Daily Guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

WHEN viewed through the eyes of Buddhism, everything has profound meaning. We must not lament our situations. As long as we have strong, courageous faith, we can definitely transform all hardships into something positive, turning poison into medicine. Please engrave these words of Nichiren Daishonin in your heart, and continue advancing resolutely forward, no matter what happens.


YOU do not normally receive your pay cheque at the end of your first day at work. The sapling you planted today is not a mighty oak. If our prayers were automatically answered; with no true, deep prayer on our part, without desperate life-to-death effort, we would become spoiled and useless. If that is how it works, our practice of Buddhism would not make us into people of outstanding character; it would destroy us.


WE are not alone and without friends. We can confidently overcome difficulties and turn everything into an impetus towards happiness. When one has a firm conviction of this, one will experience a sense of boundless courage; one will not be afraid of anything. Those who fear nothing are happy people.


IN any human relation, we must speak exactly as our conviction dictates, without a single cloud in our heart. That is a wonderful, invigorating way to live. And based on such a way of life, the bonds of the family, the bonds of comrades in faith are strengthened.


NO matter what sufferings or difficulties you may experience, you should never lose hope. Even if you may temporarily suffer from the devil of illness or financial difficulty, your heart should always be aglow with indestructible hope.

Vow for a Kosen Rufu Life Partner

This was sent to me from a reader in India. She says it has helped many to achieve their dreams of attaining a KosenRufu life partner. 

The Solemn Pledge and Prayer based on the Mystic Law

Gohonzon, I pledge to spread the Mystic Law. I take a solemn vow to work for the happiness of all sentient beings and the advancement of kosen-rufu. I determine to recognize, arouse, manifest, and respect my Buddhahood as well as that of others. 

Gohonzon, I determine to welcome you in my home. Give me a home where I could enshrine and protect you in complete grace and honor. Give me a home where I can work for kosen-rufu and can hold and host Gakkai meetings and activities freely. Give me the life partner who supports and promotes the cause of kosen-rufu.

I am now happily united and married to my true love and kosen-rufu partner. He is a nice, wise, kind, healthy, happy, handsome, responsible, dependable, and prosperous young man, who approves of and supports me in all the areas of life… in all my Gakkai activities. We work together for the spread of the Law and attainment of kosen-rufu. We love, value, trust, respect, appreciate, and accept each other from heart, mind, body, and soul. We are true and honest to each other and have a beautiful, mutually enriching, and deeply fulfilling relationship. All the other distractions and obstacles melt down and fade away of their own accord amicably from our life. 

Our union is supported, protected, promoted, and blessed by Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the Sun and the Moon and all the positive and protective forces of the Universe. We perceive, feel, hear, understand, and respond to each other’s Buddha nature… Gohonzon, make my KRLP emerge and let us recognize and unite with each other. My KRLP contacts me today and we both respond well to each other. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Gohonzon, I determine to enter the institution of marriage in perfect faith, enthusiasm, happiness, and confidence in my own and my partner’s worth. I feel complete appreciation and respect for myself and my partner. I love myself, I respect myself, I value myself, I cherish myself, I appreciate myself, I accept myself completely. I am thankful and grateful for my life and everything that I have got in my life. I pray and determine to get connected and engaged to my Kosen-rufu life partner by 3rd May 2014 or_____________. 

We both love, respect, understand, cooperate, and appreciate each other in every aspect of life. I determine to have the wisdom, courage and opportunities to make the right choice at the right time regarding my marriage and life partner. Through my happy and successful married life, I determine to encourage and show the actual proof of the benefits obtained from the power of the Mystic Law to all the YWD members of SGI and others.

I determine to discard the transient and reveal the True in all areas of my life. When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated. Similarly, when one knows the Lotus Sutra, one understands the meaning of all worldly affairs. The one who chants Lotus Sutra will never have a twisted mind. I demand clarity and wisdom. 

