Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Building a relationship of integrity and trust with one person creates a circle of friendship that will expand to include many others. It is important to treat each person with sincerity and respect. As the saying goes, 'One is the mother of ten thousand' (WND-1, 131)."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The farther the source, the longer the stream."
(The Farther the Source, the Longer the Stream - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Volume 1, page 940)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Differences among people are a given. This is what makes each person unique and our world such a richly diverse place, resembling a garden in which many kinds of flowers bloom in profusion. That is why we must not only recognise that people are different, we must also respect and learn from one another. That should be our basic perspective. Accordingly, regardless of creed, we must always respect others as human beings first."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"But although the three inherent causes, or potentials, of the Buddha nature are possessed by all beings, if such beings do not encounter the right conditions by meeting a 'good friend' or teacher, then they will not become awakened, they will not understand, their Buddha nature will not manifest itself."
(The Unanimous Declaration by the Buddhas of the Three Existences regardingthe Classification of the Teachings and Which Are to Be Abandoned and WhichUpheld - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 2, page 861)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"People who seek truth and self-improvement always search for mentors. And those who have a mentor in their hearts have personalities that exude inner strength and dignity. As the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca wrote: 'If I do not owe to such a man all the love that I give to those to whom I am bound by the most grateful ties, I am indeed ungrateful.'"

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The great distances these persons travelled are indicative of their devotion."
(Letter to the Mother of Oto - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 2,page 1030)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

Chinese premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) said: 'We must be united. Lack of unity is the first sign of disintegration. As such, we must make a positive effort to unite together.' This is very true. Disrupting the unity of the harmonious community of believers is a manifestation of the workings of devilish functions, and is a grave offence in Buddhism.

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Above all, both you and your husband are upholders of the Lotus Sutra. You will surely bear a jewel of a child who is going to inherit the seed for the propagation of the Lotus Sutra. I wholeheartedly congratulate you. The child is the one who will inherit both your physical and spiritual aspects."
(Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Volume 1, page 1003)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The American engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915), who is sometimes called 'the father of scientific management,' once said: 'By integrity... I mean that straight forward honesty of purpose which makes a man truthful, not only to others but with himself, which makes a man high-minded, gives him high aspirations and high ideals.' He also remarked: 'What we are in the world for is to learn continually to do better.' Fulfilment and victory in life are achieved by having a great goal and realising personal growth and development as we advance towards that objective."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"When one comes to realise and see that each thing -- the cherry, the plum, the peach, the damson -- in its own entity, without undergoing any change, possesses the eternally endowed three bodies, then this is what is meant by the word ryo, 'to include' or all-inclusive."

