Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
The sound of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the invincible roar of a lion or mentor and disciple in unison which leads to ceaseless victories. Brimming with strong life force, let's always take good care of our health, first and foremost, so that we can continually make great progress together. By chanting vibrant daimoku, let's rouse all the Buddhist gods*, the protective forces of the universe, into action!
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life. Otherwise you will have regrets."
(Letter to Niike - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1027)

Monday, May 25, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"New capable individuals are absolutely indispensable for opening the future of kosen-rufu."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It is the heart that is important. No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wet tinder. Spur yourself to muster the power of faith."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 1000)

Friday, May 22, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
The essential point of our Buddhist practice is to have person-to-person, one-on-one dialogue. Let's be proud of what we do and get involved on the forefront of activities. By chanting daimoku with strong faith and talking about this Buddhism and its humanism as much as we can, let's continue to advance cheerfully and confidently!

--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Therefore, one should by all means persist in preaching the Lotus Sutra and causing them to hear it. Those who put their faith in it will surely attain Buddhahood, while those who slander it will establish a 'poison-drum relationship' with it and will likewise attain Buddhahood."
(How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 882)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The 'Emergence of the Treasure Tower' (11th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra states: 'If one can expound this sutra to even one person, that will be difficult indeed' (cf. LS11, 179). Genuine Buddhist practice lies in tirelessly reaching out to others in one-on-one dialogue; it is found in the effort to share the teachings of Buddhism with another person, to raise another in faith, and to make even one friend and ally. And there is no better place for carrying out these activities than in our groups and districts.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?"
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 412)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The renowned Australian nurse and physical therapist Elizabeth Kenny (1880-1952), who developed a groundbreaking treatment for the effects of polio, declared: 'It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life. Otherwise you will have regrets. For example, the journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital?"
(Letter to Niike - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1027)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Kosen-rufu is the accumulation of countless small victories. Winning comes from steady and persistent efforts to take on immediate challenges. That is the way to establish a record of glorious victory."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"When I prayed for my mother, not only was her illness cured, but her life was prolonged by four years."
(On Prolonging One's Life Span - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 955)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the American author and social activist Helen Keller (1880-1968) wrote: 'When once we make up our minds to do this and set out fearlessly, all outward circumstances and limitations give way before us.'"
--- 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 sun rise 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)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the British essayist William Hazlitt (1778-1830) wrote: 'Hope is the best possession.' Buddhism is a source of hope."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If a person cannot manage to cross a moat ten feet wide, how can he cross one that is a hundred or two hundred feet?"
(The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 766)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
The vibrant dynamism necessary for victory is born from our discussion meetings. Let's inspire each other with cheerful and powerful encouragement that gives people courage and confidence. Let's all stand up and strive together, and make the 80th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai's foundingthe greatest anniversary!

--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month.Should you slacken in your resolve even a bit, devils willtake advantage."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings ofNichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The founder of the modern nursing profession, Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), remarked: 'Right is invariably well-being, or the road to it.' All of you are dedicating your lives to kosen-rufu, the path of the highest good. There is no life more admirable or happy. Nor is that happiness limited to this lifetime. You walk an indestructible path imbued with the four virtues of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity, a path of continual progress in rhythm with the Mystic Law, the ultimate law of the universe.
"Nightingale also noted: 'The world is what we have to mould, not to fly from.' We do not try to escape this world that is filled with sufferings, nor do we lament it. Through tirelessly challenging ourselves and taking positive action, we strive to build a new and better world day after day."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"But the rest of you should not be afraid. So long as you remain firm in heart, I am sure that the whole truth of the matter will become clear in the end."
(Reply to the Sages - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.2, page 831)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) recorded the following fable in his notebooks. 'The cedar, arrogant by reason of its beauty, despising the plants which were round about it, caused them to be all removed from its presence, and then the wind, not meeting with any obstacle, tore it up by the roots and threw it on to the ground.' The moral of the story is that, like the cedar, the arrogant will come to ruin and those who isolate themselves from others will eventually fall. Working together with good friends is extremely important. Power is born from unity. And constructive action requires close interaction."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A woman who embraces the lion king of the Lotus Sutra never fears any of the beasts of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals."
(The Drum at the Gate of Thunder - The Writings ofNichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 949)

Friday, May 08, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Your situation at the outset is not what matters; hardship, in whatever form it takes, is just a springboard for triumph at the crucial stage of your life. To win with an invincible spirit that says, 'Watch what I do,' is truly the pride of Soka.
"Nichiren Daishonin praises his disciples Shijo Kingo and his wife Nichigen-nyo, who overcame harsh persecution and won brilliantly, telling them he was delighted to learn of their success (cf. WND-2, 730). Those who employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra always triumph in the end."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Concerning the 'peaceful' practices of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law and the practices carried out by Nichiren and his followers now in the Latter Day of the Law, you should understand that, when one practises the Lotus Sutra under such circumstances, difficulties will arise, and these are to be looked on as 'peaceful' practices."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 750, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 115)

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"When things don't go as you expect, you must not let yourselves be defeated. Don't become discouraged. The struggles one goes through in one's youth are a precious treasure. It is only by taking on the challenges of the real world that you can build a deep, strong foundation for victory in life. Though you may stumble along the way, just pick yourself up again, plant your feet firmly on the ground, and make further powerful strides forward, aiming even higher than before. An ancient Chinese text says: 'It is like the case of a person who falls to the ground, but who then pushes himself up from the ground and rises to his feet again' (WND-1, 1108)."
--- 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 Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 622)

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
The essence of the Lotus Sutra is the spirit of' shakubuku' - sharing the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism with others*. Let's muster up the courage to refute those beliefs and tenets that obviously misguide people to unhappiness and suffering, and speak out the truth confidently and with conviction! This is the great strength of the SGI.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Rather than offering up ten thousand prayers for remedy, it would be better simply to outlaw this one evil."
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 15)

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"History should serve as a guide to building a better future. And as the American civil rights activist Rosa Parks (1913-2005) once declared: 'The way we live now will affect the state of the world in the future.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thorough bred horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet."
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 17)

Monday, May 04, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Beginnings are important. Everything is a learning opportunity. Please have the positive spirit to learn from each experience and advance energetically."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It is the heart that is important."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1030)

