THE high position of a king or general means nothing in the realm of death. The fate of one who ignores this truth and betrays the correct teaching of the Law because of an attachment to worldly desires is both incredibly pitiful and foolish. Nichiren Daishonin warned us to consider this carefully and have faith in the Mystic Law. No one can escape this strict Law of cause and effect.
THIS life is infinitely precious. Eternity is decided in this lifetime. True victory or defeat in life comes at the moment of death. Those who staunchly persevere in faith are eternal winners. This is the principle of attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
NOT advancing does not mean standing still. It is actually equivalent to moving backwards. In faith, there is no sense of "this is good enough". The arrogance in having this thought leads to laziness, and eventually to the cessation of one's practice.
KOSEN-RUFU is a supreme eternal task. It is a sublime undertaking to save mankind, and we are now building the foundation. The honour and fortune each of you gain by attending to this difficult task will shine throughout the three existences of your life. There is no happier or more honourable way to live.
REGARDLESS of the great pains which one may have taken for the sake of kosen-rufu over the course of many years, if at some point one abandons faith, everything that one has accomplished will in the end come to nothing. In effect, it is like multiplying 100 by a factor of zero.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN's Buddhism is the Buddhism of "sowing"; its purpose is to plant the seed of enlightenment, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, in the lives of all people on earth. Herein lies the fundamental cause to create the foundation of lasting, indestructible happiness for all people.
WHILE sharing your life warmly with those around you, you must also protect others, and win their sincere trust and respect. It is the basis for leadership in this age of democracy.
FAITH is an incessant struggle against growing complacency. Nichiren Daishonin stated, "Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month. Should you slacken even a bit, demons will take advantage." (MW 1, p241) He also wrote, "Hold fast to your faith so that your wish will be fulfilled." (MW 1, p125)
FAITH is absolute confidence; it is to live vibrantly. A person of faith is someone who lives one's life with unflagging hope and courage to the very end; who spreads the Mystic Law and thoroughly savours the joy deriving from the Law, leading an existence in which all wishes are fulfilled.
SINCE we have been born on this planet, let us dedicate our lives to the highest Law and advance along the path of the highest good. Please know that all of your hard work for kosen-rufu will unquestionable benefit your communities and your families, and will come back to you exponentially in the form of boundless joy and happiness.
AT its most fundamental essence, religion is commitment - commitment to saving people from suffering. True religion strives to instil that commitment in people's lives. Education, meanwhile, fosters people through widely accessible and universal knowledge. Without both religion and education, the correct path for humanity cannot be completed.
THE important thing is to have resolute faith, to have the courage not to fear anything. A strong person is happy. A weak person who is swayed by the slightest thing is miserable. A cowardly person who fails to fight back against evil cannot gain the great benefit of the Law.
HOPE is born of difficult struggles. It comes from the courage and passion to spare no effort. Passiveness and inertia are enemies of hope. To live one’s life passively and from force of habits is to allow oneself to drift towards unhappiness.
EVEN if you are in a quiet, unsung little corner of the world, you are advancing in your own way towards making your life a good one and the society in which you live a better place and you are sincerely praying and working for kosen-rufu. This is a practising Buddhist's purpose in life and this sincerity is what is most important.
ARROGANCE is a degradation of one's life while pride in the Lotus Sutra is an expression of one's seeking spirit.
AS followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, we must propagate the correct teachings and meaning of Buddhism with composure and compassion, untouched by anger or animosity, no matter what difficulty, insult or calumny we may face. You should be convinced that only through your ceaseless effort of propagation will the world of Buddhahood, the life-condition of enlightenment, manifest itself within your life.
BUT phantom is a phantom. Reality is reality. You are you; nothing more, nothing less. Never forget that, or allow you to become too involved with superficial matters, and lose sight of the true meaning, the true purpose of life.
AS long as they have hope, people will develop. As long as they have hope, people will feel young and their lives will be enjoyable. They will also be healthy and have abundant wisdom. Because they are joyful, they will also be blessed with good fortune.
WHAT makes a person great? What makes someone noble? Greatness does not derive from popularity, status, fame or wealth. Those who uphold and spread the supreme Law are truly noble. Those who embrace the Mystic Law, and who work among the people and for the people, are truly respectworthy.
THE Mystic Law is not a mere phrase. It is not something that someone invented arbitrarily. It is the fundamental principle of peace that pervades the universe.
NOW is the time for you to cultivate your mind through reading. That will decide everything. There is no limit to how far your potential will reach if the earth of your mind is cultivated and well nourished. Within each of you lies a vast field of infinite possibility and reading is the hoe which to till that boundless frontier.
