31st December

LET us advance with optimism, joy and confidence along the path of realising peace and prosperity in society based on the ideals and principles of Buddhism, along the path of world peace, just as Nichiren Daishonin instructed.


LIFE cannot be all joy. Life is rich and stimulating precisely because it entails both suffering and joy. Value in life arises for the same reason, as does with a sense of fulfilment.


IN any event, the important thing is to win over your own weaknesses. Without letting the difficulties that may presently beset you defeat you, please compose a magnificent drama of victory. This is the reason we practise faith; this is what the wisdom of the Lotus Sutra is for. The light of faith enables us to make today and everyday of our lives shine.


ALL living things exist in an ever-flowing stream of charge. That is why we must not look back but always face forward, to the future, constantly refreshing our lives with new vitality. Let us make each day and each year one of growth and fresh, exciting possibilities.


ALTHOUGH kosen-rufu is a vast goal, it exists close at hand. The same is true of happiness. All is in accord with the saying that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step". All undertakings begin with our immediate efforts.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

30th December

AS long as we remain preoccupied with our own troubles, as long as we allow ourselves to blindly follow the impulsive dictates of our mind, our sufferings will continue. What we must do is to become the masters of our mind, not let it be our master, and consciously redirect our mind and its thoughts in a positive and pleasant direction and help others around us do the same.


THERE is both sadness and sufferings in life. There are mountains, rivers and valleys. Yet, the deeper the river of sadness and the greater the mountain of suffering, the deeper the joy and the greater the happiness we experience when we have made our way across. Moreover, the Mystic Law enables us to change any misfortune into something positive. It is a wondrous teaching that transforms poison into medicine. Herein lies its greatness.


THE lives of those who strive in accord with the Mystic Law, who struggle on behalf of the Mystic Law, and who are devoted to the Mystic Law even in death, merge with the life of Nichiren Daishonin and the world of Buddhahood pervading the universe. Such people experience joy in both life and death. And their journey over the three existences of past, present and future is free of fear and sorrow.


THE mere fact that someone is practising faith is no guarantee that the person's life will be free from hardship or personal tragedy. However, the important thing is that, regardless of what may happen, one must not be shaken in faith. The Mystic Law is the Law that enables us to realise the oneness of life and death, and that earthly desires are enlightenment. One who practises faith exactly as the original Buddha taught can turn everything into a source of benefit and joy.


THERE is no difference whatsoever between the benefit of actions for kosen-rufu undertaken on a worldwide scale, and the benefit of converting a few individuals or encouraging one's fellow members in a single group.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

29th December

A life of supreme joy results from faith and the chanting of daimoku. As the gosho teaches, one's life will become one of ultimate, perfect fulfilment. A life always one step in retreat, that of someone whole lives selfishly or begrudges his/her effort, will in the end be empty and miserable.


THE world is vast. Buddhism is eternal. How foolish it would be, therefore, to be swayed by minor events or become bogged down in trifles! If we allow this to happen to us, then what is the meaning of our Buddhist practice in the first place? What is the meaning of our life?


YOU must not live with your head in the clouds, basing your life on empty idealism. Nor should you get caught up in the slightest with shallow dreams of gaining fame or prominence so that you can impress or dazzle others. The only path to true victory in life is to become a person of genuine ability and substance. And the only way to do this is to advance steadily, one step at a time. Momentary fame is like an apparition.


WISDOM is the secret to good health. Wisdom allows us to ensure our well-being. We need to be aware of how to prevent illness before it occurs, and how to preserve our health so that we can go about our activities with zest and energy. We must not simply succumb passively to old age; instead, we should engage it head on in a positive and active way.


EVERYONE is a capable person. The efforts we make now to raise outstanding capable people will determine the course of our movement for the next hundred years.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

28th December

WHEN you encounter a problem, first and foremost, pray to the Gohonzon. No matter what happens in life, keep forging ahead with daimoku as your basis. Those who have this spirit will surely emerge victorious. All hardships will be transformed into treasured memories. Such individuals can continue advancing with composure along the orbit of indestructible happiness.


WE should not be swayed by victory or defeat in fleeting, momentary struggles. What counts is being victorious in the realm of the eternal as a result of our unceasing commitment to fight to the very end for our beliefs as practitioners of the Daishonin's Buddhism and as human beings. The achievements of such eternal victors will shine undimmed into future generations.


MANY things happen in life. If all is smooth sailing, we cannot grow and develop as human beings. Experiencing problems and sufferings gives us an opportunity to become strong. It is by overcoming life's storms based on a solid practice of faith that we can attain the unsurpassed life-state of Buddhahood.


