June 5th

It's what's inside your heart that matters most.
Those who are faint-hearted cannot experience happiness.
Those with impure hearts too cannot experience any happiness.
Happiness only dwells within those who possess a strong heart.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
心こそ大切である。
心の弱い人に、幸福はない。
心の汚れた人に、幸福はない。
心の強い人に、幸福は宿る。

KOKORO KOSO TAISETSU DE ARU.
KOKORO NO YOWAI HIYO NI, KOFUKU WA NAI.
KOKORO NO YOGORETA HITO NI, KOFUKU WA NAI.
KOKORO NO TSUYOI HITO NI, KOFUKU WA YADORU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 172)

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)

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)

February 18th

It's not our age that matters. It's not our circumstances that matter. What matters really is what we have in our hearts and minds. Even if we possess nothing else but a wonderful heart, our life can shine with brilliance at any time and in any place.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
NENREI DEWA NAI. KANKYO DEMO NAI. KOKORO DE ARU.
JINSEI WA KOKORO HITOTSU DE, ITSUDEMO, DOKODEMO, SAIKO NI KAGAYAKASERU KOTO GA DEKIRU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 59 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 12th

Even though people who do the right things are despised and criticized by the those who refuse to recognize them, rest assured that their greatness will certainly be proven in the end. Persistent, sincere actions never fail to evoke empathy and be noticed by those who have a heart.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
正しい行動の人は、たとえ無認識な人から軽蔑され、避難されようとも、必ず、その偉大さが証明されるようになる。また、真剣な行動は、心のある人の共感の眼差しをひきつけずにはおかない。

TADASHI KODO NO HITO HA, TATOE MUNINSHIKI NA HITO KARA KEIBETSU SARE, HINAN SAREYO TOMO, KANARAZU, SONO IDAISA GA SHOMEI SARERU YO NI NARU. MATA, SHINKEN NA KODO WA, KOKORO ARU HITO NO KYOKAN NO MANAZASHI O HIKITSUKEZU NI WA OKANAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 179)

May 24th

Suffering from a complex eventually becomes the reason for one to become strong in life. Be rest assured, that all your complexes about yourself will turn into your strengths. Those who have never suffered a complex are totally unaware of the subtle melody, the subtle workings of the heart. The extent to which one has suffered a complex, the extent to which one has been teased or bullied, is the extent to which the folds of one's heart deepen and become enriched. We acquire mastery in our ability to tune in to and reverberate harmoniously with our environment. We become human beings who understand the hearts of others.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
コンプレックスは、あなたが強く生きて行く力となる。すべてのコンプレックスが、あなたの力となる。
コンプレックスに苦しまなかった人は、繊細な心のメロディがわからない。
コンプレックスで悩んだ分だけ、いじめられた分だけ、心のひだは深くなる。心の響きも豊かになり、人の心がわかる人間になる。

"COMPLEX" WA, ANATAGA TSUYOKU IKITE IKU CHIKARA TO NARU. SUBETE NO "COMPLEX" GA, ANATANO CHIKARA TO NARU.
"COMPLEX" NI KURUSHIMANAKATTA HITO WA, SENSAI NA KOKORO NO "MELODY" GA WAKARANAI.
"COMPLEX" DE NAYANDA BUN DAKE, IJIMERARETA BUN DAKE, KOKORO NO HIDA WA FUKAKU NARU. KOKORO NO HIBIKI MO YUTAKA NI NARI, HITO NO KOKORO GA WAKARU NINGEN NI NARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 159)

April 23rd

I am very fond of the expression 'Lifelong Youth'. Youth is absolutely not something that is decided by our age. I believe that youthfulness can be found in the burning flame of passion to live out a life pursuing our dreams and goals.