LET'S ask ourselves this question, "What kind of person is truly great?" Nichiren Daishonin cited the words, "Since the Law is wonderful, the person is worthy of respect; since the person is worthy of respect, the land is sacred." (WND, p1,097) The person who upholds the supreme Law deserves supreme respect. This is true humanism. How respectworthy, then, are all of you who are striving so hard to spread the Mystic Law!
IT is impossible to achieve victory and glory without wisdom and strength. What matters in Buddhism is winning. It is the same with life. In fact, this applies to all things. Consequently we must win. Unless we emerge victorious, we cannot protect our friends; we cannot defend justice.
FINDING a teacher when you are young and receiving true guidance for life is the greatest glory of your youth. Once you have grasped this essential truth of life, you will not be distracted by vain trappings of wealth and fame, and you will not fear anything.
CONSCIENTIOUS performance in the work place leads to progress and prosperity; be it for the individual or group. In contrast, shoddy performance inevitably leads to failure.
A great revolution of character in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a society, and further, will enable a change in the destiny of humankind.
CHANTING daimoku and doing shakubuku will set your life on an orbit of happiness which will last forever.
THE master's concern for his disciple is much more profound than the disciple may imagine. There is no greater misfortune for a disciple than to be unaware of this.
DAYS of stagnation produce a life of regression. With the passage of time, one who leads such a life is increasingly overcome by a sense of loneliness and regret. Faith lies precisely on constructing an existence in which you can find personal joy and satisfaction, and a state of life that affords you the hope and joy to live vigourously.
KOSEN-RUFU is a religious movement to illuminate the world with great wisdom just as the sun illuminates the earth. The idea is for each person to become a light of wisdom; when there are many such lights, the entire world will be illuminated. Kosen-rufu could be described as the grand "art" of revolutionising the inner state of one's life. In concrete terms, it comes down to the expansion of peace, culture and education.
THE only way to create a current of lasting peace is by forging heart-to-heart ties through wide ranging exchange relating to culture and education. The SGI is carrying out this grand experiment - testing and proving its validity - for the first time in the history of humankind. In our respective countries and communities, let us continue to sincerely and wholeheartedly contribute to grassroots diplomacy and peace-building in the 21st century.
FOR what purpose should we cultivate wisdom? For what purpose is our faith? The answer is to win - to win in life, in society and as human beings; it is to win without fail so that we may secure happiness and create peace. People who have this are strong. People who have forgotten their purpose are weak.
NO one has only faults or only merits. We all have a mixture of both. Therefore, you should strive to develop and polish your positive attributes. As you do so, your shortcomings will fade until they are no longer apparent.
IT is indeed the case that "not to advance is to regress". Those who advance are filled with hope. Such people manifest courage. They live positive lives and know true fulfilment. Again, such people are able to produce meaningful results. It is for these reasons that they are happy.
BUDDHISM concerns itself primarily with victory or defeat. We must never allow ourselves to be defeated by obstructions on the road to kosen-rufu. Progress is made possible only by facing the tough reality of hardships and displaying proof of victory as Buddhists both in our personal lives and in society.
IN anything you do, you must have an objective or goal. No matter how seriously you may strive to achieve it, if you deviate from that course or give up your effort halfway before you achieve the goal, you will never make the exuberant feeling of accomplishment.
IN any place, and at any time, voices chanting sincere daimoku with faith in the Gohonzon will be heard by the Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout time and space. Such voices will reverberate throughout the universe. Filled with a sense of pride, you should chant daimoku confident that the reverberations of your voice will carry as far as billions of light-years away. By cultivating faith of such great conviction you will be able to receive tremendous benefit.
FAITH enables us to transform not only our day to day problems but our lives at their very foundation. Through the Buddhist practice, we can develop a strong inner core and a solid and inexhaustible reservoir of good fortune.
IN any endeavour, whether the arts or sports or any other pursuits, the master-disciple relationships is both challenging and rewarding. In particular, how strict and yet compassionate the bond is between master and disciple in the practice of faith, which comprises the very fundamentals of life, and in the pursuit of the great goal of kosen-rufu.
NOTHING is more noble than a life dedicated to kosen-rufu. Such people are devoted not only to their own happiness but also that of others. They enjoy good health and a fulfilling life. They accumulate boundless good fortune and benefit. This is the ultimate way of life. And it is the absolute promise of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.
ONE must not be so narrow-minded as to seek only to increase one's strength or exhibit one's capability. Doing so will obstruct the flow of kosen-rufu. The way to bring about a dynamic and powerful advances of kosen-rufu, like waves building upon waves lies in finding capable people, raising them and diverting them towards the goal of kosen-rufu.
