Great Quotes for Today

"Buddhism is about bringing happiness, 
joy and fulfillment to all. 
It enables us 
not only to become happy ourselves 
but to make causes 
for the enlightenment of our ancestors 
seven generations back 
and for the happiness and prosperity 
of our children, 
grandchildren 
and descendants throughout future generations. 
This is the great benefit of Buddhism."

For Today and Tomorrow by Daisaku Ikeda page 165

Commemorating Josei Toda, the Soka Gakkai's Second President

On April 2nd, 1958, Josei Toda passed away from this world. He was a great lion of happiness for the world. Daisaku Ikeda's beloved mentor, and the man who arose from being imprisoned for his refusal to support the Japanese War effort in WWII to bring millions hope through through chanting the Mystic Law:

From Joseitoda.org (click on this link for more)

Josei Toda (1900-58) was the second president of the Soka Gakkai, one of Japan's most influential lay Buddhist movements.

Based on the teachings of the 13th-century Buddhist reformerNichiren (1222-82), Toda developed a methodology of personal transformation called "Human Revolution" that has become the foundation underlying the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a worldwide organization of engaged Buddhists promoting peace and personal empowerment throughout the world.

The early years of Toda's career were spent as a teacher. At the age of 19, he encountered his mentor, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944), also an educator. Makiguchi was developing an educational theory (value-creating pedagogy) that was in stark contrast to the methods in use in Japan at the time, placing priority on the happiness of the children and inspiring in them the will to study, rather than the educational orthodoxy that sought to produce obedient subjects of the state. Toda became his enthusiastic helper and supporter in this endeavor. It was Toda who actualized many of Makiguchi's ideas, founding a school where innovative educational theories were implemented in classroom situations. Toda helped Makiguchi publish his major work, The System of Value-Creating Pedagogy.

In 1928, Makiguchi embraced Nichiren Buddhism. Its emphasis on human dignity was also consistent with Toda's own beliefs, and he too subsequently took faith. The publication in 1930 of The System of Value-Creating Pedagogy is recognized as the foundation by Makiguchi and Toda of an organization called Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Value-Creating Education Society), whose original aim was to promote Makiguchi's value-creating educational theories. The organization steadily developed into a body promoting social and religious reform through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, seeking to empower ordinary people to become self-reliant individuals.

Japan, however, had by this time embarked on a program of military expansion in Asia which culminated in its involvement in World War II. The militarist authorities viewed Soka Kyoiku Gakkai as a threat to their attempts to impose religious and thought control, and in 1943 Toda was detained along with Makiguchi and other leaders of the organization. Makiguchi died in prison while Toda was released shortly before the end of the war; both remained steadfast in their faith till the end. The experience of imprisonment was crucial in awakening Toda to his mission to encourage the widespread practice of Nichiren Buddhism in order to build the foundations for a peaceful society.

After emerging from prison, Toda set out to rebuild Soka Kyoiku Gakkai, which had been crushed during the war. The organization was now renamed Soka Gakkai (Society for the Creation of Value), a move that reflected a broad commitment to realizing global peace and the well-being of people of all walks of life and empowering individuals through Buddhist practice.

As second president, Toda developed the Soka Gakkai into one of Japan's most significant lay Buddhist associations, setting the stage for its growth into a dynamic worldwide grassroots movement. Toward the end of his life, he advocated a vision of global citizenship and, in 1957, issued a historic declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, entrusting the task of realizing his vision to young people.

Toda passed away on April 2, 1958. His major writings include the million-selling A Deductive Guide to Arithmetic and the novel Human Revolution. A man of unadorned and overflowing humanity, Toda embraced everyone he met with his passionate encouragement. His 58 years of life were dedicated to restoring and revitalizing the spirit of Buddhism in the present age. His convictions continue to inspire and inform the peace activism and social engagement of both the Soka Gakkai in Japan and the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) throughout the world.

Quotes from Josei Toda on Life:

1. "True greatness means that, even if you forget what you've done for others, you never forget what others have done for you. It means always doing your utmost to repay debts of gratitude. Such people radiate integrity, depth of character, bigheartedness and charm."