I know that there are people who, though young, have aged in their hearts and minds. On the other hand, there are those who, no matter how old they get, never lose hope and always remain young at heart. This is what I'd like to call 'Lifelong Youth'.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 23rd

Japanese text:
WATASHI WA, SHOGAI SEISHUN TO IU KOTOBA GA SUKI DE ARU.
IWAYURU WAKASA TO WA, KESSHITE NENREI NI YOTTE KIMARU MONO DEWA NAI. JIBUN NO MOTSU MOKUHYO NI MUKATTE, TAKUMASHIKU IKINUKU JONETSU NO HONO NI YOTTE KIMARU TO SHINJITE IRU KARADA.
WAKAKUSHITE KOKORO NO OITA HITO MO IRU. IPPO, DONNA NI KOREI NI NATTE MO KIBO O USHINAWAZU, KOKORO NO WAKAWAKASHI HITO WA SHOGAISEISHUN DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 126)

August 22nd

The power of our hearts and minds is truly immense. The mind has the ability to go beyond the limitations imposed by distance or time. Just like husband and wife, family members, or friends -- although they may be far apart their hearts can remain connected at will.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
心の力は偉大である。心には、距離をも、時をも超える力がある。夫婦の心、家族の心、友情の心―――。離れていても、心は自在に結び合える。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 253)

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)

June 9th

It's not our ancestry.
It's not our academic qualifications.
It's not our appearance.
It's not our assets.
It's not our position in society.
Happiness is decided by what's inside our hearts.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
家柄でもない。
学歴でもない。
容姿でもない。
財産でもない。
社会てき地位でもない。
幸福はあなた自身の心で決まる。

IEGARA DEMO NAI.
GAKUREKI DEMO NAI.
YOSHI DEMO NAI.
ZAISAN DEMO NAI.
SHAKAI TEKI CHI-I DEMO NAI.
KOFUKU WA ANATA JISHIN NO KOKORO DE KIMARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 176)

May 31st

Let us make it a point to always call out to and connect with children. Together with them, let us find beauty around, let us make new discoveries each day. It takes one heart to nurture another.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
日頃、子どもにかたりかけるひと言を大切にしたい。日々、子どもたちとと一緒に美しいものを喜び、新しいものを見いだしていきたい。
心を育むのは、心である。

HIGORO, KODOMO NI KATARIKAKERU HITOKOTO O TAISETSU NI SHITAI. HIBI, KODOMO TACHI TO ISSHO NI UTSUKUSHII MONO O YOROKOBI, ATARASHII MONO O MIIDASHITE IKITAI. KOKORO O HAGUKUMU MONO WA, KOKORO DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 164)

March 25th

The important thing is to not lose in the battle against our own busy schedule. The important thing is to not feel defeated or disheartened.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 25th

Japanese text:
DAIJI NA NO WA, ISOGASHISA NI MAKENAI KOTO. KOKORO GA MAKENAI KOTO DESU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 96 pg.)

March 4th

Rather than pitying or feeling sorry for someone's sufferings, it is important that we lend them a ear and open up our hearts to them so that we can really understand what they are going through. Human beings can find great comfort and strength in simply knowing that there is someone out there who cares for and understands them.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
TAISETSU NA KOTO WA, AITE NI DOJO SURU - AWAREMU-TO IU KOTO DEWA NAKUTE, WAKATTE AGERU KOTO DESU. RIKAI SURU KOTO DESU. NINGEN WA, JIBUN NO KOTO O WAKATTE KURERU HITO GA IRU, SORE DAKE DE IKIRU CHIKARA GA WAITE KURU MONO DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 75 pg.)

February 28th

When our heart changes, when we undergo a transformation in our sense of purpose and mission, then everything else changes too. When we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to working for others, we find ourselves on an orbit of life that shines more brilliantly than any other.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
JIBUN NO KOKORO GA KAWARI, SHIMEIKAN GA KAWAREBA, SUBETE GA KAWATTE IKU.
HITO NO TAME NI, TO KODO SHITE IKU NAKA NI, MOTTOMO HIKARI KAGAYAITE IKU SEIMEI NO KIDO GA ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 69 pg.)