(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 784, The Record of the Orally TransmittedTeachings, page 200)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Chinese premier Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) said: 'You must have the courage to speak the truth and speak it effectively.' Having the courage to speak the truth -- this is the kind of leader I would like you to become."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"My wish is that all my disciples make a great vow."
(The Dragon Gate - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1, page 1003)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As Nichiren Daishonin points out: 'If one in body but different in mind, they can achieve nothing remarkable' (WND-1, 618). Without unity, the path to achieving kosen-rufu would be closed off. If that were to happen, the biggest problem would be that the path to everyone's happiness would also become blocked. This must be avoided at all costs.
"The Daishonin also declares: 'Although Nichiren and his followers are few, because they are different in body, but united in mind, they will definitely accomplish their great mission of widely propagating the Lotus Sutra' (WND-1, 618). Even under adverse circumstances, so long as everyone is united based on faith, they will be able to open the way and advance kosen-rufu. Unity is power."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"What does Bodhisattva Never Disparaging's profound respect for people signify? The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human being."
(The Three Kinds of Treasure - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1,page 852)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Whose turn is it now? It's the turn of all of you. 'It's my turn!' -- this is something for each person to decide in their own hearts. Those who can make such an inner resolve are truly admirable. It has nothing to do with one's age or position in the organisation. This is the way of Buddhism."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Whatever trouble occurs, regard it as no more than a dream, and think only of the Lotus Sutra."
(Letter to Brothers - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1, page502)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Those who dedicate themselves to the very end for the cause of kosen-rufu and the welfare of others will savour the state of Buddhahood in lifetime after lifetime, being reborn as victors whose lives are pervaded with the good fortune of Buddhas."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"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, Volume 1, page 4)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"...there is no need for us to ever despair over any situation or to be envious of others. No matter what challenging day-to-day problems or what karmic suffering we may face in the course of life, just as the white lotus blooms with lofty, fragrant beauty while growing in muddy water, we will be definitely able to bring forth magnificent flowers of unparalleled happiness. This is the Buddhist principle of our lives remaining pure in this defiled world, just like the lotus."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"There is no true happiness other than upholding faith in the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by 'peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences.' Though worldly troubles may arise, never let them disturb you."
(Happiness in This World - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 1,page 681)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Goals rouse hope. Where there is hope, courage and dynamism well forth. That is one reason for setting goals to strive for."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The Buddha and Devadatta are like a form and its shadow -- in lifetime after lifetime, they are never separated. Prince Shotoku and his arch enemy Moriya appeared at the same time, like the blossom and the calyx of the lotus. If there exists a votary of the Lotus Sutra, then the three types of enemiesare bound to exist as well."
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page278)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"I would like to offer the words of the social activist and poet Danilo Dolci, who is often called the 'Gandhi of Sicily,'.... 'Peace is not a synonym for passive quietude, but of struggle. It is a mode of living implicit with a clear vision, a striving to educate and perfect yourself, and doing your utmost to solve problems."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The 'great vow' refers to the propagation of the Lotus Sutra."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 736, The Record of the Orally TransmittedTeachings, page 82)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Those who wholeheartedly practice faith through even the most difficult of circumstances gain unmistakable benefit. The joy they derive from this in turn serves as the driving force for introducing others to the Daishonin's teachings, and the actual proof they obtain carries the greatest persuasive power. This is an unchanging formula for spreading the Daishonin’s teachings."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"One is the mother of ten thousand."
(Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man - The Writings ofNichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 131)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As Cuban independence hero José Martí (1853-95) declared, history is what we do each day. The steps taken each day by those striving for kosen-rufu are creating a new future for humanity."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The purpose of the appearance of this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human being."
(The Three Kinds of Treasure - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1,page 852)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Buddhist concept of 'the oneness of good and evil' is illuminating. Buddhism teaches that both aspects are inherent within human life, with one or the other being manifested due to the arising of certain causes and conditions. Based on this concept, I believe that the true value of creative, constructive dialogue is to be found in our effort to perfect and elevate our own lives, to suppress the manifestation of evil or negative aspects, and to foster and encourage the manifestation of good or positive aspects. This very effort underlies the kind of dialogue and communication that we are in such dire need of today. "

