31st May

NO matter how difficult or how fortunate the circumstances in which you may presently live, this is only one aspect of your life. Viewing things as they truly are, Buddhism focuses on one’s life as a whole and, in particular, on the outcome of its final chapter in determining its success or failure.


IT is you yourself who will determine the kind of person you will be. In the final analysis, no one but you can build the person that you become. Being weak-willed as to be swayed by the opinions of others is itself tantamount to defeat.


THERE is not a single person who is free of problems or worries. Nor are there any “trouble-free” families or communities. What matters is what action we can take to resolve such problems and worries. The important thing is to exercise one’s wisdom to the fullest and make persistent efforts, while aiming towards the victory that lies beyond one’s present problems.


SIMPLY deciding from the outset that you are just not good enough, without making any effort, is nothing but escapism. Each of us is different but we are all alike in that we possess tremendous potential. The truth is, you can do almost anything if you set your mind to it. The worst thing is to lose confidence in yourself and limit your own potential.


HEART-TO-HEART bonds between people are the very essence of our Buddhist organisation, our organisation for kosen-rufu. If these are lost, the SGI will be reduced to a cold and heartless bureaucracy; it will no longer be a realm of Buddhism.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

30th May

THE challenge is transforming our lives so that we are no longer swept along by force of habit or at the mercy of the whims of destiny. The incredible power to do that already exists inside you.


DIFFICULTIES impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our resolve. Our heart is what matters most.


IT is in one’s behaviour as a human being that Buddhism comes to life and where one’s faith is actually demonstrated. One might say that refined and respectworthy behaviour is an expression of correct faith.


NO doubt there are times when, at the crucial juncture, you feel completely worthless and incompetent. Such times in fact represent opportunities for you to manifest new potential. Whether you can use such opportunities positively determines your victory or defeat in life and happiness or misfortune.


THERE is no other way to build an eternal condition of true happiness that spans the three existences of past, present and future than to embrace the Gohonzon and chant daimoku wholeheartedly, as we devote ourselves to practise for ourselves and for others.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

29th May

KNOWLEDGE alone cannot guarantee happiness. We need to have wisdom if we are to live wisely. Knowledge is like a pump that draws up the water of wisdom. Cultivating wisdom is a shortcut to happiness.


WHEN people speak of wanting to be a success, they generally mean gaining status and prestige in society. But doing our human revolution is a much more profound aspiration, for it involves changing and elevating our lives from within. The transformation achieved as a result is everlasting and far, far more valuable and precious than social status or prestige.


THE Daishonin taught that one should not lament in times of adversity but instead polish oneself and grow as a human being – for this the true way in which a human being should live, the path which a Buddhist follows.


BUDDHISM, of course, is the great and merciful Law that exists for the salvation of all things. I believed that, based on this major premise, we must deeply understand the strict spirit that the Daishonin taught us to have in combating evil. Unless one has the courage and strict mercy to fight against evil, he will not be able to protect the true teaching. Nor will he be able to truly save others.


A strong person stops practising because he is controlled by his own narrow-mindedness, shallow attachment, arrogance, ill feelings towards other believers or selfish desire. No matter how strong your faith may appear to be now, if you discard it at some point in your life, your faith cannot be said to have been true.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

28th May

YOU who exert yourselves in the daily practice of shakubuku, struggle amid many obstacles and difficulties and extend yourselves for the sake of kosen-rufu, truly possess a profound mission and must certainly be called emissaries of the Buddha.


THE Daishonin stated, “There can be no discontinuity between past, present and future.” Those whose karma destines them to become enemies of and seek to destroy the True Law will sometimes be born as followers of non-Buddhist teachings, sometimes as priests of the Buddhist sects, and may sometimes even appear within Nichiren Shoshu or the Soka Gakkai. The function of their evil is the same in any case.


BECOMING a person who is trusted, respected and liked by all – an indispensable person whom others cannot do without – at home, at work and in your community, is to show validity of your faith in the True Law and to advance our movement for kosen-rufu.


IN the rapidly moving and changing society we live today, acts of minor and medium good are all too easily swept away and obliterated, leaving no lasting or appreciable impact. It is vital, therefore, to undertake acts of “great good” – the most fundamental and important kind of good.


OUT in society, there are many different kinds of people: malicious people who seek to undermine and deceive others; arrogant people who scorn and despise others. We study so that we can prevail over such people, succeed in all our endeavours and leading fulfilling lives.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

27th May

CHERRY trees blossom beautifully, adorning themselves with colour and fragrance in the spring. Likewise, human beings must allow their lives to blossom, expressing their true potential to the fullest extent. What makes this possible on a most fundamental level is nothing other than a profound sense of mission and responsibility for kosen-rufu.


NOW is the time when you should cultivate strong intellectual ability. It is for this reason that in my speeches I try to discuss things from a wide range of angles. This is a point that I would like to strongly emphasize for the sake of the future of kosen-rufu.


TO take the nonchalant attitude that things will somehow work out all right simply because you are practising faith is an erroneous way of thinking. Faith means earnestly praying and making efforts to find the best solutions to the problems confronting you. The highest wisdom emerges from this ichinen, or determination, to challenge things.


A beautiful sunset colouring the western sky in brilliant hues of pink and crimson is supposed to indicate that there will be clear skies the following day. Similarly, a person whose life glows brilliantly in the final years will go on to a future existence that is bright and sunny. That is why it is so important that we strive to accumulate enduring good fortune and benefit while we are alive.


