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These excerpts are from “For Today and Tomorrow,” a book of daily inspirationals by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for November 1
The Daishonin has taught us that through gongyo and chanting daimoku we can reach an elevated state in which, while engaged in our daily lives, we travel throughout the entire universe. When you worship the Gohonzon, the door to your microcosm is opened to the entire universe, the macrocosm, and you experience a great, boundless joy, as if you were looking out over the entire cosmos. You feel great satisfaction and rejoicing, a great wisdom, as if you held the entire universe in your palm.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 31
It is only natural that sometimes we fall sick. But we must see that sickness as a sickness that originally exists in life, based on the principle of the Mystic Law. In other words, there is no reason to allow yourself to be controlled by illness, for it to fill your life with suffering and distress. From the standpoint of eternal life through the three existences, your fundamentally happy self is incontrovertibly established.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 30
The Gohonzon is the concrete manifestation of the very existence of Nichiren Daishonin, who taught kosen-rufu. Because of that, if you only practice gongyo and chant daimoku and don’t take any other action for the sake of kosen-rufu or improving your own life, the Gohonzon will not have its true, full effect. If, however, you take actions to achieve kosen-rufu, they will serve as that extra push for your own life and help you leap to higher and higher states of mind in your gongyo and chanting as well.
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SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 29
Gongyo is a practice that calls forth and activates the infinite power that the microcosm inherently possesses. It transforms your fate, breaks through any apparent dead ends and converts sufferings into happiness. It creates a transformation, a revolution of the microcosm. It is a diagram in miniature of kosen-rufu in our lives.
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SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 28
It may seem perfectly all right to put ourselves and our own wishes first, to simply follow the dictates of our emotions and cravings, but the truth is that there is nothing more unreliable than our own mind. Life doesn’t always go like clockwork and things will not necessarily turn out as we hope or plan. Consequently, Nichiren Daishonin frequently stressed: You should become the master of your mind, not let your mind master you. We mustn’t allow ourselves to be ruled by a self-centered mind. Rather, we have to discipline our mind and gain mastery over it. This is the Daishonin’s strict admonition.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 27
Whether we regard difficulties in life as misfortunes or whether we view them as good fortune depends entirely on how much we have forged our inner determination. It all depends on our attitude or inner state of life. With a dauntless spirit, we can lead a cheerful and thoroughly enjoyable life. We can develop a “self” of such fortitude that we can look forward to life’s trials and tribulations with a sense of profound elation and joy: “Come on obstacles! I’ve been expecting you! This is the chance that I’ve been waiting for!”
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 26
I hope that, basing yourself on faith, you will become wealthy people of virtue and influence who are widely respected. I would like to add, however, that worldly success is not equivalent to true happiness. Achieving this requires that we have a profound understanding of the nature of life. A person of success in the true sense is one who can enjoy a free and unrestrained state of life.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 25
It is the sharp sword of the Mystic Law and the great power of faith that enable us to completely sever the chains of suffering. Therefore, I wish to make it clear that to secure eternal freedom and happiness, you must absolutely not be cowardly, especially in faith.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 24
The only way to succeed is by first bringing to completion that which is most immediate. This principle applies in all affairs-in our daily lives, our work and our families as well as in the progress of kosen-rufu.