I demand protection from all the positive forces of the Universe. Gohonzon, put me on my correct path.. in the orbit of righteousness, happiness and contentment. I call upon Brahma, Shakra and the gods of Sun and Moon to enter my life and illuminate it ... I must take the right decision at the right time.. I have a mission as the Bodhisattva of the Earth and everything’s going to be the very best. I am going to get married to my KRP in the most beautiful and harmonious manner. “This sutra can fulfill their desires, as a clear cool pond can satisfy all those who are thirsty,” and “They will enjoy peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences.”

Gohonzon, I am determined to have a KR marriage, a KR husband, a KR home, and a life dedicated to the spread of the Mystic Law and the attainment of kosen-rufu. I am a Bodhisattva of the Earth.. I pledge to work for the Law.. to complete my mission. The core of my life is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Illuminated by the Mystic Law, I soar like a Queen and attract, accept, and enjoy all the good fortunes of every kind from all the directions of the Universe.. Thank You Gohonzon.. Thank you so much… 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo .. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo .. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 

Signed By:    

Dated:          

We ARE Attaining Buddhahood, RIght Here, Right Now

"What does attaining Buddhahood mean for us? 
It does not mean 
that one day we suddenly turn into a Buddha 
or become magically enlightened. 
In a sense, attaining Buddhahood 
means that we have securely entered the path, 
or orbit, of Buddhahood inherent in the cosmos. 
Rather than a final static destination 
at which we arrive and remain, 
achieving enlightenment 
means firmly establishing 
the faith needed to keep advancing 
along the path of absolute happiness, 
limitlessly, 
without end." 

Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow, page 205. 

We are Attaining Buddhahood
By Jamie Lee Silver, from Chantforhappiness.com

Every time we chant 
we are attaining Buddhahood. 
Every time we pray our silent prayers 
we are attaining Buddhahood. 
Every time we encourage others 
we are attaining Buddhahood. 
Every time we wake up and say 
"No! I will NOT be defeated. 
I will redetermine to win. I will not give up!"
we are attaining Buddhahood. 
Every time we write our thoughts and determinations 
we are attaining Buddhahood. 
Every time we smile ~ 
even when we are sad ~ even when we are happy ~ 
we are attaining Buddhahood.
Every time we say 
"Hon-nim-myo" from this moment forth I will rise! 
we are attaining Buddhahood. 

May you have a victorious - energetic - Daimoku-powered day!

Chicago's Green River for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day 

is a big holiday in Chicago. 

We have multiple parades and celebrations. 

I thought you might enjoy the photo. 

Every year, yes, 

Chicago dyes the Chicago river GREEN! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

March 16th ~ When the Youth Accepted the Mission of Kosen Rufu

I love that quote above by Daisaku Ikeda.

On march 16th 6,000 youth came from every corner of Japan - at a moment's notice to rise in all their glory and accept the torch of Kosen Rufu from Josei Toda before he died. The disciples showed up in the morning. In the rain. In the cold. To say YES We will fight for Kosen Rufu! We will take what you have given us. We will show the proof of your teaching and we will change the world. We owe so much to these young, strong, visionary young men. And the BEST way we can show our appreciation is to continue to introduce and foster the youth. It is up to all of us!

From the SGI:


March 16 is a symbolic day for Soka Gakkai and SGI members, commemorating the occasion on March 16, 1958, when Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, then in frail health, made an impassioned speech to 6,000 Soka Gakkai youth, entrusting them with the responsibility for the future of the Soka Gakkai and its efforts to contribute to the creation of a peaceful world and promote understanding of the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism. In particular, Toda's closest follower, Daisaku Ikeda (current SGI President), took on this responsibility, eventually becoming the third president of the Soka Gakkai in 1960 at the age of 32 and helping to develop the Soka Gakkai as a movement promoting peace, culture and education.

Toda passed away on April 2, 1958, just two weeks after the March 16 gathering, confident that his efforts would be continued by the youth in whom he had great trust. The previous year, on September 8, 1957, he had issued a Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons at a meeting of 50,000 Soka Gakkai youth at Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama, calling on those present to take responsibility for carrying on the struggle against these inhumane weapons which he termed a threat to humanity's right to live.

March 16 is now viewed within the Soka Gakkai and the SGI as a day of new departures, "of eternal beginnings and perpetual hope." It is also an occasion for focusing on fostering capable youth.