2. "You can either tell yourself, 'It's too hard, I don't think I'll be able to do it,' or 'Yes, I can do this. Let me at it!’ Only a fine line separates the two. But I'll tell you one thing: if you work like crazy, you'll come to display capabilities that you never knew you had--potentials that you always possessed, but never tapped."

3. "There are three standards for selecting a job: the three values of beauty, benefit and good. Everyone's ideal is to get a job they like (beauty), that is materially rewarding (benefit), and where you can contribute to society (good). The real world, however, is not as accommodating a place as you may think. Those who find a job that meets their ideal from the outset are doubtless few and far between. More often than not, people have to work at a job they never expected to have to do.

"Without running away from a disagreeable job, you should continue to work hard while praying to the Gohonzon. By continuing in this way, in the end you will definitely find yourself in a position that you like, that is profitable, and, moreover, that creates great good for society.

"Not only that, when you later look back on this period of struggle, you will see that none of your hard work was wasted, that your past efforts have all become precious assets. You will then understand that everything you have been through had meaning."

Faith is Triumphing Over Reality

(Thank you the Power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Facebook page!)

FAITH IS TRIUMPHING OVER REALITY

A young woman whose leg was disabled by polio and who was suffering from financial problems took guidance on her future career from Shin'ichi (President Ikeda). Shin'ichi said in a firm tone of voice wishing her to nurture a strong heart:

"FAITH ISN'T SENTIMENTALITY. 

CRYING WON'T SOLVE ANYTHING!"

"You have the Gohonzon ! 
You mustn't be swayed. What good is it to feel sorry for yourself because of your disability? 
No matter how much you pity yourself, 
it won't change anything. 
Everyone has some kind of problem to deal with. There is not one person in the world blessed with everything. To be a Soka Gakkai member is to bravely challenge every situation and circumstance and become a victor in life. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU; IT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE HAPPEN."

"If you really wish to be a teacher, then decide that you're going to, no matter what. If you don't have the money for college, you can work part time to pay for it. Or you can work during the day and go to night school.

"Dedicating your life to your mission is not some kind of idealistic talk, It isn't an intellectual game. Faith is realizing where you are and triumphing over reality. The light of faith shines in a person who surmounts difficulties.

"Your mission 
is to become the strongest, 
brightest, 
and most pure hearted of all, 
regardless of your circumstances, 
and to live a life 
in which you can declare 
that you are supremely happy."
Excerpt from The New Human Revolution - vol 9

The Secret to Achieving Your Human Revolution

The Secret 

to Achieving 

Your Human Revolution

"Pray that instead of devils 
or negative, destructive forces 
infiltrating your being, 
Brahma ("Bonten"in Japanese),
Shakra ("Taishaku" in Japanese),
and the gods of the Sun and the Moon
~ the positive, protective forces of the universe ~
will enter your life!
Pray that they will enter the lives 
of all members in your region
and the entire membership of the SGI, as well.
If you do this, 
your strength will multiply 
a hundredfold, a thousandfold.
With such prayer,
with such faith, 
you will realize a fundamental transformation
in the depths of your life. 
This is the secret to achieving your human revolution."

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, World Tribune, 9/8/2000

Write your victories to me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com!

One Sure Way to Experience Joy RIght Now!

"It is important that we live cheerfully 
with a strong spirit of optimism, 
we need to be able 
to continually direct our minds 
in a bright, 
positive 
and beneficial 
direction 
and help those around us to do so, too. 
We should strive to develop a state of life 
where we feel a sense of joy 
no matter what happens." 
From For Today and Tomorrow by Daisaku Ikeda, p.339

Nichiren Buddhists talk about something called Life Condition. What do we mean by this term? First of all, as Buddhists we believe that our environments and everything in it is a mirror of our inner life. So when we change our lives...our environment changes. That's  fundamental to Nichiren Buddhist belief. 

How can we change ourselves to change our environment? 

We Chant to Raise Our Life Condition, and to do our Human Revolution 

That's it. It sounds so simple because it IS simple. When we chant to raise our life condition our life condition changes. 
Life Condition consists of the TEN WORLDS:

Buddhahood
Boddhisatva
Realization
Learning
Rapture
Humanity
Anger
Animality
Hunger
Hell

Comprehensive explanations of the Ten Worlds can be found on the SGI-USA.ORG website and throughout the writings of Daisaku Ikeda. You can access the website here or by using the portal on the right of this post. 

