ENCOURAGING GUIDANCE FROM PRESIDENT IKEDA

ENCOURAGING GUIDANCE FROM PRESIDENT IKEDA

  

"There is no way that all of you, who chant daimoku to the Gohonzon and earnestly strive for kosen-rufu, will fail to become happy. You will not only enjoy happiness in this lifetime, but eternally throughout the three existences of past, present, and future.

  

"Real life, however, is filled with an unending series of problems, including such things as financial troubles, sickness, and family disharmony. But even though, at such times, your circumstances may seem unfortunate on the surface, if you keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout, you will definitely be able to transform all that is negative into something positive in accord with the Buddhist principle of 'changing poison into medicine.' You can ride out every difficulty, turning it into an opportunity for growth. In this sense, it can be said that, on a fundamental level, you have already won.

"Your life could be likened to a play. You may be performing the role of someone suffering right now, but the play is certain to have a happy and triumphant ending. There is no way that it could conclude in misery. You will be able to enjoy happiness in lifetime after lifetime. You will be able to win eternally. So you have nothing to worry about."

Excerpt - YOUNG WOMEN’S DIVISION COMMEMORATIVE GATHERING--PART 1 [OF 5] Be Cheerful Suns of Happiness, from the June 7th, 2009, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated July 3rd, 2009