A pure and vibrant organisation can effectively block those who would destroy it. No one with evil intentions can gain a foothold there. I hope this tradition of pure faith will remain forever.


WE must never be off our guard, and so allow devils the least chance to take advantage. The higher a person’s position, the greater the attack will be from the devils. Therefore, no matter how high someone’s position may be, if the person ceases to struggle in faith and for kosen-rufu, he or she will quickly be overcome by devils.


THE most fundamental issue of all of us have to grapple with is death. Not even the greatest or smartest person on earth can solve the suffering of death inherent in the human condition. Only a correct practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism enables us to surmount the fundamental suffering of death and apprehend the eternity of life.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

27th December

WHAT is important? It is faith. Do not be swayed by the fickle winds of public opinion, for that only leads to a life of defeat. The benevolent forces of the universe will protect those who strive earnestly in faith. Such individual will triumph in the end.


THOSE who work for the sake of kosen-rufu with a pure, earnest and whole-hearted commitment, even if they may go unrecognised by the world, will truly savour immense happiness in the final chapter of their life and be able to make a majestic departure towards their next existence.


WHAT matters most is the heart. Everything depends on whether our hearts blaze with a passionate, fighting spirit irrespective of our situation. Those who maintain such an undaunted spirit no matter what happens are victors in life.


AUDACITY is the privilege of youth; it is the spirit of a pioneer. Youth must not be cowardly; a fainthearted and nervous youth cannot accomplish anything great. Of your own accord, you should continually seek out ever greater challenges and difficulties to overcome. To have this spirit is what it means to be a youth.


IT is important to ascend the slope of life day by day with sound faith and a stable daily life. Do not fall under the illusion that carrying out immoderate activities beyond your capacity is an expression of faith.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

26th December

BUDDHISM accords with reason. Our faith is reflected in our daily life, in our actual circumstances. Our prayers cannot be answered if we fail to make efforts appropriate to our situation.


BOTH Nichiren Daishonin and President Toda stressed the importance of advancing with the conviction that our struggles in this lifetime are the means by which we forge ourselves into entities of indestructible happiness, into Buddhas, throughout challenges. Please have deep confidence that "hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of blessings" will well forth in the lives of all who dedicate themselves to kosen-rufu.


BY coming into contact with the Daishonin's immense conviction through the pages of Gosho, we stoke the flames of our own faith. This is the very heart of Buddhist study. We are committed to study that deepens our conviction, forges our determination and forms the basis for our actions. In such an attitude lies a true movement for the prosperity of Buddhism.


BEING old age is not just a matter of physical age. Old age begins when one loses his/her ideals. A person with faith is young, while one filled with doubt is old. One who is plagued by fear is old. One is young to the extent that he/she possesses hope, and old to the extent that he/she has lost it.


AS the Daishonin’s followers, therefore, we have nothing to fear in either life or death. Time and again, we are able to experience joy in death, and exults in gaining rapid rebirth – such is the journey over the eternity of life for those who believes in the Mystic Law.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

25th December

WHEN you have given your all to a struggle, you are filled with a deep sense of satisfaction and joy. That is because you have met the challenge, conquered your limitations, and experienced the great drama of life and human revolution. The face of a person who has strived on without reserve glows. It is lit by the radiance of a lofty spirit dedicated to working for the welfare of friends, fellow members and all humanity.


TO live in accord with the Mystic Law is to live a life as vast as the cosmos itself. No matter what happens, we can view things with serenity and composure. Directing our energies towards fulfilling our mission to help all people become happy, we can freely manifest our innate wisdom and ability, and victoriously overcome all obstacles.


ONE who always returns to the attitude of a beginner, challenging himself/herself to make further efforts, and who struggles to develop himself/herself further and to produce a better literary work, can muster up a dynamic spirit which enables him/her to improve continuously.


FORGE a solid self and develop within you the power to attract happiness to your life. Then you yourself will be happy and fulfilled, and you will be able to lead your family, your relatives and your friends to happiness too.


THE “great power of faith” of which Nichiren Daishonin spoke is like a mighty engine. With it, we can speed powerfully along the highway of life. Since we have been born in this world, we may as well set our sights on a grand objective and enjoy ourselves as we confidently and serenely climb the mountain of glorious personal achievement. If we are weak, life is a drag. We should make our way with the pride and resolve, “I am the SGI. No matter what anyone says, I am a representative of this great organisation.”


