What do we do to protect our children—the future of the race?

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.

Buddhism Day by Day
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 30/11

How do we overcome misfortune?

Nichiren writes, "None of you who declare yourselves to be my disciples should ever give way to cowardice." When the crucial moment comes, it is important to battle through it with the ferocity of a charging lion. This is the key to creating a record of lasting brilliance. As the ancient Greek poet and playwright Euripides inscribed, "Courage is very powerful against misfortune."

Buddhism Day by Day
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 13/11

Why should we be an exemplary model for others?

Buddhism is found in the reality of society and daily life. Because Buddhism is in no way separate from this reality, we must strive through our actions and behavior to be exemplary models for others.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 27/7

What is compassion and what is wisdom?

To possess both wisdom and compassion is the heart of our human revolution. If you have wisdom alone and lack compassion, it will be a cold, perverse wisdom. If you have compassion alone and lack wisdom, you cannot give happiness to others. You are even likely to lead them in the wrong direction, and you won't be able to achieve your own happiness.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 20/4

The melody of gongyo and daimoku

From one perspective, gongyo and daimoku are lyrics and songs. They are an ode to life. I hope, therefore, that your gongyo and daimoku will be such that even people who are not practicing will be favorably impressed by the sonorous and invigorating sound of your voices. That too will contribute to the spread of kosen-rufu.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 3/4

We have to bear in mind, however, that we cannot plant a seed today and expect it to bear fruit tomorrow

When we plant the seed of happiness that is faith and carefully tend its growth, it will produce fruit without fail. We have to bear in mind, however, that we cannot plant a seed today and expect it to bear fruit tomorrow. That's not reasonable and Buddhism is reason. If we persevere, bearing in mind the principle faith equals daily life in accord with reason, then our prayers will definitely be answered. This is Nichiren's promise to us. And his words are true beyond any doubt.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 3/6

The poetic spirit encourages people in all ranks and places to return to their naked humanity.

The poetic spirit encourages people in all ranks and places to return to their naked humanity. Neither sentimental nor fantastic, it embraces and affirms the whole world and all its inhabitants; it imparts the will to remain optimistic and unbending in the face of all hardships.

As a believer in innate human goodness, I am certain that the concentrated power of good can overcome the greatest forces of evil. The poetic spirit helps us control the greed-dominated self. It helps us handle the actual while keeping our eyes turned toward the ideal.


Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 31/5

Create a peaceful society by widely disseminating the teachings of Buddhism

Nichiren was utterly convinced we could change even the most dire and painful reality, including the danger of war, and, indeed, that it was imperative we do so. This conviction underlies his unwavering determination to create a peaceful society by widely disseminating the teachings of Buddhism.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 19/5

Faith and courage are the powers and functions of the heart that enable us to open the world of Buddhahood in our lives

In his writings, regarding Buddhist practice, Nichiren repeatedly emphasized the importance of the heart. While teaching that faith and courage are the powers and functions of the heart that enable us to open the world of Buddhahood in our lives, he also cautioned against the heart's negative functions, such as disbelief and cowardice, which close us off to our potential for Buddhahood.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 7/2

Buddhas love, rejoice at and try to bring out each person's uniqueness; this is their compassion and their wisdom.

Buddhas respect people's individuality, and desire that they may freely manifest their unique qualities. They are neither partial nor adverse toward people on account of their individual proclivities. Buddhas love, rejoice at and try to bring out each person's uniqueness; this is their compassion and their wisdom.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda 13/1

It is better to live a single day with honor than to live to 120 and die in disgrace

The number of those endowed with human life is as small as the amount of earth one can place on a fingernail. Life as a human being is hard to sustain—as hard as it is for the dew to remain on the grass. But it is better to live a single day with honor than to live to 120 and die in disgrace. Live so that all the people of Kamakura will say in your praise that Nakatsukasa Saburo Saemon-no-jo is diligent in the service of his lord, in the service of Buddhism, and in his concern for other people. 29/9

