June 4th

If there is but one woman of wisdom and intelligence in the workplace, can you imagine just how wonderful the expanding waves of joy would be?

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
職場に一人の聡明な女性がいれば、どれほどか爽やかな歓喜の波が広がっていくことだろう。

SHOKUBA NI HITORI NO SOMEI NA JOSEI GA IREBA, DORE HODO KA SAWAYAKANA KANKI NO NAMI GA HIROGATTE IKU KOTO DARO.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 171)

May 21st

Because you were born into this world, it is important that you make every effort to become happy. Never allow yourself to be defeated by misfortune.

The struggles you undertake and the efforts you make, striving with a spirit that emanates youthful energy enveloped in the light of hope, will move everything in the direction of happiness.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
生まれてきたからには、幸福を勝ち取らねばならない。
断じて、不幸に負けてはならない。
若々しく希望の光に包まれた、貴女の闘争の力こそが、すべてを幸福に変えていくのだ。

UMARETE KITA KARA NI WA, KOFUKU O KACHITORANEBA NARANAI.
DANJITE, FUKO NI MAKETE WA NARANAI.
WAKAWAKASHIKU KIBO NO HIKARI NI TSUTSUMARETA, ANATA NO TOSO NO CHIKARA KOSO GA, SUBETE O KOFUKU NI KAETE IKU NO DA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 156)

November 10th

A life without laughter is like a flower only half open. Despite the troubles of our society, we definitely don't want to lose our sense of humor!

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"人生にあって、笑いがないということは、花がパッと開かないのと同じだ。いかなる葛藤の社会であっても、ユーモアだけは忘れたくない。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 337)

October 22

All of our toils are our treasures.
Treasures of victory.
Treasures of happiness.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"すべての努力は、人生の宝です。勝利の宝です。幸福の宝です。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 317)

August 3rd

My mentor Josei Toda once encouraged a woman saying: "If a woman cannot bring joy and happiness to the place where she is in right now, then which place, I ask, can she bring happiness to?"

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
かつて、恩師・戸田城聖先生は、女性たちを励ますために、こう言われました。「自分のいる場所を幸せにできない者が、
どこを幸せにできるのか」と。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 234)

July 19th

A famous saying goes like this: "It is the heart that is most important." True happiness and true victory are ultimately decided by what's inside your own heart.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
「心こそ大切なれ」
真実の幸福と勝利は、
あなた自身の胸中で決定されるのだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 218)

April 7th

You, who rejoices each day
with a freshness of spirit that never wears off!
You, who does not suffer or agonize,
and refuses to feel defeated.
You, who is forever advancing cheerfully and victoriously.
You, I shall call "doctor of happiness".

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
HIBI SHINSEN NA TAMASHI DE
YOROKOBI MAIYUKU ANATA YO!
KANASHIMU KOTO MO NAKU
MAKERU KOTO MO NAKU
KYO MO YUKAI NI KACHISUSUMU
ANATA NO NA WA
[KOFUKU HAKASE]
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 110 pg.)

February 22nd

It goes without saying that our life in this world is a struggle. This is an indisputable principle of our existence that we cannot and should not try to escape, for that would tantamount to accepting defeat. Happiness, on the other hand, is something that we must strive hard to win for ourselves.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
JINSEI WA TATAKAI DE ARU. SORE GA SEIMEI NO HOSOKU DE ARU. TATAKAI O SAKERU KOTO WA, SORE JITAI, HAIBOKU DE ARU.
KOFUKU WA KACHITORU MONO DA.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 63 pg.)

January 28th

Knowing what might be weighing on someone's mind, understanding what it is that they really wish for, is a great quality. Understanding people's hearts, making them feel comfortable and relaxed so that they can freely focus on their growth, being able to give detailed thought and encouragement to each individual, at times taking away the heavy burden of their minds, making them feel light and easy, and creating a cheerful atmosphere. Such are the qualities of a leader.

