Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi wrote a well-known poem related to the Dragon Gate. It tells the story of a carp that attempted to climb the waterfall but fell back and, having cut its forehead on the rocks below, decided to abandon the endeavour. Bai Juyi asks what the carp must be feeling, and provides an answer to the effect. ' Apparently, if you become a dragon, you have the hard work of ascending into the heavens and making the rain fall. Rather than taking on such hardship, it's probably better to remain a carp and swim about freely.' Having observed the vicissitudes of the political realm, Bai Juyi no doubt held the sentiment that one might be happier where one is now, living just as one pleases, rather than shouldering onerous responsibilities that often come with success.
"Dragons have the job of making the rain fall -- this same work can be regarded as a burden or as a mission, depending on how one looks at it. This difference in outlook or attitude is also what determines whether we will be defeated by negative influences, or evil friends, or successfully attain Buddhahood. Truly, as the Daishonin says, 'It is the heart that is important' (WND-1, 1000). And this difference in heart or spirit comes down to whether or not we embrace the 'great vow' that is mentioned in this letter.
"To bring our practise of the Lotus Sutra, or the Mystic Law, to successful completion means that we must eagerly and joyfully embrace the mission of taking on the sufferings of still more and more people and of challenging even greater difficulties in our cause for human peace and happiness. The Daishonin urges us to actively seek this way of life, to valiantly climb the Dragon Gate of faith as successors of kosen-rufu, and attain Buddhahood without fail. As practitioners of the Mystic Law, this is what it means for us to 'live based on a great vow.'"

--- 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, Vol. 1, page 502)