30th June

I hope you will become the nucleus of efforts to form a truly global family of humanity and further, a global family of humanity that is dedicated to world peace. Please possess this spirit. The important thing is your determination to do so, here and now, just as you are.


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 you acquire them. 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.


THE Daishonin described the Gohonzon as a “cluster of blessings” and went on to state, “The Gohonzon is found in faith alone.” Everything hinges on the strength of one’s faith. If your faith is strong, your life itself will become a cluster of blessings. People of strong faith, therefore, never reach a deadlock. They can transform all situations into benefits, into happiness.


THE Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin expounds that we should not seek a heavenly paradise somewhere outside ourselves. Nor should we seek an emotional escape from reality. The lotus flower of our own life blooms in no other place than in actual society and in our daily existence.


ONE who fails to train his body and mind while young, will in many cases find that his determination and ideals are often destroyed in his later years. Furthermore, it is likely that such a person will turn out to be a complete loser in life.

NOTE: New! Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, A Gift of Rice.

29th June

ACADEMIC achievement and intellectual ability have nothing to do with attaining Buddhahood. The spirit of faith is what counts. Nichiren Daishonin clearly stated: “It is the heart that is important.”


THOSE who do not value the organization are practicing self-centred faith. With such faith, you cannot expect to receive the truly profound benefits of this practice. Working hard within the organization for people’s happiness and welfare is itself truly noble Buddhist practice. Advancing kosen-rufu and defeating devilish forces is the challenge of the Boddhisattvas of the Earth.


A life that is always filled with appreciation is a bright and cheerful one – be it when you are meeting with people, when someone gives you a lift in his car, or when you are at home with your family. Being able to sincerely offer thanks is a sign of living a truly happy life. Where people embody such a sense of appreciation, they send out waves of happiness that envelop both themselves and others.


THE Ongi Kuden stated, “Belief is like the price and wisdom is like the treasure.” For example, with one dollar of belief, you can obtain only one dollar’s worth of wisdom, whereas if you summon forth ten thousand or one million dollar worth of belief, the wisdom and power you can obtain will increase in like measure. Limitless belief gives rise to limitless wisdom.


TO change one’s miserable destiny and establish a happy state of life takes continual courageous faith. Please advance with powerful, courageous faith and deep confidence in the supreme power of the Gohonzon, towards a life filled with happiness, benefits and hope.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Kinds of Treasure.

28th June

A person who has correct faith is walking the highest path a human being can travel in life. No matter how rich or famous one might be, such things do not last. Without faith, he will eventually feel dissatisfied and experience a sense of emptiness, ultimately ending in misery and loneliness.


TO give up halfway in your practice of faith is like disembarking from an airplane that is in mid-flight. I hope that all of you will become people of courage, who, even if you were to be deserted by others, would persevere in the way of faith that you have determined to follow, to the very end of your lives. If there is even one such person of genuine faith, waves of kosen-rufu will spread far and wide.


ONLY when we practise with correct faith can we activate the power of the Great Law. However sophisticated an aircraft may be, it will not fly smoothly if its pilot is drunk. Mr Toda likened the Gohonzon to a “happiness-manufacturing machine”, but only when we have correct faith can we benefit from the infinite power of the Law and the power of the Buddha.


A saying goes that trying to straighten the horns of a cow could kill the cow. Instead of nit-picking over another’s weaknesses, it is far more valuable to encourage them, giving them hope and enabling them to find goals. Through doing so, we can help someone who is impatient, for example, become someone who cannot wait to take positive action.


THE most precious treasure parents can pass on to their children is faith. No matter how splendidly they hope to raise their children, they are overlooking the most essential area if they neglect to teach them about faith and are caught up in appearances and other superficial matters. Their children will not be able to accumulate good fortune and will encounter defeat in life.

NOTE: NEW! Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.

27th June

BUDDHIST study is not the mere memorization of theory. Your determination to study is an important aspect of your attitude in faith. You must understand that we study to deepen our faith, to promote kosen-rufu and to progress towards our attainment of Buddhahood.


CLIMBING a mountain entails difficulty. And the higher the mountain is, the greater are the difficulties that a climber faces. However, once he reaches the summit, he will be able to savour a state of mind far greater than that attained by those who handily climb lesser peaks.


