May 9th

In this world, only people with wealth or fame seem to attract all the praise and attention. However, the real worth of a human being is not decided by their affluence or status. It goes without saying that I would like all people to be able to enjoy a prosperous and healthy existence. Let us not forget though, that the most valuable treasure can be found in the richness of our own hearts.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
世間では富や名声をもつ人ばかりが、もてはやされがちだ。しかし、本当の人間の価値とは、物質的な豊かさや名声のなかにあるのではない。もちろん、だれもが、裕福で、健康で、あって欲しい。しかし心の豊かさにこそ、最高の価値があることを忘れてはなるまい。

SEKEN DE WA TOMI YA MEISEI O MOTSU HITO BAKARI GA, MOTEHAYASAREGACHI DA. SHIKASHI, HONTO NO NINGEN NO KACHI TOWA, BUSSHITSU TEKI NA YUTAKASA YA MEISEI NO NAKA NI ARU NODEWA NAI.
MOCHIRON, DAREMOGA, YUFUKU DE, KENKO DE, ATTE HOSHI. SHIKASHI KOKORO NO YUTAKASA NI KOSO, SAIKO NO KACHI GA ARU KOTO O WASURETE WA NARUMAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 144)

May 7th

Rather than chasing after money and fame, it is far more valuable for human beings to pursue learning. No matter how famous a person may be, unless they have an attitude to learn, it is hard for anyone to respect them. On the other hand, those who spend their entire lives educating themselves, deserve our highest respect and admiration.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
お金や栄養を得ることよりも、人間として大事なのは、学ぶことです。いくら有名人でも、学ぶ心にない人は尊敬できません。一生涯学び続けるーその人を尊敬すべきです。

OKANE YA EIYO O ERU KOTO YORI MO, NINGEN TOSHITE ICHIBAN DAIJI NO WA, MANABU KOTO DESU. IKURA YUMEIJIN DE MO, MANABU KOKORO NO NAI HITO WA SONKEI DEKIMASEN. ISSHOGAI, MANABI TUZUKERU - SONO HITO O SONKEI SUBEKI DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 142)

March 23rd

People who voluntarily and proactively engage in community matters or social events are much younger than their real age. Those who can feel gratitude for the smallest of things and do their best for the sake of others, wear a certain freshness and youthfulness about them.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 23rd

Japanese text:
IYOKUTEKI NI SHAKAI SEIKATSU NI SANKA SHITE IRU HITO WA, NENREI YORI HARUKA NI WAKAWAKASHI. MATA, SASAINA KOTO NI MO KANSHA NO KOKORO O MOTERU HITO, HITO NO TAME NI TSUKUSO TO SURU HITO WA, SUGASUGASHIKU WAKAWAKASHI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 94 pg.)

July 30th

Till the final years of his life, king of comedy, Charlie Chaplin, always responded to the question: "What according to you, is your masterpiece", by saying: "It's going to be the next one".

As long as one maintains the spirit to keep on challenging, there are really no deadlocks in life. It's not that we walk because there is a path, rather, it is because we walk that we can pave a path for ourselves.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
喜劇王チャップリンは、晩年にいたるまで「あなたの最高傑作は？」という質問に対して、いつも「ネクスト・ワン（次の作品）」と答えたという。挑戦の魂に行き詰まりはない。道があるから歩くのではなく、歩くから道ができるのだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 229)

August 2nd

A philosopher once said that those who forget their mothers are no more than animals. It is important to brace ourselves and stand upright in life, with the memory of our mothers always in our hearts.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
母を忘れたならば動物となる、と言った哲学者がいた。人生は、母を思い出しながら奮起して立ちあがるのだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 233)

August 1st

Because there are dreams there is youth. Because there are dreams there is life. Those who have no dreams in life are lonesome. But those who spend their entire life in the pursuit of their dreams and goals, have eternally youthful hearts, no matter what their age.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
理想があるから青春です。理想があるから人生です。理想のない人は、寂しい。
反対に、生涯、わが理想を求めて生きる人は、どんなに年をとっていても、心は永遠に青年です。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 232)

April 3rd

When we are feeling tied and bound by our situation.
When we are feeling defensive about everything.
When we are confused, down-and-out.
At such times, let us apply the reverse gear on our inner feelings and tell ourselves: "I am going to go right through with this situation and emerge victorious."
It is within such a resolve that we truly discover the arrival of "spring".