THE Daishonin's Buddhism teaches us that the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo encompasses everything. For this reason, no matter what happens, we need simply continue chanting with confidence. Without being swayed in the least by untoward circumstances, let us continue proudly chanting resonant daimoku.
NO matter what anyone says, or even if, for instance we encounter from time to time unpleasant individuals along the way, we must not leave the SGI, because the correct practice of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism for the realisation of kosen-rufu is found only in the SGI.
EACH of you has a precious mission that only you can fulfill. Suffering people around the world are waiting for your brave endeavours. To neglect one's mission and seek only personal pleasure is a sign of selfishness. It is impossible for an egotistic, self-centred individual to truly love another person.
THE bond between parents and children is deep. But the bond that connects disciple with master is even stronger and deeper. The desire to seek a teacher is a lofty one, and the joy you experience when you find that teacher is enormous. Having a master is so important that it is said that you cannot trust a person who does not have a master.
THERE is no such thing as a life without trials and tribulations. A life without meeting obstacles is a weak one. One cannot depend on someone who has not had to overcome difficulties.
SUCCESS can never be genuine unless it is based on the accumulation of steady and strenuous efforts, expended day by day and from moment to moment.
THE Mystic Law embraces the law of cause and effect, the absolute law that pervades all existence, both sentient and insentient. This is why our thoughts and actions, based on the Mystic Law, will not disappear without effects but will be registered in our lives, which are one with the great universe, and will shine for all eternity as infinite blessings and virtues.
A person who perseveres with genuine faith is able to accumulate genuine good fortune. Absolutely no one and nothing can destroy the happy state of life that we ourselves have constructed, or rob us of the blessings and virtues we have accumulated. On the contrary, every time we encounter a great persecution, we are able to open and cultivate a still more wonderful state of life.
THE richer our own hearts, our own humanity, the more we are able to recognise and value the humanity of others. Those who bully and belittle others only diminish their own humanity.
ALL of us in the SGI are “old friends of life”, “old friends across eternity”, precious beyond measure and linked by bonds from the ‘beginningless’ past. We have treasured this world of trust, friendship and fellowship. How sad and pitiful it is to betray and leave this beautiful realm! Those who abandon their faith travel on a course to tragic defeat in life.
IN our organisation, there is no need to listen to the criticism of people who do not do gongyo and participate in activities for kosen-rufu. It is very foolish to be swayed at all by their words, which are nothing more then abuse, and do not deserve the slightest heed.
“TO continue” means to continue faith in the True Law; in your own beliefs; in your own wisdom; in the pursuit of happiness; in the fundamental power that leads to the eternity of the three existences of past, present and future; in the realm of all wonderful treasures of the universe; in an indestructible, lofty spiritual state; and on the solid road to good fortune. “Continuing” applies to everything.
THE principle of cause and effect is strict and exacting: it holds true whether or not your efforts are appreciated. It is not outward appearance of things that matters. Nor is authority or position of any importance. It is your heart or spirit. It is the actions that you take. This is the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.
YOU will never find happiness if you do not change yourself from within. Happiness is not something that someone else can give to you. You have to achieve it for yourself. And the only way to do so is by developing your own character and capacity as a human being; by fully maximizing your potential. If you sacrifice your own growth and talent for love, you will absolutely not find happiness. True happiness is obtained through fully realizing your own potential.
SOME people spent their days pursuing idle amusement. Some live aimless lives, succumbing to indolence and apathy. But neither of these ways of living will ever lead to true fulfillment or happiness.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN wrote, "To accept is easy; to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith." "To continue" means to embrace the Gohonzon throughout your life and for eternity, upholding your vow of faith no matter what happens. Because of the truth of the simultaneity of cause and effect, everything is of value inherent in a single thought of faith.
IN the world of faith, we are able to accumulate blessings and virtues to the extent that we offer prayers, speak out and take action; this is in accord with the principle of cause and effect. To the same extent, we are also able to expand our spiritual horizons and solidify the path of happiness in our own lives. Absolutely no effort is wasted in the world of faith.
ALONE, one's sufferings only deepen. Hope disappears. Human beings need to be with and among other human beings. Engagement with others forges our characters and enriches us.
WHILE resonantly chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the fundamental rhythm of the universe, we work, speak and act for the development of society, world peace and the happiness of humanity. There is no more noble life than this. That is why thinking people around the world are strongly seeking out Buddhism, the supreme law that permeates life and the universe.
