Daily Guidance

--- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ---

The great glory of "May 3rd" is a symbol of the victories we have achieved as "Mentor and Disciple". Like all of our fellow SGI friends throughout the world, *let's spread this Buddhism and its philosophy throughout the nation and achieve one more important step in our advancement of kosen-rufu!
* It has been announced that the SGI has now members in 192 countries and territories in the world.

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"But now he (Bodhisattva Superior Practices) will appear in the Latter Day of the Law and propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo to all the nations and people throughout Jambudvipa."
(The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra - Gosho Zenshu, page 669)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Reality is very complex. Though peace may be the goal, in most cases conflicting interests, antagonisms, and emotions conditioned by historical factors complicate the issue tremendously. But that is precisely why it is crucial not to be held back by the past or to remain wandering a maze of old hatreds and conflicts; instead, one must have a firm vision of a peaceful future and take fresh steps in that direction."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"It also states that, if the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds."
(On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Vol. 1, page 4)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Our dialogue for kosen-rufu, in which we clearly distinguish truth from error, is always an earnest, all-out effort. Cowardly silence will lead to defeat. Speaking out and saying what has to be said with vigour and burning conviction is the key to victory. This is the spirit encompassed in the words of the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai: 'The Lotus Sutra is the teaching of shakubuku, the refutation of the provisional doctrines' (WND-1, 394)."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The sutra's statement, 'Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their teachers,' cannot be false in any way."
(The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Vol. 1, page 217)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"We are all human beings. Fundamentally, we are the same. Sincere encouragement and consideration, offered from one human to another, are the keys to forming heartfelt bonds among people, transcending social, generational, or ideological differences. Genuine humanism is found in the natural impulse to offer words of encouragement to another human being, no matter who it might be."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbour doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection. Do not be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life."
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page283)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Sincerity and integrity are the threads by which the fabric of friendship is woven. These threads are spun, one by one, from consideration and thorough going sincerity. Such threads form the strongest bonds among people."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra and the ten demon daughters will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground."
(On Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 444)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Trust is cultivated through consistent care. The seedlings of friendship will not grow tall and strong if they are neglected after a single encounter. Just as seedlings need water, fertilizer, and patient care to grow, friendship is fostered through abiding sincerity."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"I, Nichiren, am not the founder of any school, nor am I a latter-day follower of any older school."
(The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 669)

Daily Guidance

--- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ---

Let's all try to learn from our SGI friends throughout the world who are aspiring so earnestly to achieve kosen-rufu! Brimming with a great desire to fulfil the unique mission that each and every one of us has for the sake of kosen-rufu, let's shine as beacons that light the way in our local community.

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Followers of this school should engrave the teachings of the Gosho in their lives and thereby inherit the ultimate principles expounded by the master."
(Nikko Yuikai Okibumi - Gosho Zenshu, page 1618)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Getting enough sleep is important for good health. This means getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Chanting for good health is also important. It’s up to each of us to take care of our own health."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"In light of all this, it would seem that, when one who is able to show clearly visible proof in the present expounds the Lotus Sutra, there also will be persons who will believe."
(Letter to Horen - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 512)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"I’d like to share with you some words from Dominican playwright FedericoBermúdez (1884–1921):
"'Virtuous soul, rejoice; sorrow is like dew, ... lamenting is futile; victory is found in struggle; we face the tremendous avalanche of adversity and misfortune, with resolve and courage!'
"Lamenting gets us nowhere. Don't have a bleak and barren heart. Make your way with a rich heart and strong spirit evocative of bright sunshine, the earth a bloom with flowers, and a bounteous crop of vegetables.
"As Nichiren Daishonin writes, 'Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat' (WND-1, 835). This means we need to exert ourselves. Those who fail to do so will never succeed. Let's challenge ourselves!"

