Overcoming the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death is not just a matter of theory.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, August 31, 2013:

 

Overcoming the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death is not just a matter of theory. We mustn't move away from the issues of how we can lead healthy, fulfilling and long lives, and how we can die without suffering. Buddhism teaches the wisdom that enables us to do this.

As long as we pray earnestly and sincerely with all our being, if we have strong and genuine faith, even though results may not be immediately visible, they will definitely manifest without fail in generations of our children and our children's children.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, August 31, 2013:

 

As long as we pray earnestly and sincerely with all our being, if we have strong and genuine faith, even though results may not be immediately visible, they will definitely manifest without fail in generations of our children and our children's children. I would like all of you to have absolute confidence in this.

Buddhism stresses the interconnectedness of all life.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, August 30, 2013:

 

Buddhism stresses the interconnectedness of all life. It is only the limited capacity of our senses that causes us to place so much stock in the separation between "them" and "us." Because of this interconnectedness, by using violence, you not only injure or destroy the other person but also yourself. Those who use violence and devalue others' lives actually devalue and ruin their own lives.

A weak and unclear voice will not move the heavenly deities. That is why it is important for us to chant daimoku with voices that are clear, strong and brimming with joy.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, August 30, 2013:

 

The Daishonin states, "The voice does the Buddha's work" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708). To chant the Mystic Law is to praise the Gohonzon. Hearing the sound of our daimoku, the heavenly deities will be set into motion and work to protect us. A weak and unclear voice will not move the heavenly deities. That is why it is important for us to chant daimoku with voices that are clear, strong and brimming with joy.

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. -Nichiren

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, August 29, 2013:

 

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. -Nichiren

But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, August 29, 2013:

 

Worldly success and good circumstances based on luck can easily crumble. They are as transient as an illusion. But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime.

People in the state of anger are attached to the illusory assumption that they are better than others and direct their energy toward sustaining and enhancing this image.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, August 28, 2013:

 

Anger is fundamentally an arrogant state of life. People in the state of anger are attached to the illusory assumption that they are better than others and direct their energy toward sustaining and enhancing this image. To ensure that others think of them in similarly glowing terms, they can never reveal their true feelings. Instead, they act obsequiously while a burning desire to surpass all others is their exclusive focus. With their inner feelings and their outward appearance out of accord, they don't speak from the heart. Buddhism teaches that the heart is most important. Of two people making comparable efforts, the results will differ greatly if one person is motivated by a value that transcends the self—good, beauty, the well-being of others—while the other is motivated by ego.

Success is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that; it is not measured in quantity.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, August 28, 2013:

 

Success is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that; it is not measured in quantity. It means changing the quality of your life. Wealth, power, fame and knowledge alone cannot make you happy, no matter how much of these you acquire. Nor can you take them with you when you die. But by improving the quality of your life you will at last approach true happiness.

When we create or appreciate art, we set free the spirit trapped within.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, August 27, 2013:

When we create or appreciate art, we set free the spirit trapped within. That is why art arouses such joy. Art—whether skillfully executed or not—is the emotion, the pleasure of expressing life as it is. Those who see art are moved by its passion and strength, its intensity and beauty. That is why it is impossible to separate life from art. Political and economic developments may seem to dominate the news, but culture and education are the forces that actually shape an age, since they transform the human heart.

On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, August 27, 2013:

 

The important thing is to keep working for kosen-rufu to the very end. On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway. Likewise, if despite our good fortune in meeting and embarking on the unsurpassed way of Buddhism, we stop halfway, all the efforts we have made thus far will have been in vain; we will not be able to attain Buddhahood.

Prayer without action is not the way of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, August 26, 2013:

 

We accumulate great good fortune through our earnest prayers, devotion and efforts for the sake of Buddhism, kosen-rufu and humankind. Prayer without action is not the way of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

When we observe Nichiren's actions, we are deeply struck by the conviction that this is the way a Buddhist must live.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, August 26, 2013:

 

There is no trace of coercion or concern for appearances in Nichiren's behavior. He looked on those who were suffering, those who were bravely fighting alongside him, as if they were himself in the same situations. He prized each and every one of them. He encouraged them and sympathized with them, and we must never forget that the true essence of humanity is to be found in this. When we observe Nichiren's actions, we are deeply struck by the conviction that this is the way a Buddhist must live.

By devoting our lives to Buddhism, we will live a life of complete fulfillment. We are selling ourselves short if we fail to attain such a wonderful state of life.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, August 25, 2013:

 

Life flashes by in an instant. By devoting our lives to Buddhism, we will live a life of complete fulfillment. We are selling ourselves short if we fail to attain such a wonderful state of life.

Believe for long enough that you are not as smart as others and this will actually lead to intellectual ineptitude.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, August 25, 2013:

 

One of the fascinating things about human beings is this: Believe for long enough that you are not as smart as others and this will actually lead to intellectual ineptitude. But, confronted with the same doubts, if you choose to believe that your mind is merely dormant for now, lacking in exercise, once you begin to train it, there are no bounds to what you can achieve.

It has been said that aging gracefully is more difficult than dying, but as long as we have a forward-looking, positive attitude, a spirit to take on challenges, we will gain depth in our lives.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, August 24, 2013:

 

It has been said that aging gracefully is more difficult than dying, but as long as we have a forward-looking, positive attitude, a spirit to take on challenges, we will gain depth in our lives.

Advancement—Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat."

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Saturday, August 24, 2013:

 

Advancement—Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat." The point is to continue forging ahead despite any storms or hardships that may arise, to be fearless and advance like a lion.

Only those who fight with hearts of steel are people of justice.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, August 23, 2013:

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson says, "Good-nature is plentiful, but we want justice with a heart of steel, to fight down the proud." If people are merely good-natured, then those who are arrogant and highhanded will have free rein to carry on as they please. Only those who fight with hearts of steel are people of justice.

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
Friday, August 23, 2013:

 

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.

I can almost hear the joyous yell of victory issuing from the depths of my being.

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, August 22, 2013:

 

The times when I have most intensely felt and experienced the inner reality of creation have been those times when I have thrown myself wholeheartedly into a task, when I have carried through with that task to the very end. At such times, I experience a dramatically expanded sense of self. I can almost hear the joyous yell of victory issuing from the depths of my being.

If you shine with a radiant light, there can be no darkness in your life.

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, August 22, 2013:

 

It is not a question of your environment or those around you, nor what the organization or leaders may be like. To be swayed by such externals is pointless. It all comes down to one person: you. What matters is that you become a brilliant beacon, shining with joy and happiness and live your life with confidence and courage. If you shine with a radiant light, there can be no darkness in your life.