September 4

It was the fall of my 5th grade at elementary school. A great typhoon moving at a wind speed of about 33 meters approached menacingly close to where we lived. My older brothers, having being drafted into the army, were all away. The anxiety and fear in the hearts of us kids inside a pitch dark house was unimaginable. It was just at that very moment that our father firmly blurted out: "There is nothing to be afraid". And then mother added: "Your father is right here, so there is absolutely nothing to worry!" It is hard to explain how relieved and comforted we felt at those few words of assurance from our parents.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"私が小学校五年生の頃の秋でした。わが家が、風速３３メートルほどの大きな台風に襲われたことがあります。兄たちは、兵隊にとられて家にはいない。真っ暗な家のなか、幼い子供たちの不安は募りました。しかし、その時です。父が、厳として、「怖くない！」と言ったのです。母も、毅然と、「お父さんがいるから、絶対に心配ないよ！」と。この父母のひと言に、どれだけ、ほっとし、勇気がわいてきたことか。私は、今でも鮮明に思い出します。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 267)

August 18th

Wise men of the past teach us that "more valuable than treasures in a storehouse are treasures of the body, and the treasures of the heart are the most valuable of all."

What aging parents would appreciate most of all is to experience love and affection from their children. These are their most precious 'treasures of the heart'.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
先哲の言葉に「蔵の財より身の財が優れ、身の財より心の財がさらに優れている」とあります。老いた親にとって何より嬉しいことは、子どもの注いでくれる愛情であり、心の財です。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 249)

July 13th

The loss of our parents might lead us to sometimes think: "Oh, how I wish my dad were here" or, "It would have been so good if mom was here". However, please do remember that even after they pass away, our parents live on eternally within our own hearts.

Shakyamuni Buddha lost his mother as soon as he was born. But through the course of his own life he showed us that even with the loss of one's parents one can still grow into splendid, capable individuals, whom they would be proud of.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
親を亡くして、「こんな時に父親がいてくれれば」「母親がいたら」と思うこともあるかもしれない。
しかし、父も母も、心のなかに永遠に生きている。釈尊もまた、生まれてすぐに、母親を亡くした。
「親がいなくても、人間は偉大になれる」と身をもって示したのです。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 212)

September 17

There is an old saying that goes like this: "When you really want to give something to your parents but have nothing, give them your warmest smiles 2 or 3 times in the day." We want to be able to weave the essential spirit of this philosophy right into the drama of our daily lives.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"先哲の教えに「親に何か良い物を差しあげようと思っても何もないときは、一日に二度三度と笑顔を見せてあげなさい」とある。この人間学の精髄を、生活の劇のなかで賢く朗らかに実践していきたい。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 280)