April 2nd

My mentor, Josei Today, would often say "Being able to repay one's debts of gratitude is the the most profound and appropriate way for human beings to live." My mentor's life was truly beautiful.

The desire to want to do something to return the kindness someone has shown us, is also the best possible way in which we ourselves can grow as individuals. In fact, it would not be incorrect to say that those who know and repay their debts to people are the real victors in life.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 2nd

Japanese text:
ONSHI TODA SENSEI WA [ON O KAESU NO GA SAIJO NO NINGEN DA.] TO IWARETA. ONSHI NO JINSEI WA UTSUKUSHI. OSEWA NI NATTA HITO NI ONGAESHI O SHITE IKO TO IU KOKORO GA, ICHIBAN, JIBUN O SEICHO SASERU. KAGIRINAI KOCHO NO ENERGY TO NATTE IKU. HO-ON NO HITO KOSO, JINSEI NO SHORISHA DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 105 pg.)

March 26th

Knowing and repaying the debts of gratitude we owe people, is the most fundamental path for human beings to tread. Being able to love and cherish our own parents and appreciate them from the bottom of our hearts, is what makes us more human. It is living proof of our growth as a human being.

And when we are able to develop our lives in this manner, we also become good parents ourselves, and create harmonious families. An attitude of appreciation and gratitude has a big, positive influence on the way we raise our children.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 26th

Japanese text:
ON O SHIRI, ON NI MUKUITE IKU KOTO GA, NINGEN NO AYUMU BEKI MICHI DE ARU.
OYA O AI SHI, OYA NI KOKORO NO SOKO KARA KANSHA DEKIRU YO NI NATTE IKU KOTO GA, NINGEN TOSHITE NO FUKAMARI DE ARI, SEICHO NO AKASHI TO ITTE YOI.
SONO YO NI NINGEN TOSHITE SEICHO SHITE ITTE KOSO, MIZUKARA MO YOI OYA TO NARI, WARAKU NO KATEI O KIZUITE IKERU. SO SHITA KOKORO GA, KOSODATE NI MO OKINA EIKYO O ATAETE IKU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 97 pg.)

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)