CategoryTo My Friends

Those who persevere through hardships to carry out their own mission will ultimately win the trust of all around them. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 364

Compassion isn’t about someone taking pity on the less fortunate from a position of superiority. It is egalitarian, not hierarchical. It is a feeling of empathy for another, equal human being. Its foundation is respect. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 245

Nichiren Buddhism teaches that since we owe a debt of gratitude to all living beings, we should pray for all of them to attain Buddhahood (see WND-2, 637). From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 285

In “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude,” the Daishonin writes, “If Nichiren’s compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity” (WND-1, 736). We must remember that kosen-rufu advances due to the boundless compassion of the Daishonin. It is our supreme honor to shoulder that noble undertaking.

For example, you meet and talk with someone, you chant for someone’s happiness, or you write a postcard or letter to someone. Perhaps someone you arranged to meet didn’t show up, but you continue to stay in touch and meet with them again and again. These may seem like small things, and you may sometimes

When we have a positive and appreciative attitude toward our communities, it will give greater confidence and impetus to our activities. The joy of kosen-rufu will spread. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 139

In contrast, a sincere concern for others, a dedicated commitment to our beliefs, a sense of responsibility toward fulfilling our mission for kosen-rufu, a wish to wholeheartedly encourage and support our fellow members, a feeling of appreciation, gratitude, and joy—these attitudes are causes that will produce boundless good fortune, not only for ourselves but also

Soka Gakkai discussion meetings are oases where ordinary people gather; they reverberate with a spirit of fresh resolve and gratitude, where suffering is transformed into courage, and exhaustion into a satisfying sense of fulfillment. These small gatherings are microcosms of human harmony. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp.

Some of those you talk with about Buddhism may immediately decide to take faith and start practicing, but others may not. There’s no need to worry. In both cases, your sincere prayers for others and your effort to share Buddhism with them produce enormous benefits. And precisely because it’s so challenging, you can tap your

I hope that, every once in a while, you will look your partner in the eye and say thank you. Instead of eating dinner together in silence, take the time to express your appreciation. It may seem a bit embarrassing at first, but try it: you’ll see how it changes your life. From The Wisdom

Showing how you have grown as a human being is the best way to communicate the truth of Buddhism to those around you. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 70

Love and gratitude for one’s parents are the foundation of genuine humanity. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 360

The Gohonzon will never demand that you chant to it. Having appreciation for being able to chant to the Gohonzon is the heart of faith. The more you exert yourselves in faith—in doing gongyo and chanting daimoku—the more you stand to gain. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p.

A mother’s love for her child is a colorful realm, a realm in which the vibrant music of life resonates. Love transcends the gap between individuals and opens the heart to the truth that all life is one. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 19

People who can express their gratitude are truly happy. A life that is always filled with appreciation is a bright and cheerful one—be it when you are meeting with people, when someone gives you a lift in his or her car, or when you are at home with your family. Sincerely offering thanks is a

Having gratitude and appreciation for the countless people and things that support our lives—that awareness, that feeling, that joy—will invite even greater happiness. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 66-67

The tougher the challenges we face, the greater the joy and benefit and the higher the life condition we will ultimately savor. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 199

Through faith in the Mystic Law, we can develop the ability to change all that is negative in our lives into something positive. We can transform all problems into happiness, sufferings into joy, anxiety into hope, and worry into peace of mind. We will always be able to find a way forward. From The Wisdom

My wife, Kaneko, used to take our sons along with her to Soka Gakkai activities when they were young. She would sit with them in front of the Gohonzon and tell them: “Today’s meeting is very important.” Seeing this, a fellow member once asked whether children that young could really understand what she was telling

Only when we recognize that our efforts on others’ behalf are also for our own sake will we be filled with humble appreciation for being able to develop our lives. Our lives and the lives of others are ultimately inseparable. It is vital, therefore, that we follow the bodhisattva way. From The Wisdom for Creating