CategoryEncouragement

At the time when his businesses were in dire straits, my mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, and I read “On the Buddha’s Prophecy” together. Amid the life-threatening challenges of exile on Sado Island, Nichiren Daishonin proclaimed in that letter his vision of the westward transmission of Buddhism and worldwide kosen-rufu. Mr. Toda vowed

Ascending a New Summit of Kosen-rufu Together

Part 2 of 2. The following was written by Ikeda Sensei as part of his series “The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship,” originally published in the Aug. 28, 2009, World Tribune. Part one appears in the Nov. 11, 2022, World Tribune, pp. 2–3.

Congratulations on the start of the Year of Youth and Triumph! Together with our fellow members around the world, we set forth brimming with a fresh, vibrant spirit, the brilliant sun of time without beginning shining in our hearts. At a time when humanity faces unprecedented challenges, you, my dear friends, are illuminating people’s hearts

Over the past year, all of you, our dedicated members everywhere—not least the uncrowned heroes who deliver the Seikyo Shimbun each day—have advanced steadily in your tireless efforts for the sake of Buddhism, the happiness of others and the welfare of your communities, societies and the world. If we were to calculate the total distance

Ascending a New Summit of Kosen-rufu Together

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s speech at the 13th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting held at the Tokyo Makiguchi Memorial Hall in Tokyo, on July 9, 1997. Video footage of the speech was broadcast during the 11th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial held  on Nov. 12, 2022. This was translated

11th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting

Nichiren Daishonin writes, “The wish-granting jewel …, though only a single jewel, can shower all kinds of treasures upon the wisher” (“The Recitation of the ‘Expedient Means’ and ‘Life Span’ Chapters,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 69). Just like the wish-granting jewel, each of our Soka Gakkai districts—the front line in our

The following essay by Ikeda Sensei was originally published in the Oct. 26, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Our movement for kosen-rufu is about building a culture of peace. As part of that endeavor, we hold a wide range of exhibitions around the world. Twenty years have passed since the

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship

Message to the Nationwide Young Men’s Leaders Meeting

Eight hundred years have passed since the birth of Nichiren Daishonin, who described himself as “the son of a commoner” and “the son of commoner parents.” The time has come for Nichiren Daishonin’s sunlike Buddhism of the people to dispel the darkness of chaos and brightly illuminate the global family of humankind with the great

The following is an essay from Ikeda Sensei, originally published in the Sept. 29, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. I recall an evening not long after the Seikyo Shimbun had been founded, when I was busily preparing for Josei Toda’s upcoming inauguration as second Soka Gakkai president. A number of

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s speech at a youth division leaders meeting held at the Soka International Friendship Hall in Tokyo on April 13, 1993. Video footage of the speech was broadcast during the most recent Soka Gakkai Headquarters leaders meeting on Aug. 27, 2022. This was translated from the Sept. 6, 2022,

When I was young and battling illness, I was struck by a passage in Nichiren Daishonin’s writings: “Through illness, [the Buddha taught] the power [of Buddhism]” (“On Curing Karmic Disease,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 631). I realized that my painful illness had profound meaning. I resolved not to be defeated and

Ikeda Sensei has spoken with and offered advice to parents and children around the world about creating harmonious families. In Happy Parents Happy Kids, we take a look at his encouragement on family and parenting (pp. 75–77). Respect your children’s creativity. Children’s vision is directed toward the future, because it is filled with possibilities. Parents

Ikeda Sensei sent the following message to the 10th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting Toward Our Centennial, held on Aug. 27, 2022, at the Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo, Tokyo. This message was originally published in the Aug. 28, 2022, issue of the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper, Seikyo Shimbun. Twenty-five years ago, before an audience

Therefore, I say to you, my disciples, try practicing as the Lotus Sutra teaches, exerting yourselves without begrudging your lives! (“The Selection of the Time,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 583–84) I once asked my mentor, second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, why it is important to practice Buddhism “without begrudging one’s