February 20th

One of the most striking expressions of the beauty of human beings can be witnessed at times when they are deeply immersed in work. When women feel a deep sense of responsibility towards their work, and enthusiastically engage themselves in carrying it out well, they will never lose their youthfulness.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
NINGEN NO MOTTOMO UTSUKUSHI SUGATA NO HITOTSU WA, SHINKEN NI SHIGOTO NI UCHIKONDE IRU SUGATA DE ARU.
SHIGOTO NI SEKININ O MOTTE, HATSURATSU TO TORIKUNDE IRU JOSEI WA, WAKASA O USHINAWANAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 61 pg.)

May 27th

Let us live our lives diligently, making the most of every single day. Those who can discover many beautiful things to admire, are beautiful themselves.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
一日一日をていねいに生きよう！
美しいものはたくさん発見できる人こそ、美しい人である。

ICHINICHI ICHINICHI O TEINEI NI IKIYO!
UTSUKUSHII MONO WO TAKUSAN HAKKEN DEKIRU HITO KOSO, UTSUKUSHI HITO DE ARU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 162)

May 17th

Noble and beautiful indeed is the life of a woman, who, though ordinary and simple, strives hard for the sake of her family and neighborhood in her own unique way, and who lives sincerely, always exerting herself to the best of her ability.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
家族のため、近隣のために、自分らしく、誠実に精いっぱいの努力をしていきてきた女性の一生は、平凡であっても、尊く美しい。

KAZOKU NO TAME, KINRIN NO TAME NI, JIBUN RASHIKU, SEIJITSU NI SEIIPPAI NO DORYOKU O SHITE IKITEKITA JOSEI NO ISSHO WA, HEIBON DE ATTEMO, TOTOKU UTSUKUSHII.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 152)

June 1st

One who always lives youthfully, who understands the true meaning of youth, and who radiates vibrant, youthful energy, is a person who enjoys the most blissful, happy existence while walking along the highest path of life with angelic poise and pride.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
若さに生き、若さをしり、若さを発揮した人は、人生の究極の道、天使のごとく誇り高く歩み、綴っていく至福の人だ。

WAKASA NI IKI, WAKASA O SHIRI, WAKASA O HAKKI SHITA HITO WA, JINSEI NO KYUKYOKU NO MICHI O, TENSHI NO GOTOKU HOKORITAKAKU AYUMI, TUZUTTE IKU SHIFUKU NO HITO DA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 168)

May 2nd

To have a mentor in life is a matter of great rejoice, a matter of great good fortune. Beautiful and noble indeed are people, who can walk unwaveringly along their chosen path of mentor and disciple, with a sense of pride in their hearts.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
人生にあって師を持てることは幸せであり、大きな喜びである。自らが決めた師弟の道を人生のほこりとして貫き通すところに、人間としての美しさ、尊さがある。

JINSEI NI ATTE SHI O MOTERU KOTO WA SHIAWASE DE ARI, OOKINA YOROKOBI DE ARU. MIZUKARA GA KIMETA SHITEI NO MICHI O JINSEI NO HOKORI TOSHITE TSURANUKI TOSU TOKORO NI, NINGEN TOSHITE NO UTSUKUSHISA, TOTOSA GA ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 137)

August 8th

A shining personality is forged only in the midst of hard training. Those who make efforts to train themselves thoroughly are indeed beautiful. Anyone who interacts with them will find their presence charming and endearing. They possess the kind of beauty that is not short lived or age based, but lifelong and ageless.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
鍛えの中からしか、個性は輝かない。見事に自分の個性を鍛えあげた人は、美しい。誰が見ても、ほれぼれするほど美しい。
すぐ消えてしまう一時の美ではなく、ずっと続く一生涯の美です。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 239)

July 17th

Never forgetting our debt of gratitude to the mentor who raised us; never forgetting to nurture the bonds we share with friends -- acts such as these might look ordinary and commonplace, but they most certainly are not.

It is through such acts that the beauty of our humanity finds outward expression. Our behavior is the true essence of our humanity.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
師の恩を忘れず、また友情を大切に育んでいく―――。
一見、平凡のように見えるが、決してそうではない。こうした振る舞いのなかに、実は人間性の最も美しい発露があり、
人間性の真髄がある。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 216)

June 29th

When human beings reminisce about their mother, they grow in their own beauty. It revitalizes them and refreshes their heart. All people have a mother. This person as well as that person. Everyone. Even though someone's mother may not exist in this world anymore, they still have a part of her within them.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
母を思い浮かべる時、人は優しくなれる。
清らかな心を蘇らせることができる。
誰にも、お母さんがいます。あの人も、この人も、
すべての人にお母さんがいるのです。
たとえお母さんがこの世にいなくても、
母なる存在を、必ず心にもっている。

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 195)