Have you ever felt joy after pouring your heart into a project and hearing someone say: “You were amazing!” or “That was great!” Or perhaps you’ve held the door open for someone just in time and been met with a heartfelt “Thank you!” Such seemingly small moments can stay with us, reminding us that offering support brings joy not only to those who receive it, but also to those who give it.
Ikeda Sensei emphasized the importance of praising and encouraging others during his final visit to the United States 30 years ago, in June 1996. At a meeting at the Florida Nature and Culture Center, he cited this passage from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings:
The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its color; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra the more one’s own blessings will increase.[1]
Heartfelt praise is powerful. But what does it mean to “praise the blessings of the Lotus Sutra”?
One clear way is by sharing our experiences in faith. In conveying how we face and transform challenges through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and Buddhist practice, we offer living proof of the power of the Mystic Law.
This is why experiences are often considered the highlight of our discussion meetings. They show, in real and relatable ways, that each of us possesses the Buddha nature and the ability to overcome difficulties. We share our stories with the hope that those listening naturally come to feel, “If they can do it, so can I.”
Likewise, each time we share Nichiren Buddhism with someone, we are praising the Mystic Law. We introduce this practice to our friends because we trust in its power to bring about positive change in people’s lives.
Sensei said that this passage also points to the importance of praising our fellow Bodhisattvas of the Earth who are striving each day for kosen-rufu:
Being human, people experience ups and downs in their emotional state. So I’d like to see leaders offering encouragement and heartfelt praise to those they encounter—even simply remarking brightly, “Thank you!” or “I really appreciate all your efforts!” Both parties will then feel cheered and refreshed. Ripples of joy will spread out to others and all will enjoy that much more benefit.[2]
Our daily efforts to praise others reflect this guidance perfectly. When we praise someone, we are cherishing and respecting them—acknowledging who they are and what they do.
As behavioral scientist Xuan Zhao notes, “The compliment is one of these really powerful, small actions that brighten your day and brighten someone else’s day.”[3] Often the person we encourage is inspired to encourage someone else, creating ripples of joy that begin with a single heartfelt gesture.
‘The more one’s own blessings will increase…’
In the same writing, Nichiren emphasizes the Buddhist practice of almsgiving, or making offerings that sustain life and the spread of Buddhism.
Writing in response to an offering from Myomitsu in 1276, he explains that providing sustenance to others brings three benefits: to “sustain one’s own life,” “bring color to one’s face” and “gain strength.”[4] While these may appear to benefit the recipient, Nichiren clarifies that they also accrue to the one who gives.
He further connects these benefits to the three virtues of the Buddha: the Dharma body (the true aspect of all phenomena); wisdom (the ability to perceive the truth); and emancipation (freedom from the sufferings of birth and death).
He explains that those who “chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, will transform the three paths of earthly desires, karma, and suffering into the three virtues of the Dharma body, wisdom, and emancipation.”[5]
In essence, Nichiren teaches that through making offerings—whether of money, goods or actions—we can transform suffering into lasting benefit. The May Commemorative Contribution activity invites us each to do just that: to praise the Mystic Law through our actions. A word of encouragement, a shared experience or a sincere offering—each strengthens our own life while uplifting others, setting in motion ripples of joy, hope and benefit.
—Prepared by the SGI-USA Study Department
April 3, 2026 World Tribune, p. D
References
- “The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 673. ↩︎
- My Dear Friends in America, fourth edition, p. 480. ↩︎
- Angela Haupt, “6 Compliments That Land Every Time,” www.time.com/6963181/how-to-give-good-compliments/ <accessed on March 16, 2026>. ↩︎
- See “The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra,” WND-1, 667. ↩︎
- “The Entity of the Mystic Law,” WND-1, 420. ↩︎
You are reading {{ meterCount }} of {{ meterMax }} free premium articles