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"It is rare to be born a human being. The number of those endowed with human life is as small as the amount of earth one can place on a finger nail. Life as a human being is hard to sustain -- as hard as it is for the dew to remain on the grass. But it is better to live a single day with honour than to live to 120 and die in disgrace."
(The Three Kinds of Treasure - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1,page 851)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"What is the mark of a hero? According to Pedro Henríquez Urena (1884-1946) a great thinker from the Dominican Republic, a hero is someone who always works wholeheartedly for the welfare of others and continuously triumphs. Dedication to others and winning in life's endeavours -- this is consistent with the Gakkai spirit and the teachings of Buddhism."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol. 1, page 997)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As long as discussions remain on the level of analysis and critique, or result in abstract conclusions, there will be no real progress in resolving issues. The important thing is what can be done from today, starting now."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Fortune comes from one's heart and makes one worthy of respect."
(New Year's Gosho - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 1137)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Dialogue can be likened to the ebb and flow of the waves. Just as waves can eventually change the shape of boulders, the process of sincere, heartfelt dialogue can transform distrust into trust."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat."
(The Three Obstacles and Four Devils - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol. 1, page 637)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"From the Buddha's perspective, everyone has a right to happiness. Everyone has the potential to lead a life brimming with joy. We who uphold Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, moreover, know how to tap the Mystic Law in our lives. That is why we not only have a right to happiness but also have an important mission to help others actualise true happiness in their lives as well.
"'Winter always turns to spring' means that ordinary people who triumph overall challenges they encounter in the course of their Buddhist practise will definitely become Buddhas. The Daishonin's words are a mighty lion's roar, proclaiming that his disciples -- whose lives are dedicated to enabling others to awaken to and manifest the Buddhahood that inherently exists within them -- cannot fail to attain enlightenment."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one's own way."
(On the Three Virtues of Food - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 2,page 1060)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"'Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter,' the Daishonin says. Before we can welcome spring, we must go through winter. Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime entails a fierce struggle to change our karma, as well as to overcome the various challenges posed to our practice by the three obstacles and four devils, and the three powerful enemies. The trials of winter are unavoidable if we wish to soar into a brilliant springtime based on faith.
"'Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter'-- these are the compassionate words of a strict father advising us to follow the sure path to attaining Buddhahood by battling and triumphing over all karmic impediments. The way we attain Buddhahood is summed up in the words, 'Winter always turns to spring.'
"Winter turns into spring; it does not become autumn. This is an unchanging principle of nature. In the same way, the Daishonin says, those who uphold the Mystic Law, the great teaching for gaining enlightenment, will never fail to become Buddhas or remain in the deluded state of an ordinary, unenlightened person. As the Buddha promises in the Lotus Sutra, those who hear and embrace the Mystic Law will all attain Buddhahood without a single exception (cf. LS2, 41). This is a universal principle of life."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Unseen virtue brings about visible reward."
(The Farther the Source, the Longer the Stream - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Vol. 1, page 940)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"If we challenge our human revolution with the confidence that we will gain final victory in life, we will be able to greatly expand our state of being. We will be able to attain a life-state of boundless freedom that will allow us to embrace all hardships and sorrows like a great ocean. The time will definitely come when the significance of all our experiences will become clear.
"For that reason, it is vital that we keep forging ahead based on chanting daimoku in both times of suffering and times of joy. Then, in times of suffering, we will find the wisdom to change poison to medicine, and in times of joy, we will be able to proceed in even higher spirits. We will be great 'ordinary people' with lofty states of life who embody the Daishonin's words, 'Suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy'(WND-1, 681)."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra and the ten demon daughters will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to produce water from parched ground."
(On Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins - The Writings ofNichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 444)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The French thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) wrote: 'But we, made to be vigorous, do we believe we can become so painlessly?' Become strong, no matter what! Every hardship and adversity we face in life is an opportunity to strengthen ourselves.
"Nichiren Daishonin, who was born on the 16th day of the winter month of February, writes: 'Put into flames... gold becomes pure gold' (WND-1, 497). People of genuine ability shine all the brighter when they are trained and tested by life's challenges. This is the unchanging formula for spiritual growth.

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province."
(The Properties of Rice - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1117)Selection source

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Friendship and peace are not abstractions. They are a matter of how we treat those in our immediate environment. This is the road to real peace."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The stronger one's faith, the greater the protection of the gods."
(The Supremacy of the Law - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 614)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"In carrying out dialogue, courage and conviction are essential. The first step is to decide to engage in dialogue, and then it is necessary to make time for it. Once the discussion begins, it is important to speak the truth without fear. This is the way to build real friendship. As the German poet and dramatist Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805) declared: 'To the brave, to the determined, [this is] an auspicious moment!'"