LIVE your life so that you can declare, “I have no regrets. I enjoyed my life. I encouraged many others and gave them hope. It was a good life.” The original Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, promised us that this will be the result if we practice correctly, following the principle, “Faith manifests itself in daily life.” The words of the Buddha contain no falsehood.


WE need to cultivate a state of life where we can thoroughly enjoy ourselves at all time. We should have such joy that, even at the time of death, we can declare with a happy smile. Such individuals will be reborn without delay, and in a form and in a place exactly according to their desires.


SPEAK out! The way to victory lies in persistent and thorough dialogue. And let us resolutely build a great force of Bodhisattvas of the Earth who will form the foundation for lasting peace for all human kind!

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.

26th June

SIMPLY trying to lead a normal life amid the severe realities of modern society will not enable you to change your karma. Breaking the chains of one’s karma requires great energy similar to the thrust needed by a rocket to break the pull of Earth’s gravity and to be launched into outer space. What provides us with this tremendous power is the Mystic Law.


AS far as the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and the Gosho are concerned, I hope that, regarding them as absolutely correct, you will first and foremost strive to put them into practice. I urge you to do so because this is the shortest route to understanding the essence of Buddhism from the depths of your life.


TAKING care of the tasks at hand is important. The main thing is to make your goals clear and then set about achieving them one by one with steady and thorough efforts. It is only through such continuous efforts that we can open up the path before us. We must also never neglect small details.


BEHIND each of us stand not just four billion years of kindness from the Earth, but the compassion of the entire universe since time without beginning. Therefore you must not slander or devalue your life. Life is the most precious of all treasures. Each of you has been given this invaluable gift and each of you is irreplaceable.


BY working for kosen-rufu, we become healthy; we become filled with vitality and life force. The great path of eternal hope and victory lies in a life dedicated to kosen-rufu.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.

25th June

EVERYTHING you do for the sake of faith ultimately comes back to you in the form of happiness. Therefore, I hope that for your own sake, you will continue to walk the great path of faith with courage and hope.


FORMALITIES are important in certain cases, but mere formality that lacks substance is an evil. Formalities, in and of themselves, have no life; where as substance is alive. Formality is provisional and substance essential. Formality is conventional and therefore conservative but substance provides the impetus for progress and development.


LIVING is moving forward, making progress on all fronts. If you give up your efforts to move forward, it means you are retreating on life itself. And since faith is the driving force of our lives, retreating in faith is the cause of all unhappiness. That is why you must, with your fellow members and with the organization devoted to kosen-rufu, encourage each other and achieve victory in faith and in life.


THE important thing is not just sympathizing with or pitying others, but really understanding what they are going through. Empathy is crucial. Sometimes just having someone who really understands can give us the strength to go on.


NOT advancing is regressing. Let us advance and strive day after day, so that we have no regrets. Let us make each day one of brave and vigourous advancement, of dynamic progress. Let us accomplish a towering victory for kosen-rufu in the 21st century, causing our movement to shine even more brilliantly with new light and new capable people.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Kinds of Treasure.

24th June

THE ultimate essence of faith in the Mystic Law is that the life of Nichiren Daishonin manifests itself in our lives. We can strive with the same strength as Nichiren Daishonin. When we do so, we will never be defeated, no matter what hardships we encounter. We will not be unhappy. We will not fail to win. We will not fail to become happy. This is the quintessence of faith. I hope you will all be completely convinced of this and live your lives filled with optimism and hope.


WE must live with vibrant hope. Nothing is stronger than hope. The Mystic Law is itself eternal hope. Happiness belongs to those who never despair, no matter what happens.


LIFE is a struggle. Reality is a struggle. Nichiren Daishonin taught that Buddhism is about winning. So we must win in life. To embrace the Mystic Law is to grasp the sword of victory. We can triumph over all. We can triumph and enjoy our lives. “A person of faith” is synonymous with “a person of victory”.


I for my part was firmly convinced that, because President Toda was the great leader of kosen-rufu, to protect him was to protect kosen-rufu and the Great Pure Law. In fact, because I remained with and supported him during that difficult time, I was able to expand my state of life far more than others.


