12th February

BUDDHISM teaches "attaining Buddhahood without changing your original state". This means that we ordinary people in the nine states of being can attain Buddhahood as we are, in our original states. We can attain a state of absolute happiness, here, now, in the midst of this very life.


TO be swayed by one's destiny is most regrettable. However, when you continue to chant daimoku to the Gohonzon sincerely, you will develop the wisdom to change yourself for the better and build a life that is directed towards happiness. This is in accord with the principle of "substituting faith for wisdom" (ishin daie).


HAUGHTINESS and harsh language or behaviour are evidence of one's lack of culture. In Buddhism, those who are wise are termed human beings, while those who are foolish and vain are naught but animals.


THERE may be some people who, for one reason or another, have no room in their hearts to enjoy the beauty of flowers. They come home from work, complain about their day and go to sleep. We can try to help them change their mindset by drawing their attention to the beauty of flowers or of a work of art. That often is enough to get them to open their hearts and minds to all sorts of new possibilities.


WORDS are very important. Leaders in particular must be very careful about what they say. Words are decisive. As it said in the Gosho, "The voice does the Buddha's work." (Gosho Zenshu, p400) Our words reveal our character, our wisdom and our attitude towards life.

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

11th February

THE Gosho stated, "Even if one should become master of his mind, he should not make his mind the master of his life." Instead of basing ourselves on or mind, which easily changes from moment to moment, we should make the fundamental, unchanging principle of Myoho the master of our mind. This is the essential teaching of Buddhism.


NICHIREN DAISHONIN said that within the self that upholds the Mystic Law is a palace of life. The purpose of Buddhist practice is to open that magnificently adorned palace; it is entirely for your own sake. When you are aware of that, everything is transformed into joy. It is a right.


AS long as one perseveres with strong faith, times of the greatest difficulty will become times of the greatest opportunity. A person of strong faith is able to "change poison into medicine", thereby accumulating limitless good fortune. For this reason, no matter what may happen, we have nothing to fear. In difficult times, all we need to do is summon forth still stronger faith.


MR TODA asserted, "If you base yourself on faith, you can come to terms with things that you can't come to terms with intellectually." The key is deciding how you will live your life and then devoting all your strength and energy towards doing just that. This is what faith is all about. This is the life of a person who possesses a solid philosophy.


KOSEN-RUFU is an undertaking that we must pursue in society, in the real world. If we stand apart from society and just utter fine-sounding rhetoric, it will have no value. Kosen-rufu is an indomitable struggle for peace and justice in which we must strive unceasingly against the negative and destructive forces found in the real world.

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

10th February

YOUR daimoku must include the two aspects of faith and practice, which are like the two wheels of a cart or the two wings of a bird. Of course, it is important to chant daimoku to the Gohonzon with deep faith. You will undoubtedly receive benefit from doing so. But it is important that the daimoku you chant be accompanied by correct practice. It is a question of whether you are equally devoted to practising for the sake of kosen-rufu.


LET us lead lives of eternal victory, indestructible lives of unshakeable conviction. This is the most meaningful life a human being can live. There is no greater teaching than Buddhism. A life that embodies the teachings of Buddhism is a life of ultimate value.


IF a person is hungry, we should give him/her bread to eat. When there is no bread, we can at least give words that nourish. To a person who looks ill or is physically frail, we can turn the conversation to some subject that will lift his/her spirit and fill him/her with hope and determination to get better.


ONE may sincerely believes oneself to be practising Buddhism, but if one does not tell others about Buddhism, neglects to make actions for kosen-rufu, and gives no encouragement to fellow members, then one cannot be said to be correctly practising the Daishonin's Buddhism.


THE basic form of the propagation of the Buddhist Law is an activity among the people, with the people as its object. With that as the basic presupposition, we must look objectively at the times and the societies we live in and select the most effective actions for accomplishing that.

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

9th February

NO matter how much you may be suffering now, please be convinced that in the long run you will definitely accumulate great fortune, happiness, glory and victory in your life with the Gohonzon. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to realise that true faith lies in carrying out your practice of true Buddhism until the last moment of your life, no matter what.