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In one of our dialogues, leading Indian Gandhian scholar Dr. N. Radhakrishnan quoted these words of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): 'I know this, that when I am gone, Jawaharlal will speak my language.' And true to his prediction, after Gandhi died, his disciple Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) carried on his work and led newly independent India on the road to prosperity.
"With regard to the mentor-disciple relationship, Dr. Radhakrishnan also said: 'A mentor lives on in the deeds of his disciples,' and 'Mentor and disciple become one when they live in a creative way oriented toward eternity.'
"We of the SGI, linked by the bonds of mentor and disciple, continue to fulfil the Buddha's prophecy, spreading its message throughout the world and transmitting it on to future generations. Together, we represent a great river of outstanding Bodhisattvas of the Earth-- a great river that flows powerfully into the boundless future, like the eternal Ganges."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Expressions of thanks and appreciation strengthen ties of trust and friendship. It's no exaggeration to say that a person's character can be measured by how freely they're able to thank and express their gratitude to others."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Concerning prayer, there are conspicuous prayer and conspicuous response, conspicuous prayer and inconspicuous response, inconspicuous prayer and inconspicuous response, and inconspicuous prayer and conspicuous response. But the only essential point is that, if you believe in this sutra, all your desires will be fulfilled in both the present and the future."
(Letter to the Lay Priest Domyo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 750)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The spirit of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is to take it upon ourselves to strive earnestly to solve the major issues facing society, based on the perspective of Buddhism. That is why the Daishonin remonstrated with the ruling authorities of the Kamakura government through his treatise 'On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land' and set out to guide the people towards happiness."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It is like the situation when one faces a mirror and makes a bow of obeisance: the image in the mirror likewise makes a bow of obeisance to oneself."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 769, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 165)

Monday, April 27, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In the writing ['Letter to Horen'], the Daishonin states: '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 [come to] believe [in the sutra]' (WND-1, 512). As these words indicate, kosen-rufu greatly advances when there is 'clearly visible proof.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It means that all beings and environments in the Ten Worlds, from hell, the lowest, to Buddhahood, the highest, are without exception manifestations of Myoho-renge-kyo."
(The True Aspect of All Phenomena - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 383)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"When you truly awaken to the infinitely profound mission you possess, yet unknown reservoirs of strength and potential will well forth from your lives."
--- 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)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"All of you, who are striving with pride and commitment for the sake of kosen-rufu together with your fellow members across the globe, are accumulating incredible good fortune and benefit and adorning your lives with lofty splendour. Our prayers as SGI members are not merely for ourselves; they are directly connected to the Buddha's intent and decree to achieve worldwide kosen-rufu. That is why we shine with Buddha wisdom and why our lives brim with the Buddha's vitality and power. It is also why the heavenly deities and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout time and space are certain to protect us."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 997)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"There are many places where members have had a difficult time gaining the understanding of the public and the government.... But Buddhism teaches the principle of changing poison into medicine. When the members in a region or country work together in a spirit of unity, they will definitely be able to make a breakthrough and increase understanding of our movement. This is what will enable kosen-rufu to greatly develop in the 21st century. This is Buddhism."

--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"What a joy it is for us to have been born in the Latter Day of the Law and to have shared in the propagation of the Lotus Sutra! How pitiful are those who, though born in this time, cannot believe in this sutra!"
(Letter to Niike - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 1026)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The important thing is to burn with passion for what is right, to chant wholeheartedly, and to strive our hardest. If we do so, there is no barrier we cannot break through, no struggle we cannot win."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If in a single moment of life we exhaust the pains and trials of millions of kalpas, then instant after instant there will arise in us the three Buddha bodies with which we are eternally endowed."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 790, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 214)

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Upon reaching a deadlock, it is best to return to the starting point. For Nichiren Buddhists, this means chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Since the Mystic Law is the fundamental Law of the universe, prayers invoking the Mystic Law have the power to make anything happen."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Now when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they should abide in the mind of faith that 'from thought to thought never entertains doubt'."
(Chapter Twenty-five: The Universal Gateway of the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds -- Five important points - The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 181)

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Mr. Toda declared: 'The power of authority is like a tidal wave that swallows everything in its path. A person with shallow or half-hearted conviction can do nothing to stop it. You cannot stand up to and prevailover such power unless you are prepared to risk your life.' This is a crucial spirit. We're living in the Latter Day of the Law, an evil age defiled by the five impurities. Let's strive actively to expand this 'safe haven' of the people that is the Soka Gakkai!"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1001)

Monday, April 06, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"My mentor Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, declared: 'Our faith in the Daishonin's Buddhism assures us that we can definitely surmount any difficulty we face, any situation we encounter, whatever the times. It's important to have this conviction. This is, in fact, our life's treasure.' Always brimming with great conviction and with fresh and youthful determination, we strive to create an alliance for people's victory and prosperity. This is the essence of our movement of Soka humanism.
"The Swiss philosopher Carl Hilty (1833-1909) wrote: 'Being able to be happy in and through suffering is the highest thing we are capable of.' When an in extinguishable flame of courage and hope is transmitted from one person to another, it can give rise to a brightly burning fire that can illuminate society as a whole. This is what the kosen-rufu movement is all about."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present."
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 279)

Friday, April 03, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"If everyone is ruled by self-interest and selfishness, the community and society will fall apart. Soka Gakkai members are dedicated to overcoming the negative forces that seek to divide us from each other and building a beautiful world of mutual encouragement and support. Unity is positive; divisiveness is destructive. The power of people united can dispel the darkness of selfishness that prevails in our world today and bring the light of peace and happiness to our communities, societies, and the world."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thoroughbred horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet."
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 17)

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The Daishonin was deeply pained by the sight of the suffering and misery of the people. He writes: 'I have been brooding alone upon this matter, indignant in my heart' (WND-1, 7). Words could not fully express his emotions. His conclusion, arising from his immense compassion for those who were suffering, was that in order to bring happiness to the people and build a peaceful society, it was vital to establish the correct teaching for the peace of the land. At the foundation of this spirit to establish the correct teaching is an absolute reverence for the sanctity of life that affirms the supremely respectworthy Buddha nature in all living beings. And that is precisely why we must intrepidly fight against the devilish nature of authority that disregards or diminishes the value of life....
"The Daishonin's spirit of empathy -- the irrepressible impulse to help those who are suffering--has been inherited by the Soka Gakkai and is vibrantly alive among our members. Through imparting hope and winning trust, we can forge strong and deep bonds with others."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If only you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offence could fail to be eradicated? What blessing could fail to come? This is the truth, and it is of great profundity. You should believe and accept it."
(Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man -The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 130)

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Shakyamuni Buddha called a person who was able to teach even one phrase of the Lotus Sutra to another an 'envoy of the Thus Come One' who 'was carrying out the Thus Come One's work' (cf. LS10, 162)-- in other words, a person who was enacting the behaviour of a Buddha. This is a perfect description of our activities as members of the SGI.
"A single concrete effort at the grassroots level is far nobler than a thousand grandiose but empty theories. The Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) cited the words [of the French philosophical writer Félicité Lamennais (1782-1854)]: 'We must look to ordinary people to find truly heroic and selfless acts.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It is like the case of a person who falls to the ground, but who then pushes himself up from the ground and rises to his feet again."
(The Proof of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1108)

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-68), the American civil rights champion, said: 'Cowardice is a submissive surrender to circumstance.' In otherwords, we shouldn't be ruled by fear was his message. 'Courage,' he declared, 'is an inner resolution to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"All disciples and lay supporters of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the spirit of many in body but one in mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim."
(The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 217)

