CategoryDaily Life

The following excerpts are from Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in The Third Stage of Life, where he speaks about how we can live our lives to the fullest.  Trials Enrich Our Life If we triumph at a crucial moment, then in accord with the Buddhist principle of consistency from beginning to end, we will enter a

How to achieve victory through an undefeated Buddhist practice.

The following excerpt is Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on becoming strong parents who are not swayed by anything they encounter. It can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids, pp. 22–23. I will never forget May 3, 1951. On this day, Josei Toda was inaugurated as the second Soka Gakkai president. At the end of the

Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on how parents can work together to create an atmosphere at home that colors their children’s hearts with peace, encouragement and happiness. This can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids, pp. 13-15. Many parents fight about their children’s problems, blaming each other and making matters worse. Children clearly see this, and

Two-and-a-half millennia ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that human beings by nature are social animals: “Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god.” And yet here we are, in an age

In volume 24 of  The New Human Revolution, “Vigilant Safeguarding” chapter, Ikeda Sensei encourages members of the Byakuren Group, one of the SGI’s youth training groups.  Many think that happiness is taking it easy, never working hard and enjoying wealth and social status, recognition and success, without any special effort. Some flatter and cozy up

That human beings possess philosophy and ideals distinguishes us from other animals. All people ask, at least once in their lives, why they were born in this world. But animals don’t ask themselves that question.  Another of our distinguishing features is our human yearning for principles that allow us to live honorably, peacefully, happily. It’s

The following is Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on recognizing the value and mission of every child. It can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids, pp. 2–3. Children are precious treasures of the future. All children have the right to become happy. No child is without a mission. Parents are exerting themselves every day to raise

Every time I look at my phone, it’s as if my worth is being calculated,” says Mili, a high school student in New York. “How many likes did my post get? How many views? Why so many views but so few likes?” A growing body of research finds that the more time a person spends

Messages, testimonials and more on the Soka Gakkai’s enduring efforts for nuclear abolition.

Distilled from Ikeda Sensei’s encouragement, here are five reasons to practice gratitude.

We sometimes find ourselves in difficult situations that seem beyond our control. Instead of viewing difficult events as our unchangeable destiny, we take them on as our mission to revolutionize our state of life and create value. And by not being defeated by such challenges, we lessen their negative impact on us. In fact, we

Ikeda Sensei offers guidance on helping our children grow into compassionate individuals by leading by example and learning to understand their hearts. It can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids, pp. 71–72. Children’s hearts are naturally pure until polluted by the muddy, egoistic society of adults. It takes genuine kindness to understand the pain

The following is from Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in My Dear Friends in America, third edition, pp. 432–34. To Lead Victorious Lives Is the Purpose of Buddhism Prayers based on the Mystic Law will definitely be answered. The 26th high priest, Nichikan, writes: “If you take faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo even for a

Ikeda Sensei presented five points for advancing kosen-rufu in the United States, at a Feb. 13, 1990, meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of SGI-USA. Read the full speech in My Dear Friends of America, third edition, pp. 6–9. 1) Construct a solid foundation for the kosen-rufu movement in the United States. There is no need

The following is Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on supporting our kids through all the experiences they may face at school. It can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids, pp. 53–56. Children experience many things at school that help them become stronger. It is important that they spend time with other children so they can learn

The following is Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on achieving growth and maintaining conviction as parents when our children are not interested in embracing faith in Buddhism. It can be found in Happy Parents, Happy Kids. Faith is a lifelong matter. It is all right if it deepens gradually, over time. It is not something to be

There’s no need to be impatient. Faith is a lifelong process, spanning the three existences of past, present and future. What’s important is to make plenty of friends and work at solidifying those relationships. Introducing others to Buddhism and striving for kosen-rufu are extensions of the spirit of friendship that wishes to see those we

Ikeda Sensei’s speech from an SGI Representatives Conference in Miami, Florida, Feb. 3, 1993. This guidance can be found in My Dear Friends in America, revised edition, pp. 244–50. I am sure that the just-announced decision to found the SGI-USA future division will shine with increasing significance as time goes by. My most heartfelt congratulations.

The term human revolution was used by second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda to describe the process by which we elevate our state of life and become unshakably happy—the ultimate goal of our Buddhist practice.  In Japan, the attainment of Buddhahood had long been viewed as something to be realized only after death, but Mr.