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 3rd

Japanese text:
NANI KA NI SHIBARARETE IRU YO NI KANJIRU TOKI. SUBETE GA UKEMI NI NATTE IRU TOKI. NANTONAKU MAYOI GA KANJIRARETE IRU TOKI.
SO IU TOKI WA, ICHINEN O KYAKUTEN SASETE [SA, KONO MICHI O TSURANUKO!] TO KIMETE IKU KOTO DA. SONO ICHINEN NO NAKA NI, SHINJITSU NO [HARU] GA TORAI SURU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 106 pg.)

April 1st

The sun has an untiring, persevering presence that operates timelessly on a rhythm, spreading warmth and radiance to sustain and nourish life.

Women too, are like the sun of a family ! Bright, like the sun. Strong, like the sun. May you be forever enthused with a sun-like vitality to "challenge something new today", or "take a step forward", making steady, cumulative progress towards your goals.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 1st

Japanese text:
TAIYO WA, UMAZU, TAYUMAZU, MIZUKARA NO KIDO O SUSUMI, BANBUTSU O TERASHI, HAGUKUNDE IKU. JOSEI WA, IKKA NO TAIYO DESU. TAIYO NO GOTOKU AKARUKU, TAIYO NO GOTOKU CHIKARA ZUYOKU, TAIYO NO GOTOKU KENKO NI, [KYO MO, NANI KA NI CHOSEN SHIYO!] [KYO MO, IPPO SUSUMO!] TO, MOKUHYO O MOTTE, HARINO ARU ICHINICHI ICHINICHI O TSUMI KASANETE ITTE HOSHII.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 104 pg.)

July 31st

Saying "Who cares? It isn't my problem!" can be a convenient way of ignoring an important issue. However, saying so makes human beings much smaller than they are capable of being. Each time we try to convince ourselves by saying "Who cares?" we begin to erase our own humanity, until we are left with none of it. Only women who actively lead our society towards peace, are its true guardians.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
「私には関係ない」というのは楽かもしれない。しかし、この「私には関係ない」が、人間を小さくする。
「私には関係ない」と、つぶやくたびに、自分の人間らしさが削られ、どんどん消えていってしまう。わが社会を平和にしゆく女性が、平和の天使なのである。

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 230)

July 28th

Even nature, the world and the universe, have never paused for a single moment. If we lose our aspiration for advancement, at that very point, everything in life begins to start degenerating.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
自然も、世界も、宇宙も、一瞬として止まってはいない。
向上心を失った瞬間から、すでに人生の退歩が始まる。

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 227)

April 5th

Don't be caught up in the past. Instead, never forget the spirit to always look ahead thinking how you can make a change "from now on", "starting right now" and "from today onwards".

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
KAKO NI DORAWARERU NODEWA NAKU, [KORE KARA] [IMA KARA] [KYO KARA] - TO, TSUNE NI MAE NI SUSUNDE IKU TSUYOKI ICHINEN O WASUREMAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 108 pg.)

September 29

There are times when we are the verge of giving up on ourselves as being useless and incapable. In fact, it is precisely these moments that provide us with a brilliant opportunity to open up new possibilities from within. It is precisely these moments that become turning points that could change failure into victory, unhappiness into happiness.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"「自分なんかもうダメだ」と思うような瀬戸際の時がある。実はその時こそが、自身の新しい可能性を開くチャンスなのである。わが人生を敗北から勝利へ、不幸から幸福へと大転換しゆく分かれ目が、ここにある。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 292)

September 28

"Thank you" is a miraculous expression. When we use it, we feel elated. When we hear, it we feel courageous.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"「ありがとう」は奇跡の言葉である。口に出せば、元気が出る。耳に入れば、勇気がわく。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 291)