THROUGH home visitation, bring the light of faith to members who cannot attend meetings. Constant encouragement will accumulate and someday become a rushing a river of joy.
HAVING knowledge is not itself happiness. To have much knowledge is indeed one essential condition for a personal awakening to life and the development of society. Nevertheless, you should not consider having knowledge to be the same level as enjoying true happiness to the fullest.
THE last of the five cardinal virtues is that of fidelity or, as I think it might be rendered, sincerity. This is the basic element in transforming distrust into trust, hostility into understanding, and hatred into compassion. The elements of confidence and friendship cannot be cultivated "strategically". Real trust is indispensable if the people of the world are to open their hearts and minds to one another.
BATHED in the Daishonin's immense compassion, we are composing an eternal history moment by moment and day by day. We are able to turn the lands where we strive to fulfil our mission into strongholds of everlasting happiness and joy, into eternal Buddha lands. For this reason, no effort made in the realm of faith is wasted. Everything will have a positive meaning. Everything becomes a force propelling us towards the state of eternal happiness over the three existences.
IN faith, things do not just happen automatically. Our prayers are answered only if they are accompanied by tenacious and steadfast efforts. Without ninety-nine percent efforts, there can be no victory.
BUDDHISM teaches that we all inherently possess the state of Buddhahood and so wherever we dwell is in fact the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light. It is the power of the Mystic Law that enables us to transform the place where we are now - the place where we struggle with the daily realities and problems of life - into a place of victory.
SOME may think that our activities are inconsequential and mundane. But I hope you will be aware and proud that each of our efforts contributes to a dynamic momentum that spreads throughout the entire world. The age of the SGI has finally arrived, causing people around the world to sit up in wonder!
ONE of our challenges as human beings is how we maintain a sense of purpose each day. The important thing is to continually strive to find something that gives one joy and hope and thereby bring one's life to a fulfilling and satisfying completion. In any effort, it is the finishing stages that are very important. Similarly, the final chapter of our life is crucial.
OTHER people will go their own way, and you will go yours. It is important to realise your mission which you have decided upon and live up to your convictions. No matter how your surroundings may change, if you remain unswayed and advance straight ahead with steadfast faith, you will become a victor in the end.
THE virtue of wisdom is the source of all creative endeavours. It is necessary that we free ourselves from rigid and fixed modes of thinking, tap fresh sources of wisdom that inspire a flexible and adaptive attitude, and bring this wisdom to bear towards the resolution of these dire threats to human existence.
NEVER forget that you can create two or three times as much value as before when you face each situation with a sense of responsibility and aspiration.
WHAT other people think of you should not be the object of your concern. What is important is how you evaluate yourself and how much pride you can derive from your own life. As you live your life sincerely according to your beliefs, you can exemplify the most valuable way of living to your own existence.
PROPRIETY refers to acknowledging and respecting the existence of others. Our world is an aggregation of many different people and nations, each with its own cultures and traditions, which forms the core of national identity. Acknowledging and making effort to understand and respect different cultures is the basis for peaceful co-existence.
CERTAINLY, our daily reality is an unending succession of change. However, we who chant the daimoku of the Mystic Law and are dedicated to advancing kosen-rufu do not surrender ourselves to the eddying tides of impermanence that lead to suffering. Instead, by turning all changes into an impetus for accumulating eternal good fortune, we lead lives replete with joy.
OUR voice is an expression of our life force. That is why our voice is so important. It is vital, therefore, that we speak out with confidence, dignity and the courage of lions, and to fearlessly refute with razor sharp reasoning, the slanderous accusations levelled against us. This is the path that leads to the progress of kosen-rufu.
YOU are all emissaries of the Buddha. Whatever your situation or circumstances, you have a mission. You will attain happiness without fail. I hope that, no matter what obstacles you face, you will continue to advance calmly, enjoying everything you encounter in life.
FIRST of all, lets tear down any walls within our minds. For it is often the case that we ourselves determine our limits.
WE live in a world today where many think only about themselves and forget about those who are suffering. Yet all of you are striving day in and day out for the sake of humanity and working for the welfare of society. This is why people the world over place their trust and confidence in us. This is why people the world over find hope for the new century in the SGI.
STRONG are those who plant firm roots, tirelessly exert themselves, and create an unshakable foundation wherever they go. Such people are in fact creating their own eternal foundation of good fortune and benefit.
"THE Gohonzon is found in faith alone," the Daishonin declared. If we have faith, the Gohonzon will manifest itself in our lives. Those who enshrine the Gohonzon yet do not practise faith (as the Daishonin taught), however, will receive no benefit. The Gosho strictly sets forth this principle of causality.
