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)

May 12th

Facing your goals and mission in life, challenge, challenge and challenge yet again. Don't give up. Take action. Study. Talk. Study again. And although you might feel you're not getting anywhere or think, "I struggled to the best of my ability," "How much further do I need to go?," be rest assured that you will definitely encounter the moment when your consistent efforts will burst forth into results.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
自己の目的と使命に向かって、挑戦に挑戦を重ねる。あきらめない。動く。学び。語る。また学ぶ。その、これでもか、これでもかという実践の結果、ある時、パーッと大きく開けてくるものである。

JIKO NO MOKUTEKI TO SHIMEI NI MUKATTE, CHOSEN NI CHOSEN O KASANERU. AKIRAMENAI. UGOKU. MANABI, KATARU. MATA MANABU. SONO, KOREDEMO KA, KOREDEMO KA TO IU JISSEN NI KEKKA, ARU TOKI, PA-TTO OOKIKU HIRAKETE KURU MONO DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 147)

July 16th

What I wish most is for each one us to actively seek out opportunities to undergo hardships. If we must undergo hardships in any case, we might as well spend our efforts in working for an ideal. Let's not stay within our comfort zones, but instead break through the small shell that binds us, and dedicate our efforts for the sake of our friends, for society and for humankind.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
自ら求めて、苦労をしていってほしい。そして、同じ苦労をするならば、大きな理想のために苦労してもらいたい。
自分の小さな殻にとじこもるのではなく、友のため、社会のため、そして人類のために大いなる理想を掲げて、学んでいくことだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 215)