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Altruism
Altruism is the most effective means
of self-realization and self-perfection.
Doing good for others is the best way
to develop one’s own character
and find greater happiness for oneself.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Attitude
No matter what the problem is,
the way it is interpreted can have
a positive or negative effect on one’s life.
By adopting a positive interpretation,
one can make one’s problems
a source of nourishment for personal growth.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Bodhisattva is a World Citizen
You must not yoke yourself
to nationality or to ethnicity.
You are more than just your physical being.
Do not regard yourself as a slave to your genes.
Fundamentally, all human beings have limitless
and immense potential.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Desires
We could not live without desires.
Often, desires generate the energy
that enables us to move forward
and improve ourselves. The key question,
therefore, is how we use desires.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Determine to win
We are not defeated by adversity
but by the loss of the will to strive.
However devastated you may feel,
so long as you have the will to fight on,
you can surely triumph.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Fearlessness
Chanting is the way to destroy all fear.
It is the way to banish sorrow,
the way to light a torch of hope.
It is the revolution that rewrites
the scenario of our destiny.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Hope
As long as one has hope,
there is nothing one cannot achieve;
everything is born from hope.
Our life force, our fundamental energy,
is fueled by hope.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Inner Resolve
To resolve to accomplish
your goals is what counts.
If you earnestly put your mind to something,
your brain, your body, your environment
– everything – will start working
toward achieving that end.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Keep moving
The important thing is to start
from where you can and give
your all to challenging something new.
Then, just like climbing a mountain,
keep moving towards your goal,
one step at a time.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Love
Ideal love is fostered only
between two sincere,
mature and independent people.
Real love is not two people
clinging to each other;
it can only be fostered between
two strong people
secure in their individuality.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Making a start
Whatever your circumstances,
whatever your past,
the forces that determine your future
are nowhere but within
your own heart and mind.
It is here that the star
of your destiny shines.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Openness
Make an effort to meet with people.
Interaction with others opens up
new and exciting possibilities.
Meeting people stimulates our minds,
gives us energy, leads to more new encounters
and infinitely expands our life and our world
Daisaku Ikeda
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Purpose
Everyone born in this world
has a unique role that only
he or she can fulfill.
Were this not the case,
we would not be here.
The universe never acts without cause;
everything invariably has a reason for being.
Even the weeds people love
to loathe serve a purpose.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Relationships
If you want to change another person,
first change your own heart.
When you change, others around
you will change.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Rise to the challenges
Rise to the challenge
of life’s trials and tribulations.
You can’t develop genuine character
and ability by sidestepping adversity
and struggle. Work hard. Sometimes
others may taunt you or try to deter you,
but just keep pressing forwards and win.
All of this is training in life,
and all of it becomes your treasure.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Setting goals
Life moves toward
the direction our mind
aims it in.
A goal activates
our minds and bodies;
it stimulates wisdom
and energy from within.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Sharing strength
When we care for others
our own strength to live increases.
When we help people expand their state of life,
our lives also expand.
Actions to benefit others are not separate
from actions to benefit oneself.
Our lives and the lives of others
are ultimately inseparable.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Step by step
A pyramid isn’t built from the top down.
The apex is attained only by laying
strong foundation stones, one by one.
The same is true of achieving a lofty objective. T
he crucial thing is to lay the first stone,
to take the first step.
Daisaku Ikeda
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The present moment
Even a cave that has been in total darkness
for millions of years will become brightly
illuminated the moment a light is brought inside.
It is always the present that counts.
It is what we do in the present moment
that decides our future.
Our past causes do not govern our future.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Transformation
Transform sadness into courage.
Transform karma into a mission.
Break through the darkness and make
the morning sun rise in your hearts.
Come, dancing forth like a reborn
sun heralding the arrival of spring
Daisaku Ikeda
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Uniqueness
Just as cherry, plum, peach and damson
blossoms all possess their own unique qualities,
each person is unique. We cannot become someone else.
The important thing is that we live true to ourselves
and cause the great flower of our lives to blossom.
Daisaku Ikeda
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What is Goodness?
“Goodness” can be defined as that
which moves us in the direction
of harmonious coexistence, empathy
and solidarity with others.
The nature of evil, on the other hand,
is to divide: people from people,
humanity from the rest of nature.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Wholeheartedness
If you are half-hearted about your job,
you can never put your full strength
into your religious activities either.
Now is the time for you to clench
your teeth and exert yourself
both in your work and your faith,
no matter how hard pressed you are.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Working together
Instead of one person
taking one hundred steps forwards,
let’s aim at one hundred people
taking one step forwards!
It’s when many capable people
are awakened to their noble missions
it is certain that they can each
achieve fresh new victories.
Daisaku Ikeda
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Starting afresh
The worst mistake you can make
is to give up on yourself
and stop challenging yourself
for fear of failure.
Keep moving forward
with a firm eye on the future,
telling yourself,
“I’ll start from today!”
“I’ll start afresh from now,
from this very moment!”
Daisaku Ikeda