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Three Kinds of Treasure
Written to Shijo Kingo on September 11, 1277

The act of accepting and upholding or protecting and embracing one verse of the Lotus Sutra

What the Lotus Sutra, T'ien-t'ai, and Miao-lo intend to say is that the act of accepting and upholding or protecting and embracing one verse of the Lotus Sutra surpasses the act of making offerings to all living beings, or making offerings to arhats, or even of filling the entire major world system with the seven kinds of treasures as an offering to all Buddhas. 27/9

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Unmatched Blessings of the Law
Written to the lay priest Nishiyama on May 11, 1279

The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo represent the intent of the entire sutra

Though muddy water has no mind, it can catch the moon's reflection and so naturally become clear. When plants and trees receive the rainfall, they can hardly be aware of what they are doing, and yet do they not proceed to put forth blossoms? The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo do not represent the sutra text, nor are they its meaning. They are nothing other than the intent of the entire sutra. So, even though the beginners in Buddhist practice may not understand their significance, by practicing these five characters, they will naturally conform to the sutra's intent. 24/9

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
Written to Toki Jonin on April 10, 1277

Correct teaching

Even a word or a phrase of the correct teaching will enable one to gain the way, if it suits the time and the capacity of the people. But though one studies a thousand sutras and ten thousand treatises, one will not attain Buddhahood if these teachings are unsuitable for the time and the people's capacity. 17/9

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Letter from Sado
Written to Toki Jonin on March 20, 1272

Misdeeds and evil karma will vanish like frost or dew

Our worldly misdeeds and evil karma may have piled up as high as Mount Sumeru, but when we take faith in this sutra, they will vanish like frost or dew under the sun of the Lotus Sutra.30/7

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Letter to Niike
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February 1280

What one has done for another yesterday, will be done for oneself today

Believe in the Gohonzon with all your heart, for it is the robe to protect you in the world after death. No wife would ever leave her husband unclothed, nor could any parents fail to feel compassion for their child shivering in the cold. Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra are like one's wife and parents. You have helped me and thereby saved me from disgrace in this life; in return, I will protect you from disgrace in the next. What one has done for another yesterday, will be done for oneself today. 29/7

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Letter to Jakunichi-bo
Written to Jakunichi-bo Niike on September 16, 1279

Prevail over a single great truth

Though evils may be numerous, they cannot prevail over a single great truth, just as many raging fires are quenched by a single shower of rain. This principle also holds true with Nichiren and his followers. 30/6

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Many in Body, One in Mind
Written to the lay priest Takahashi on August 6, year unknown

Prayers to the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra

This is the first time that the fundamental darkness has erupted in the lives of ordinary people caught in the illusions of thought and desire. Even if they pray to the gods, the Buddha, or the Lotus Sutra, these calamities will only be aggravated. But it is different when the votary of the Lotus Sutra offers prayers to the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra. In the final analysis, unless we succeed in demonstrating that this teaching is supreme, these disasters will continue unabated. 26/6

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Treatment of Illness
Written to Toki Jonin on June 26, 1278

"Treasure Tower" chapter exists within the body

There are trails in the sky where birds fly, but people cannot recognize them. There are paths in the sea along which fish swim, but people cannot perceive them. All people and things of the four continents are reflected in the moon without a single exception, but people cannot see them. But they are visible to the heavenly eye. In like manner, ordinary people cannot see that the "Treasure Tower" chapter exists within the body of Lady Nichinyo, but Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions perceive it. I, Nichiren, also presume this to be the case. 25/6

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278

No addition of other medicines is needed with a good medicine

To mix other practices with this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a grave error. A lantern is useless when the sun rises. How can dewdrops be beneficial when the rain falls? Should one feed a newborn baby anything other than its mother's milk? No addition of other medicines is needed with a good medicine. 30/3

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Teaching for the Latter Day
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278