The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra Vol. 6

The important thing is love and compassion. From that understanding all a couple can do is chant daimoku together with their sights set on lofty goal and strive for true happiness. Even married people were once strangers. Without patience and the effort to understand one another, thing are not likely to go well. Patience is necessary for a couple to live together, earn a living, protect their home and educate their children while dedicating themselves for the sake of others. We need patience in order to become happy. There are many who dream about happiness without being patient. But that is merely a dream; it is a fairy tale. It is to wish for childish, easy life. This illusion breaks up many marriages. The pursuit of such happiness can only end in misery. It is important to make steady efforts to construct something together. From there, real love develops. Real love means wanting to live with the other person throughout eternity. Real marriage is when you have been married for twenty-five years and feel an even deeper love than you did when you first met. Love deepens. Love that does not is merely on the level of simple likes and dislikes.


michele's thoughts
i used to think marriage and my life did not have anything in common. now that i have crossed paths with a beautiful person that i believe is the one for me.....i can't stop thinking and chanting about the possibilities. not to mention, there has been so much talk lately about love and marriage. AND the celebrations of nuptials seems to be spreading amongst the youth. the universe has produced yet another dose of hope.

From Today Onward - Daisaku Ikeda

If you underestimate the power of Daimoku and use other strategies you will lose in the end. You can accumulate good fortune only when you fight for Kosen Rufu without begrudging your life. Unless your prayers are united, the fight for Kosen Rufu cannot gain momentum. No matter what anybody says or does nothing can defeat the power of Daimoku. But without action you cannot call it faith.

The Gohonzon can penetrate through everything. The world of faith is very mystic and once you become serious you can gain one thousand times or ten thousand times more benefits. When you chant abundant Daimoku, you have the power to open even the heaviest iron doors that stand in your way; that is you can overcome the most massive obstacles in your life. You can definitely change your negative Karma. The world of faith is the place where many of us, all of us, chant powerful Daimoku in unity, thus creating power like the forces of a huge wind.

There is nothing but Daimoku. Daimoku determines everything. Daimoku has more power than one million guidance’s or one million books of philosophy. Chant abundant Daimoku and pray to the Gohonzon. Ask the Gohonzon for whatever you need. Everything will come true as you wish and the path of Kosen Rufu will open up in front of you. Everything depends on how much Daimoku you chant. When you chant a lot of Daimoku you will naturally feel that you need to study more. When you chant abundant Daimoku, your work will become fulfilling.

There may be times when you will experience great suffering and deep sorrow. There may be nights when tears will not stop flowing. There may also be times when you are terribly hurt. At such times my heart will be open for you. I am always here to listen to you. I will share your tears with you. You don’t need to tell me anything if you are happy. I can tell just by looking at your face. Just tell me about the problems and pains that you have. I will carry half of your burden and walk together with you.

michele's thoughts

wow! this last passage warms my heart and makes my heart feel sooo full when i'm feeling alone, lonely, empty, lost, confused, depressed, and sad. i'm chanting for someone that i can see, touch, hold and cherish to love me this much. i'm chanting so that my life and my heart will be open to recognize and welcome this same type of love........whenever the time and opportunity presents itself.

The Way We See Ourselves

Deriving self-worth by comparing ourselves with others is one of our most destructive habits. It may even be described as a form of self-inflicted violence since it weakens us by de-centering our existence in the sense that it shifts the center of power to decide the meaning of our lives to the outside. We let others decide what our happiness is instead of deciding for ourselves. With the power of self-determination lost to external authority, we are neither free nor independent. Since we live in a competitive society where this sort of comparison is encouraged and often unavoidable, it is a difficult habit to break, but to do so is crucial to our genuine fulfillment and freedom. [From Shin Yatomi's 'Buddhism in a New Light' p. 30]

michele's thoughts:
every time that i read this i think about how often i do this without even realizing it at the moment. 'self-inflicted violence' ..... 'crucial to our genuine fulfillment and freedom.' DEEP!