EVERYTHING has a meaning if seen through the eyes of faith. As long as you have faith, everything that happens will act as a springboard to your own eventual triumph, even though you may not exactly see how that is so at the time. When you are sure of this, your life will be one of great and basic happiness.


IT is important to ponder how we can keep alive a constant freshness and create an invigorating atmosphere, so that we ourselves as well as others can set forth with renewed determination. Generally speaking, where leaders are sensitive to the feelings of others, everyone will be happy and content.


BUDDHISM, of course, teaches that "the mind is like a skilled painter". Like a skilled painter, the mind can freely draw and portray anything at will. Consequently, life itself is a great painting created by the mind. It is a work of art that our minds produce.


KOSEN-RUFU is an undertaking that we must pursue in society, in the real world. If we stand apart from society and just utter fine-sounding rhetoric, it will have no value. Kosen-rufu is an indomitable struggle for peace and justice in which we must strive unceasingly against the negative and destructive forces around in the real world.

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

8th February

WE are who we are. Our life is our own. It is important that we discard a cowardly animalistic way of life - where we are always worried about what others say or do or about how we might appear to others - and instead live with confidence and conviction.


THIS lifetime will never come again; it is precious and irreplaceable. To live without regret, it is crucial for us to have a concrete purpose and continually set goals and challenges for ourselves. It is equally important that we keep moving towards those specified targets steadily and tenaciously, one step at a time.


THOSE whose faith continues to move forward actively seek out and meet new people, spreading their circle of friendship. Those who have stopped growing, in contrast, become cowardly and close themselves off in their own shells.


THE progress of kosen-rufu, too, is in one respect a fierce battle of wisdom. A great wisdom is naturally inherent in a single-minded faith. A wisdom that actually expands our perspective and creates value is itself a crucial demonstration of faith.


WE were born onto the stage of this polluted world of the Latter Day of the Law, cherishing an earnest wish for the spread of Myoho. The Daishonin stated, "The three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat." Because we practise faith, obstacles will naturally appear. Then, if we read this passage from the standpoint of faith, we can feel joy in the depths of our lives.

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

7th February

YOUR posture and attitude while doing gongyo should always be one of dignity. Your gongyo should resound youthfully, giving courage and hope to your members who are followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth.


IN all things, wisdom is the key to victory. A wise person can make the best use of everything. He/she can make the first strike. He/she can see opportunities and take advantage of them. He/she can change negative into positive. Power may be limited, but wisdom is limitless.


IT is important to actively go out and meet people. Interaction with others opens up fresh, exciting possibilities. We can learn something new and broaden our horizons. Meeting people gives zest to life and stimulates our minds. Moreover, once the cycle has been started, one encounter gives way to other fresh encounters. Thus, meeting people is something all leaders must make their responsibility.


HOW to orientate your mind, the kind of attitude you take, greatly influences both you yourself and your environment. Through the power of strong inner resolve, we can transform ourselves, those around us and the land in which we live. When we change our attitude, we can change our circumstances. Buddhism teaches the principle of the oneness of life and its environment and that a single life moment contains three thousand realms.


PLEASE strive hard as a member of society in your own sphere of activities, in your work-place and your community, always basing yourself on faith and become the kind of person of whom others speak with admiration and praise. I would like each of you to become a person who is respected and trusted by all. This is kosen-rufu. Causing people trouble and engaging in duplicity, on the other hand, degrades Buddhism and constitutes slander of the Law.

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

6th February

THERE is no way of life as noble, happy, or supremely joyous as this, and it exists nowhere else but in the world of the SGI, an organisation dedicated to teaching others about the Mystic Law.


A personal awareness is very important. When we do something, we should do it whole-heartedly and on our own initiative, not dragging our feet and only taking action because someone has told us to. Personal awareness means a self-awakening. The deeper your own awareness, the more your horizons will expand, and the more profound your life will become.