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"If one's heavy karma from the past is not expiated within this lifetime, one must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if one experiences extreme hardship in this life [because of the Lotus Sutra], the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly."
(Lessening One's Karmic Retribution - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol. 1, page 199)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"In November of 2006, I met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general and Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Mohamed El Baradei. I would like to share with you a remark he made at that time that left a deep impression on me: 'We continue to emphasise our differences instead of what we have in common. We continue to talk about "us" versus "them."' The attitude of which he speaks is not productive, to say the least. We need to abandon this confrontational approach and seek out what we share in commonas human beings by discovering ways to use our differences and diversity to learn from each other and enrich ourselves. I believe that this is the most urgent issue our world now faces, and one that we must treat with the greatest seriousness."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its colour; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one's own blessings willi ncrease."
(The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 673)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote: 'We live for ourselves only when we live for others.' True vibrancy and joy in life are found in interacting with others and in our activities for kosen-rufu."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"In the light of the above points, this shows, my followers, that you had better cut short your sleep by night and curtail your leisure by day, and ponder this! You must not spend your lives in vain and regret it for ten thousand years to come."
(The Problem to Be Pondered Night and Day - The Writings of NichirenDaishonin, Vol. 1, page 622)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As one's work schedule increases, it becomes even more important to find ways to get proper rest and nutrition and to make efforts to exercise and stay well. Each person is fully responsible for managing their own health."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"To give another analogy, plants and trees are withered and bare in autumn and winter, but when the sun of spring and summer shines on them, they put forth branches and leaves, and then flowers and fruit."
(The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 146)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The thorny path of kosen-rufu can only be opened by fearless individuals willing to dedicate their lives and pour their hearts into the effort, no matter how severe the circumstances might be.... In the light of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin's writings, those who dedicate their lives to Buddhism will attain an eternally sublime life-state of absolute happiness. There is no sacrifice in Buddhism."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"... or one may simply chant the daimoku, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, only once aday, or chant it only once in the course of a lifetime; or hear someone else chant it only once in a lifetime and rejoice in the hearing, or rejoice in hearing the voice of someone else rejoice in the hearing, and so on in this manner to the fiftieth hearer."
(The Recitation of the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters - TheWritings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 68)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As the French writer Victor Hugo (1802-85) observed: 'The rising generation is the future. You instruct it, so you prepare the future.' Fostering young people is the way to make the current of humanity and peace grow into a mighty river that will endure forever."

--- 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 ----

"Genuine trust is not gained because of one's rank or social position. It is won through character. Character has the power to bring people together."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"So long as one maintains firm faith, one is certain to receive the great protection of the gods. I say this for your sake. I know your faith has always been admirable, but now you must strengthen it more than ever."
(The Supremacy of the Law - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page614)

Daily Guidance

--- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ---

March, the month of growth (Yayoi), has arrived. Brimming with a youthful and vibrant spirit, let's all initiate the action needed to develop new friendships with as many new people as we possibly can. The more people we help to make a connection with Buddhism and its philosophy, the more our own life condition will expand!

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"And yet, though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sunrise in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered."
(On Prayer - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 345)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Let me return to Zhuge Liang, the Chinese military strategist (181-234), who is portrayed in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms... He said: 'A strong fighter is never angry, and a victor is never afraid.' Expert fighters don't let their emotions run away with them. They value their allies, and face their opponents with resolve and courage. This is the key to victory."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"One accepts because of one's power of faith and continues because of one's power of constant thought."
(The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol. 1, page 471)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Italian author Edmondo De Amicis (1846-1908), in his immensely popular children's novel Cuore (Heart), asserts that even the most illustrious individual is but 'a vile creature' if he brings grief to his mother. This is absolutely true. We must all treasure our mothers. No matter how high someone might rise as a leader, politician, or celebrity, if they don't treasure their mother, protect her, and make her proud of them, they are the lowest of the low."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Neither non-Buddhists nor the enemies of Buddhism can destroy the correct teaching of the Thus Come One, but the Buddha's disciples definitely can. Asa sutra says, only worms born of the lion's body feed on the lion."
(Letter from Sado - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 302)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"As President Toda used to say. 'Always be sure to praise those members who have fought with all their might.' To praise those who strive for kosen-rufu is to praise the emissaries of the Buddha."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The aspiration for enlightenment in common mortals is often hindered by evil influences and easily swayed by circumstances; though many warriors don armour, few go without fear into battle."
(The Fourteen Slanders - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page758)

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"A Korean proverb says, 'Close neighbours are like cousins.' It is incredibly important, both in our local communities and in international society, to get along well with our neighbours. We need to make a sincere and open-hearted effort to really get to know each other, to truly talk to each other and forge ties of friendship. This friendship is the first step towards the goal of world peace."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and urge others to do the same; that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world."
(Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra - The Writings ofNichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 64)