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Brief Guidances

Creating Spiritual Safe Havens in Our Communities

Words of Encouragement From Ikeda Sensei

The varied sufferings that all living beings undergo—all these are Nichiren’s own sufferings.

The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, p. 138


“Your sufferings are my sufferings”—this profound compassion of Nichiren Daishonin, who offered his care and support to ordinary people struggling with hardship, is deeply moving. This spirit of empathy lives on today in the altruistic bodhisattva practice carried out by Soka Gakkai members everywhere.

The presence of trusted seniors in faith and fellow members, who make others feel heard and understood, gives hope and reassurance to those who are suffering.

Treasuring each person in front of us, let’s continue in our efforts to create spiritual safe havens in our communities.

Translated from the February 6, 2021 Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper.

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