TagReal Life

Q: I’m not sure about my goals for this year, and I’ve yet to achieve some goals from last year. Where should I start? A: An arrow will not hit the target unless we take proper aim. The same is true of chanting. Our prayers come to fruition when we set clear goals, and strive

A: Kosen-rufu is the spread of the Mystic Law from one person to another. It is also its spread from ten thousand to fifty thousand. Yet, kosen-rufu is not about numbers. It is a process, an eternal flow. … Kosen means to widely declare. “Widely” implies speaking out to the world, to an ever-greater number

A: The word organization probably conjures certain images for some people, but the fact is, everything in this world involves some sort of organization. The human body itself is made up of more than sixty trillion cells, all working in concert. That’s an amazingly efficient organization. … It’s the same with human society, as well.

A: First, our practice of morning and evening gongyo is the foundation for advancing on the correct path of life—a path aligned with the Law that pervades the three existences of past, present and future—leading the most meaningful existence. Especially important, as the phrase “morning after morning we rise up with the Buddha” indicates, is

A: In life, of course, there are times when we are unable to win. There may also be times when it seems that we will be crushed by adversity. But even at such moments, we must never allow ourselves to be beaten in our hearts. We must resolve not to be defeated in the future.

A: The literal meaning of honzon is object of devotion. Go is an honorific. Even people who declare that they are not religious will surely have something that they value or esteem most highly. Whatever people cherish most dearly—that is their object of fundamental respect, or object of devotion. …  What you make the object

A: Relationship problems are opportunities for you to grow and mature. Such problems can be character building, if you don’t let them defeat you. That’s why it’s important not to isolate yourself. No one can exist apart from others. … Buddhism teaches that we should associate with good companions (see The Lotus Sutra and its

A: Your practice of reciting the sutra morning and evening and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not an obligation—it is a right.The Gohonzon will never demand that you chant to it. An attitude of appreciation in being able to chant to the Gohonzon is the heart of faith. The more you exert yourselves in faith—in reciting the

A: It boils down to making a decision to do your best in everything and then having the determination not to retreat a single step. In severe circumstances, people tend to give up all too easily. They are convinced that the situation is hopeless before even considering what concrete actions they could take. In their

A: Every morning and evening, we recite these words during gongyo: “isshin yokken butsu” (“single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha,” see The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening and Closing Sutras, p. 271). This does not mean that we desire to physically see or be in the presence of the Buddha. Rather, it signifies the importance of revealing Buddhahood from

A: By helping others become happy, we, too, become happy. This is also a tenet of psychology. How can those who have lost the will to live under the weight of inconsolable suffering or deep emotional wounds get back on their feet? All too often, the more they dwell on their problem, the more depressed

A: Buddhism emphasizes that through expressing gratitude, we reveal and develop our humanity. Neglecting to show appreciation reflects a life influenced by fundamental ignorance—the inability to recognize the enlightened nature in ourselves and others. Ikeda Sensei states: As we each deepen our faith in the Mystic Law, break through our fundamental darkness and live true

A: 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

A: It can be said that our human revolution starts from the moment we summon the courage to break through our own limitations. And it is through such repeated efforts that we forge an unshakable life state. Consider what Nichiren Daishonin wrote to his disciples in times of severe difficulties: “Nichiren’s disciples cannot accomplish anything

A: Nothing is irredeemable in youth. Rather, the worst mistake you can make when young is to give up and not challenge yourselves for fear of failure. The past is the past and the future is the future. Keep moving forward with a steady eye on the future, telling yourselves: “I’ll start from today!” “I’ll

A: In The New Human Revolution, vol. 6, Ikeda Sensei recounts his trip to Egypt in 1962. While at a museum, he strikes up a conversation on Buddhism with a stranger (through the assistance of an interpreter). A Soka Gakkai youth leader, who had accompanied Sensei and witnessed the interaction, was inspired by his ability

A: Just as trees bloom in their own distinct way, we should strive to live in the way that is most natural for us. This is the purpose of our Buddhist practice. Nichiren Daishonin also stressed that our essential identity is “something that was not worked for, that was not improved upon, but that exists

A: No one likes to be controlled by others, and it’s only natural to wish that we could do what we want without people bothering us all the time. I’m sure there are students who dream of what freedom they would enjoy if there were no rules, and if they had plenty of money and

A: I want the young fathers and mothers among you to thrive with your children, surmounting difficulties. Your children’s education may cost you a lot of money. And you may live in cramped quarters. Moreover, your children are probably often so boisterous that you are not well rested. However, these are mere trifles. Your duty

A: The value—or, if you like, the quality—of a 100-dollar bill is more than a 10-dollar bill. Naturally, most people would prefer a 100-dollar bill, right?Similarly, in faith, sincere, strong prayers are important. Of course, having lots of 100-dollar bills is even better! Likewise, in chanting Nam- myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon, both quantity and quality