Friday, March 27, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"A Persian saying goes: 'A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.' Mr. Toda sternly warned against ingratitude. And the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) wrote: 'The devilish vices have a degree of wickedness that goes far beyond the human, and we include among them the following three: envy, ingratitude, and malice.'
"Kant was the philosopher whose writings Mr. Makiguchi read right up to hislast days in prison. Mr. Toda also frequently quoted Kant.
"Envy disrupts the harmonious body of practitioners. Ingratitude destroys the realm of Buddhism. When I stepped down as Soka Gakkai president (in1979), there were malicious forces that turned on us in enmity, resentful and envious of the astonishing growth the Soka Gakkai was achieving. A stern fate awaits the corrupt and degenerate. Those who look on silently and pretend not to see wrongdoing when it is being committed will regret their inaction forever.
"If our organisation is led astray by corrupt influences and loses the spirit of compassion and the spirit of mentor and disciple, it will no longer be a Buddhist organisation. This came close to happening once, and we must absolutely ensure that such a situation never arises again. I say this for the sake of the future.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?"
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 412)
"Let's move forwards with enthusiasm and energy! Nothing makes me happierthan seeing all of you in high spirits."

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Just like we can't walk without legs, our organisation couldn't function without those who support it from behind the scenes. The most important and admirable of all are those who strive tirelessly on the front lines of our movement, the uncrowned champions who work for kosen-rufu at the grassroots level. I can never state this enough: leaders must never be arrogant."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"The greater the hardships befalling him, the greater the delight he feels, because of his strong faith."
(A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 33)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Daily Guidance

--- WORDS OF THE WEEK ---
Spring is the season for change for many people, such as graduation, a new school to go to, a new job or a transfer.* Let's give our warm support and encouragement to those who are about to make a new start. Together with our wonderful Soka family, wherever we might be, it is certain that it is the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light.
*In Japan, a new school year and fiscal year starts in April.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Life is limited; we must not begrudge it. What we should ultimately aspire to is the Buddhaland."
(Aspiration for the Buddha Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 214)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

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)

Monday, March 23, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"To courageously take the initiative to reach out to others in dialogue; to speak to others openly and honestly from the heart-- such actions have the fundamental power to break through barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Abutsu-bo is therefore the treasure tower itself, and the treasure tower is Abutsu-bo himself. No other knowledge is purposeful. It is the treasure tower adorned with the seven kinds of treasures-- hearing the correct teaching, believing it, keeping the precepts, engaging in meditation, practising assiduously, renouncing one's attachments, and reflecting on oneself."
(On the Treasure Tower - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 229)

Friday, March 20, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"There is a treasured maxim in Malaysia that expresses an inspiring wisdom:“Hendak seribu daya, tak hendak seribu dalih. (When one truly seeks to achieve something, thousandfold power will arise; when one fails to do so, a thousand excuses will be found.)”
"In life, those who continue to seek and learn throughout their lives will always emerge victorious. It is a sad thing to give in to defeat."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"And could not this illness of your husband's be the Buddha's design, because the Vimalakirti and Nirvanasutras both teach that sick people will surely attain Buddhahood? Illness gives rise to the resolve to attain the way."
(The Good Medicine for All Ills - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 937)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"We can't start a fire from flint if we stop halfway. If we do, all of our efforts up to that point would have been in vain. Similarly, we will be defeated if our faith is half-hearted. So warns the Daishonin.
"'Have profound faith. A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered'(WND-1, 1001)-- this famous passage is from a letter the Daishonin wrote to Shijo Kingo. Faith is the highest form of courage and the highest form of good.
--- 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)

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The secret to victory lies in deep and genuine unity that respects and treasures diversity. This is a point made by Nichiren Daishonin. Many otherwise figures throughout history, including the ancient Chinese general Zhuge Liang, have noted its importance. As the famous Malaysian proverb teaches us: 'Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh. (Where there is unity there is strength, where there is division there is destruction.)'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"But now you must build your reputation on the Lotus Sutra and give yourself up to it."
(The True Aspect of All Phenomena - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 385)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the Daishonin says, it is the heart that is important. It's a matter of exerting millions of kalpas of effort in a single moment of life for the sake of Buddhism, for the noble cause of kosen-rufu. For us, not begrudging our life ultimately means steadfastly chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo without any fear, and wholeheartedly dedicating ourselves to showing actual proof of faith--for the sake of the world, for the sake of the future, and for the sake of others.
"Mr. Makiguchi described this as 'a selfless way of life of great good.' Such a way of life is characterised by overcoming both selfishness and fear, and striving for the happiness of both oneself and others. He explained:
"It is an ordinary way of life, a way of plain humanity -- such that anyone who consciously experiences it and comes to realise that it is universally accessible will feel an overwhelming desire to embrace it, and, indeed, will feel compelled to do so.
"Therefore, Mr. Makiguchi asserted that the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (lit. Value-Creating Education Society; fore runner of the Soka Gakkai) 'was itself living proof of a life of great good.'
"In other words, selfless dedication is found in a seemingly ordinary way of life open to anyone. A true example of such dedication can be seen in our daily efforts for kosen-rufu, exerting ourselves body and soul to encourage others and sincerely sharing the greatness of Buddhism with those around us."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"When your beloved deceased father hears the sound of your voice chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, he will delight in his Buddhahood."
(White Horses and White Swans - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1066)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"'Tricked by bait' is a metaphor for how human beings-- even though taking various measures and precautions to stay safe-- may be swept away by immediate desires or have a lapse of judgment due to narrow thinking, leading ultimately to their self-destruction. Sadly, this kind of human folly remains very much in evidence today.
"The Daishonin, therefore, counsels that rather than giving our life, our most valuable possession of all, for 'shallow, worldly matters,' we should dedicate it to: 'the Buddha's precious teachings.'
"Though we speak of 'not begrudging one's life,' the Daishonin's Buddhism is definitely not a teaching of reckless self-sacrifice or martyrdom. Mr. Makiguchi, Mr. Toda, and I-- the first three presidents of the Soka Gakkai-- have taken action with the resolve to advance kosen-rufu in such away that not a single member is sacrificed, and to willingly give our all towards that end."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"What can we say, then, of persons who are devoting themselves to Buddhism? Surely they should not forget the debts of gratitude they owe to their parents, their teachers, and their country."
(On Repaying Debts of Gratitude - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 690)

