Sunday, October 17, 2010

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Power of good woman
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: "Women are, by their power of conversation and their social influence, the civilizers of mankind. What is civilization? I answer, the power of good women." The solidarity of wise, good women will be the great power to guide the world toward peace and happiness. 10/12


Noble mission of Nursing
Florence Nightingale, the founder of the modern nursing profession, proudly declared: "Let us be anxious to do well, not for selfish praise but to honor and advance the cause, the work we have taken up." The spirit to fulfill a noble mission is pure, strong, and beautiful. It is a spirit that we all should emulate. 9/12


Role of education
Education allows us to be truly human. It deepens us and enables us to build a better society and a brighter future. The profundity of education determines the profundity of culture, the nature of society and the firmness of peace. Education plays a major role in creating deep solidarity, mutual understanding and trust. 8/12


Stronghold for peace
Peace can never be attained by passively waiting for it. It is necessary for each of us, no matter how weak we may feel we are, to build deep within our hearts a stronghold for peace that can withstand, and in the end silence, the incessant calls for war. 7/12


Human society
Human society can be full of contradictions. It can be unfair; unforgiving, too. Yet we cannot afford to turn our backs to the world. A person who does loses, and no excuse can gloss that over. Given a choice whether to sink or swim, one must swim to the very end, no matter how the seas around us may rage. 6/12


Inconspicious virtue bring conspicious reward
Inconspicuous virtue brings conspicuous reward. From the perspective of Buddhism, we never fail to receive the effect of our actions, whether good or bad; therefore, it's meaningless to be two-faced or to pretend to be something we're not. 5/12


Indestructible Happiness
There is an expansive life-state of profound, secure happiness that transcends any material or social advantage. It is called faith; it is called the life-state of Buddhahood. As Nichiren reminds us: "It is the heart that is important." It is in the heart of faith that Buddhahood resides and boundless and immeasurable happiness shines forth. Happiness is not something located far away. We must realize that it exists within our own lives. Nichiren Buddhism teaches this and shows us how to attain indestructible happiness. 4/12


Benefits of dailogue
Dialogue is a positive endeavor. It builds solidarity and creates unity. To reject others only has negative repercussions. It invites division and leads to destruction. The point is to meet and to talk. It is only natural that our perspective may at times differ from that of others. But dialogue gives rise to trust, even among those who don't see eye to eye. 3/12


Winners in life
What is defeat in life? It is not merely making a mistake; defeat means giving up on yourself in the midst of difficulty. What is true success in life? True success means winning in your battle with yourself. Those who persist in the pursuit of their dreams, no matter what the hurdles, are winners in life, for they have won over their weaknesses. 2/12


Live true to yourself
The main thing is to be proud of the work you do, to live true to yourself. Activity is another name for happiness. What's important is that you give free, unfettered play to your unique talents, that you live with the full radiance of your being. This is what it means to be truly alive. 1/12


Must not live to destroy
That we take pains to protect weapons while we expose children—the future of the race—to peril is impermissible. To ignore this absurdity will spell defeat for humanity. We must not live to destroy. We have the spiritual power to create peace and happiness. 30/11


Tiny setback
Do not become subservient. Do not dwell on every tiny setback in the course of pursuing your chosen path. To do so would be foolish. Victory or defeat is determined by our entire lives. Moreover, our final years are the most crucial. What is enviable about the pretentious rich? What is great about conceited celebrities? What is admirable about political leaders who gained their positions of power by treating others with contempt? Dig right where you stand, for there lies a rich wellspring! 29/11


Lack of self confidence
Many young women agonize over perceived personality flaws and a lack of self-confidence. Nichiren Buddhism, however, teaches the great path of human revolution that enables each of us to shine in our own unique way. With this philosophy, you can decisively overcome a weak and easily swayed life-state and become a person of strength and purpose. It will allow you to withstand the storms of suffering and build a rock-solid foundation that will support you throughout your entire precious lives. 28/11


True victors in life
The true victors in life are those who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the roots of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them. 27/11


Winning year after year
Life is long. The important thing is to remain true to a lofty goal to the very end. Buddhism enables you to adorn the final chapter of your life with brilliant success, just as the golden sun colors the sky in glorious crimson hues and beams of sublime light. To do so, you need to keep making efforts year after year and winning year after year. 26/11

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