TagGo-To Gosho Passages

Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life. Otherwise you will have regrets. For example, the journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital? —“Letter to Niike,” The Writings of

“My wish is that all my disciples make a great vow.” —“The Dragon Gate,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1003 In Nichiren Buddhism, a vow is an earnest, indomitable wish and promise to achieve peace, happiness and enlightenment, and enable others to do the same.  To willingly share this wish or vow with

Even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but an inferior teaching.”  —“On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 3 In one of his earliest works, “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime”—written in

Strengthen your resolve more than ever. Ice is made of water, but it is colder than water. Blue dye comes from indigo, but when something is repeatedly dyed in it, the color is better than that of the indigo plant. The Lotus Sutra remains the same, but if you repeatedly strengthen your resolve, your color

A person of wisdom is not one who practices Buddhism apart from worldly affairs but, rather, one who thoroughly understands the principles by which the world is governed. —“The Kalpa of Decrease,”  The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1121 Mahatma Gandhi once said, “[Religion] provides a moral basis to all other activities which

The Contemplation of the Mind-Ground Sutra states: “If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present.” —“The Opening

Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. —“The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 832 Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good fortune,” Walt Whitman sings. Our lives

But your faith alone will determine all these things. A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith. Then one will be as strong as a demon armed with an iron staff.  —“Reply to Kyo’o,” The Writings of Nichiren

When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated. Similarly, when one knows the Lotus Sutra, one understands the meaning of all worldly affairs. —“The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 376 When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated”—founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi cherished

If the spirit of many in body but one in mind prevails among the people, they will achieve all their goals, whereas if one in body but different in mind, they can achieve nothing remarkable. —“Many in Body, One in Mind,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 618 This vital passage appears near

The most important thing in practicing the Buddhist teachings is to follow and uphold the Buddha’s golden words, not the opinions of others. —“On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 393 In “On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings,” Nichiren Daishonin outlines how he strove to realize Shakyamuni Buddha’s noble ideals.

The single word “belief” is the sharp sword with which one confronts and overcomes fundamental darkness or ignorance.  The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, pp. 119–20 Buddhism is about winning,” Ikeda Sensei repeatedly affirms.  Winning in Nichiren Buddhism means triumphing over the negativity and ignorance in our own and others’ lives. Each time we

Where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward. —“Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 907 In recent years, sports popularized the mantra “trust the process” to champion patience and daily effort as keys to success.  As Buddhist practitioners, when we “trust the process” of making daily

Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment countless kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way different or separate from one another. To chant Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death. “The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle? “Reply to Kyo’o,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 412 Sometimes illness may strike us, or some unexpected hardship may throw our lives into disarray. When those times come, let us be prepared, remembering Nichiren Daishonin’s declaration: “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the daimoku. “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 385 Nichiren Daishonin

Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase.

You have associated with a friend in the orchid room and have become as straight as mugwort growing among hemp. “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 23 On April 28, 1253, Nichiren Daishonin established his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and began his propagation efforts.

I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra and the ten demon daughters will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground.  “On Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins,”The Writings of Nichiren

Many hear about and accept this sutra, but when great obstacles arise, just as they were told would happen, few remember it and bear it firmly in mind. To accept is easy; to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith.   “The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith,”The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p.