Friday, March 13, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"For what purpose, then, should we use this life, which is irreplaceable? In 'Letter from Sado,' the Daishonin teaches that by dedicating our life to the practice of Buddhism we can attain Buddhahood. To underscore the profound significance of such dedication, he first cites the 'Medicine King' (23rd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. He then points to the examples of the boy Snow Mountains and the ascetic Aspiration for the Law -- both of whom represent Shakyamuni Buddha in past existences when he was carrying out bodhisattva practise -- to clarify that striving with an ungrudging spirit is the key to accomplishing our Buddhist practice.
"Further, the Daishonin notes that those who are prepared to give their lives will not hesitate to part with any other treasure. He is in effect saying with strict compassion to those of his followers who trembled at the thought of being persecuted and suffering such terrible consequences as having their fiefs confiscated: 'Aren't these present persecutions we are facing an unparalleled chance to give our lives in exchange for Buddhahood? Since the goal of attaining that supreme state of life is just ahead, what can we possibly have to fear?'
"This passage also conveys an important spirit that offers lessons for us today. One of these lessons, as noted above, is that simply clinging to our life will not result in attaining genuine happiness. It is by establishing a fundamental purpose and pursuing the correct course in life--ready to face any hardship this might entail -- that enables us to experience a deep sense of joy and fulfilment. If we allow ourselves to be controlled by shallow desires and begrudge our lives at a crucial moment, then our hearts will wither and only misery and regret will await us."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Birds and crickets cry, but never shed tears. I, Nichiren, do not cry, but my tears flow ceaselessly. I shed my tears not for worldly affairs but solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra."
(The True Aspect of All Phenomena - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 386)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"A Buddhist doesn't simply pray to win without making any effort. If that was Buddhism, it would only teach people to be lazy and corrupt.
"As a Soka Gakkai member you need to work harder than anyone else at your job and, in order to become as efficient and productive as possible, study and think hard. Faith and daimoku enable us to bring forth a strong life-force and the necessary wisdom to succeed in that endeavour. Every job demands not only hard work but also presents a variety of other challenges, such as human relations problems and other difficulties. But your job is a place where you can polish and perfect yourself as a person.
"It's very important to give it your full effort, become the top performer in your workplace, and to win the trust of those around you. This will improve your performance and reputation.... And if that were to occur, you would regard your workplace as the most optimum.
"During gongyo each morning, you should pray with determination to do your best at your job that day, become a victor in your workplace, and demonstrate the power of your Buddhist faith. That's the key to fully manifesting your greatest strength and wisdom.... That's the Soka Gakkai spirit."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.."
(The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 832)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
For those fellow members who are struggling to overcome problems right now, let's give them all the encouragement we can, sharing with them just how great this Buddhism of the sun is. Let's also hold the type of discussion meeting where everyone feels inspired to take the initiative in the advancement of kosen-rufu, brimming with the spirit of March 16th, Kosen-rufu Day!
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If in a single moment of life we exhaust the pains and trials of millions of kalpas, then instant after instant there will arise in us the three Buddha bodies with which we are eternally endowed. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is just such a 'diligent' practice."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 790, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 214)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"'The most dreadful things in the world are the pain of fire, the flashing of swords, and the shadow of death. Even horses and cattle fear being killed; no wonder human beings are afraid of death. Even a leper clings to life; how much more so a healthy person.' (WND-1, 301)
"-- by launching into the main body of this letter with these opening words, the Daishonin powerfully draws attention to the concerns that weigh on all people's minds.
"To fear death and cling to life is the way of living beings. 'The pain of fire' indicates accidents or natural disasters, while 'the flashing of swords' means violence or war. It's probably true that nothing is more frightening than the 'shadow of death,' or the prospect of one's own demise. This is as true for animals as it is for human beings. But if we do nothing but fear death and cling to life, we cannot savour a truly profound existence. Why are we born? What is the purpose of our lives? Why do we die? It is only by earnestly contemplating our own existence that we can lead a life of great depth and meaning."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Mugwort that grows in the midst of hemp, or a snake inside a tube [will as a matter of course become straight], and those who associate with people of good character will consequently become upright in heart, deed, and word."
(The Bodies and Minds of Ordinary Beings - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1128)

Monday, March 09, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Of course it's important to chant daimoku and do your best in Gakkai activities. But if you only focus on your Buddhist practice without making an honest effort at your workplace, you're just escaping from reality. So long as you have that attitude, the results will be the same, no matter where you work.
"Mr. Toda used to say: 'In faith, do the work of one; in your job, do the work of three.' That's the way of life for Gakkai members. And Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra' (WND-1, 905). In other words, regard your work as your practice of the Lotus Sutra and throw yourself into it wholeheartedly. When you strive to become the best person in your workplace and win the trust of your employer and fellow employees, while at the same time making an earnest effort to practise Buddhism, you'll grow as a person. That's what I did. I worked until midnight day after day in order to keep Mr. Toda's businesses running."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Bound as we common mortals are by earthly desires, we can instantly attain the same virtues as Shakyamuni Buddha, for we receive all the benefits that he accumulated. The sutra reads, 'Hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any distinction between us.'"
(Letter to the Sage Nichimyo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 323)

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai wrote: 'No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality' (WND, 905). Worldly affairs are in no way separate or divorced from Buddhism. That's why the thoughts and actions of leading figures from society often have so much in common with Buddhism."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith. Then one will be as strong as a demon armed with an iron staff."
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 412)

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
Our noble SGI friends from 60 different countries and regions are now here in Japan for a training course with great seeking spirits. United in heart and mind with them, let's strive together to achieve worldwide kosen-rufu, engaging in courageous and confident dialogue about the Mystic Law with as many people as we possibly can!
--- 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)

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Though having been regarded as something of an under achiever during his school days at Harrow, Winston Churchill (1874–1965), the wartime British prime minister, later returned to his alma mater as the nation's prime minister during World War II and appealed to its students: 'Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never.' I have imparted these words to my beloved students of the Soka schools in the past. And the quote continues as follows: 'In nothing, great or small, large or petty-- never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"And now the place where Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 'whether... in mountain valleys or the wide wilderness' (chapter twenty-one, Supernatural Powers), these places are all the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 781, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 192)

Monday, March 02, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the great champion of Indian independence Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)once observed: 'A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Or again we may say that our head corresponds to myo, our throat to ho, our chest to ren, our stomach to ge, and our legs to kyo. Hence this five-foot body of ours constitutes the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo."
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, 716, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 28)

Friday, February 27, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Buddhism also teaches about gratitude. In Buddhism, gratitude is not something that reinforces society's hierarchical relationships. Rather, Buddhism speaks of gratitude for all living beings, advocating a philosophyof being open to society, accepting others, and cultivating a spirit of mutual trust.
"Shin'ichi Yamamoto asked Konosuke Matsushita* about his view of gratitude. Matsushita placed great importance on this virtue, saying that gratitude and appreciation were the foundation for his faith and life, and also among his fundamental business principles to share with his employees. 'The spirit of gratitude,' he wrote, 'imparts immeasurable joy and vitality to our hearts, and as long as we have a keen sense of it, it serves as a wellspring that enables us to overcome every form of adversity and welcome true happiness into our lives. Gratitude enriches our lives to an incomparable degree.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Believe in this mandala with all your heart. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?"
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 412)

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Those who face adversity with hope and the willingness to try their very best don't consider the process as painful. As the champion of Indian independence Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) observed: 'Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"(The deities Same Name and Same Birth protect people.) If one's mind is strong, then their protection is great."
(How the Gods Protect the Place of Practice - Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 2, page 668)

