President Ikeda's Guidance for Today

Wednesday February 12th, 2014

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 behavior 

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.

Thank you for emailing this to me every day Nalini Prakash! 

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