March 1st

Running after an easygoing, trouble-free existence, or avoiding hard work and challenges, is in fact a very unhappy way to spend our youth. While on the surface, this kind of lifestyle may appear to embody the ideal state of freedom, quite on the contrary, it will lead us to spend the final moments of our life as losers with no real freedom. When it is time to exert ourselves and work hard, we should do so, when it is time to study, we should do so. This is in fact the happiest way to spend our youth. A youth spent this way is like the foundation stone that will support us for the rest of our lives.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
WAKAI TOKI NI ANITSU O MUSABORI, KURO SHINAI NO WA, FUKO NA SEISHUN DE ARU. JIBUN DEWA JIYU NA TSUMORIDE ITE, KEKKYOKU, SAIGO WA FUJIYU NA HAIBOKUSHA TO NATTE SHIMAU.
KURO SUBEKI TOKI NI KURO SHI, BENKYO SUBEKI TOKI NI BENKYO SURU NO GA, KOFUKU NA SEISHUN DE ARU. SORE GA, ISSHOGAI NO KOFUKU NO ISHIZUE TO NARU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 72 pg.)

February 17th

This life of ours is irreplaceable. Each one of us is a precious individual, worthy of great respect. Let us aspire to live the kind of youth where we leave no regrets or carry gloomy memories for the future. Let us live out our youthful days so that at the very end of our lives we can smile proudly and say to ourselves: "I am truly happy!", "I feel so satisfied with the way my life went. I won!"

-- Daisaku Ikeda


(Words of Encouragement to Women - 365 days, page 58.)

Japanese text:
KAKEGAE NO NAI ISSHO DE ARU. TAISETSU NA, TO-TOKI JIBUN JISHIN DE ARU. SHORAI NI KUI YA, KOKORO NO KAGERI O NOKOSU YO NA SEISHUN DE ATTE MORAITAKUNAI.
SAIGO NO SAIGO NI [WATASHI WA KOFUKU NI NATTA] [WATASHI WA HONTO NI MANZOKU DA. KATTA.] TO EGAO DE IERU JINSEI NO TAME NO SEISHUN JIDAI DE ATTE ITADAKITAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 58 pg.)

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)

July 5th

There is nothing strange and unusual about falling in life. When you fall, all you need to do is pick yourself up. And once you're up, just walk straight ahead on the path before you. In one's youth, there is no failure that one cannot recover from.

- Daisaku Ikeda

誰しも転ぶことはある。転んだら、また立ち上がればいい。立ち上がって、まっすぐ前を向いて進んでいくことだ。
青春に、取り返しのつかない失敗などないのだから！
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 204)

June 1st

One who always lives youthfully, who understands the true meaning of youth, and who radiates vibrant, youthful energy, is a person who enjoys the most blissful, happy existence while walking along the highest path of life with angelic poise and pride.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
若さに生き、若さをしり、若さを発揮した人は、人生の究極の道、天使のごとく誇り高く歩み、綴っていく至福の人だ。

WAKASA NI IKI, WAKASA O SHIRI, WAKASA O HAKKI SHITA HITO WA, JINSEI NO KYUKYOKU NO MICHI O, TENSHI NO GOTOKU HOKORITAKAKU AYUMI, TUZUTTE IKU SHIFUKU NO HITO DA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 168)

May 16th

Never lead a melancholic life!
Never lead a tragic life!
Never lead a foolish life!
Never walk on a futile path!
Never walk on the path of despair!
Youth is all about living life wisely.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
憂鬱な人生よ、去れ!
悲惨な人生よ、され！
愚かな人生よ、され！
無駄な道を歩むな！
絶望の道を歩むな！
賢く生き抜いてこそ、青春だ。

YUUTSU NA JINSEI YO, SARE!
HISAN NA JINSEI YO, SARE!
OROKANA JINSEI YO, SARE!
MUDA NA MICHI O AYUMUNA!
ZETSUBO NO MICHI O AYUMU NA!
KASHIKOKU IKINUITE KOSO, SEISHUN DA.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 151)

August 7th

Young people have truly unlimited potential.
There is nothing that can stop them from growing as much as they wish to.
Everything is decided by the kind of resolve people have in their hearts.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
青年は無限の可能性を秘めている。
いくらでも成長していける。
すべては自分自身の心、一念で決まる。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 238)

December 30th

A new century is always built through the passion and power of youth. And what fuels this passion of our youth like the warmth of the sun, is the courage of mothers who take unceasing action.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese Text:
新しい世紀を創るものは、青年の熱と力である。そして、その熱と力を呼び起こしていく太陽こそ、勇気の母たちの、たゆみない行動である。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 389)

Although you may have to suffer and overcome much more hardship and suffering in your youth as compared to other people, you can be assured that the rest of your lives will be that much more fulfilling and satisfying.


-- Daisaku Ikeda
March 30th

Japanese text:

WAKAKI HI NO HIUN O TAENUITE, HITO NO NANBAI MO KURO O KASANETA BUN, HITO NO NANBAI MO YUTAKANA JINSEI O OKURU KOTO GA DEKIRU.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 101 pg.)