A coward in the end will be miserable. Nichiren Daishonin said, "A coward cannot have any of his/her prayers answered." (MW 1, p246) No matter how much you may practise faith, if you are cowardly, then your prayers will not be answered. Even if you have the mighty sword (of the Lotus Sutra), unless you unsheathe it and wield it boldly, you will not be able to cut through anything.


THE stronger the opponents, the greater the merits we acquire at their defeat. The more difficulties we face, the closer we approach the state of achieving Buddhahood. I want you all to march forward with hearts aflame with bravery and courage and with the pride that we are creating a new future for humanity.


FAITH is the source of power which enables one to become rich at heart, rich in wisdom and lead a prosperous daily life, thereby contributing to the prosperity of one's community. Honour or fame in no way guarantees happiness. Neither does academic achievement or physical appearance. The greatest wealth lies in chanting daimoku.

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

5th February

NEVER allow yourself to be spoiled, for that way inevitably leads to defeat in life. You must deepen your faith and polish your life while studying and experiencing repeated struggles.


BUDDHISM is primarily concerned with victory or defeat. Life is a contest. In a contest you can only win or lose; it must be one or the other. If you lose, no manner of excuses will make up for it. Complaining will only make you unhappier.


WHEN we encounter obstacles and persecution, it is all the more crucial that we exert ourselves with even greater determination. The more tempestuous the wind that buffets us, the more we must press on with even stronger faith and conviction. This is the behaviour of a true disciple of Nichiren Daishonin.


"TREASURING the Gosho" does not mean never touching it and leaving it closed all the time! Nichiren Daishonin taught that embracing the Gohonzon is itself enlightenment. Having faith in the Gohonzon is fundamental. And, in fact, only through strong faith that seamlessly fused with study of the Gosho can we truly be enlightened and accomplish our human revolution.


OUR study of Buddhism is something that is deepened and strengthened with the passing of times as we grow in faith and life experience. The efforts you are making to study the teachings of Buddhism now are certain to illuminate your lives, not only in this existence, but for all eternity.

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

4th February

THE world at peace and all humanity living together in harmony is the dream and hope of the 21st century. The surest first step towards realising that goal is human beings reaching out and engaging in dialogue that transcends all differences.


WHETHER you are happy, sad or suffering, if you chant honestly to the Gohonzon with the feelings in your heart, your life will naturally proceed in the best direction.


VICTORY is born of the leaders' all-out efforts and resolute stand-alone spirit. All it takes is just one such person. A successful outcome depends on individuals who are determined to continue moving forward and exerting themselves undaunted - never stopping or retreating, come what may.


UNLESS we study, we will be blind to the realities of society and the world. In that state, we cannot attain the kosen-rufu that will reach out to society at large. Nor will we grasp the profundity of Buddhism itself. Worst of all, we ourselves will become pitiful losers.


WHEN you persevere in faith throughout your life, without begrudging your life, you can attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Then you can build an eternally indestructible "self" based on the condition of Buddhahood that spans lifetime after lifetime. If you give up your faith along the way, however, this condition of Buddhahood, which should shine on for eternity, will be extinguished.

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

3rd February

KEEP your daily faith fresh and abreast of the times. This is faith, and the road to vital progress. A tired life-condition means you are defeated.


THE Lotus Sutra teaches the principle of ichinen sanzen. The power of the macrocosm of existence is encompassed in the Mystic Law. That is why there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome, no fate that we cannot transform through the power of the mind of faith. An organisation, too, is basically a reflection of the mind of the people at its core.


STEADY efforts are important. Through our own persistent efforts in our practice of faith, we can create an indomitable condition of eternal happiness in our lives. Advancing a little further and accumulating a little more benefit day by day is the key to finding unshakeable happiness. This principle holds true in other fields of human endeavour as well.


FAITH enables us to secure ultimate victory. It enables us to live out our lives with vigour and joy and to strive to improve ourselves and become the very best people we can be. Moreover, faith enables us to walk through life with complete assurance and confidence, unafraid of anything.


"COME, let us take action!" "Let us work for kosen-rufu!" "Let us expand our SGI network!" Joy resides in such a bright, positive spirit. Those who strive gladly for kosen-rufu and for the welfare of their friends savour true happiness.

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