CategoryDaily Life

The why, the how and the who of helping others become happy.

After World War II, the United Nations was established in 1945 to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Unfortunately, since then, some 250 armed conflicts have broken out around the world, claiming hundreds of millions of lives. Conflict resolution, which aims to resolve tense situations between opposing parties peacefully, became a significant field

For decades, 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. 7–11). 1) Children’s lives will be determined by how parents live. “The love parents shower on young

Here are three lessons that any of us can apply today.

In Ikeda Sensei’s lecture series on Nichiren’s writing “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” he outlines five characteristics that accord with seeking enlightenment outside oneself and how to counteract them.

Caregiving for an elderly family member is a great responsibility. Truth be told, while it can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be extremely challenging at times. In this issue, we interview SGI-USA members about their caregiving experiences, and include guidance from Ikeda Sensei’s book On Health and Long Life to those undertaking this important

Scams via phone call, text and email are on the rise. To protect yourself from being scammed, learn about the most common forms and how to avoid them.  A bad actor may call or send you a text message or email, baiting you to provide personal information or click a malicious link. They aim to

The ability to pay careful attention starts with your attitude. It then needs to be backed up by prayer filled with a sense of responsibility and the determination not to overlook anything that could lead to an accident. Through that prayer, the positive forces of the universe will be activated, augmenting your wisdom and focus.

Merriam-Webster defines powerlessness as lacking the capacity or authority to act. To be sure, modern psychology suggests that when confronting a problem, lacking a defined role can make us feel less in control of a situation. Considering the nature of the pandemic and other world events, it may seem like many of society’s most significant

What we might consider a conversation and a dialogue are poles apart.

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)Anti-apartheid activist and first democratically elected president of South Africa President Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to securing the freedom of the people of South Africa by confronting the apartheid regime, which violently oppressed Black South Africans. Starting in 1652, Dutch and British colonists slowly annexed trade ports and other strategic areas of

Brian Angulo •  New York Reading Choose Life was my first deep dive into Ikeda Sensei’s dialogues. In reading this dialogue, I learned how I can relate Buddhist philosophy to global issues. I was impressed by how Arnold J. Toynbee and Sensei came from different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds but were able to find

The following points were adapted from Ikeda Sensei’s essay “Walking the Cherry Blossom Path of Soka With Open Hearts,” pp. 2–3. 1) Help new members learn the Soka Gakkai spirit To bring forth the fresh power and ideas of our new members, it’s vital that we continue fostering and encouraging each person. “The task of

A primary function of the Soka Gakkai is to provide a network of care for every member to carry out their Buddhist practice joyfully and overcome their hardships. Crucial to its success in this endeavor is the active support of senior members, who can provide a lifeline for those younger in faith. This is the

What’s your determination for next month’s general meeting?” “Let’s fight toward March 16!” If you’ve been around the Soka community for a while, you’ve likely heard comments like these.  Whether you’re ready to take on a new challenge or hesitant to move your life in a new direction, it’s important to understand why we emphasize

In volume 16 of  The New Human Revolution, Ikeda Sensei meets with members in Okinawa who are energetically carrying out their Buddhist practice despite their advanced age. Encouraged by their spirit, Sensei offers these words. “Older people have great strength. Their tremendous life experience gives them a fundamental wisdom about living. They also have an

These points were adapted from Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in the April 8, 2016, World Tribune, p. 3. Advance preparation It is the person who prepares in advance who succeeds. The most important and fundamental preparation is gongyo and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. No matter how clever you may be at improvising, certain victory will not be yours

These points were adapted from Ikeda Sensei’s guidance. Refer to The New Human Revolution, vol. 25, pp. 187–92 for more. 1) The emcee’s voice should be stirring, powerful and brimming with life force. “Emcees must have the determination to bear full responsibility for the meeting and use their voices to transform the atmosphere into a

The elderly members who compose the Soka Gakkai’s Many Treasures Group have devoted their lives to kosen-rufu, working for the happiness of their fellow human beings and for the sake of Buddhism and peace. As a result, they enjoy the immeasurable good fortune of long life and the protection of all Buddhas throughout the universe;

A strong inner self is the key to happiness.