-Daisaku Ikeda

何に悩んでいるか。何を望んでいるか―――。皆の心を知り、皆が安心して頑張れるように、一人一人を、きめ細やかに励ましていく
心の重荷を取って、軽くしてあげる。楽しくさせてあげることだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, page 38)

June 25th

As we find ourselves deep within the mountains and valleys of our life,
unless we push our way through with the sweat and toil of our persistence,
we will never be able to mine the diamond of happiness.
If we are only preoccupied with spending our time in fun places and having a good time there
we will fail to polish our diamond of happiness.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
奥深い人生の山や谷に、
汗を流して分け入っていかなければ、
幸福のダイヤモンドは採掘できない。
賑やかな町で遊び、楽をしているばかりでは、
決して幸福のダイヤモンドを磨くこともできない。

OKUBUKAI JINSEI NO YAMA YA TANI NI,
ASE O NAGASHITE WAKEITTE IKANAKEREBA,
KOFUKU NO "DAIMOND" WA SAIKUTSU DEKINAI.
NIGIYAKANA MACHI DE ASOBI, RAKU O SHITE IRU BAKARI DEWA,
KESHITE KOFUKU NO DAIMOND O MIGAKU KOTO MO DEKINAI.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 192)

June 22nd

There is no one in this world who can sail through life without any hardships. Unless we take action, no matter how long we wait, happiness will never come to us. It goes without saying that reality is tough. That's precisely why, instead of allowing ourselves to be tossed about by our circumstances, we must determinedly advance forwards and throw ourselves into the midst of our reality, using it as the perfect training ground to temper our lives.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
苦労のない人生などどこにもない。行動しなければ、いつまでたっても、幸福はやってこない。現実は厳しいに決まっている。故に、その現実に翻弄されるのではなく、進んで現実にいどみ、命の鍛錬の場としていくのだ。

KURO NO NAI JINSEI NADO DOKO NI MO NAI. KODO SHINAKEREBA, ITSUMADE TATTE MO, KOFUKU WA YATTE KONAI. GENJITSU WA KIBISHII NI KIMATTE IRU. YUE NI, SONO GENJITSU NI HONRO SARERUNODEWA NAKU, SUSUNDE GENJITSU NI IDOMI, INOCHI NO TANREN NO BA TOSHITE IKU NO DA.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 189)

June 19th

A woman who can celebrate the joy of living, is a happy person.
A woman who can find things in her life to feel happy and jubilant about, is a winner of the spirit.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
生きる歓びを持っている人は、幸福な女性である。
生きる歓びを見いだせるひとは、魂の処理者である。

IKIRU YOROKOBI O MOTTE IRU HITO WA, KOFUKU NA JOSEI DE ARU.
IKIRU YOROKOBI O MIIDASERU HITO WA, TAMASHII NO SHORISHA DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 186)

June 18th

"Relative Happiness" is a condition of happiness derived from having such circumstances as material affluence or high social standing. In other words, it derives from things that we acquire from our external environment. Unfortunately, such happiness is quite fragile and vulnerable to even the slightest change in the situation.

"Absolute Happiness" on the other hand, is a life condition in which, no matter how many trials or hardships we may be undergoing, we continue to live undefeated and experience the most exhilarating, irrepressible joy in simply being alive.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
「相対的幸福」とは、経済的な豊かさや社会的な地位など、自分の外の世界から得られる幸福である。それは、ひとたび、環境や条件が変われば、いつもたやすく崩れ去ってしまうのだ。
それに対して、「絶対的幸福」とは、いかなる困難や試練にも負けることなく、生きていること自体が楽しくて仕方がないという境涯である。

[SOTAI TEKI KOFUKU] TO WA, KEIZAITEKI NA YUTAKASA YA SHAKAITEKI NA CHII NADO, JIBUN NO SOTO NO SEKAI KARA ERARERU KOFUKU DE ARU. SOREWA, HITOTABI, KANKYO YA JOKEN GA KAWAREBA, ITSUMO TAYASUKU KUZURE SATTE SHIMAU NODA.
SORE NI TAISHITE [ZETTAI TEKI KOFUKU] TO WA, IKANARU KONNAN YA SHIREN NIMO MAKERU KOTO NAKU, IKITE IRU KOTO JITAI GA TANOSHIKUTE SHIKATA GA NAI TO IU KYOGAI NO KAKURITSU DE ARU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 185)

