The invincible conviction on which Mr. Toda was willing to stake his life inspired the members.

President Toda often said: "Those of you who have problems or sufferings, pray earnestly! Buddhism is a deadly serious win-or-lose struggle. If you should [pray with such an earnest attitude] and still have no solution forthcoming, then I will give you my life!" This invincible conviction on which Mr. Toda was willing to stake his life inspired the members.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 30/11

You should become the master of your mind, not let your mind master you.

It may seem perfectly all right to put ourselves and our own wishes first, to simply follow the dictates of our emotions and cravings, but the truth is that there is nothing more unreliable than our own mind. Life doesn't always go like clockwork and things will not necessarily turn out as we hope or plan. Consequently, Nichiren Daishonin frequently stressed: You should become the master of your mind, not let your mind master you. We mustn't allow ourselves to be ruled by a self-centered mind. Rather, we have to discipline our mind and gain mastery over it. This is the Daishonin's strict admonition.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 28/10

Victory by showing wonderful actual proof of faith at his place of work.

Shijo Kingo, a person of strong faith, was at one point envied and slandered by others, earning the disfavor of his lord. But later he received a new estate from him. In modern terms, we might say that Shijo Kingo scored this victory by showing wonderful actual proof of faith at his place of work. The test of faith is winning in daily life and society, since that is where Buddhism finds expression.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 23/8

Let us reach beyond our small, limited selves and attain an all-encompassing state of being.

As human beings, let us reach beyond our small, limited selves and attain an all-encompassing state of being, our hearts communing with the vast universe.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 3/8

The most important thing in life is to find a sure and certain path and confidently advance along it.

There is no need to seek impatiently for greatness, fame or wealth. The earth and sun do not hurry; they follow their own path at their own pace. If the earth were to accelerate and complete one rotation in three hours instead of twenty-four, we would be in big trouble! The most important thing in life, too, is to find a sure and certain path and confidently advance along it.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 18/7

Set out on our journey toward the next existence in high spirits and with a bright smile on our faces.

Death will come to each of us some day. We can die having fought hard for our beliefs and convictions, or we can die having failed to do so. Since the reality of death is the same in either case, isn't it far better that we set out on our journey toward the next existence in high spirits and with a bright smile on our faces—knowing that in everything we did, we did the very best we could, thrilling with the sense "That was truly an interesting life"?

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 4/6

We either win or lose—there is no middle ground.

In Buddhism, we either win or lose—there is no middle ground. Now and in the future, let us advance, determined to win in every sphere of our lives. By winning in our lives, we are advancing kosen-rufu; and by advancing kosen-rufu, we win in our lives.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 26/5

The courage, the timid and the coward

Please never turn your back on your faith. Courage is crucial. There is no room for faintheartedness in faith. The timid doom themselves to ridicule—from their partners, from their children, from their friends, from the world at large. The Daishonin declares that there is no place for cowards among his disciples. President Toda said the same.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 4/2

Faith is the most powerful force

Faith, which at first glance may appear weak, is actually the most powerful force in the world. Many people put on a show of being strong, but true strength has nothing to do with appearances. On the contrary, we usually find that the weaker the individual, the greater their bravado or outward display of strength. 29/9