---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The daimoku chanted by the Bodhisattvas of the Earth is characterized by deep, thoroughly forged faith to overcome darkness and devilish functions, and by practice for both ourselves and others. Its essence, in short, is “faith dedicated to kosen-rufu.”"
It was shortly after the Daishonin proclaimed the establishment of his teaching, ready and resolved to battle all obstacles, that he composed this writing in which he explains the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime. We must never forget how the Daishonin’s life, a momentous struggle to spread the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, was a succession of great difficulties and persecutions. Without a solid focus on how the Daishonin actually propagated the Mystic Law, any discussion of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime will just be empty intellectualising.
"We should carefully ponder the Daishonin’s words: 'From the time that I was born until today, I have never known a moment’s ease; I have thought only of propagating the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra' (WND, 965).
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"They were like non-Buddhist believers who, though they read the Buddhist sutras, interpret them to be the same as non-Buddhist teachings; or like bats that, in their blindness, mistake day for night. Or they were like a red-faced man who, looking into a clear mirror, supposes that the whole mirror has turned red, or like a round-faced man who, seeing his reflection in a narrow sword blade, thinks that his facehas become long and thin."
(The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page670)