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
By believing and practising the Mystic Law, we can definitely change poison into medicine.* Although some of us might be facing a great struggle in weathering the economic storm right now, let's never give up, no matter what! The inner strength of your Buddha nature is absolutely infinite.
* Changing Poison into Medicine- http://www.sgi.org/changing poison.html
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Life is limited; we must not begrudge it. What we should ultimately aspire to is the Buddhaland."
(Aspiration for the Buddha Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 214)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
""...one of the titles of the Buddha is 'One Who Can Endure.' With the great power of endurance, build a life as indestructible and imperishable as a diamond.
''Don’t be defeated!''Resolutely take the lead!'-- my mentor's voice still resonates powerfully in the depths of my being.
"My mentor Josei Toda rousingly encouraged a suffering friend, saying:
"All people face periods of despair. But if we endure such times and ride them through, then all those problems and worries will later come to seem small and insignificant. Nothing can obstruct the tremendous power of theMystic Law. If you rise up boldly in the face of devilish functions with the firm resolve to battle them head-on and win, they'll beat a hasty retreat. No matter what happens, just keep sending them flying!"

--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"When someone reported to me, however, that you had been taken with this illness, day and night, morning and evening I addressed the Lotus Sutra on the matter, morning and evening I implored the gods of the blue heavens. And now today I have received word that you have recovered from illness. Could any tidings be more joyful than these?"
(Recovering from Illness - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.2, page 1034)

Monday, February 23, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Making one’s way through life actively avoiding hard work and tough challenges will produce nothing of true lasting value. Young people, inparticular, need to throw themselves into their chosen task, roll up their sleeves, grit their teeth, and bravely weather all hardships and difficulties as they steadily work toward fulfilling their mission. That indomitable, invincible spirit is the highest honour a youth can earn."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thorough bredhorse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet."
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 17)

Friday, February 20, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In Buddhism, the world we live in is called the 'saha world.' 'Saha' means' endurance.' We all struggle with various problems and difficulties that press in upon us. What is crucial is whether we can endure and triumph over them. Life is a struggle for which we need an invincible spirit.
"Nichiren Daishonin, too, placed utmost importance on an invincible spirit. Indeed, we can see this spirit burning brightly throughout his writings.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Consider this: if one cannot cross a moat ten feet wide, can one cross a moat that is twenty or thirty feet wide? If you cannot bring about rainfall, which is easy, how can you attain rebirth in the pure land and achieve Buddhahood, which is difficult?"
(The Letter to Petition from Yorimoto - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 808)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"If we let opportunities slip by because of indecision, we are likely to lose even struggles that we could have won. A delayed response can even lead to serious setbacks or defeats. This is a golden rule that applies in all things."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It seems to me that on the path to attain Buddhahood it may invariably be when one has done something like lay down one's life that one becomes a Buddha."
(Banishment to Sado - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 202)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Daily Guidance

--- 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, page 283)
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The secret of success in business is to take personal initiative and action instead of relying on others."

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"I’ll never forget my dialogue with the eminent American economist John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006). Dr. Galbraith took great pride in his contribution to the speedy inception of the New Deal under U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), at the time of the Great Depression in the 1930s. In his first inaugural address, Roosevelt said: “There are many ways in which it [the pressing task at hand] can be helped, but it can never be helped merely by talking about it. We must act, and act quickly.” Swift action is always critical."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997)

Monday, February 16, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The French author Victor Hugo (1802-85) declared: 'Isolated forces cancel each other out.' Working together in unity is very important. For the continued success of our movement, we need to keep building a solid alliance for truth and justice.
"Religion is often seen as being self-righteous and isolating. However, the Daishonin writes: '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' (WND-1, 852). Buddhism seeks to enable all people to behave with the utmost humanity.
"As our practice and understanding of the principles of Buddhism deepen, we develop the ability to transcend all differences and open our hearts to anyone, helping them form a connection with Buddhism. We are able to forge warm bonds of friendship with those we meet and interact with them sincerely. This leads to the expansion of a network of good people and the creation of the values of peace, culture, and education. This is the humanistic path of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. The SGI is a great alliance for peace bringing people together everywhere."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Three things are required-- a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching-- before prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land."
(How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 880)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Each encounter with another person is a priceless opportunity. Interacting with people entails an earnest struggle waged with sincerity and integrity. There can be no missteps.
--- 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)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As the Daishonin states: 'The Law does not spread by itself: because people propagate it, both people and the Law are respectworthy' (GZ, 856). People who are eager to share Buddhism with others are essential. Through courageous dialogue, they can inspire others and change their times and societies for the better. Dialogue has immense power."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"More valuable than treasures in a storehouse are the treasures of the body, and the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all."
(The Three Kinds of Treasure - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 851)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"This challenge is so difficult because remaining steadfast in faith means battling the ignorance or darkness in the depths of our lives-- in other words, making continuous efforts to transform our lives on a fundamental level. This is an extremely arduous path because those who pursue it are certain to be assailed by the three obstacles and four devils, along with the three powerful enemies. However, we can only truly attain Buddhahood by defeating these obstacles and steadfastly working on our inner transformation."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"In the light of the Buddha's prophecy, 'the last five-hundred-year period' has already begun. I say that without fail Buddhism will arise and flow forth from the east, from the land of Japan."
(On the Buddha's Prophecy - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 401)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Kosen-rufu is a struggle. It is a fierce battle between the Buddha and negative forces. It can never be won through half-hearted efforts. That is why it is so important to stay true to our convictions, to summon all our wisdom, and to do our utmost--so that we can win in that struggle."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"There are six causes of illness: ... (3) inappropriatepractice of seated meditation..."
(On Curing Karmic Disease - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 631)

Monday, February 09, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"“Once you take the first step, overcoming each difficulty that arises is an easy matter.' These are the confident words of Madame Xie Bingxin (1900-99; commonly known by her pen name Bing Xin), a great Chinese writer with whom my wife and I enjoyed an unforgettable friendship. She wrote this in a letter one January during a period that was fraught with hardship and adversity.
"In this Year of Youth and Victory, let us take action with a youthful and courageous spirit, one step after another. Let us keep pressing energetically forward, ever forward, towards a glorious golden victory."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"The people of today all turn their backs upon what is right; to a person, they give their allegiance to evil. This is the reason that the benevolent deities have abandoned the nation and departed together, that sage sleave and do not return. And in their stead devils and demons come, and disasters and calamities occur. I cannot keep silent on this matter. I cannot suppress my fears."
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 7)

