment. But by using the clear mirror of the Lotus Sutra to reflect his image, I, Nichiren, can see him among the assembly on Eagle Peak, seated within the treasure tower of Many Treasures Buddha and facing toward the east."
(The Treasure of a Filial Child - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume1, page 1042)