全員が幸福に

　病気がちの身であった富木尼御前に、大聖人は、こう仰せである。
　「それにつけても、命は鶴亀のように、幸福は月の満ち、潮の満ちるようにと、法華経に祈っています」（同㌻、通解）
　門下一人一人の状況に深く心を砕き、その幸福を願われる大聖人の深い御心が伝わってくる。
　わが同志が一人ももれなく、天月子が満ち、冴えわたっていくように、福徳の光を増していかれることを、私は祈ってやまない。
　「一家和楽」の信心である。「幸福をつかむ」信心である。
　「難を乗り越える」信心である。
　そして、「健康長寿」の信心であり、「絶対勝利」の信心である。
　この妙法を持ち、広宣流布に生き抜くならば、必ず幸福になる。最高に充実した、所願満足の境涯を築いていけるのである。
　御書には「一は万が母」（498㌻）とある。
　すべては、一人との出会いから始まる。一人を大切にすることが、万人への広がりに通じる。
　SGI（創価学会インタナショナル）の連帯が世界190カ国・地域へ広がったのも、婦人部の皆様方が、来る日も来る日も私と同じ心で、勇敢に誠実に、また忍耐強く、一人一人との対話に徹し抜いてくださったからである。

―婦人部最高協議会での名誉会長のスピーチ㊤引用
　（2007年11月27日聖教新聞掲載）

「本物の弟子」よ、踊り出よ！

　日蓮大聖人は、富木尼御前（富木常忍の夫人）に宛てて、こう御手紙を認めておられる。
　「私は今でも楽をしているわけではありませんが、昔、特に不自由であった時から御供養をお受けしてきたので、貴女の御恩をまことに重く思っています」（御書９９０㌻、通解）
　三障四魔、三類の強敵が打ち続くなか、来る年も来る年も、勇気ある信心を貫き、真心を尽くしてきた一人の女性の弟子を、大聖人は、このように讃嘆されている。
　信心とは、最極の心の世界だ。
　そして、その根幹こそ「師弟」である。
　いざという時、師匠にどう仕えたか。どう師匠をお護りしたか。
　そこに信心の実像が凝結する。
　広宣流布の大指導者である師・戸田城聖先生にお仕えし、先生をお護りし抜いたことが、私と妻の永遠の誉れである。
　”二人して広布へ進みゆけ！”――これが、私たちの結婚に際しての先生の指導であった。
　師匠が言った通りに生き抜く。師匠が言ったこをを実現する。これが弟子の道だ。
　師匠の教えをないがしろにするような者は、断じて弟子ではない。
　ただ「師弟」という一点で、私は戦い抜いた。1から100まで、師匠のため、学会のため。そしてすべてに勝利した。
　師匠を護ることが、学会を護ることになる。学会の全同志を守ることになる。
　そして、師匠を守ることが、広宣流布の前進である。私は、そう決めて戦い抜いた。
　戸田先生は、「私は本当にいい弟子を持った」と深く感謝してくださった。心から喜んでくださった。
　戸田先生と私の師弟の絆は、それは神々しいほどであった。太陽のように、そして、きょうの月天子のように――。
　戸田先生は牧口先生に対して、報恩の誠を尽くされた。私もまた、同じ決心であった。
　牧口先生と戸田先生。そして戸田先生と私。
　この三代を貫く師弟の精神こそ、学会の根幹である。初代、2代、3代の会長以外に、本当の「師匠」はいない。
　後世のために、明確に、言い残しておきたい。
　権力の魔性を打ち破り、学会は、ここまで大発展した。世界に広布の発展した。世界に広布の城をつくり上げた。
　仏法は実証である。私という、一人の「本物の弟子」がいたからこそ、戸田先生は勝利したのである。
　今また、歴史を開く「本物の弟子」が躍り出ることを、私は願っている。

―婦人部最高協議会での名誉会長のスピーチ㊤　引用（2007年11月27日聖教新聞掲載）

Buddhism for you -- Prayer 3

After we pray for something, we need to struggle with all our might to actualize it.
This is true faith.

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Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life.
Otherwise you will have regrets.--Nichiren

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It is important to become people who view things not in terms of tiny, selfish concerns but from a larger, more generous perspective.
We have to pray to become more broad-minded and tolerant.

Buddhism for you -- Prayer 2

Prayer is not a feeble consolation; it is a powerful, unyielding convicition.

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Prayer is the courage to persevere.
It is the struggle to overcome our own weakness and lack of confidence in ourselves.
It is the act of impressing in the very depths of our being the conviction that we can change the situation without fail.