LIFE is a struggle. In a struggle, the person with the strongest desire to win triumphs. In the long journey of kosen-rufu, too, you must proceed forward with determined courage. With bold vigour, stride forever forward to grasp the laurel crown of triumph as an individual and for human society.
WHEN we dwell in the world of the Mystic Law, the sun of hope continually rises in our hearts and we experience a new dawning of life at each moment. Kosen-rufu is an activity for the purpose of building a glorious land where shines the sun of eternal peace. It is a battle to rid the world of misery and unhappiness, and call forth the dawn of happiness and security.
OUR daily life is a constant struggle to break through deadlocks. Yet, no matter what may happen to us, there is no need to become pessimistic. Viewed from a more profound perspective, every problem is a test of our faith; it provides us with an opportunity, and a turning point, to increase our happiness and further advance towards attaining Buddhahood.
A mirror that is tarnished or dirty will not reflect anything. It must be polished. Chanting daimoku with faith in the Gohonzon is the act whereby we polish the mirror of our life. The Daishonin established the Gohonzon solely so that people could polish their lives and powerfully manifest the Gohonzon existing within.
WINNING is not a matter of form or appearances. It has nothing to do with vanity. Nor is it a matter of simply navigating one's way smoothly through an organisation that has already been created. Victory in life ultimately hinges on whether one has truly strived, whether one has truly advanced.
A struggle means making strenuous, painstaking efforts behind the scenes, always being the first to take action on all fronts, always thinking ahead and being well prepared in advance, in order to open a sure path to victory.
LIFE passes by in an instant, which is why it is so important for us to keep striving and challenging ourselves.
WHEN you wage a struggle, you might win or you might lose. But, regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing struggle is proof of your victory as a human being. A strong spirit, strong faith and strong prayer - developing these are itself victory. It is Buddhahood.
NO effort based on faith is wasted or in vain. The state of our heart, the causes we make in our inner realm, determine precisely just what effects we shall receive. This is owing to the inscrutable mystic function of our life.
IT is a mistake to think that because one practises faith, one does not need to avail oneself to medical treatment. This way of thinking amounts to fanaticism. It is natural that we should seek and follow the instructions of doctors regarding the treatment of illness. Faith strengthens our inherent curative powers and at the same time enables us to change the fundamental causes of illness that exist in the depths of our lives.
NO matter what difficulty you may encounter, you should continue to advance true to your hopes and ideals. As long as you live up to this basic principle, ten, twenty or fifty years from now you will find that all your prayers have been answered thanks to the power of the Mystic Law.
TO have true faith means to advance resolutely towards the goal of kosen-rufu, no matter what may happen, without doubting the Mystic Law in the least.
JUST as there is no storm that lasts forever, there are no difficulties that will continue indefinitely. What is important is that we always maintain our faith in the Gohonzon and firmly persevere in the way of faith, practice and study. So long as we have faith, we can use any difficulty as an opportunity to transform our karma.
"FAITH alone is what really matters," the Daishonin stated. He did not say that ritual is what matters. It is one's spirit that is of essence. With time, subtle differences in people's mind of faith reveal themselves in great differences in their lives with respect to both their actual circumstances and their state of life.
OUR daily activities may not be glamourous or always exciting, but through each effort we make, we are building a "palace of the people" that will stand eternally. And we are constructing the "palace of life" within our own being - a palace that we will adorn with the most precious treasures of the heart.
OUR lives are eternal throughout past, present and future. Therefore, no matter where we are reborn, we will enjoy the most wonderful state of life we could wish for. We will lead lives of deep fulfilment and continue working to propagate the Mystic Law far and wide.
HAPPY are people who at the end of their days have something to leave behind. How much happier, still, are those who leave an enduring legacy in the annals of history. Glory and satisfaction belong to those who fight on undaunted by life's vicissitudes right up until they have completed building their own chosen tower.
THE way a friend helps us is as natural and spontaneous as the movement of the heavenly bodies. It enriches the soul, brings cheer and produces joy. Expanding one's circle of friendship is equal to expanding the sphere of kosen-rufu. I hope that you will develop deep heart-to-heart bonds of friendship, both within and beyond the organisation.
A person's true nobility is determined by his/her spirit and actions. And to praise and venerate those whose spirit and actions are truly noble - that is the spirit of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. You, who are striving for kosen-rufu, are the most respectworthy and admirable people of all.
IF we work hard to realise kosen-rufu, we benefit ourselves. In lifetime after lifetime, we will be reborn in the life-state of absolute happiness that is Buddhahood.