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The voice of chanting daimoku cannot fail to reach all the worlds in the ten directions."
(Oko kikigaki - Gosho Zenshu, page 808)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"My disciples who abide in an eternal city -- may you shine with the joy of the shared commitment of mentor and disciple.
"L. M. Montgomery (1874-1942), the Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables and many other children's novels, wrote: 'She, too, had her Alpine Path to climb -- she would climb it, no matter what the obstacles in the way -- no matter whether there was any one to help her or not.' And: 'Well, go on -- go on -- walk in your chosen path.'"

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth. And if you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth, there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past."
(The True Aspect of All Phenomena - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Volume 1, page 385)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Bringing down the three powerful enemies, only we have the honour of carrying out the Buddha's decreeof kosen-rufu." 'My wish is that all my disciples make a great vow' (WND-1, 1003) -- writes the Daishonin in a letter to his youthful disciple Nanjo Tokimitsu, hoping to galvanise him and his other followers during the Atsuhara Persecution.
"As long as disciples remain focused solely on their limited personal desires and wishes, they cannot be fully united with their mentor in the lofty goal of kosen-rufu. They will always be confined to their small, narrow self. A great vow means making the same vow for kosen-rufu as the mentor. It means sharing the same purpose and acting in the same spirit as the mentor, the votary of the Lotus Sutra. When we do that, like a drop of dew flowing into the vast sea or a speck of dust mingling with the vast earth, we will attain an immeasurably vast and expansive state of being."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Those who call themselves my disciples and practice the Lotus Sutra should all practice as I do. If they do, Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, Shakyamuni's emanations throughout the ten directions, and the ten demon daughters will protect them."
(On Establishing the Four Bodhisattvas as the Object of Devotion - TheWritings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1, page 978)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko (1856-1916) wrote:
"'The sprouts of happiness reside in each person's heart. If those sprouts are fostered, how big they will eventually grow! The source of life lies within me. I have no reason to long for some distant heaven!'
"Happiness doesn't come from others. It's something that we must each build within our own lives. There is no need for us to compare ourselves to others or envy them."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The merciful sun [of true Buddhism] that spreads in the Latter Day illuminates the darkness of the extreme evil of slander, and the mystic wind of the Juryo chapter of kuon blows away the gate of the provisional teaching that the Buddha achieved supreme enlightenment for the first time in Gaya."
(Nikko Shonin's Twenty-Six Admonitions - Gosho Zenshu, page 1617)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----"

Swiss philosopher Carl Hilty (1833-1909) wrote: 'That is why every victory [achieved by acting positively rather than defensively] brings joy, where as mere opposition uses up much too much energy without any real profit.' Please never forget the 'fighting' Gakkai spirit of actively speaking out against those who inflict suffering on the people."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"None of you who declare yourselves to be my disciples should ever give way to cowardice."
(The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Volume 1, page 764)

Daily Guidance

--- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ---

Now, let's freshly construct a new solidarity of the SGI. Between the commemorative dates of April 2nd and May 3rd*, let's joyfully and courageously advance along the path of success with the victorious spirit of mentor and disciple.
* April 2, 2008, will mark the 50th anniversary of Josei Toda, the Soka Gakkai's second president's passing.
May 3 - Soka Gakkai Day : Josei Toda inaugurated as the second Soka Gakkai president in 1951 and Daisaku Ikeda inaugurated as the third Soka Gakkai president in 1960.

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Persons who are intent upon exercising filial devotion towards their parents should therefore send them the gift of the Lotus Sutra."
(Reply to the Wife of Gyobu Saemon-no-jo - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Vol. 2, page 898)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The great Indian proponent of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), declared: 'Strength... comes from indomitable will.' Nothing can defeat an unwavering resolve."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"It is the worms born from the body of the lion that will devour the lion. The teachings of the Buddha cannot be destroyed by non-Buddhist teachings. It is forces within Buddhism itself that will destroy the way of the Buddha -- this is a prediction left us by the Buddha himself."
(On the Proper Way to Preach the Doctrine - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Volume 2, page 347)