June 6th

The first president of the Soka Gakkai, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, elucidates three kinds of goals in life through the following example: "Right after you compete in a 1000 meter race, a 100 meter dash is quite doable. On the other hand, right after a 100 meter dash, it's impossible to compete in a 1000 meter race. When we firmly establish a big goal in life, all the intermediate and smaller goals become clear to us, and we also discover the methods to realize them most effectively."

It is so important that we become winners in the marathon race called life.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
初代会長の牧口常三郎先生は三つの目的について語っている。「千メートル競走のついでに百メートルの競走はできるが、百メートルの競走のついでに千メートル競走はできない。大目的が確立してこそ、中目的、小目的が明確になり、その方法も生まれる」と。
人生というマラソンレースで勝利者になることが大切なのである。

SHODAI KAICHO NO MAKIGUCHI TSUNESABURO SENSEI WA MITSU NO MOKUTEKI NI TSUITE KATATTE IRU. [SEN METORU KYOSO NO TSUIDE NI HYAKU METORU NO KYOSO WA DEKIRU GA, HYAKU METORU KYOSO NO TSUIDE NI SEN METORU KYOSO WA DEKINAI. DAI MOKUTEKI GA KAKURITSU SHITE KOSO, CHUMOKUTEKI, SHOMOKUTEKI GA MEIKAKU NI NARI, SONO HOHO MO UMARERU] TO.
JINSEI TO IU MARASON RE-SU DE SHORISHA NI NARU KOTO GA TAISETSU NANO DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 173)

June 3rd

The key to constructing a truly strong self that never gets defeated in the face of adversities, is to take the bull by the horns.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
逆境に負けない、真の強い自己を築くカギは、貫くこと、徹することです。

GYAKKYO NI MAKENAI, SHIN NO TSUYOI JIKO WO KIZUKU KAGI WA, TSURANUKU KOTO, TESSURU KOTO DESU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 170)

July 18th

Everything in life never goes as planned. There are times when we lose and times when we win. Even if, let's say, we lose some times, it is important not to give up on ourselves or feel defeated in spirit.

No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, as long as we are winning against our own selves, we are ultimately winners!

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
人生、すべてが順調というわけにはいかない。勝つ場合も、負ける場合もある。しかし、仮に一時は敗北しても、
自分自身に負けてはいけない。
今、どんな境遇にあったとしても、自分自身に勝っているかぎり、その人は勝者である。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 217)

April 26th

Why does a dandelion refuse to get crushed or defeated even though it may be stepped on, over and over again? The secret to this strength can be found in the roots that it throws deep into the earth. These roots, at times, can even grow up to one meter below the ground's surface.

Human beings are the same too. Those who strive against all odds, driving the roots of their lives deeper and deeper into firm grounds where nothing can sway them, are true winners.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 26th

Japanese text:

TANPOPO WA, NAZE, FUMARETE MO, FUMARETE MO, MAKENAI NO DARO KA. TSUYOSA NO HIMITSU WA, CHICHUFUKAKU NI NOBASHITA NEKKO DA. NAGAIMONODA TO, CHIKA ICHIMETORU IJO NI MO NARU TO IU.
NINGEN MO ONAJI DE ARO. AKUSENKUTO O TAETNUKI, JISHIN NO JINSEI NO NEKKO O, NANI MO NI MO YURUGANU FUKASA MADE HATTA HITO GA, MAKOTO NO SHORISHA DA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 129)

April 21st

No matter what kind of situation your find yourself in, never allow yourself to feel miserable or dejected. Instead, with pride and confidence in yourself, hold your head high, look up with your sparkling eyes, and face life head on. If you can do this, you are a winner.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 21st

Japanese text:
NANI GA ARO TO ZETTAI NI HIKUTSU NI NATTE HA NARANAI. UTSUMUITE WA NARANAI. HOKORI TO JISHIN O MOTTE, KAGAYAKU HITOMI O AGE, DODO TO IKINUKU HITO GA KOFUKUSHA DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 124)

March 21st

Don't stop, just keep on moving forward! Ever forward!
Courageously challenge the realities of the moment!
A person who can do this a winner.
A woman who can do this is worthy of respect and admiration.
Just don't worry about what people say or think!

-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 21st

Japanese text:
MAE E! MATA DANKO TOSHITE, MAE E SUSUMU NO DA! GANZEN NO GENJITSU NI YUKAN NI IDOMIYUKU NO DA! SONO HITO GA, SAIKO NO SHORI NO HITO DE ARU. TOTOKI JOSEI NANODEARU. DARE GA NAN TO IO GA, DARE BITO GA NANTO OMO GA!
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 92 pg.)

July 8th

No matter how many hardships you might be undergoing, remember that there is no other place where happiness can be found except the place you find yourself in. In other words, dig below your feet right where you are, right now, and win.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
いかに現実が多事多難であろうとも、
ここから離れて、幸福の大地はどこにもない。
ゆえに断じて、今、自分がいる場所で勝つことだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 207)

April 30th

People who hold fast to the here and now, striving through any situation without getting defeated by their limitations, never comparing themselves to anyone else, but advancing straight along the path that they perceive as their proud, noble mission. Such people are happy people. Such people are winners.


-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 30th

Japanese text:
IMA IRU BASHO DE
JIBUN JISHIN NI MAKEZU KACHINUKI
HITO TO KURABERU KOTO NAKU
JIBUN JISHIN NO HOKORITAKAKI SHIMEI NO MICHI O
JICCHOKU NI ZENSHIN SURU HITO GA
KOFUKU MONO DE ARI  NINGEN TOSHITE NO SHORISHA DA
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 133)

April 15th

It's absolutely alright to advance slowly, at our own pace. Those who progress forwards, even a step at a time, are winners.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 15th

Japanese text:
AYUMI WA OSOKUTE MO YOI. IPPO MATA IPPO, ZENSHIN SURU HITO GA, SHORISHA DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 118 pg.)