OUR goal in life is completely different from that of others. We are in no way motivated by the pursuit of worldly fame and fortune. What matters to us is having the determined spirit to achieve kosen-rufu, always revitalising ourselves with a fresh attitude in faith.
AS votaries or practioners of the Lotus Sutra (the Mystic Law), the more we struggle undefeated amid daunting obstacles and hardship, the more our life-force grows, the more our good fortune multiplies and the more our energy increases. We can use everything as fuel to power our human revolution and transform poison into medicine, becoming stronger and more compassionate people and developing an expansive state of life.
PROPAGATION begins with the inner struggle to defeat one's own cowardice or inner weakness. Introducing others to Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is a lofty act of compassion. It is to share with others, based on a sincere prayer for their happiness, the supreme teaching and the supreme way of life that we ourselves embrace. Consequently, when we properly carry out propagation, genuine friendship and trust are born.
"WE burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom before our eyes," wrote the Daishonin. Daimoku converts all life's various trials into an impetus for hope-filled advancement. Suffering then is an essential source of sustenance for happiness. People of true faith are those who make their own goals - people who chose their own "mountain" to conquer and then proceed to scale its peak.
A capable person is one who embraces the rigours of faith and kosen-rufu with lifelong devotion.
WE have opened wide the door of the True Law for the sake of the people. To this day, we have worked to help people understand our movement through sincerely praying, conducting dialogue, taking action, and exercising our wisdom. While fighting to dislodge the ‘rubbish’ covering people’s hearts, we have to endeavour to help them awaken to the path of supreme happiness. This is our proud history, and this is the course that we will continue to follow in the future.
BEING human, it is quite natural for our minds to wander, for all sorts of thoughts and memories to surface. You should just share all those thoughts with the Gohonzon. There is no set form or pattern for how we should pray. Buddhism emphasises being natural. Therefore, simply chant earnestly without pretence or artifice, just as you are, as your faith develops; you will naturally find it easier to focus your mind when you chant.
LIFE is, without exception, an ongoing struggle with various problems and difficulties. Faith is what allows us to simply transcend the accompanying pain and suffering, and to establish an indestructible fortress of happiness in our lives - a fortress that will last for all eternity. Our fortune grows in direct proportion to the state of life we are able to develop.
NICHIREN DAISHONIN said that the most important point is to be consistent in your faith and that as long as you are consistent, all your desires of the present and future will eventually be fulfilled. The thing you should never forget is to continue chanting daimoku no matter what.
WE should strive to read the Gosho everyday. Busy as we may be, I hope you will all make renewed efforts in this sphere. Reading the Gosho changes our lives enormously. Tremendous confidence that we can triumph in all life's struggles will well forth within us.
TO be earnest and to be stern is different. Bravery is different from desperation. A person of great courage is bright and cheerful. A confident person is calm and serene. A person with wisdom has the latitude to smile.
TRAINING means to dedicate ourselves sincerely to the two ways of practice and study. A person who does not undergo rigorous training cannot be expected to express his full potential and act wisely at a crucial moment in life or to accomplish major undertakings. A person who lacks training will, in the long run, be disregarded by others and experience painful suffering.
A life bound up in worldly fame and the superficial will never develop a satisfying sense of security. All too often, such a person is constantly swayed, and has a tendency to regret and complain. A correct practice of faith can lead only to happiness. It leads everyone, unfailingly and increasingly, towards Buddhahood. I ask each of you to offer guidance and encouragement with that conviction in mind.
GONGYO is a daily activity in which we purify and prime our hearts and minds. It is starting the "engine" for our day's fresh start. It is like grooming ourselves before we set out for the day.
THE Buddhist Law is wondrous and unfathomable. The greater our efforts for kosen-rufu, the greater the energy and strength that wells forth from within us. Our lives overflow with rich benefit.
NUMBERS mean little. What is important is that each individual shines with the brilliance of a hundred or a thousand, and that he or she goes on to become a great leader in society. This is the way you show proof of the two fundamental Buddhist principles: Buddhism manifests itself in society; and faith manifests itself in daily life.
I hope that you will always maintain a sincere and honest mind both in your faith and in your life. It is also my hope that, with a correct view of life and correct faith, you will become a person with a broad and magnanimous mind.
DEPENDING on how we view any given situation, its meaning will change immediately. Can we not say, then, that faith is the inexhaustible source that gives us the ability to accept all events in a constructive manner? At the same time, no matter what tumultuous changes lie in our path, with ichinen as one's steering wheel, our lives will unfailingly go in the proper direction - one filled with zest, satisfaction and happiness. Such is the function of the Mystic Law.
