Daily Encouragement: Quotes From my Buddhist Mentor
A daily dose of wisdom
No matter how long the cold, bleak days of winter may continue, winter always turns to spring. This is the law of the universe and the law of life. As long as we hold on to hope, spring is sure to come.
— Daisaku Ikeda (from Quotations by Daisaku Ikeda)
This sentiment comes directly from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, the original Buddha, who wrote letters encouraging his followers. Written in 1275, it is one of several that Nichiren Daishonin wrote to the lay nun Myōichi, who lived in Kamakura and was related to Nisshō, one of the Daishonin’s six senior priest-disciples. Myōichi was an educated woman who had lost her husband and was struggling with the difficulties of raising her children alone. Nichiren Daishonin wrote to encourage her, explaining that believers of the Lotus Sutra are as if in the midst of winter, but that winter unfailingly turns to spring.
“Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone seen or heard of winter turning back to autumn. Nor have we ever heard of a believer in the Lotus Sutra who turned into an ordinary person. The sutra reads, “If there are those who hear the Law, then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood.”
It’s a beautiful and powerful image. The letter is a reminder that change is the way of things, and though we may be experiencing difficulties right now, we need to hold hope in our hearts.
Yesterday I was made aware of a Global Pow Wow being planned for the summer solstice in Central Park, the theme being “Kindness”. How cool is that?
Keep the faith.