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When we pray, we embrace the universe with our lives and our determinations.

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Wisdom arises from prayer.
Prayer gives birth to confidence and joy.

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Prayer is not of the realm of logic or intellect.
It transcends these.

Buddhism for you -- Prayer 1

Compassion is the very soul of Buddhism.
To pray for others, making their problems and anguish our own; to embrace those who are suffering, becoming their greatest ally; to continue giving them our support and encouragement until they become truly happy--it is in such humanistic actions that Nichiren Buddhism lives and breathes.

Buddhism for you -- Love 28

The only way to fufill the potential of the human race is to live just, kind, benevolent and compassionate lives.

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Mutual respect and trust are crucial for creating real friendship.
Naturally, there will be times when you have arguments and disagreements with your friends.
But there should always be an underlying spirit of respect and consideration for each other.
In friendship, we mustn't think only of ourselves.

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The most attractive person is one who can continue to make steady efforts to fulfill his or her dream even if others do not recognize their dedication.

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The flame of faith breaks through out tiny, confined state of life in which we are preoccupied solely with our own concerns and welfare.
Our friends' victories become our victories, and our victories become theirs.

Buddhism for you -- Love 27

Perhaps you have had your heart broken and felt unable to go on, your self-esteem in tatters.
But you must never think you are worthless.
No one can substitute for you, who are more precious than all the treasures in the universe put together.

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If you remain sincere in your interactions with others, you will one day find yourself surrounded by good friends.
And among those people, your friendships will be as strong and unshakable as towering trees.
Don't be impatient.
Work first on developing yourself, and you can rest assured that an infinite number of wonderful encounters await you in the future.

Buddhism for you -- Love 26

Great people never forget what others have done for them.
In fact, having a sense of appreciation makes a person worthy of respect.

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What is friendship?
True friendship implies a relationship where you empathize with your friends when they're suffering and encourage them not to lose heart, and where they, in turn, empathize with you when you're in the same situation and try to cheer you up.

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Compassion in not a Buddhist austerity .
It is something that should be expressed unconsciously and naturally in one's actions,
and in the workings of one's heart.
The Buddha knows no path of living apart from that of living with compassion.--Josei Toda

Buddhism for you -- Love 25

If your heart is closed, then the doors to other people's hearts will also shut tight.
On the other hand, someone who makes all those around him or her into allies, bathing them in the sunlight of spring, as it were, will be treasured by all.

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In our world it is not uncommon for hatred to underlie what is strenuously asserted to be love or for egoism to hide behind a mask of love.

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To take the love one feels for one's own children and extend it into a love of humanity is the spirit of a bodhisattva.

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Behind every great person is a great mother.
When a mother is advancing cheerfully on the great path of hope, which should be pursued with conviction, she can support her child in experiencing the greatest life.

Buddhism for you -- Love 24

Without respect, no relationship will last very long nor can two people bring out the best in each other.
I personally hope men will be extremely courteous and caring toward women, respecting them and doing their utmost to support them.

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The Buddha transmits the heart's sunlight universally to all beings.

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The Earth gives people life; nations throw it away. If nations are the product of men squabbling for territory and influence, then the Earth is the realm of mothers.
This realm of mothers, who love life, is far greater and grander than the nation-states created by men.

Buddhism for you -- Love 23

Truly praiseworthy are those who have a sense of gratitude and appreciation toward their parents.
The Buddhist sutras teach that the practice of Buddhism is the ultimate expression of devotion to one's parents, and the Buddha excels in such dedication and concern.

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The oppression of children stands in opposition to peace.
It is the responsibility of adults to love children's uninhibited life force and encourage their limitless development into the future.

Buddhism for you -- Love 22

If you use love as an escape, the euphoria is unlikely to last long.
However much we may try, we can never run away from ourselves.
We will never fing happiness if we don't change ourselves from within.

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Even married people were once strangers.
Without patience and the effort to understand one another, things are not likely to get well.
Patience is necessary for a couple to live together, earn a living, protect their home and educate their children while dedicating themselves for the sake of others.

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The important thing is to overcome the sorrow that accompanies any type of separation, such as death or divorce.
The vital thing is to continue advancing.
Do not look back.

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For the sake of these living being/I summon up a mind of great compassion.--The Lotus Sutra

Buddhism for you -- Love 21

If you have wisdom alone and lack compassion, it will be a cold, perverse wisdom.
If you have compassion alone and lack wisdom, you cannot give happiness to others.
You are even likely to lead them in the wrong direction, and you won't be able to achieve your own happiness.

