To My Friends (Feb. 3)

A translation of SGI President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more:

—TO MY FRIENDS—
Buddhism propounds the principle of the "simultaneity of cause and effect".
The moment we get down to chant daimoku specifically towards our goals,
is the exact same moment when our lives have already experienced victory!
Let's always remember to align our deepest inner resolve with that of our mentor's*
and boldly forge ahead towards the challenges that lie before us.

* Our hearts must be in rhythm with one another, and we must have a profound sense of responsibility, we must pray, contemplate what must be done and then act. If our hearts are in accord, we can tap unlimited strength. If not, we can achieve nothing. Nothing magnificent can be created.... Those who make the mentor's heart their own and put that into practise are truly great (A Conversation with Youth, pp. 65-66).

* But of all human relations, that between mentor and disciple is the deepest and most important. Only through the mentor-disciple relationship can we learn and teach each other how to develop ourselves as human beings and how best to deal with life. This is the only life-to-life bond which continues for all eternity and which remains firm no matter where we may be (Selected Lectures on the Gosho, Vol. 1, pg. 174).

—DAILY GOSHO—
"(I will be the pillar of Japan. I will be the eyes of Japan. I will be the
great ship of Japan.) This is my vow, and I will never forsake it!"
(The Opening of the Eyes - Part 1 - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 280-281) "Myoji no Gen", Seikyo Shimbun, February 3.