Mr. Ikeda has stated, "It is a time when people renew their profound resolution to accomplish kosen-rufu, a time when they put their minds together and make a fresh start." The Japanese phrase kosen-rufu is often interpreted as "world peace through individual happiness." It signifies a vision of social peace brought about by the widespread acceptance of core values such as unfailing respect for the dignity of human life. On an individual level, it involves the construction of a state of life of indestructible happiness through a process of "human revolution" or inner-motivated change. On a broader societal level, it means building a peaceful society through contribution to their families and local communities made by individuals who are actively transforming their own lives.

Around the world, SGI members celebrate March 16 by holding commemorative meetings led by youth members. This spirit is also carried on by the youth members of SGI through various peace-related initiatives, such as the following:

Commanding Your Life, A Great Gosho Passage

Every month the Living Buddhism Magazine( published by the SGI and available by calling 800-835-4558) has some of my favorite Gosho passages of all time. 

In the 2013 February edition, Nichiren Daishonin has been persecuted by the government and is being taken away to Tatsunokuchi Beach to be beheaded. On the way, he sees a stature of Hachiman, one of the Buddhist Deities which are functions within our own lives. 

He makes the entourage stop so he can address the statue. 

What I love about this is that he basically yells at the Buddhist God and says you had better show your support to me RIGHT NOW because that is the pledge you made. If I die I will report you! Of course, when Nichiren is taken to the beach to be beheaded, a huge orb comes out of the sky lighting up the faces of his would-be assassins, they all run scared, and he is saved from death. 

The point I like to make is Nichiren's indignant attitude when he addresses the statue. We can all have pray like this in front of our own Gohonzons with fury and with fire. 

We can all summon this fiery attitude at the crucial moment - we are ALL dignified votaries of the Lotus Sutra, we can all command the fundamental forces that are within our lives and represented on the Gohonzon. 

Here is the passage: 

'Great Boddhisatva Hachiman, are you truly a god?...Now I, Nichiren, and the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in all of Japan, and am entirely without guilt. I have expounded the doctrine to save all the people of Japan from falling into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering for slandering the LotusSutra....When Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutra, Many Treasures Buddha and the Buddhas and Boddhisatvas of the ten-directions gathered, shining like so many suns and moons, stars and mirrors. Int he presence of the countless heavenly gods as well as the benevolent deities and sages of India, China and Japan. Shakyamuni Buddha urged each one to submit a written pledge to protect the votary of the Lotus Sutra at all times. Each and every one of you gods made this pledge. I should not have to remind you. Why do you not appear at once to fulfill your solemn oath? ....If I am executed tonight and go to the pure land of Eagle Peak, I will dare to report to Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, that the Sun Goddess and Great Boddhisatva Hachiman are the deities who have broken their oath to him. If you feel this will go hard with you, you had better do something about it right away!' (WND - 1, 766-67)

Daily Guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

Thursday
13th March

NICHIREN DAISHONIN'S Buddhism teaches faith that is dedicated to
advancing kosen-rufu. Faith equals daily life. Therefore, as long as
we persevere in faith that is committed to kosen-rufu, it is possible
for us to be successful and victorious in our daily life and in
society, no matter what trying times we may find ourselves in at
present.


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 True Cause, the Buddhism of the present
and the future. We do not dwell on the past. We are always challenging
ourselves from the present towards the future.


THE truly valiant person tries to triumph over any situation, no
matter how unfavourable. Excuses are a mark of the weak. Buddhism is
victory, so we must triumph in the real world, all the while remaining
true to our convictions.


JUST as a tree that lived a thousand years last another thousand years
after it has been cut, happiness will continue and endure to the
extent that we suffer to attain it. We acquire blessings and merits to
the degree that we devote ourselves to Buddhist practice. Neither
clever schemes nor tactfulness will achieve anything. You must on no
account lead such a meaningless, frivolous life.


IT is our power of faith and power of practice that enables us to tap
the absolute and boundless power of the Buddha and power of the Law of
the Gohonzon. In this connection, your sincere, strong faith is most
important. Therefore, we should maintain ever-advancing faith and
practice throughout our life.Dail