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SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 23
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 in the depths of your life.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 22
The main point is to enable one member to stand up by imparting heartfelt assurance and understanding. It is the explosion of faith in the microcosm of an individual that causes the macrocosm of the organization-a gathering of many such individuals-to commence its revolution. This is how the doctrine of a life-moment possesses 3,000 realms applies to our practice.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 21
The mentality of getting others to do the hard work while one sits back and takes it easy-that is bureaucratism at its worst; it is not faith. The spirit of taking on the hard work oneself-that is faith, that is humanism.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 20
President Toda detested formality. And for this reason, as his disciple, I have tried to place foremost emphasis on substance. Formalities are important in certain cases, but mere formality without substance is evil. Formalities in and of themselves have no life; whereas substance is alive. Formality is provisional and substance essential. Formality is conventional and therefore conservative, but substance provides the impetus for progress and development.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 19
No matter what happens, please continue to chant daimoku-in both good times and bad, irrespective of joys or sorrows, happiness or suffering. Then you will be able to seize victory in your daily life and in society.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 18
A victor is one whose life shines with faith. Emerson, one of the favorite writers of my youth, once said, “That which befits us…is cheerfulness and courage, and the endeavor to realize our aspirations.” To advance toward our dreams cheerfully, to courageously work toward achieving them-this is what gives sublime meaning and value to our lives.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 17
I hope that each of you will study broadly and develop your understanding of life, society and the universe, based on your faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. This type of learning enables you to cultivate a rich state of life, or inner world, drawing forth profound wisdom and limitless leadership ability from the depths of your life.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 16
Intellect will play a very important role in the coming age. By intellect I mean refined wisdom, clear reasoning, profound philosophy and broad-ranging knowledge. We are entering an age when people will develop their intelligence and wisdom, infusing society with their new outlook.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 15
There is no need to be impatient. Anything that is accomplished quickly and easily will not long endure. Now is the time to concentrate on the construction of a solid foundation. I hope you will complete this work slowly but surely, filled with hope and joy.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 14
True joy is to be found in working for kosen-rufu, in practicing and taking action for the happiness of oneself and others. The greatest joy in life is to be found in SGI activities. Our activities for kosen-rufu become memories that shine ever more brilliantly in our lives as time goes by.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 13
Once we have attained Buddhahood, we will be Buddhas in lifetime after lifetime. We will enjoy a state of absolute freedom throughout eternity. The Daishonin’s golden words say so. This is the reason we practice faith.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 12
The Gohonzon encompasses the entire universe. Therefore, we who believe in and chant daimoku to the Gohonzon can live out our lives with the greatest serenity and composure. Please be confident that through faith in the Mystic Law we can definitely lead a wonderful and unsurpassed existence.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 11
It is important to have a sufficiently elevated life-condition so that you will be able to calmly accept whatever happens in life, striving to put problems into proper perspective and solving them with a positive attitude. Happiness blossoms forth from such a strong and all-encompassing life-condition.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 10
It doesn’t matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating a life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day. And the growth and transformation we achieve in this way can convince people of the greatness of the Daishonin’s Buddhism more eloquently than anything else.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 9
There may be times, certainly, when being a member of an organization seems bothersome and we just want to be alone. But how sad it is if we are left alone without any support and then lose our faith. True growth comes from striving together with our fellow members in the living realm of human beings, experiencing the rich gamut of human emotions.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 8
When you encounter a wall, you should tell yourself, “Since there is a wall here, a wide, open expanse must lie on the other side.” Rather than becoming discouraged, know that encountering a wall is proof of the progress that you have made so far. I hope that you will continually advance in your Buddhist practice with this conviction blazing ever more strongly in your heart.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 7
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 that are made in the present. The important thing, therefore, is that we stand up and take action to achieve great objectives without allowing ourselves to be distracted or discouraged by immediate difficulties.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 6
Mr. Toda once told me: “You can make a defeat the cause for future victory. You can also make victory the cause for future defeat.” The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is the Buddhism of the True Cause, the Buddhism of the present and future. We don’t dwell on the past. We are always challenging ourselves from the present toward the future. “The whole future lies ahead of us! We have only just begun!”-because we advance with this spirit, we will never be deadlocked.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 5
Nichiren Daishonin said to one of his lay followers: “I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province. Because the seeds of Buddhahood sprout in response to the proper influence, one expounds the teaching of the one vehicle”
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 4
We are people of faith and faith is the ultimate conviction. Nothing could be sadder nor more shortsighted, therefore, than complaining or giving up when we encounter some small obstacle in our path. A genuine Buddhist is a person of wisdom and conviction.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 3
Never be shaken, no matter what happens or what others may say. Never be flustered; never lose confidence. This is the way we should strive to live our lives. Being able to do so is a sign of genuine character.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 2
Please make every effort to find and raise capable people. My wish is that you construct a wonderful organization, joyfully building growing spheres of friendship and a solidarity of people who cherish hope for life and the future. Please lead the most wonderful of lives.
SGI President Ikeda’s Daily Encouragement for October 1
I hope that leaders will earnestly pray for the prosperity, safety and happiness of the members who are all so infinitely noble and praiseworthy. May you also never forget to develop yourselves and pray to become people who are liked and trusted by the members, who can work unstintingly for the members’ happiness and well-being.
