CategoryTo My Friends

What is important is to have the feeling “That person is suffering, I want them to be happy” and also to talk about Buddhism with those around you from time to time. Even if the person you’ve been talking with doesn’t take faith right away, as long as you maintain a strong unwavering wish for

Kosen-rufu will not advance, even with the best-laid plans or strategies, without such united prayer. Strong prayer based on unity will also give rise to tremendous momentum. So even if individuals who seek to disrupt the unity of our movement should appear, their negative influence will be rebuffed by everyone’s focused resolve. From The Wisdom

The sun rises every day. It never takes a break. If you do the same, persistently forging ahead in accord with the Mystic Law, the ultimate Law of the universe, you will come to enjoy a wonderful life of complete satisfaction and fulfillment, far surpassing anything you imagined. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and

Buddhism is a way of life. Winning the trust of those around us and demonstrating proof of victory in our workplaces leads directly to victory in our lives and in Buddhism. That’s why it’s important to play a vibrant and active role in our workplaces and communities. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace,

Mr. Toda once explained unity very simply: “To say to another member ‘Are you also facing difficulties? Are you struggling to make ends meet too? Are you also suffering? Then, together let’s strengthen our faith!’—this is what it means to be united in purpose.” From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised

The path up the hill of life doesn’t follow a straight line. There are successes and mistakes. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. With each step on our way, with every curve and corner we navigate, we grow a little bit more. In this process, prayer functions as a powerful force preventing us from

Mr. Toda said: “The ‘mind’ of ‘many in body, one in mind’ is not the ordinary mind, or heart. It is the mind of faith. ‘One in mind’ means being ‘one in faith’—one in our commitment to this Buddhism and its practice. That’s the real meaning of ‘many in body, one in mind.’ When young

I therefore believe we have entered an age in which humankind must once again shine a light on the human being. People must be the focus. Without seriously pondering this matter, we will find ourselves repeating the tragedies of the past. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 427

Nichiren Buddhism focuses on the present and the future. Its essence is for us to always keep advancing while looking toward and brightly illuminating the future. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 175

Faith means setting goals and striving to achieve each one. If we view each goal or challenge as a mountain, faith is a process whereby we grow with every mountain climbed. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 171

In times of great challenges, we should chant powerful daimoku. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion king. In times of shared adversity, we should use our voices unsparingly to support and encourage our fellow members. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 174

Bodhisattvas are courageous individuals who plunge headlong into the very thick of society to lead others to happiness. What kind of character should bodhisattvas possess? Shakyamuni asserts that they should have hearts that are invulnerable to assaults from the eight winds. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 129

What is the secret to longevity? Of course, individual differences must be taken into account, and there are many diverse opinions on this subject. But we of the Soka Gakkai would naturally agree that an important key to long life is our practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part

Fostering mutual trust as fellow human beings is important. Never be self-righteous. Remember that the flow of kosen-rufu in the community is secured by reassuring people and winning their praise and admiration through your exemplary behavior as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 103

The Daishonin’s practice of shakubuku was thoroughly rooted in his immense compassion to open the eyes of people deceived by erroneous teachings and to lead them to enlightenment. Likewise, our practice of shakubuku, or sharing the Mystic Law, must accord with the Daishonin’s compassionate spirit; it must arise from our desire to lead others to

The young women of Soka cherish a true philosophy and work alongside true comrades in faith to expand our circle of true friendship. They are walking a path to genuine happiness far superior to any enjoyed by those who seek only wealth or power. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised

First, I hope you will show care for your neighbors. We do not live in isolation; we exist as members of a community. We need to be considerate of one another. That is just common sense. If we simply assert our own rights or what suits our convenience, we are not responsible members of society.

I believe that now more than ever we need to widely implement the kind of education for peace and happiness that Mr. Makiguchi advocated. We must teach children the preciousness of life and a spirit of respect for others. We must foster in them courage and awareness as world citizens and help them develop the

It is said that Nichiren Buddhism begins and ends with “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.” And dialogue is the backbone of this important work. It is through one-to-one dialogue that individuals form bonds of genuine trust. Neither military force nor political coercion hold any answers. From The Wisdom for

Buddhism is ultimately a teaching about human life and conduct. In that sense, our Buddhist practice is expressed in our words and actions. The important thing is how we lead our lives in society, how we conduct ourselves each day, based on faith in the Mystic Law. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace,