March 18th

A sapling that is obstructed by a jutting rock cannot grow straight. That may be true, but not entirely. Plants that are nurtured within controlled room temperatures undoubtedly grow faster, but have low resistance to harsh weather conditions like wind and snow.

Similarly, children who are allowed to grow up tasting the fresh air of a carefree environment, get trained by the hardships of life in a very natural way. Isn't this a much happier way for children to grow?

March 18th
-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
IWA NI SAEGIRARETA NAEGI WA, MASSUGU NI NOBIRU KOTO WA DEKINAI. KA TO ITTE, ONSHITSU DE SODATETA MONO WA, HAYAKU SEICHOU SURU GA, FUSETSU NI TAISURU TEIKORYOKU GA YOWAI MO NO DE ARU.

NOBINOBI TO, JIYU NA KUKI NO NAKA DE, SHIKAMO, SHIZEN NA SHIREN NO NAKA NI, KITAERARETE IKU KOTO GA, KODOMO NI TOTTE WA SHIAWASE NA MICHI DEWA NAI DAROU KA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 89 pg.)

March 15th

Our children will one day grow up to be independent individuals. French thinker and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said that one should not confuse the idea of 'pampering a child' with 'making them happy'.

You might agree with me that in order for our children to live truly happy lives, we need to equip them with the courage to never get defeated or give up in the face of difficuties.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
KODOMO WA ITSUKA, HITORIDACHI SHITE IKANAKUTE WA NARANAI.
[KODOMO O [KOFUKU NI SURU KOTO] TO [AMAYAKASU KOTO] O KONDO SHITE WA IKENAI] TO FURANSU NO SHISOKA ROUSSEAU NO KOTOBA DESU.
KODOMO O KOFUKU NI SURU TAME NI TAISETSU NA NO WA, DONNA SHIREN NI ATTE MO, SORE NI MAKENAI TSUYOSA TO YUKI O HAGUKUNDE IKU KOTO DE WA NAI DESHO KA.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 86 pg.)

March 3rd

When it comes to disciplining or training our children, I don't think there is any need to be stereotyped about deciding the rules that they should follow.

The principle of cherry, plum, peach and damson teaches us that each person is unique, just like cherry bloosoms are cherry blossoms, plum blossoms are plum blossoms, each beautiful in their own way.

Let us focus on a child's strengths and unique qualities and then help them get better at them. As far as possible, let us create an environment where we allow our children flexibility to choose the kind of lifestyle that best suits their personality.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
SHITSUKE YA KYOIKU NI, KO DENAKEREBA NARANAI TO IU KIMETSUKE WA KINMOTSU DE ARU.
[OBAITORI] - SAKURA WA SAKURA, UME WA UME NO KOTOBA DORI NI, SOREZORE NO KODOMO NO CHOSHO O NOBASHI, TOKUSEI NI ATTA IKIKATA O ERABASETE AGERERU YO NA KANKYO O, DEKIRU KAGIRI YOI SHITE AGETAI MONO DE ARU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 74 pg.)

February 19th

There is always some meaning behind a child's seemingly "problematic behavior". Think of it as the outward manifestation of a signal emanating from a child's heart. Even though children might sense that their actions are somehow out of place, they may not be able to reason or express their feelings too well about them. And more often than not, they may not be able to fully grasp what's going in their own minds in the first place. At such times we need to understand the meaning behind their actions and support them to deal with themselves better. But in order for us to catch these signals, our hearts and minds need to be in tune.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
KODOMO GA OKOSU MONDAI KODO WA, NANI KA IMI GA ARU. KODOMO NO KOKORO GA HASSUSU "sinal" DESU.
KOKORO NO DOKO GA OKASHIKUTEMO, KODOMO WA SORE O UMAKU HYOGEN DEKINAI. MATA, JIBUN DEMO YOKU WAKARANAI NOGA JISSAI DESHO.
KODOMO NO KODO NO IMI O RIKAI SHI, TAIOU SHITE AGERU KOTO GA HITSUYO NA NODESU. KODOMO NO "signal" NI KIZUKU TAME NIWA, KOKORO GA KODOMO NO HO O MUITE INAKUTE WA IKEMASEN.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 59 pg.)

June 24th

On rainy days she celebrates the rain.
On windy days she lends a ear to the voice of the wind.
When she sees someone in need of help, she is quick to respond with her entire being.
A mother who lives her life like a beautiful poem,
sets the most ideal example her children can follow,
for it nurtures their hearts with a richness that far surpasses the power of words.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
雨の日は雨を楽しみ、
風の日は風の声に耳を傾ける。
困っている人を見たら、
すぐに体が動いている。
そうした人生の詩を生きるお母さんの姿は、言葉以上に豊かに子どもたちの心を育むに違いない。

AME NO HI WA AME O TANOSHIMI,
KAZE NO HI WA KAZE NO KOE NI MIMI O KATAMUKERU.
KOMATTE IRU HITO O MITARA,
SUGU NI KARADA GA UGOITE IKU.
SO SHITA JINSEI NO SHI O IKIRU OKASAN NO SUGATA WA, KOTOBA IJO NI YUTAKA NI KODOMO TACHI NO KOKORO O HAGUKUMU NI CHIGAINAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 191)

June 23rd

The growth and development of children depends completely on the growth and development of the adults in their lives. In fact, it depends on the voluntary challenge and struggle an adult undergoes in order to do something for the sake of the child, using their own lives as an example.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
子どもたちの成長は、大人の成長にかかっている。
ゆえに、教育とは、子どもたちに何ができるのかという、自らの生き方をかけた、大人たちの挑戦にほかならない。

KODOMO TACHI NO SEICHO WA, OTONA TACHI NO SEICHO NI KAKATTE IRU.
YUE NI, KYOIKU TO WA, KODOMO TACHI NO TAME NI NANI GA DEKIRU KA TO IU, MIZUKARA NO IKIKATA O KAKETA, OTONA TACHI NO CHOSEN NI HOKA NARANAI.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 190)

June 20th

At times when something is really bothering a child, it may be better if parents refrain from making random, unrelated comments, as this can make things quite confusing for a child. It is really important at such times for both parents to give well coordinated advice. Listen carefully to what the child has to say, talking to them till you can make them feel at ease.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
子どもが本当に悩んでいる時に、両親がちぐはぐなことをいっては、子どもが迷ってしまう。
夫婦の連携と心構えが大切です。子どもの話をよく聞いてあげて、心から安心できるようにしてあげたいものです。

KODOMO GA HONTO NI NAYANDE IRU TOKI NI, RYOSHIN GA CHIGUHAGU NA KOTO O ITTE WA, KODOMO GA MAYOTTE SHIMAU.
FUFU NO REKEI TO KOKOROGAMAE GA TAISETSU DESU. KODOMO NO HANASHI O YOKU KIITE AGETE, KOKORO KARA ANSHIN DEKIRU YO NI SHITE AGETAI MONO DESU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 187)

June 15th

When we respect children, they in turn, learn how to respect other human beings. It is within the natural settings of the home environment that children learn the ways of living as good, junior citizens of society.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
子どもの人格を尊重する時、子どもは人間尊重を学ぶ。家庭にあって、小さなよき社会人として育つのである。

KODOMO NO JINKAKU O SONCHO SURU TOKI, KODOMO WA NINGEN SONCHO O MANABU. KATEI NI ATTE, CHIISANA YOKISHAKAI JIN TOSHITE SODATSU NO DE ARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 182)

May 26th

In a way parents are, for their children, seniors in life with whom they have a chance to interact closely.

It's quite alright for parents to be down-to-earth and simple. It's quite alright if they make mistakes.

Rather than being accomplished and vainglorious, I would like parents to use their own life and behavior as an example to show their children how to walk along the path of truthfulness and sincerity, values that are truly glorious and worthy of respect.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
親は子供にとって、身近な人生の先輩ともいえる。
平凡であってよい。地味であってよい。失敗があってもよい。
しかし、人間としてのたしかな完成、また虚栄ではない、真実の栄光を見つめた自らの生き方の軌跡を、子どもに示せる存在でありたい。

OYA WA KODOMO NI TOTTE, MIJIKANA JINSEI NO SENPAI TO MO IERU.
HEIBON DE ATTE MO YOI. JIMI DE ATTE MO YOI. SHIPPAI GA ATTE MO YOI.
SHIKASHI, NINGEN TOSHITE NO TASHIKA NA KANSEI, MATA KYOEI DEWA NAI, SHINJITSU NO EIKO WO MITSUMETA MIZUKARA NO IKIKATA MO KISEKI O, KODOMO NI SHIMESERU SONZAI DE ARITAI.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 161)

May 14th

Although parents scold their children at times, if they don't explain the reason why they are doing so, and just break into a rage without explanation, it will only serve to make children grow fearful of them. It will encourage the child to become cunningly dishonest, just to avoid having to face the music. A repetition of this behavior could ultimately lead to a situation where they will eventually stop paying heed to what their parents say, even if what they are saying is really important.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
叱るといっても、親が理由も言わずに、怒りにまかせて叱ってばかりいると、子どもがおびえます。そして、とにかく「怒られないように」「叱られないように」と一種のずるさを身につけてしまうこともある。
そんなことを繰り返しているうちに、大事な時にも親の言うことに耳を傾けなくなってしまう。

SHIKARU TO ITTE MO, OYA GA RIYU MO IWAZU NI, IKARINI MAKASETE SHIKATTE BAKARI IRU TO, KODOMO GA OBIEMASU. SOSHITE, TONIKAKU [OKORARENAI YO NI] [SHIKARARENAI YO NI] TO ISHHU NO ZURUSA O MINI TSUKETE SHIMAU KOTO MO ARU.
SONNA KOTO O KURIKAESHITE IRU UCHI NI, DAIJI NA TOKI NI MO OYA NO IU KOTO NI MIMI O KATAMUKENAKUTE SHIMAU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 149)

April 29th

Children are, after all, mischievous at times. That's quite alright, for it gives us an opportunity to make them think about their actions, evaluate whether those actions were good or bad, and learn what really is the correct thing to do in a particular situation. Aren't these invaluable situations offering invaluable lessons to be learnt for life?

I am of the firm belief that children acquire the wisdom and skills that they need for their precious lives, through first hand experiences within natural settings.


-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 29th

Japanese text:

KODOMO NANO DAKARA, TOKI NI WA, ITAZURA O SURU NO MO KEKKO DE ARU. TATOE SHIKARETA TOSHITE MO, SORE GA ZENAKU O HANDAN SHI, SEIGI TO IU MONO O KANGAERU TE DATE NI NAREBA, KAKEGAE NO NAI JINSEIKEIKEN DEWA NAI KA.
  KICHO NA JINSEI NO GAKUMON O, KODOMO WA SHIZEN NO UCHI NI MANABITORI, CHINIKU TOSHITE IKU NI CHIGAINAI.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 132)

April 6th

For children to be able to enjoy their day at school, a lot depends on how well the day started off in the first place. Though their interaction might be brief, it is so important that a mother sends off her child with a smile on her face. And if the child is calling out and wants to speak about something that is important to them, let's not think of it as a bothersome waste of time, but rather lend a ear and listen carefully to what they are saying. This act, in itself, creates an unimaginable sense of comfort and a feeling of security in a child's mind.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
KODOMO GA TANOSHIKU YOROKONDE GAKKO NI KAYOU KOTO GA DEKIRU KA DO KA WA, SAISHO NO START NI KAKATTE IMASU. WAZUKA NO JIKAN DEMO, OKASAN GA EGAO DE OKURIDASHI, MATA KODOMO NO HO KARA NANI KA HANASHIKAKETE KITA TOKI NI WA, KESHITE MENDOGARAZU NI, SHIKKARI MIMI O KATAMUKETE AGERU KOTO. SORE GA, DORE DAKE KODOMO NO KOKORO O ANTEI SASERU KA, HAKARISHIREMASEN.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 109 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.)

September 27

In raising children, there is absolutely no need hurry them into perfection. Trying to coerce kids into stereotypes could manifest as stress in some form. The important thing is for you to allow them to deepen their roots so that they can grow into fine, great trees some day.

Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
"子どもの教育においては、早くから小さく完成させようとする必要はない。ひとつの型にはめようと強いることは、いつか無理が表れてしまう。むしろ、大樹と育つための根を張らせることが、最も重要であろう。"
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 290)

May 5th

Every child has a special mission that is their's alone to fulfill. Every person possesses the inborn seeds for some ability or talent. The best possible nutrition that can cause this seed to sprout, is to believe.

Depending on the individual, the seeds of their abilities might sprout early or with sudden speed after the passage of time.

However, it is important that we wholeheartedly believe that a child's abilities will come to the fore sooner or later, and till such a time let us warmly watch over their development, patiently encouraging them over and over again.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
どんな子であれ、その人にしか果たせない使命がある。だれしも、なにかの才能の芽を持っている。その芽を伸ばすための最高の養分は、信じてあげることです。
人によって、早く芽吹く人もいれば、時間がたってから、急に伸び出す人もいる。
しかし、いつかは必ず才能の芽が伸びる事を信じて、温かく見守り、根気強く励ましいを重ねて行くことです。

DONNA KO DE ARE, SONO HITO NI SHIKA HATASENAI SHIMEI GA ARU. DARE SHIMO, NANI KA NO SAINO NO ME O MOTTE IRU.
SONO ME O NOBASU TAME NO SAIKO NO YOBUN WA, SHINJITE AGERU KOTO DESU.
HITO NI YOTTE, HAYAKU MEBUKU HITO MO IREBA, JIKAN GA TATTE KARA, KYU NI NOBIDASU HITO MO IRU.
SHIKASHI, ITSUKA WA KANARAZU SAINO NO ME GA NOBIRU KOTO WO SHINJITE, ATATAKAKU MIMAMORI, KONKIZUYOKU HAGEMASHI O KASANETE IKU KOTO DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 140)

May 3rd

A mother inherently possesses the sustaining power of the great earth. Just like the earth nurtures plants, causes them to flower and bear fruit, a mother too is like the great earth of creation and education who trains her children in all aspects of life. When this great earth moves even a little, everything connected with her also moves.
A mother has the power to transform the family.
A mother has the power to change the community.
A mother has the power to transform society.
A mother has the power to change the times.
And a mother can lead the world in the direction of peace.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:

母の力は大地の力である。大地が、草木を茂らせ、花を咲かせ、果実を実らせるように、母は、いっさいを育む創造と教育の大地である。その大地が、ひとたび動けば、すべては変わる。
母が家庭を変える。
母が地域を変える。
母が社会を変える。
母が時代を変える。
そして、母が世界を平和へと変えていくのだ！


HAHA NO CHIKARA WA DAICHI NO CHIKARA DE ARU.
DAICHI GA, KUSAKI O SHIGERASE, HANA O SAKASE, KAJITSU O MINORASRU YONI, HAHA WA ISSAI O HAGUKUMU SOZO TO KYOIKU NO DAICHI DE ARU. SONO DAICHI GA, HITOTABI UGOKEBA, SUBETE WA KAWARU.
HAHA GA KATEI O KAERU.
HAHA GA CHIKI WO KAERU.
HAHA GA SHAKAI WO KAERU.
HAHA GA JIDAI WO KAERU.
SOSHITE, HAHA GA SEKAI O HEIWA E TO KAETE IKU NO DA!
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 138)

April 25th

Discipline (jpn shitsuke), which is written as a combination of two Chinese characters meaning 'beautiful' and 'self', is a word that may well describe the process by which we acquire inner beauty through mastering the rhythm with which we can operate our day-to-day lives open-heartedly, harmoniously, and enjoyably, together with those around us.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 25th

Japanese text:
SHITSUKE TO WA, HIBI NO SEIKATSU O, KANTATSU NI, ENKATSU NI, JITATOMO NI TANOSHIKU, KAITEN SASETE IKU TAME NO RIZUMU O, [MI] NI [UTSUKUSHIKU] TAITOKU SHITE IKU KOTO O IERU KAMOSHIRENAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 128)

April 22nd

It is very undesirable for a couple to quarrel viciously in front of their children. Even though children may seem to take no notice of what's going on, in fact they do. Through eyes that cannot be shut and through the pores of their delicate skin, children are extremely perceptive to subtle behaviors that they observe and then imbibe. Let us always bear this in mind.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 22nd

Japanese text:
KODOMO NO MAE DE INKEN NA FUFUGENKA WA SAKETAI MONO DA. KODOMO TACHI WA, TATOE MINUFURI O SHITE ITE MO, TSUBURANAI HITOMI O TOSHI, YAWARAKAI HIFU O TOSHI, EIBIN NI FURUMAI O KANJU SHI, SORENI KANNO SHITE IRU KOTO O, TSUNE NI WASURETE HA NARANAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 125)

April 17th

Both education and parenting are tasks that demand the investment of large amounts of time. Even though you may take a lot of initiative and put in a lot of effort, the results may not always be visible immediately. However, you can be sure that as long as you sow the seeds of happiness and abundantly plow the soil of a child's heart, the fact of your having done so, will always remain with them.

All of your hard work, your sweat and toil, will become priceless treasures for a child, certain to bear fruit sooner or later.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 17th

Japanese text:
KYOIKU MO KOSODATE MO, JIKAN NO KAKAKRU SAGYO DESU. ISSHOKENMEI NI TORIKUNDEMO, SONO KEKKA GA SUGU NI ARAWARENAI KAMOSHIRENAI. DEMO, KODOMO TACHI NI KOFUKU NO TANE O UE, SONO KOKORO O YUTAKA NI TAGAYASHITA JIJITU WA NOKORIMASU.
ANATA NO ROKI WA, SUBETE KODOMO TACHI NO TAKARA TOSHITE MINOTTE IKU NO DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 120 pg.)

April 14th

True education is possible only when our we walk our talk. Mere words are not enough. Only when we follow our words with our actions does our education acquire meaning.


-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 14th

Japanese text:
JIBUN NO FURUMAI O TOSHITE OSHIETE KOSO, HONTO NO KYOIKU DE ARU. KUCHISAKI DAKEDENAKU, KODO GA TOMONATTE HAJIMETE, KYOIKU NI TAMASHI GA HAIRU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 117 pg.)