May 28th

True happiness is not something that we experience only when things are going smoothly. Even though there may be steep mountains and rough rivers in our way, if we advance straight ahead, crossing them over with a sense of composure, we deeply come to realize our true potential as human beings. This is the path on which we find joy, this the path upon which we find satisfaction, this is the path upon which we have no regrets.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
順調な時ばかりでは、本当の幸福を実感できるはずがない。
険しき山河がありても、すべてを悠々と乗り越え、深く人間の価値を知りながら進むことだ。
そこには喜びがある。そこには満足がある。そこには公開がない。

JUNCHO NA TOKI BAKARI DEWA, HONTO NO KOFUKU O JIKKAN DEKIRU HAZU GA NAI.
KEWASHIKI SANGA GA ARITEMO, SUBETE O YUYU TO NORIKOE, FUKAKU NINGEN NO KACHI O SHIRINAGARA SUSUMU KOTO DA.
SOKO NI WA YOROKOBI GA ARU. SOKO NI WA MANZOKU GA ASRU. SOKO NI WA KOKAI GA NAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 163)

May 15th

We must build ourselves through our own efforts. We must become the magnetic pull that draws happiness our way. We must become the bright suns of happiness that illuminate our families, our relatives and our friends.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
自分自信をつくることです。自分のなかに、幸福の引力をもつことです。自分が幸福の太陽になって、一家も一族も、友人をも照らしていくことです。

JIBUN JISHIN O TSUKURU KOTO DESU. JIBUN NO NAKA NI, KOFUKU NO INRYOKU O MOTSU KOTO DESU. JIBUN GA KOFUKU NO TAIYO NI NATTE, IKKA MO ICHIZOKU MO, YUJIN O MO TERASHITE IKU NO DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 150)

January 24th

Being too influenced by how the world is perceiving us or concerning ourselves only with the outward aspect of things, will make us feel unsettled and forever in a state of anxiety. This way we will only be lead astray from our orbit. Unable to move forwards, we will find ourselves complaining "what bad luck" or hopelessly worrying "oh no, what do I do now?" Instead, let us firmly grasp the handle of our inner selves and move everything in the direction of hope, happiness.


- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
世間体や表面的な次元にとらわれた生き方では、いつまでたっても安心感は得られない。いつも何かに左右され、軸がなくなってしまう。すると、「困った」「どうしよう」と、グルグル回っているだけで前へ進まず、愚痴や心配が絶えなくなってしまう。そうではなく、一念のハンドルによって、すべてを希望の方向へ、幸福の方向へ、力強く回転させていくことだ。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 33 pg.)

January 17th

Those who can keep their promises are the greatest of all human beings. Those who can go all out to realize their pledge may appear to have a hard time in life, but are in fact the happiest people.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
約束を守る人が、人間としていちばん偉い人である。誓いを果たす人が、いちばん苦しそうに見えて、いちばん幸福な人である。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 26 pg.)

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)

July 9th

Being pulled this way and that by the troubles that confront you, or being obsessed and consumed by them, is quite foolish. Instead, may the brilliant light of an unwavering sense of fulfillment and contentment always radiate from within the palace of your heart. A joyful and cheerful existence is what I wish for you.

- Daisaku Ikeda

目先のことばかりにとらわれて、あれこれと揺れ動く人生は、愚かである。
自分自身の胸中には、つねに充実という心の宮殿が輝いている―――
そんな、はつらつたる人生でありたい。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 208)

May 4th

A smile is not so much the outcome of being happy, as it is the cause.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
笑顔は、幸福の結果というよりも、むひろ幸福の原因なのだともいえる。

EGAO WA, KOFUKU NO KEKKA TO IU YORI MO, MUSHIRO KOFUKU NO GENIN DA TO MO IERU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 139)