Friday, February 06, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"As a wise champion of kosen-rufu upholding Buddhism, take pride and lead the way to victory.
"I once sent this poem to a member who was struggling against adversity. He immediately responded with a letter expressing his determination, and he cited a quote from the Swiss philosopher Carl Hilty (1833-1909) to the effect that people who have suffered in life only trust those who've experienced hardship themselves. His letter closed with the pledge: 'With that resolve, I will strive to become truly wise, sparing no effort.'
"Hilty himself lived a life filled with difficulties, but to a friend who visited him in his final year he said: 'If I were to erase all of the sufferings from my life, I would have no good memories left. Everything grew out of such times [of suffering].' By encountering many obstacles, a genuine leader is able to develop the ability to guide and encourage others. This is a principle that we should never forget."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens."
(Happiness in This World - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page681)

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"A compassionate life dedicated to working for the welfare of all living beings is a joyous one.
"In his treatise 'The Opening of the Eyes,' Nichiren Daishonin writes: '[In his earlier teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha] spoke of the present world as an impure land. But now, in the 'Life Span' chapter [of the Lotus Sutra], he has reversed this, revealing that this world is the true land' (WND-1,256). Our communities are the 'true land' of our mission. We should, therefore, not lament about the places where we find ourselves right now. The challenge falls to us to transform them, through our own efforts, into victorious Lands of Tranquil Light--realms of Buddhahood. Such is a way of life based on the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nevertheless, I vowed to summon up a powerful and unconquerable desire for the salvation of all beings and never to falter in my efforts."
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 240)

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Recently, researchers of Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego, published findings indicating that happiness is contagious. Their conclusions are based on a study of about 5,000 individuals over a 20-year period. According to their research, when one person feels happy, that happiness spreads like a ripple from friend to friend. Indeed, if one's next-door neighbour is happy, the likelihood that one will feel happy as well increases 34 percent. This research supports the idea that a zone of happiness can be spread through a social network.
"The world economy is in the direst of straits right now, and many are concerned about the impact that it is having on people's morale and spiritual welfare. It is precisely at this time that the example of our wise and committed SGI members standing up bravely in their communities and societies can serve as an incredible source of hope and inspiration for many others. In particular, nothing is more noble than the united efforts of our women's and young women's division members who are always earnestly chanting for the cause of good and warmly encouraging everyone. As Mr. Toda asserted:'The vibrant example of a woman who upholds the Mystic Law is more powerful than a hundred sermons or books.'"
--- 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)

Monday, February 02, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"To one of his trustworthy lay disciples, the Daishonin writes: 'Can it be that Shakyamuni Buddha or the Bodhisattvas of the Earth have entered into your body? I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province'(WND-1, 1117). Carrying out kosen-rufu in our communities is the sacred task entrusted to us directly by the Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day. That is why the wisdom and power of the Buddha to share the Law with many others flows vibrantly in our chapters, districts, and groups, which are striving in the same spirit as the Daishonin. There is absolutely no doubt that capable Bodhisattvas of the Earth will continue to joyously emerge, and that the heavenly deities will always staunchly protect us.
"The activities of SGI members everywhere and their sincere contributions to society are beacons of hope and reassurance for their local communities.
"Contribute to the enduring prosperity of your beautiful communities, through fostering harmonious relations, enjoying long, fulfilling lives, and bringing happiness to bloom."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Therefore when we speak of withdrawing or departing, it refers to a 'departure that is not a departure.'"
(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 719, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 36)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
". The Daishonin emphasises that the essence of faith is in 'transcending all differences among themselves' (WND-1, 217). When each of us, in divers espheres of endeavour, loses the spirit to advance toward kosen-rufu with the shared commitment of our mentor and to advance harmoniously with our fellow members, we stray from the path of faith and our belief immediately falters. Then we are liable to succumb to the fundamental darkness inherent in our lives."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs. Slanderers are like barking foxes, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions."
(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol. 1, page 997)

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Everything comes down to striving with a sense of joy at each moment, believing that the area we find ourselves in right now-- no matter how small or how challenging it might be-- is the shining stage on which we can make a difference in this life."
SGI Newsletter No. 7688, THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN AND THE MENTOR-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIP [NEW SERIES] {2} The "Threefold Transformation of the Land" --Part 2 {of 2}, from the Dec. 12th, 2008, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated Jan 15th, 2009
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith."
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 412)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- Daily Encouragement ----
Let's chant daimoku to achieve kosen-rufu, sincerely and seriously. Let's be perfectly united with the spirit of "many in body but one in mind."Let's continually base our actions on the selfless spirit of "never begrudging our bodies or lives."*What is important is to have the same faith, the same prayer, as our mentor, committing ourselves together to the same cause.
* fushaku shinmyo (Japanese) - "never begrudging our bodies or lives" as in the passage "But although it will be difficult to teach and convert them, we will summon up the power of great patience and will read and recite this sutra, embrace, preach and copy it, offering it many kinds of alms and never begrudging our bodies or lives."("Encouraging Devotion" chapter of the Lotus Sutra)
** The ultimate meaning of faith is to treasure Nam-myoho-renge-kyo even more highly than our own lives. It is to devote ourselves entirely to achieving the widespread propagation of the Mystic Law. Concretely speaking, this means advancing together with the SGI, thoroughly protecting the SGI, and practicing together with the SGI, in both times of hardship and times of joy. Apart from the SGI, there is no kosen-rufu of the Mystic Law. (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, Volume 3, page 146)
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to set fire to wettinder. Spur yourself to muster the power of faith."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1000)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"...wherever we spread the Mystic Law, all Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the universe will gather joyously to praise and protect us. The teachings subsequently expounded by Shakyamuni in the Ceremony in the Air -- which begins with the 'threefold transformation of the land' -- clearly attest to this.
"Kosen-rufu is the process of spreading the Mystic Law in this troubled, strife-filled world. Dedicating our lives to kosen-rufu means taking on the struggle inherent in the 'threefold transformation of the land' -- the struggle to fundamentally transform society -- a place afflicted by the three poisons of greed, anger, and foolishness -- into a Buddha land.
"And, further, from the standpoint of life-condition or state of being, the 'threefold transformation of the land' is a demonstration of the boundless virtues possessed by the two Buddhas Shakyamuni and Many Treasures. It also represents the unification or merging of all the Buddhas throughout the three existences who are emanations of Shakyamuni. Buddhas and bodhisattvas from every corner of the universe, seeking the Law and their teacher, travel from afar to assemble in the saha world. This gives us an indication of the towering life-state of Shakyamuni, brimming with infinite wisdom and compassion, as he preached the Lotus Sutra. This is a testament to the greatness of the Mystic Law that underlies this life-state -- a life-state that all of us who dedicate our lives to the Mystic Law are also able to attain."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword."
(Letter from Sado - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 303)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"...from the perspective of Nichiren Buddhism, the moment we decide to transform our environment, our lives undergo a tremendous change. This is because when we forge a deep and unwavering resolve to embark on this undertaking, we immediately vanquish all of the three categories of illusions.* As a result, our environment, or the land, also changes without fail.
"The 'threefold transformation of the land' essentially represents the challenge of doing our human revolution to smash through the tiny shell of our lesser self. This means vigorously chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and courageously initiating efforts for kosen-rufu with the same spirit as our teacher or mentor in faith. Victory lies in taking action right here and now, not sometime in the future."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"From this single element of mind spring all the various lands and environmental conditions."
(The Unanimous Declaration by the Buddhas of the Three Existences regarding the Classification of the Teachings and Which Are to Be Abandoned and Which Upheld - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.2, page 843)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Those who strive to 'establish the correct teaching for the peace of the land' as taught by Nichiren Daishonin and achieve kosen-rufu will no doubt face obstacles and hardships. As the Daishonin writes: 'Without tribulation there would be no votary of the Lotus Sutra' (WND-1, 33). The Daishonin teaches that the world is ruled by the devil king of the sixth heaven. The term 'devil' indicates the negative functions of life that cause unhappiness and misfortune. Discrimination, domination, the desire to harm and kill -- all these are due to the devilish functions operating within the human heart and mind.
"Buddhism teaches that the origin of these devilish functions is the fundamental darkness or ignorance residing at the very foundation of life. The life-state of the Buddha is the key to overcoming this ignorance or darkness. Kosen-rufu is the struggle to awaken the life-state of Buddhahood in all people and vanquish the darkness and ignorance that is the root of all unhappiness. Because of that, wherever kosen-rufu is advancing, there is a tremendous struggle going on between the Buddha and devilish functions, which appears in the form of persecutions of those who uphold and spread the Mystic Law.".
--- 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."
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 283)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Tolstoy said that when we look up into the heavens, we see infinite numbers of stars and planets, similarly, when we look inside ourselves, we see something that we call the spirit, and realise that it is even greater and more wondrous than the star-filled universe. This is an idea that has much in common with the Buddhist view of life and the cosmos.
"Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'Winter always turns to spring' (WND-1, 536). Our Russian members, bracing themselves against winter blizzards, are especially fond of these words. From within our lives, we can bring the sun to shine forth, undefeated by the adversities of winter, and we can bring the flowers of spring into bloom."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Misfortune comes from one's mouth and ruins one, but 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)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY GUIDANCE ----
Let's hold really cheerful and vibrant discussion meetings this month, where all of us feel inspired to support the success and victory of kosen-rufu. Both victory and success depend on the momentum of our advancement. Let's build castles of happiness in our districts where everyone is in splendid full bloom.
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Therefore, those who become Nichiren's disciples and lay believers should realise the profound karmic relationship they share with him and spread the Lotus Sutra as he does."
(Letter to Jakunichi-bo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 994)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The global financial crisis has plunged the world into a period of ever greater anxiety and uncertainty. People are realising that things cannot continue as they have been, and they're seeking a sound philosophy of peace and prosperity.
"My friends in the youth division, now is the time to speak out with even greater conviction, energy, and vigour for our hope-filled philosophy of the dignity of life and human revolution. Be bold! Dedicating your lives resolutely for the happiness of yourselves and others is the most fulfilling life there is-- as the Daishonin says. 'the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all' (WND-1, 851). There must not be a single coward in the Soka Gakkai."
--- 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)

