CategoryTo My Friends

Many people seek success and importance in the eyes of the world, but few aspire to become truly great human beings. Many wish to be showered with praise and attention, but few strive to build an inner happiness that will remain undiminished until the moment of their death and extend throughout the three existences of

It is my belief that if we can foster, in the depths of each individual human life, the kind of active, independent basis for altruistic behavior exemplified in the bodhisattva’s vow, we can establish the fundamental foundation for an ethic of responsibility and commitment upon which a genuine culture of human rights can flourish. From

Religion has meaning only when it is dedicated to the welfare of individuals, the people, and society. To be satisfied merely with one’s own well-being or salvation, while ignoring the suffering of others, is not the mark of a genuine faith. Nichiren Buddhism is a teaching dedicated to realizing happiness and peace for all humanity

Refusing to allow our weaknesses to defeat us and triumphing in one activity after another is the way we train and strengthen ourselves; it is the path of human revolution for each of us to win over our negative tendencies. Soka Gakkai activities are the “place of practice” or “training ground” where we develop and

Let’s cast aside selfishness, be unswayed by others’ approval or disapproval, and work tirelessly for people’s happiness and a brighter future. That is the way to bring forth inner strength and to attain Buddhahood. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 50

A teacher or mentor in Buddhism is one who leads and connects people to the Law, teaching them that the Law on which they should depend exists within their own lives. The disciples in turn seek the mentor, who embodies and is one with the Law. Looking to the mentor as a model, they exert

Our Soka movement is dedicated to spreading the humanistic principles of Nichiren Buddhism for the peace and prosperity of all humanity. As such, it is engaged in a fearless struggle to change all poison into medicine, freely creating value out of everything for the sake of human happiness, protecting the sanctity of life and world

Each of you is also actively carrying out the practice of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. The Bodhisattvas of the Earth are born in the time and place where people are suffering and struggling the most. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 45

A life without struggle and challenge, a life free from hardship and difficulty, might seem pleasant and easy; but just as a child who is never exposed to the outside air grows up to be weak and frail, a life, a spirit, that is never tested or tempered cannot attain true happiness. Happiness can exist

Having intensively pondered the question of “What is a Buddha?” Mr. Toda arrived at the realization that it is none other than one’s own life and the great life of the universe itself and that those two things are one and the same. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition,

Health is not simply the absence of illness. A truly healthy life is creative—one in which we keep challenging something, creating something, and moving forward to expand our horizons as long as we live. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 248

Human revolution is opening your eyes wide and looking beyond your ordinary concerns, striving for and dedicating your actions to something higher, deeper, and broader. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 5

In one of his writings, Nichiren Daishonin observes, “Even one seed, when planted, multiplies” (WND-2, 602). An effort begun by one person, though many may not yet notice it, can eventually yield impressive results. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 27

Important are individuals who work for kosen-rufu. Those who persevere wholeheartedly to spread the Mystic Law in even the most trying times are truly admirable. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 152

The absence of hardship is not happiness. True happiness and joy in life are found in not being defeated by hardship, by picking ourselves up again when we fall down, by weathering and triumphing over adversity. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 125

Worldwide kosen-rufu can be realized only by encouraging and fostering people who have the courage to stand alone and act on their own initiative. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 26

The way to happiness is not complicated. Those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo consistently in the realm of kosen-rufu triumph in the end. They are certain to attain a state of absolute happiness—in other words, the life state of Buddhahood. If you remember this single important point, your life will always be solid and secure. From The

Becoming a global citizen begins nowhere else but within one’s family, workplace, and community. Let us confirm once again that it is our sure and steady efforts in these areas that form the first steps toward any lasting reform. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 120

Faith in Nichiren Buddhism is not blind belief or superstition. It means being able to accept the teaching based on reason and to experience and demonstrate its truth amid the realities of daily living. When we thoroughly study the Daishonin’s writings, deepen our faith and confidence through the experiences we gain through this Buddhist practice,

Those who always hold fast to their spiritual mentor as their model and compass and exert themselves as that mentor teaches are people who live based on the Law. Nichiren Buddhism is a teaching grounded in the oneness of mentor and disciple. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p.