The fainthearted cannot savor the true benefit of faith.

Cowardice is harmful for it delights the enemies of Buddhism and obstructs the advance of kosen-rufu. The fainthearted cannot savor the true benefit of faith; their ability to tap the power of the Buddha and the power of the Law [of the Gohonzon] in their lives is enfeebled.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 5/6

The importance of good health

Taking good care of our health is most important. In particular, it is vital for those who are advanced in years to get sufficient rest to avoid becoming fatigued. Sleep is the best medicine. I also hope you will put your wisdom to work and find various ways to improve and maintain your health.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 30/12

How to conduct activities for Kosen-rufu?

Kosen-rufu is a very long struggle. It is a march that will continue over the 10,000 years of the Latter Day of the Law. Therefore, let us advance joyfully and unhurriedly. Activities must not be conducted in such a way that people suffer and become exhausted. Meetings should be short and not too numerous and conducted so that they are valuable and productive for all concerned.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 28/12

Good health equals Buddhism. Daily life equals faith

Good health equals Buddhism. Daily life equals faith. Taking care to avoid traffic accidents and making efforts to stay in good health, therefore, are all part of our Buddhist practice. It is important that we live wisely, striving with the awareness each day that all the actions and activities we undertake for the sake of faith contribute to our good health and well-being.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 26/12

Let us always give something

If a person is hungry, we should give them bread. When there is no bread, we can at least give words that nourish. To a person who looks ill or is physically frail, we can turn the conversation to some subject that will lift their spirits and fill them with the hope and determination to get better. Let us give something to each person we meet: joy, courage, hope, assurance, or philosophy, wisdom, a vision for the future. Let us always give something.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 25/12

Solidarity of awakened common people

Many religions have demanded blind faith, taking away people's independence. President Makiguchi opposed such enslavement. What he called for instead was solidarity of awakened common people. To achieve this, he proposed a self-reliant way of life in which we advance on the path of our choice with a firm, independent character. He also stressed a contributive way of life in which we set our fundamental goal in life toward the realization of happiness for ourselves and others, casting aside arrogance and self-satisfaction to respect and benefit others.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 24/12

We must not to be swayed by others' opinions or past ways of thinking or doing.

Leo Tolstoy concluded that the only way to bring about a fundamental change in society is to realize a change in public opinion, a change in people's minds. Then how can we change public opinion? Tolstoy asserted: "It is only necessary for people to say what they really think or at least to refrain from saying what they do not think." It is vital, in other words, not to be swayed by others' opinions or past ways of thinking or doing. Instead each of us must become wise, possessing our own firm convictions.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 23/12

Our Buddhist practice exists so that we can attain indestructible happiness.

Our lives are infinitely precious. To not attain a state of absolute happiness in this life time is a great loss. Our Buddhist practice exists so that we can attain indestructible happiness. We must fight to the fullest right now, not some time in the future.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 22/12

For Today and Tomorrow

Buddhism holds that everything is in a constant state of flux. Thus the question is whether we are to accept change passively and be swept away by it or whether we are to take the lead and create positive changes on our own initiative. While conservatism and self-protection might be likened to winter, night and death, the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize ideals evokes images of spring, morning and birth.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 21/12

Don't be impatient. Since you have embraced the Gohonzon, your situation will definitely improve.

President Toda used to say: "Don't be impatient. Since you have embraced the Gohonzon, your situation will definitely improve. There's no need to worry. Sure there will be hard times, times when you feel like crying. But as long as you have the Gohonzon, your life will become bright and joyful." As long as we persevere in faith, we will become happy. We must never doubt this no matter what happens but always advance resolutely, staunchly enduring all hardships and obstacles along the way. This is what true faith is.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 20/12

Sincere words of encouragement have the power to give people hope and courage to go on living.

Encouragement—offering encouraging words—is important. Nichiren Daishonin states, "The voice does the Buddha's work" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708). Sincere words of encouragement have the power to give people hope and courage to go on living.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 19/12

What should SGI members devoted to?

We SGI members devote ourselves to serving the Law, serving humanity. Ours is not an egocentric life. That is why we are busier than others and perhaps don't have as much opportunity for relaxation with our families. Nevertheless, we continue to devote ourselves to others. Ours is the most noble way of life. We must make sure our children can understand and respect our beliefs, our way of life and our dedication. We must make conscious efforts to verbalize and communicate our thoughts and feelings to them. Finding the wisdom for this task is an expression of our faith.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 18/12

Are there heart-to-heart bonds?

Outward appearance is not important—what counts is what is inside our hearts. Are there heart-to-heart bonds? Some families may always be together physically but are estranged at heart. Some families can only get together for brief periods but manage to enjoy concentrated and lively heart-to-heart communication when they do meet. Families that share bonds of closeness based on day-to-day efforts are ones in which the members feel comfortable and at ease with each other, no matter where they are or what they're doing.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 16/12

How to become wise, so that we can live wisely?

Faith manifests itself as wisdom. The purpose of our faith is to become wise, so that we can live wisely. The desire to save others becomes merely an abstract goal if those who practice faith cannot communicate with their own children nor build strong and happy families.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 14/12

What is the purpose of organization of faith?

The organization of faith is not something that holds you back or restricts you. Rather, it is a springboard that enables you to develop yourself to the utmost and to lead the most dynamic existence. It is the most precious place for carrying out our Buddhist practice.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 13/12

What matters is that the children maintain their connection to the Gohonzon and the SGI for their entire lives.

Sometimes your children may not be able to do gongyo, but there is no reason for parents to become overly concerned or agitated about this. There are times when chanting only three daimoku is sufficient. To continue practicing [even though gongyo may not be consistent] is far more important. What matters is that the children maintain their connection to the Gohonzon and the SGI for their entire lives.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 12/12

Become individuals who are strong physically, intellectually and spiritually

President Toda used to say, "Become individuals who are strong physically, intellectually and spiritually." To be strong in all three areas is the ideal. Many people may be strong in one or two of these areas, but only when all three are combined can we enjoy a well-balanced life, a life of resounding victory. Those who cultivate such all-around strength are never defeated.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 11/12

The power of faith gives us the strength to weather and survive any storm.

We must put down firm roots; we must be strong. Inner strength is a prerequisite for happiness, a prerequisite for upholding justice and one's beliefs. One of the Buddha's titles is "He Who Can Forbear." To courageously endure, persevere and overcome all difficulties—the Buddha is the ultimate embodiment of the virtue of forbearance. The power of faith gives us the strength to weather and survive any storm. Perseverance is the essence of a Buddha.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 10/12

What does faith mean in Buddhism?

Faith means infinite hope, and infinite hope resides in the SGI. As long as your faith is sincere, infinite glory, boundless good fortune and endless victory will unfold before you. You will never find yourselves at a dead end.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 9/12

What is joy?

Joy is not simply your personal, egoistic happiness. Nor is it making others happy at the expense of your own happiness. You and others delighting together, you and others becoming happy together—this is the Mystic Law and the wondrous thing about our realm of kosen-rufu. The Daishonin states, "Joy means that both oneself and others have wisdom and compassion" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 761).

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda 8/12