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If you are neglecting things you should be doing, forgetting your purpose in life because of the relationship you're in, then you're on the wrong path.

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I ask parents to pour love upon their children like the sun nurturing sunflowers.
This is because people can live powerfully for the rest of their lives with the energy of love that they received in their childhood.

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More valuable than treasures in a storehouse are the treasures of the body, and the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all.
From the time you read this letter on, strive to accumulate the treasures of the heart!--Nichiren

Buddhism for you -- Love 20

I am convinced that the only way to regenerate love in our world is for people to come to understand the meaning of their own lives, of the life the universe and of the relation between the two kinds of life.
This is true because it is possible to show understanding of the lives of other beings only when one has an understanding of one's own life.

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Compassion consists of two parts: imparting joy to others and relieving others' suffering.
These actions come naturally to the Buddha; they don't require forced effort.
Speaking, lending a hand to others, expounding the Law--these are all acts and deeds of compassion.
Someone who attains this state of life is hailed as a Buddha and enjoys the respect and trust of everyone.--Josei Toda

Buddhism for you -- Love 19

Buddhism teaches that the altruistic way of life glows with the flame of wisdom.
The bodhisattva way is to let wisdom put knowledge to use and to couple compassion with compassionate action.

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Human life is not a sad affair.
In all things use your intellect and power of reason.
Let your life be imbued with feelings that are based on pure love.--Josei Toda

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The love between husband and wife becomes more mature when the initial passion is elevated through wisdom to encompass spiritual love and humanistic compassion.
By so doing, the couple is able to walk along the tree-lined avenue of life hand in hand, enjoying the soft breeze of happiness.

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By expanding their love from the personal to the universal level, women can become a great force against war and for peace.

Buddhism for you -- Love 18

Having good friends is like being equipped with a powerful auxiliary engine.
When we encounter a steep hill or an obstacle, we can encourage one another and find the strength to keep pressing forward vigorously.

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A shallow person will have only shallow relationships.
Real love is not one person clinging to another; it can only be fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality.

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Let those who love what is right join hands, and let us have but one banner--the banner of action and virtue.--Leo Tolstoy

Buddhism for you -- Love 17

Even if someone is close by, their heart may be distant.
But if someone is far away, if there is a heart-to-heart bond, they could not be closer.
The heart is what counts.
In the world of the heart, there is no separation.

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Children are messengers from the future.
We have no choice but to entrust the world to our children.
I trust children; I believe in their in their to grow and develop.
Every child possesses a unique mission.
For this reason, I treat children with respect, and I give my all in doing so.

Buddhism for you -- Love 16

In life we will encounter separations of inexpressible sadness.
However, those who overcome such grief and continue to live with strength and courage will be cherished and respected by their juniors as kings and queens of life.

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I wish to protect and encourage all parents and children, and I will do whatever I can for their sake.
To protect life itself; it is to nurture peace and protect the future.

敬愛的父親

父親，
您於今晨4：00，安詳離開了。

您是以近日睡得最為舒服，最為無憂的一刻入眠，您舒坦的睡姿，您安詳的臉容，進入您最安靜、最安寧的睡眠。

母親與我到來的時候，您己處於深沉的熟睡，我們開始跟您說話，唱題。當然也包括了您身在澳洲的小兒也在您熟睡的這一刻以電話跟您說話，說著似是安慰您，實是安慰我們自己的說話，直至您靜靜地、慢慢地遠去。

雖然，您可能會抱怨我們的出現打破了難得的寧靜。可是，您還是一直都緊閉雙眼，默默接受著週遭一切，未有抱怨。我知，您從來都不介意，一向以來都不介意在睡夢中被人吵醒。

看著您，要說的，我們都說了。

不過，我還是要在這裡鄭重地跟您說一聲道謝，不單止您一直以來帶給我們一家生活的豐足，也在這最後關頭，下了您人生最後、也是最大的一個決定，勇敢面對了人生之大事。

父親，謝謝你

不孝兒
英傑

Buddhism for you -- Love 15

Nichiren writes, "If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way."
Please be confident that the higher your flame of altruistic action burns, the more its light will suffuse your life with happiness.
Those who possess an altruistic spirit are the happiest people of all.

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When you are sincere in consideration for others, in even the most trifling matters, then you can bring about a complete change in the world around you.

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Even if it's only a brief meeting, give your children a hug when you see them.
Touch them and talk to them.
Try to make time to listen to what they have to say.
As long as you have love and compassion, you will find the wisdom to make this work.