Here is what I consider key:

I chant to experience life in the world of Buddhahood...to see through the eyes of the Buddha and feel with the heart of the Buddha. I chant to have the compassion and love of a Buddha...the Buddha that I am...the Buddha that you are. 
Go Buddha Go! You are unstoppable! 

PowerPrayer for Appreciating YourSelf!

Ultimately, 
Happiness rests 
on how you establish a solid sense of self or being. 
Happiness does not lie in outward appearances nor in vanity. It is a matter of what you feel inside, 
it is a deep resonance in your life. 
To be filled each day 
with a rewarding sense of exhilaration and purpose, 
a sense of tasks accomplished and deep fulfillment ~ 
people who feel this way are happy. 
Those who have this sense of satisfaction, 
even if they are extremely busy 
are much happier 
than those who have time on their hands 
but feel empty inside. 

Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow, page 24

 My goal in writing this blog for you, is for you to be happy. 

And to know the source of your happiness so you can return to that source and bring that water of happiness right back up whenever you desire. 

We all have the power to tap into that vast resource that is within every single person's life, that vast resource can only be tapped by calling out the name of the rhythm of life itself, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This door is open to every person. No one has to change to chant. No one even has to change religions, lifestyles, eating routines, work out routines or become more "mindful" to chant. (I have nothing against mindfulness, but it is not a requirement to chant.)

All we have to do is chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,  study Buddhism, join with our fellow members, seek our teacher's heart, and encourage others. Think about it. We do not have to wander in the forest, forgo eating meat (unless we want to), or memorize and live by any "paths". Nope. And we don't discriminate about sexual orientation or anything else. 

A vast reservoir of happiness 
exists inside our lives. 
Let's all chant in happiness, 
rise in happiness, 
dance in happiness together! 

PowerPrayer for Revealing 

Your Buddha Nature 

and Appreciating YourSELF

By Jamie Lee Silver from Chantforhappiness.com

"I chant to reveal the pure, sparkling Diamond

of resilience, strength, wisdom-heart

that lies within me. 

I chant to be more and more aware 

of how wonderful I am every single day. 

May I be aware that every cause I make, 

at every single moment of every day 

is a great cause for my life, 

and all of life, 

and leads me to see more and more of my Buddha nature. 

I chant that my Buddha Nature emerge 

and flow from my life touching everyone I see. 

I chant that I see and feel my life 

as the brilliant sparkling Diamond that it is. 

I chant that throughout the day 

I say only kind words to myself. 

That I praise myself with my every thought. 

I chant to believe in my own goodness 

and to see it revealed in my actions. 

I pray to realize my life as the Buddha I am.

I chant that those around me 

are inspired to begin chanting, 

or to strengthen their practice 

just by seeing my happiness flow. 

I chant to meet the people 

who are looking for the Mystic Law 

and to be able to help them practice.

Guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

ONLY by means of the supreme law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can one change the suffering to which he is destined. He can also enjoy happiness throughout his life, which is the desire of all human beings. For this purpose, faith is essential.




IN many cases, other families are not practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. There is no need to worry or grow anxious about this. That is because, if we stand up earnestly and confidently in faith, we can lead all of our families and relatives in the direction of happiness and hope. We are like a solitary lighthouse on a dark night, enabling numerous ships to safely sail the seas.


GONGYO is a solemn ceremony in which we fuse our lives with the life-state of the Buddha. By steadfastly and continually carrying out the practice of gongyo and daimoku, the world of Buddhahood in our life becomes solidified, just as firmly packing a pile of earth will produce a strong foundation.


WHEN you possess a life-condition in which you can enjoy everything no matter what happens, when you have a positive outlook and wisdom – you can overcome any kind of problem or suffering. It begins with polishing yourself. This is your “human revolution”. It is the principle of ichinen sanzen (the principle which expounds that a single life-moment contains three thousand realms). By changing your ichinen, or your inner state of life, you can move everything into the best direction for your happiness.


WHEN you joyfully do gongyo and carry out activities with the determination to accumulate more good fortune in your life, the heavenly deities will be delighted and will valiantly perform their duty. If you must take some action anyway, it is your advantage that you do so spontaneously and with a feeling of joy.