IN order to bring hope and joy to others, one must feel hope and joy oneself. Hope and joy come from making efforts for the sake of the Buddha's children, because these very efforts help defeat one's own inherent laziness and negativity.
HOW can we create the greatest value in the short span of a lifetime? Those of us who embrace the Mystic Law know the answer. Our faith in and practice of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism enables us, in the course of this lifetime, to solidify the world of Buddhahood in our lives and establish a state of being of eternal happiness. That is the purpose of faith in the Mystic Law, the purpose of our Buddhist practice.
WE have faith. Faith is the ultimate source of courage. Let us bring the sun of courage to blaze in our hearts and use it to brighten our communities, our families and the lives of our fellow members.
IF you only repeat what you have seen and heard, you will never advance beyond imitation. The mind is crucial. You have to experience with the mind and express with the mind in order to innovate. That requires blood, sweat and tears; it requires relentless searching and continual effort. Only then do you gradually acquire the ability to express yourself fully and naturally.
THE most fundamental thing is to have a sense of humility towards the Law and truth. It is to our own benefit to advance along the path of faith with sincere humility and a boundless seeking mind. The greater our seeking spirit, the greater the fortune we gain, and the stronger our faith will become. We will then lead a life of happiness.
AS we advance, we have no need to grieve or be afraid, no matter what may happen. This is because the more obstacles we face, the greater the happiness that we engrave in our lives become. This happiness, indestructible under any circumstances, shines ever brighter with the passage of time; its radiance becomes distinguished and expands.
WHEN you encounter a severe difficulty, you may despairingly feel that it is the end of everything and give up. However, you should never succumb to such difficulties in life. You must win by all means. If you do, you will later be able to look back with a feeling of satisfaction on your days of desperate struggle.
IT is through the ordeal of facing hardships that we are able to firmly establish the indestructible self of Buddhahood in the depths of our lives.
WHETHER one will be happy or unhappy is decided by the philosophy, beliefs and religious faith one possesses. Fortunately, we have been able to embrace True Buddhism, the great Law for attaining enlightenment. We have a fountain of wisdom that can transform all into something yet more valuable. We know the route to happiness that encompasses past, present and future. We need only to advance along this great path with utmost confidence.
SURELY the true and most humane way for us to live is to advance just as we are, as ordinary people, basing our lives on Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and striving to improve ourselves little by little. Buddhism is the great Law that is open to all people; it does not make irrational or unreasonable demands.
OUR time in this world is short, it passes by in an instant. By whole-heartedly devoting ourselves to faith during this lifetime, we can attain the eternal state of Buddhahood. It is to our advantage, therefore, to exert ourselves in faith as much as possible now, while we still can. It sometimes happens that people become sick and then regret not having done more while they can.
TO have the courage to always keep pressing forward and be utterly committed to winning. To persevere right to the end, even in a pinch when the odds are stacked against you. To have the invincible spirit to press forward further still. When you give your all, victory is truly exhilarating.
WHEN we chant and exert ourselves for kosen-rufu, we can block negative, destructive forces from entering our lives and allow the positive, protective forces of the universe to enter instead. Please chant with strong conviction, as if calling, "Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the Sun and the Moon, enter my life and put your power to work!"
BY dedicating ourselves to Buddhism, we transform our lives into "gold". Inept and unworthy though we may think we are, our lives come to shine with supreme brilliance and will remain so eternally. That is why Nichiren Daishonin urges us to strive earnestly in our practice of faith.
HAPPINESS is ultimately determined by oneself alone, not by others. To base one's happiness on how one appears to the world is to live in a "provisional" way, only chasing after illusions. In contrast, to live in accord with the "true" or "essential" way of life is to determine by oneself: "I did my best. I am satisfied. I have won." These two ways of life are as different as heaven and earth, and water and fire.
LIFE without philosophy, without belief, is indeed both vulnerable and fleeting. Swept along in the current of times, such a life drifts aimlessly. One's soul knows no rest, preoccupied with the immediate and the transience of other people's opinions.
NO one can avoid the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. It is the Mystic Law that is capable of eliminating suffering equally from the lives of all people. For this reason, it is our responsibility to teach all mankind the power and benefit of the Gohonzon which embodies the Mystic Law.
SOME people think that just because they are practising Buddhism their business will prosper and they will succeed. This kind of short-circuited thinking shows a lazy attitude in faith. We should never forget that our faith will only bear fruit if we continue to work and study harder than other people to develop mastery of our work and a full understanding of life.