THE Daishonin compared the joyous and happy state of death that lies in store for those who practise faith in the Mystic Law to the majestic scene of the sun dispelling the darkness and illuminating the entire world. Death, in other words, far from being a cause for unease and fear, is a grand journey in which one experiences great peace of mind and satisfaction.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

24th December

YOU may think that it is fine to practise by yourself, without being bothered by anybody. You may find it pleasant to have no responsibilities. However, such as attitude will not allow you to carry out the true faith, practice and study of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. Without an organisation, you cannot keep your practice on the right track, nor can you train or polish each other in faith; nor develop or improve your faith.


WHAT matters is faith. What matters is our heart. Even if individuals enjoy fame and social standing, if their hearts and minds are at odds with the true spirit of faith, they will eventually end up straying from the path of happiness. The Daishonin said, "If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth." (MW1, p93) To be "of the same mind as Nichiren" is to lead a life of the greatest integrity and happiness.


THE sun does not discriminate. Likewise, the Buddhism of the sun is completely impartial. People, who give the appearance of having faith in this Buddhism, yet act in a discriminatory manner against others, should be viewed as devilish functions bent on destroying the Buddhism of the sun.


THE entire universe is like your own personal bank account. The amount of fortune we can withdraw depends solely on our faith. Faith means battling life’s negative functions. Justice means struggling against adversity.


TO become happy not only ourselves, but to enable others to become happy as well; to bring harmony to our local communities; and to help our nations flourish and bring peace to the whole world – the lives of those who pray and work to achieve these goals pulse with faith that is dedicated to realising kosen-rufu.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

23rd December

THERE are no obstacles that cannot be overcome by chanting daimoku. There are no deadlocks in Buddhism. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the "wonderful means" for breaking through all obstacles and opening up our lives limitlessly with courage and composure. That is why the Daishonin urged, "Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other." (MW1, p246)


THE vast universe, and our own lives as well, are entities of the Ten Worlds and the three thousand realms. When we devote ourselves to the fundamental law of the universe, the Gohonzon, the life of Buddhahood will arise within us. It is our daily efforts in Buddhist practice and faith that serve as the basis to solidify within ourselves the indestructible life-condition of Buddhahood.


THE Mystic Law is a truly wondrous Law. Those who live their lives in rhythm with the Mystic Law will enjoy complete fulfilment and contentment. Even the desires in the very depth of your heart will definitely be fulfilled on some form. I hope you will show proof of this through your lives.


REAL freedom ultimately hinges on what you decide to dedicate yourself to with all your heart. It does not mean loafing around with nothing to do. It is not spending money like water. It is not having all the free time in the world. It is not taking long vacations. Doing only as you please and desire is not freedom; it is nothing more than self-indulgence. True freedom lies in the ongoing challenge to develop yourself, to achieve your chosen goal. This path is paved with the glittering gold of freedom.


DURING Nichiren Daishonin's lifetime, cowardly disciples discarded their faith and turned against him. There is nothing more pitiful and despicable. We must never abandon out faith. We will only lose out if we do so. Since we are here on Earth, let us live our lives striving to achieve kosen-rufu and accumulate immense good fortune and benefits.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.

22nd December

YOU will naturally meet various kinds of hardships in the course of your practice. However, when you continue to make patient, constructive efforts based on faith in the Law of Myoho, you will, without fail, come to lead a life that is filled with satisfaction and benefit.


DOING gongyo and chanting daimoku are for our own benefit. They are our right. You should not feel pressurised or view them as constraint. It is time to make gradual effort in mastering gongyo and increasing the amount of daimoku you chant, for the most important thing is to continue one's practice of faith without ceasing just like "flowing water".


NICHIREN Daishonin said, "A coward cannot have any of his/her prayers answered." (MW1, p246) If you have cowardly faith, you are not a disciple of the Daishonin. If you have cowardly faith, you cannot receive truly great benefit no matter how much you pray.


WE are bound to encounter cowardly and unpleasant people in society, but no matter how others may behave, let us create our own personal history that is free of all regrets. As "champions" of kosen-rufu, let us exert ourselves freely on life's stage throughout the four seasons, armed with pride, hope, purpose and deep fulfilment.


THE life philosophy of Buddhism is a magnificent system of thought that provides a firm basis for respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life. When this teaching spreads around the world, it surely will act as the most powerful force for preventing the outbreak of war.

NOTE: Visit http://nichirendaishoningosho.blogspot.com/ for Nichiren Daishonin's gosho, On Reprimanding Hachiman.