Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"In our discussion on the realm of the human heart (at the Seikyo Shimbun building in September 1997), Dr. Seligman, the well-known American psychologist and former president of the American Psychological Association, pointed to a vital ingredient in dealing with setbacks in our careers or lives, or coping with suffering. What do you think that ingredient is? [Called on to give their answer, several members in the audience respond individually, 'The heart,' 'Conviction,' 'Resilience,' and so on.] Good answers. You're all very insightful. Dr. Seligman's answer, however, was 'optimism.' He defined optimism as the conviction that though one may failor have a painful experience somewhere, sometime, one can take action to change things. He also described optimism as hope. In the same positive vein, Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'Winter always turns to spring' (WND-1,536). The Daishonin's Buddhism pulses with an invincible spirit of optimism.
"We all have the power to overcome the most daunting circumstances. This is something that I'd like you to reflect on deeply."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"In that case, I will by all means meet with you as soon as possible and talk with you directly. Words cannot all be set down in a letter, and a letter never adequately conveys one's thoughts, so I will stop for now."
(Encouragement to a Sick Person - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 82)