Mr. Toda taught me an important leadership lesson: “You cannot become a powerful driving force for our movement unless you always remember to be strict with yourself and generous and accepting of others.” From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 296
It’s fine to just read the Daishonin’s writings a little bit at a time. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand everything at first. What matters is to keep trying to read the Daishonin’s writings and steadily engraving them in your life. Over time, as you repeat that process, you will create a solid core … …
Death is not the end of everything. Birth and death are both aspects of the eternity of life. The cycle of birth and death grounded in the Mystic Law is a drama unfolding on a great stage of life existing eternally. By striving for kosen-rufu, we can firmly establish a state of absolute happiness in … …
Human revolution is a revolution in our actions and behavior. It means to purposefully engage in behavior that is grounded in compassion, in actions that break free from the cycle of the six paths and bring us to the worlds of bodhisattvas and Buddhas. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised … …
What is the secret to longevity? Of course, individual differences must be taken into account, and there are many diverse opinions on this subject. But we of the Soka Gakkai would naturally agree that an important key to long life is our practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part … …
What will the future be like? No one knows the answer to that question. All we know is that the effects that will appear in the future are all contained in the causes we make in the present. The important thing, therefore, is that we stand up with a lofty purpose in our hearts, unswayed … …
When it comes to child-rearing, I’m sure many parents find that things don’t always go the way they hope. But don’t worry too much and just warmly support and accept your children. Look into their eyes and tell these young “emissaries from the future” that you care about them and trust them. From The Wisdom … …
The young women of Soka cherish a true philosophy and work alongside true comrades in faith to expand our circle of true friendship. They are walking a path to genuine happiness far superior to any enjoyed by those who seek only wealth or power. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised … …
Nichiren Buddhism is not a teaching in which the Daishonin alone shines like the sun. It is a teaching in which all of us can bring the sun of Buddhahood to rise in our lives just as he did. We are truly fortunate in that we can manifest the same brilliant life state of Buddhahood … …
Carrying out shakubuku is an expression of our belief in the Buddha nature within ourselves and others. It is an act of profound humanity and the highest respect for others. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 253