CategoryTo My Friends

Only with all-out effort, with the determination to create something from nothing, can we understand genuine faith. The intense, arduous struggle of creating value—turning loss into benefit, evil into good, baseness into beauty—is the Soka Gakkai spirit and the essence of our practice of Nichiren Buddhism. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part

Happiness is not something given to us by others or that comes from somewhere outside. It is something that we ourselves must achieve with our own hearts. As the Daishonin says, “It is the heart that is important” (WND-1, 1000). From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 88

Our founding month is not simply a time for reflecting on the past. It is not a page in some dusty old chronicle. Kosen-rufu is a process of endless creativity and forward movement that does not permit even a moment’s cessation or stagnation. Our founding month lives on forever in the present, because our victory

He presents us with a model of unimpeachable integrity and unyielding faith. It is the greatest pride and honor of the Soka Gakkai to have such a great founder. And I am firmly convinced that Mr. Makiguchi’s spirit of working tirelessly to spread the Mystic Law, while never compromising with any power or authority, lives

A single flower can completely transform a bleak atmosphere. The important thing, therefore, is to have the spirit, the determination, to improve your environment, to change it for the better, if even just a little. Especially as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism striving earnestly in faith, we cannot fail to vibrantly transform our lives. From The

You are always in my heart. We are linked through Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. As long as you continue to strive for kosen-rufu with the same determination as I have, we will be connected. The New Human Revolution, vol. 19, pp. 224-25

The moment we assume the attitude “There’s no need to continue making effort; I can just take it easy and relax; I don’t need to expand my activities or challenge myself any further”— from that instant, our downhill decline begins. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 188

The Daishonin declares, “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the greatest of all joys” (OTT, 212). I hope all of you will savor the truth of these words deep in your lives and show vibrant actual proof of that joy. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 25

Please magnificently adorn this precious life with beautiful faith and beautiful friendship. Live out your days spreading the sublime diamond-like light of life far and wide and demonstrating the truth of the teachings and principles of Nichiren Buddhism. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 186

Without tenacious efforts today to make respect for the dignity of life the guiding principle for creating tomorrow’s world, the twenty-first century is in grave danger of becoming a century of destruction. The activities of the Soka Gakkai constitute a great movement of ordinary people uniting in the struggle to make peace and culture flourish

Even if your efforts don’t stand out or attract media attention, what you are doing is thousands of times more significant than the deeds of any celebrity or warmongering political leader. You are shaping the currents that will change the course of human history. I am certain that Presidents Makiguchi and Toda have only the

How others view us is not important. Temporary successes or failures also do not matter. What counts is whether our faces shine with happy smiles at the very end of our lives. If we can look back and say: “My life was victorious. It was enjoyable. I have no regrets,” then we are victors. From

A Buddha is not a superhuman being. One who has attained this state continues to experience problems, suffering, and pain and is still subject to illness and to temptation by devilish forces. For that reason, a Buddha is a person of courage, tenacity, and continuous action who struggles ceaselessly against devilish functions. From The Wisdom

If we simply follow our easily swayed, unenlightened minds, our potential will quickly wither away. Or, even worse, we may give in to negative and destructive impulses. Such is the subtle nature of the workings of the mind. Because our minds are the key to attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime, we must overcome our own

Mr. Toda’s profound insight was that elevating the character of all humankind is the key to solving every problem humanity faces. His vision extended to our world today. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 9

Youth is not something that fades with age. Our attitude toward life is what makes us young. As long as we maintain a positive attitude and a spirit of challenge, we will continue to gain depth and richness, and our lives will shine with the brilliance of gold or burnished silver. From The Wisdom for

The mentor-disciple spirit of the first three presidents is the foundation. As long as the Soka Gakkai carries on this spirit, it will continue to develop and thrive forever and succeed in realizing worldwide kosen-rufu. I would like you, my successors in the youth division, to inherit the first three presidents’ fighting spirit for kosen-rufu

In many cases, other family members are not practicing Nichiren Buddhism. There is no need to worry or grow anxious about this. That is because, if we ourselves stand up earnestly and confidently in faith, we can lead all of our family and relatives in the direction of happiness and hope. We are like a

To practice Nichiren Buddhism is to always live with hope. It means to take it upon oneself to create hope, actualize it, and continue to advance in ever higher spirits toward still greater hope. And faith is the driving force that enables us to do this. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part

Rather than being thankful because we are happy, being thankful itself will make us happy. Also, chanting with gratitude puts us in rhythm with the universe, turning our lives in a positive direction. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 67