THE Gosho states, “To accept is easy, to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith.” No matter what obstacles might arise, you must never leave the Gohonzon. This is because faith in the Gohonzon is the solid base for happiness amid the stern realities of daily life.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Kinds of Treasure.

23rd June

WHEN we face hardships or challenging times, it is particularly important that we remain in close contact with sincere, warmhearted members and advance together with the harmonious organization for kosen-rufu. By doing so, we deny devilish functions any chance to enter our lives. The SGI is truly a “safe haven” of life. And there is no greater joy than a life dedicated to faith.


NICHIREN DAISHONIN taught that we can attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. In order to do so, we have to pass through the trials of the three obstacles and four devils. That is all we need to do to attain enlightenment in this lifetime and enjoy the boundless state of Buddhahood over eternity.


HOW do we tackle our problems? This challenge is what makes for a rich life. Buddhism teaches that “earthy desires are enlightenment”. The greater our sufferings, the greater happiness we can transform them into – through the power of the daimoku.


YOU are the pioneers of kosen-rufu in your respective countries and communities. The blessings you will accumulate are as great as the ocean or a huge mountain, and they will continue to grow limitlessly as the sphere of kosen-rufu expands. How fortunate we are and how marvelous is the Mystic Law.


WHETHER one has faith or not, to boldly scale the mountains of difficulties that one faces with a strong determination is the correct way to live as a human being. It is all the more important that we, who stand upon our faith with a sense of mission, face and overcome all obstacles that confront us, without trying to avoid anything. This we must do for our own sake, for the sake of the society and for the sake of the Law.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.

22nd June

EVERYTHING that happens in the world of faith has deep meaning and value. Please be convinced that nothing is meaningless in the realm of faith.


EVERYDAY I offer earnest prayers for your happiness, good health and success. You each have your respective place of mission; you are all extremely precious children of the Buddha who are dedicated to the cause of kosen-rufu. I hope that while fostering cordial and warm relations among yourselves, you will advance as good citizens of your country.


A life spent day-dreaming about, “I only I didn’t have this problem….”, is a life of failure. In contrast, one who continually makes constructive efforts, approaching things from the standpoint of, “What can I do to overcome these circumstances and turn them into a source of value and victory?”, is a winner.


TRUE concern for others manifests itself as unconditional friendship. To be considerate means that the more someone is suffering, the more love you show them. It gives you the courage to help others to stand up. And it means recognizing another person’s unhappiness for what it is, trying to understand and share their suffering. Consideration is training ourselves in the art of encouraging others.


OUR voice praying earnestly for the sake of kosen-rufu – that in itself is the voice of the bodhisattva and the voice of the Buddha. It is indeed a case of “our voice doing the Buddha’s work”.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.

21st June

EVEN should someone look upon you as a lost cause, you must never look upon yourself that way. Should someone berate you as having no talent or ability, you must not succumb to the negative message of their words. Unperturbed by others’ negativity, grit your teeth, keep believing in yourself, chant daimoku, and face your challenges head-on, with all your might.


SO long as you are courageous, you will never be swayed from your Buddhist practice by evil influences. You can live a truly meaningful existence, deeply enjoying every aspect of your life. If you are courageous enough, you will experience a great upsurge of life-force which will enable you to change your negative karma. At the same time, your sense of mission for kosen-rufu will also become stronger.


IT is the sharp sword of the Mystic Law and the great power of faith that enable us to completely severe the chain of sufferings. Therefore, I wish to make it clear that in order to secure eternal freedom and happiness, you must absolutely not be cowardly, especially in faith.


THERE is no such thing as a life free of sufferings or a world without problems. Indeed, life is made interesting by the very fact that all kinds of challenges occur. Those who base their lives on the Mystic Law are able to call forth supreme wisdom and break through all obstacles, no matter what; they are able to achieve a life of profound value wherein all their desires are fulfilled.


IN the Art of War by Sun-Tzu, the ancient text contains this maxim: “A victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.” In other words, the victors have won through preparation and strategy before the actual battle begins.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, The Three Kinds of Treasure.