CategoryTo My Friends

Josei Toda would often say to me: “An impasse is a critical turning point. Do you give up and throw in the towel? Or do you stand up with indomitable resolve, determined to go on fighting? That difference in attitude is what determines victory or defeat.” Mr. Toda deeply and firmly impressed this lesson on

Josei Toda taught that we practice Nichiren Buddhism to attain a state of life in which, no matter what circumstances we may encounter, we can feel that life itself is a joy. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 2

The tougher the challenges we face, the greater the joy and benefit and the higher the life condition we will ultimately savor. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 199

Each of us, no matter what hardships we may face or what circumstances we may find ourselves in, has a noble mission that only we can fulfill. When we deeply recognize this, everything changes. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 55

It is easy to speak abstractly of love for one’s fellow human beings or love for humanity, but it can be very challenging to have love and compassion for actual individuals. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp. 73

Buddhist practice is filled with difficult challenges, but it enables us to experience the great joy of human revolution, which would never be possible from a life of complete ease. That’s why the Daishonin sternly warns us not to forget at a crucial moment the promises we have made in faith. From The Wisdom for

The source or wellspring of our being is the pure, expansive life of the universe itself. Human revolution is the process of awakening to and demonstrating this truth. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp. 37

Through faith in the Mystic Law, we can develop the ability to change all that is negative in our lives into something positive. We can transform all problems into happiness, sufferings into joy, anxiety into hope, and worry into peace of mind. We will always be able to find a way forward. From The Wisdom

We are practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism. Let’s strive to live our lives in a way that inspires others to admire and want to emulate us and enact our own personal dramas of human revolution in life in our own unique way. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 22

Numbers are not the key to achieving goals, nor are titles or organizational positions. It all comes down to whether everyone can unite in purpose. Such unity provides a solid core for building a sound future. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 162

It is only when we struggle against adversity that the tremendous power residing in the very depths of our lives begins to reveal itself. Those who can summon great strength at the most challenging time are victors. This is an unchanging rule of history. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised

Only when we recognize that our efforts on others’ behalf are also for our own sake will we be filled with humble appreciation for being able to develop our lives. Our lives and the lives of others are ultimately inseparable. It is vital, therefore, that we follow the bodhisattva way. From The Wisdom for Creating

When we speak or hear the words thank you, the armor falls from our hearts and we communicate on a deep level. “Thank you” is the essence of nonviolence. It contains respect for the other person, humility, and a profound affirmation of life. It possesses a positive, upbeat optimism. It has strength. From The Wisdom

Promoting kosen-rufu isn’t merely about spreading Buddhist ideas and terminology. It means each of us rising to action wherever we are in the world and bravely striving to transform our karma through our practice of Nichiren Buddhism. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 26

Striving and progressing for some purpose or goal— this is the essence of happiness. If, from your youth, you strive tirelessly for the sake of others, for Buddhism, what an amazing person you will become! While carrying out your human revolution, you will build a truly expansive state of life. From The Wisdom for Creating

Adversity in the course of Buddhist practice is a stepping stone to enlightenment. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 35

The fulfillment of the individual, however, cannot be realized in conflict with, or at the expense of, others but only through active appreciation of uniqueness and difference, for these are the varied hues that together weave the flower gardens of life. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 220

What is the key to unity? It may seem at first like a contradiction, but the key to unity is for each individual to be self reliant. Each person must pray earnestly and become strong. As long as we think someone else will do it, we can never build true unity. From The Wisdom for

Faith is the engine that enables us to persevere in life to the very end. Our Buddhist practice serves as the propulsive force for piercing through the clouds of suffering like a rocket and powerfully ascending higher and higher, without limit, to fly serenely through the skies of happiness. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness

A mother’s love for her child is a colorful realm, a realm in which the vibrant music of life resonates. Love transcends the gap between individuals and opens the heart to the truth that all life is one. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 19