A person with conviction is strong. That individual is beset neither by confusion nor by lack of purpose. In whatever circumstances, such person never despairs, but always directs his/her life towards the positive. One of the benefits of Buddhist faith is that it enables one to realise and to embody a positive and constructive way of life.
FAITH is not an obligation. It is our privilege - something that we practise in order to become happy. People will receive benefits only to the extent that they make determinations and take action.
LIFE'S true exhilaration lies in how we live each moment, how hard we strive and challenge ourselves in the present, in our journey for ultimate victory. Life is interesting precisely because we have to battle our way through all kinds of ups and downs. We are enacting the drama of kosen-rufu on an infinitely grand stage.
FAME does not equal happiness, nor does it equal ability. Those who talk the supreme path of happiness known as faith are great artists of life. Compared to this distinction, fame and popularity are mere illusions; they are as fleeting as the images on a TV screen, which disappear when you turn off the set. There is absolutely no reason for you to let your happiness be governed by popularity and fame. Ordinary people are an example of those who have no fame but are the most noble of all.
FAITH lies not in simply reciting the sutra. Nor does it lies in eloquence or being skilled at giving guidance. A genuine Buddhist is one who, no matter what happens, actively pursues the way of faith, practice and study as taught by Nichiren Daishonin, right to the very end - a person who continues striving earnestly for kosen-rufu. Such conduct is the very essence of the Nichiren Buddhism.
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.
HAVING the ability to advance, to press forward and make progress is proof of one's humanity. Even just one or two steps are sufficient. Even just one or two millimetres. The important thing is to be certain to advance each day. One who does so is a person of victory and a person of glory.
WE live in a stress-filled society. The definition of stress is "an external assault on one's mind". We must fight this attack. Can it not be said, then, that the best means to repel stress is to take positive and spontaneous actions? In this context, the action we take based on faith in the Gohonzon is action in line with the universal Law of life, revitalising and regenerating our lives.
LIFE'S true joy and happiness can only be savoured by those who live out the chosen path of their beliefs, no matter what others may say of them.
TRUE victory is that you experience at the last moment of your life. No matter how victorious you may be in the course of your life, unless it leads to final triumph, it will have little meaning.
ACTIVITY undertaken for the sake of the Law, as well as for the people and society, is a tremendous source of life-revitalising energy. If, however, you feel it troublesome to act for the sake of others or withdraw yourself into a shell of egoism and negative individualism, ceasing to take action for the sake of others, both your mind and body will stagnate. Then, the devil of sickness will find it easier to take advantage of you.
NO matter what sins or offences one may have committed, through the power of the Mystic Law one can transform these into a driving force for becoming happy. The determination to strive willingly for the sake of kosen-rufu enables us to open the state of Buddhahood in our lives.
ONE'S attitude can totally transform one's situation. The thing is to decide to spend each day happily and productively - wherever you happen to be. A wise person can create value under any circumstances.
IT is important to win all endeavours. Winning is a joy. It is a source of benefit and happiness. A person who is easily defeated does not have the strength or capacity to make others happy. Please strive to become the kind of person who will strive and win amid the harsh realities of society, while always upholding and championing justice and making efforts to develop your character. Please become a strong person, a capable person.
A New Year. The sun of a grand and lofty state of being rises high. An ancient Chinese maxim urges, "Renew yourself each day." In this New Year, I hope you will all, without exception, make wonderful progress, free of any regrets, in the place where you are carrying out your mission and on the stage of your life. Please establish a towering record of complete victory.
AGAIN today the sun rises. And, in the same way, again today we chant daimoku, causing the inner sun to rise in our hearts. Once the sun rises, everything is illuminated. The challenge is to keep this sun blazing brilliantly in the depths of our lives, to each day renew our determination to chant, strive on, live victoriously and accumulate good fortune. Herein lies the ultimate path of happiness.
DAILY we change, daily we grow. This is human revolution. This is the life of a person of true faith. It is no good to be always saying the same things, succumbing to inertia. Rather, please start by creating waves of change from within your own heart.
TO sit in front of the Gohonzon, chant daimoku and perform gongyo is, in all senses, the most dignified and significant ceremony that is in perfect unison with the cosmic law. In chanting, each individual human being, a microcosm, comes to harmonise with the fundamental rhythm of the macrocosm. Every day we can revitalise and infuse our lives with youthfulness. This is the first fundamental rhythm of the macrocosm. Everyday we can revitalise and infuse our lives with youthfulness. This is the first fundamental of good health and longevity.
VALUE is born and victory shines forth in your life only to the extent that you develop your life condition. Good fortune and benefit adorn your existence only to the extent that you live out your life exerting yourself for the sake of the Law and for the sake of kosen-rufu.