Friday, January 09, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"René Dubos (1901-82), the eminent French-American microbiologist whom I met at the recommendation of British historian Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975), warned: 'Despite our scientific and technological triumphs we suffer from a loss of nerve and have become a conservative society satisfied with continuing on our present course.'
"Humankind today needs courage and hope to choose a new path of change -- for the sake of achieving sustainable development and for lasting peace. The noble mission of the SGI is to impart the energy of courage and the philosophy of hope to societies around the world.
"Our movement is not something abstract or beyond the scope of daily life. It is manifested in our relationships with those in our immediate surroundings, the people around us, in our neighbourhoods, communities, and societies. It is a movement that spreads from individual to individual, through sincere and earnest one-on-one dialogue."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"More valuable than treasures in a storehouse are the treasures of the body, and the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all."
(The Three Kinds of Treasure - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 851)

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The Soka Gakkai pulses with an indomitable spirit of fresh advance and fresh hope. In the light of Nichiren Daishonin's writings, we know that we will face bitter storms of persecution and raging waves of attack. But inorder to protect freedom of belief, human rights, and the peace and happiness of the people, we must persevere in our struggle."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Kyo'o's misfortune will change into fortune. Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?'
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 412)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- WORDS OF THE WEEK ----
With the spirit of one reborn, let's brim with fresh energy and a youthful spirit! "Speed" is the key to success. Summoning up the great power of faith, "more than ever", *let's overcome any and all challenges and obstacles that might confront us in these troubled times, and boldly and decisively advance towards success!
*"Therefore, you must summon up the great power of faith more than ever." - "The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra",WND-I, page 1000
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"To accept is easy; to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith."
(The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 471)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The British author George Orwell (1903-50) wrote: 'Nothing ever stands still. We must add to our heritage or lose it, we must grow greater or growless, we must go forwards or go backwards.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"It is the heart that is important."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1000)

Monday, January 05, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The votary of the Lotus Sutra is certain to face attack by the three powerful enemies, by all kinds of negative and destructive forces. Explaining the spirit of shakubuku in his treatise 'The Opening of the Eyes,' the Daishonin cites [the words of Chang-an]: 'One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent. Those who reproach offenders are disciples of the Buddha' (WND-1, 286). Battling the manifestations of overbearing arrogance is the mark of one who genuinely follows the Buddha's teaching.
"The realm of Buddhism is fair and impartial, and the law of cause and effect is exact and uncompromising. That is why it is crucial to be strict when it comes to dealing with corruption and wrong doing. Our organisation will collapse if people who are only concerned with increasing their own influence and preserving their popularity rise to top leadership positions."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered."
(The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1001)

Friday, January 02, 2009

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The power to achieve kosen-rufu is found in the solidarity of true champions. Victory cannot be attained by a crowd of bystanders or a disordered collection of people who lack self-reliance; it can only be achieved through the unity of champions who each resolve to take full responsibility on their own. Courage and strength well up in those who consciously take on everything as the protagonist and person responsible for achieving their goals. Unlimited wisdom and ardent resolve also surge forth.And by striving with unstoppable vigour and boldness, they will experience vitality, fulfilment, and joy.
"As the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) once wrote: 'Those who live for a lofty purpose experience constantly increasing goodness.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Though evils may be numerous, they cannot prevail over a single great truth."
(Many in Body, One in Mind - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 618)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Creating hope is creating value, and it ignites the flame of courage."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Can we count the number of raindrops that fall in a major world system in the space of seven days? Or does anyone know the number of dust particles in the vast lands that make up the worlds of the ten directions? But the benefits one gains by making offerings even to one word of the Lotus Sutra-- these, the Buddha says, are truly hard to measure."
(Reply to the Lay Nun of Kubo - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.2, page 871)

Monday, December 29, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"In the words of the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941): 'To see knew paths in a constant renewal of strength -- that has always been the secret of progress.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.."
(The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 832)