IT is scaling life’s mountains, crossing life’s valleys and traversing life’s precipitous peaks, ever advancing with integrity and fortitude, that happiness is found. A magnificent palace can only be built when we work unceasingly on its construction day after day with all our might, until it is finally completed. The same is true of life.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

26th May

IN one’s reading as well as in one’s encounters with people, unless you can clearly discern and judge what a fact is and what is true, you will end up on the wrong path. The higher one’s standing in the organisation, the greater his responsibility in this regard.


WE must use our faith to tap the great wisdom and life force within us to brilliantly triumph over difficulties and adversity. Those who can do this are practising Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism correctly. They are, in other words, people who “understand the meaning of all worldly affairs.”


NICHIREN DAISHONIN taught, “Life does not go beyond the moment” (WND, p62). Buddhism focuses on this moment of life. The great life-entity of time without beginning is also contained in this fleeting, transitory life-moment. We cannot postpone life to some vague future date; it is the here and now that counts, upon which all depends.


ALL of us undergo various sufferings in life. No human being is without worries and problems. That is why Buddhism, which teaches that earthly desires are enlightenment, is necessary in our lives. We need to transform our karma. That is what Buddhism is for. Be brave! That is Nichiren Daishonin’s cry to us all.


FAITH in the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is sure to be accompanied by obstacles. Remember, it is at such times that you can take a great leap towards your happiness.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

25th May

CORRECTLY discerning what is true and what is false requires strong powers of intelligence. If one lacks intellectual power, one will be unable to see through a lie; he will make mistakes and be misled.


JUST as all things on Earth are illuminated when the sun comes out, those who embrace faith in the Mystic Law are able to wisely discern the truth of events and happenings in society. They are able to manifest actual proof of validity of their faith in their daily lives and in society.


THOSE who have really struggled possess the “flavour” of profound character and humanity. There are those who give up when things are tough and consequently fall into despair. This is comparable to how you will determine your health if you eat too much at a time when your power to digest and assimilate food is weak. Therefore, having a strong life force is important. When our life is strong, we can turn all of our toils into a source of spiritual nourishment.


SOME of you may have family members or relatives who do not understand your faith but there is no need to be anxious about this. This is where your human revolution starts. All you have to do is show, by your example, steadily, little by little, how wonderful Buddhism is.


GONGYO is the basis and foundation of the practice of faith. If one who has practised gongyo regularly up till now should stop doing it, it is – to give a readily understandable example – like switching off an electric current. Even though one has the Gohonzon, which is absolute, without the practice of gongyo, he can gain no benefit.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

24th May

WE live in the realm of human beings. By the very nature of that realm, there are no obstacles in it that we, as human beings, are unable to overcome. What is more, we uphold the great Mystic Law, and because of that, there are no obstacles that we cannot surmount.


WE are people of faith, and faith is the ultimate conviction. Nothing could be sadder or more short-sighted, therefore, then complaining or giving up when we encounter some small obstacles in our path. A Buddhist is a person of wisdom and conviction.


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


THE swells of kosen-rufu become a thousand waves, and then ten thousand waves. A single dew drop of propagation expands to the size of an ocean. The benefit of the person, who first courageously stands up, increases and shines in like measure. I hope that, with your sight set on the future of kosen-rufu one thousand years hence, each of you will exert yourself as such individual pioneering drops of dew.


WHAT really matters is how deep and pure a condition of life you can establish. The reality of problems and troubles will never disappear. One can either be influenced by them and sink into the great sea of suffering or overcome them and build a mountain of happiness.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

23rd May

WE need to rise into action right where we are, with the determination to do everything we can. That is crucial. True happiness is to be found in steadily and sincerely seeking true humanity and self-realisation in daily life. This is the start of building a great life.


IT is important to have the spirit to study the Gosho, to open up the Gosho. Even if you forget what you have read, something profound will have been engraved in the depths of your life.


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 kind of wisdom. If you have compassion alone and lack wisdom, you would not be able to save others. You are even likely to lead them in the wrong direction. You will also be unable to achieve your own happiness.


IT is by dedicating one’s existence to a great cause that one can truly lead a life of value. We are living based on the Mystic Law, the fundamental Law of life. Moreover, we are advancing towards the unprecedented ideal of kosen-rufu which aims to restore humanity and establish peace and security throughout the world. What way of life could be more respect worthy and exalted?


A magnet and a piece of iron which has not been magnetized differ greatly in their ability to attract other pieces of iron or steel. In a similar way, even among those who embrace faith in the Gohonzon, the benefit one receives will differ according to the strength of one’s faith.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.

22nd May

LET us always make certain to remember, respect and protect the people who are striving with diligence and perseverance, modestly and inconspicuously, in their communities. My deepest wish is to visit these people, bow in respect to them and sincerely thank them for their admirable efforts.


MANY things happen in life. There are joyous days and times of suffering. Sometimes unpleasant things occur. But that is what makes life so interesting. The dramas we encounter are part and parcel of being human. If we experience no change or drama in our lives, if nothing unexpected ever happen, we would merely be like automations, our lives unbearably monotonous and dull.


JOY is not simply personal, egoistic happiness. Nor is it making others happy while sacrificing yourself or 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.


EVERYTHING comes down to the extent to which you train and polish yourself. If, contend with summary knowledge and strategies, one avoids the efforts that building a foundation entails, you will later experience loss. Furthermore, the principle of cause and effect of the Mystic Law is very strict. Unless you polish yourself through earnest faith, you will definitely not be able to realize a life of indestructible happiness and victory.


ALWAYS bear in mind that a shining glory awaits when you are able to break through the walls which may seem to confine you.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Opening of the Eyes.