April 24th

A simple, ordinary existence is fine.
I always remind myself to live life,
never forgetting to smile, like the spring breeze;
full of hope, like the sun;
polishing my intellect in conversation with the moon;
with the purity and brilliance of white, fallen snow.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 24th

Japanese text:
HEIBON DEMO II
WATASHI WA ITUMO
HARUKAZE NO EGAO O WASUREZU NI ITAI
TAIYO NO KIBO O HATSURATU TO KAGAYAKASETAI
GEKKO TO KATARAINAGARA CHISEI O FUKAMETAI
HAKUSETSU NO GOTOKU KIYORAKANI HIKARU HITO DE ARITAI
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 127)

August 31st

What is the way for our hearts to overflow with joy. The only way this is possible is when we ourselves grow into individuals who can give joy to others. The extent to which we give joy to our family members and to those around us, is the extent to which we will begin to enrich our own lives. We will be elated and cheerful. Because our life is glowing from within.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
どうすれば、自分の心が歓喜で満ちていくか。それには、人に生きる喜びを与える自分になることです。家族や、周囲の人々に、喜びと希望を与えていけばいくほど、自分の心は豊かになっていく。生き生きと弾んでいく。輝いていくからだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 262)

July 25th

Be wise.
Be sagacious.
Be bright.
Be strong.
Last, but not the least - be kind.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
賢い人であれ
聡明な人であれ
明るい人であれ
強い人であれ
そして―――
優しい人であれ
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 224)

July 23rd

Human beings thrive on helping others and being helped themselves. I think that's how it should be. Both the person who sought help and the one who provided it, can find joy in this process.

So, for example, when you think that your baggage is getting a bit too heavy for you to handle alone, it's good to ask for help. For this act will also give someone around you a chance to feel good about themselves. There is absolutely no need to just sit around alone in front of heavy bags.

It goes without saying, that when you see someone with heavy bags they can't manage, go ahead and offer your help.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
人は、助けたり、助けられたりして生きていく。それが正しい。そうすれば、助けた人も、助けられた人も、嬉しい。
だから、荷物が重すぎる時は、一緒に持ってもらえばよい。それは、人を助ける喜びを周りに与えることにもなる。
一人で、荷物の前に座り込んでいなくていい。
そして、重い荷物を持っている人がいたら、張りきって、助けてあげるのだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 222)

July 20th

Our everyday lives might seem like a series of trivial events. However, at every single moment, a subtle difference in our hearts and minds can open the way forward, transforming seemingly insignificant happenings into a source of great happiness.

So what subtle difference in our attitude makes this possible? It is the difference that lies in having:
a wise heart,
a constructive spirit,
a spirit to challenge through to the very end,
a mind that can gauge right from wrong and good from evil,
courage to help and save people.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
日常はささいなことの連続かもしれない。しかし、一瞬一瞬の微妙な心のもち方によって、大きく幸福を開いていくことができる。その心とは―――
「賢明なる心」
「建設の心」
「勝ち抜く心」
「善悪を見極める心」
「人びとを救いゆく勇気の心」である。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 219)

March 27th

When this world of ours receives the light of a single rising sun, all living beings are nourished and energized. In the same manner, when we decide to be the sun of our families, we are able to illuminate and energize all those around us with our light.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 27th

Japanese text:

CHIJO NI HITOTSU NO TAIYOU GA NOBOREBA, BANBUTSU WA ENERGI O UKERU KOTO GA DEKIRU.

ONAJI YO NI, KAZOKU NO NAKA DE, JIBUN GA TAIYO TO NAREBA, SONO HIKARI DE SHUI O TERASHITE IKU KOTO GA DEKIRU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 98 pg.)

February 24th

"Let me listen to all kinds of views and opinions."
"Let me learn and absorb from everything around me."
"Let me expand my circle of friendship."
A person with such an attitude will undoubtedly be able to develop their ability and open up unlimited possibilities in their life.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
NANDEMO KIKO, MANABO. YUJIN O HIROGEYO - KO IU SHISEI NO HITO WA, JISHIN NO KANOSEI O OKIKU NOBASU KOTO GA DEKIRU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 65 pg.)