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"José Martí (1853-95), a champion of Cuban independence, declared: 'The world will not come to us, which is why we must go to the world.' How invigorating and inspiring is a life full of courage dedicated to opening the door to a new world and building bridges that connect 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)

Friday, December 26, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Only a Buddhist teaching of fundamental transformation -- one that teaches the importance of taking action amid the tumult and turmoil of society -- can offer the means for genuinely changing this strife-filled saha world into a Buddha land and for actualising the principle of establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land.
"Also, the Daishonin says that two thousand years of propagating Buddhism during the Former and Middle Days of the Law are inferior to even a brief time spent doing so during the Latter Day of the Law. Buddhism during the Former and Middle Days was basically a teaching for people of superior capacity, and benefit could be gained through even the partial or implicit teachings.
"The Latter Day, however, is an age of quarrels and disputes,* when the proponents of various partial and implicit teachings will all proclaim their particular school of Buddhism to be perfect and absolute. These teachings will function as negative influences that obstruct the spread of the correct teaching. In such a confused and disordered age, only the teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Buddhism of sowing--which directly activates the Buddha nature-- will lead people to enlightenment. That is why propagating the correct teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for even a brief time in the Latter Day is superior to spreading partial or implicit teachings for a long period during the Former and Middle Days of the Law."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"...by all means persist in preaching the Lotus Sutra and causing them to hear it. Those who put their faith in it will surely attain Buddhahood, while those who slander it will establish a "poison-drum relationship"* with it and will likewise attain Buddhahood."
(How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 882)
*Poison-Drum relationship: Nichiren Buddhism explains that even though some people react negatively upon hearing about the Law, they can eventually attain Buddhahood through this reverse relationship. (This is also called a poison-drum relationship, in reference to a Nirvana Sutra tale of a drum laced with a certain toxin that when beaten causes the deaths of all who hear it, whether or not they wanted to listen to it. Similarly, the Lotus Sutra will provide the seeds of Buddhahood to all who hear its preaching, whether they embrace or oppose it.)
Once they hear about the Mystic Law, they will eventually embrace it, just as a seed, once planted, will eventually sprout. For this reason, regardless of their reactions, it is important to courageously tell others about the greatness of Nichiren Buddhism based on a sincere desire for their happiness— regardless of whether they respond positively or not.
Sowing the seeds by letting one hear the teaching and sowing the seeds by leading one to arouse faith in it— these two stages of planting the seeds of Buddhahood illustrate the importance of sharing Nichiren Buddhism with others and thus helping them form a relationship with the Mystic Law.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Daily Guidance

--- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ---
The SGI is victorious! I sincerely admire and appreciate all the great efforts and selfless dedication that our noble SGI members have made throughout this whole year. The good fortune and benefit you have accumulated is boundless and immeasurable. Let's all now stride forwards, courageously and in high spirits!
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?"
(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,Vol.1, page 412)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The most trying times represent the most wonderful opportunities for challenging ourselves in our Buddhist practice and deepening our faith. All of our arduous efforts at that time will turn into incalculable benefit. Quite simply, 'a hundred years of practice in the Land of Perfect Bliss' means Buddhist practice in a comfortable environment free of hardships. Such circumstances would make it difficult for us to accomplish our human revolution. And without polishing and forging our lives, the goal of attaining the Buddha way would remain out of reach even if we practised for a hundred years."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"My wish is that all my disciples make a great vow."
(The Dragon Gate - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1003)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"...the phrases 'the deeper the roots' and 'the farther the source' mean having faith that is deep and firm. With the power of faith, we can definitely triumph over any of the three obstacles and four devils that may arise to assail us in the course of our struggles in life and in our work for kosen-rufu. If we maintain a strong sense of purpose and determination to fight for kosen-rufu, we will be able to see negativity or devilish functions for what they are and prevail over them. Deep faith is the sharp sword for cutting through any and all obstacles.
"In addition, the phrases 'the more prolific the branches' and 'the longer the stream' mean that if we have the courageous faith to remain undefeated by obstacles, we will enjoy not only success and prosperity in our own lives, but our victory in turn will form the foundation for the success and prosperity of our descendants for generations to come.
"Accordingly, striving earnestly for kosen-rufu, here and now, becomes the cause for happiness and prosperity in the present and the future. All of our hard work and effort to share the Daishonin's Buddhism is transformed into good fortune for our families and loved ones throughout eternity. This is the principle of causality of the Mystic Law."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"This sutra is superior to all other sutras. It is like the lion king, the monarch of all the creatures that run on the ground, and like the eagle, the king of all the creatures that fly in the sky."
(The Sutra of True Requital - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 929)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"No matter what happens, let's always proceed with the Gohonzon and faith as our foundation. We will definitely win in the end. We will definitely attain happiness. That is the purpose of faith in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring."
(Winter Always Turns to Spring - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 536)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Mr. Toda said: 'If you have faith in the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, you need to exert yourself just as the Daishonin instructs. That's what would please the Daishonin.' 'Just as the Daishonin instructs'-- this is the crucial point. If you strive for kosen-rufu, the three obstacles and the four devils will arise, and opposition will be inevitable.
"Mr. Toda also said: 'Nichiren Daishonin boldly propagated the Lotus Sutra unafraid of persecution by the Kamakura military government. We also need to rouse our courage, unite, and forge ahead on the great path of kosen-rufu!' Courage and unity are vital.
"He further stated: 'We possess the Gohonzon. The Lotus Sutra says that wherever people have strong faith, their land [remains safe and tranquil] (LS16, 230). What have we to fear? We mustn't be overly swayed or troubled by the passing tide of events. If we're fainthearted, we won't be able to accomplish the great undertaking of kosen-rufu.'"
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquillity throughout the four quarters of the land, should you not?"
(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 24)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"My friends, stand up for the sake of justice, for kosen-rufu, and for your own happiness! My friends, exert yourselves for the sake of the people's victory! Take courageous action to raise the curtain on a new age.
"New advances require fresh and inspiring goals. It's important to unite, plan carefully, and consult with each other."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
The Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai stated, "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)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"The ancient Greek historian Herodotus said: 'He is the best man who is timid in counsel because he takes all that may befall him into account, but in action is bold.' Careful planning and bold action constitute the formula for victory.
"The Japanese author Sohachi Yamaoka (1907-78) wrote in his well-known epic novel Tokugawa Ieyasu: 'People should be on their guard when they are in the best of health and fortune is with them, but they must also guard against inertia when they are tired.' Of course when you're tired, it's important to get the rest you need, but it's also important not to lose your vital spirit and grow apathetic."
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"'Hatred' refers to those who have not yet freed themselves from impediments, and 'jealousy' to those who take no delight in listening to the doctrine.'"
(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 240)

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Daily Guidance

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Mr. Makiguchi often used to say: 'In life, there are bound to be times of adversity. Those times are the most decisive. That is when you must strive your hardest, persevering through all, no matter what. You mustn't lose courage. That way, good times will definitely come to you again.'"
--- 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)