To my Buddhist family

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, August 20, 2008


To be fearless no matter what happens-that is the root of true happiness. To move forward resolutely regardless of what lies in store-that is the spirit, the resolve, that leads to human victory. But if we allow ourselves to be disturbed by petty criticism and slander, if we fear pressure and persecution, we will never advance nor create anything of lasting value.

How do you do this and yet, retain your integrity in a world that is always working to erode who you are, Jojojo,jo,jojo,jojo? I have entirely too much caffeine this morning. Though I surprisingly have gotten very little work done. damn dxp.

You do it with caffeine.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, August 21, 2008


Those who say "I'll do it," who are willing to take on a challenge even if they are alone, are true winners. The determination, the commitment to take action yourself, is the force that leads to victory. As Buddhism teaches in the principle of a life-moment possesses 3,000 realms, our mind or attitude can change everything.

LL - you my boo!! Glad I could give you something positive.

Chocolate - Thanks for reading the post and adding more insight.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, August 22, 2008


It is not a question of your environment or those around you, nor what the organization or leaders may be like. To be swayed by such externals is pointless. It all comes down to one person: you. What matters is that you become a brilliant beacon, shining with joy and happiness and live your life with confidence and courage. If you shine with a radiant light, there can be no darkness in your life.

"To be fearless no matter what happens-that is the root of true happiness."

Story of my life.

The energy of the excerpts sound very combative. It doesn't feel Libra at all to be honest. It moves forward too much, and faces things head-on. Reminds me of mars energy.
Seriously, do you find his sayings peaceful? Because honestly I don't. I feel like he's picking a fight. It doesn't even sound Buddhist-zen.

Change and challenge in the same sentence is a little bit too much for this Libra.

(but I enjoyed the variety of the post nonetheless).

Spica, no. I don't find the saying peaceful, I find them as strength. I find they give you a positive way to look at confrontational issues.

You are such a libra because you debate the saying but yet you find some peace with it, that's usually how we balance things. We as Libras know we can't please everyone but we sure as hell try.

Buddhahood to me is very fitting for SOME libras, I know libras that I dare wouldn't want to be, including a very good friend of mine. But it helps me not to always make peace with everyone and just be strong within myself. This board is filled with "why libras can't let go". I've learned to let go and stick with my decision, but me I find that we're not the only sign that comes back.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, August 24, 2008


Advancement-Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat." The point is to continue forging ahead despite any storms or hardships that may arise, to be fearless and advance like a lion.

JOJOJO,

"Advancement-Nichiren Daishonin teaches the spirit that "not to advance is to retreat." The point is to continue forging ahead despite any storms or hardships that may arise, to be fearless and advance like a lion."

I feel flamed by the fire of this sentence. If I didn't check Ikeda's birth date, I would think he's Sun Tzu's firey follower. I don't know how this is peacefully zen when I feel war in evey sentence. "Fearless" and "Lion" sounds like he's on the defence, ready for attack mode. This is far from the Buddhist analects which propagate true balance. This imabalances like a flame to a hapless moth.

But you know I'm just playing 😛
I read the Iching, and they speak more of mountain and water than fire.

Chocolate - thanks for enjoying the readings but I'm sooooooo AFRO ARMERICAN LESBIAN. So you might want to stop the hugs and smooching LMAO..... but thanks anyway.

Spica - does your image show a flame, so you must have some fire in you. Once again, I believe the reading are strength not war. Boy! you're fiesty. But I love a good debate.

Xun2 - You're welcome.

GreatBull - Keep drinkin'..... I will chant for you.

For Today

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, August 26, 2008


We accumulate great good fortune through our earnest prayers, devotion and efforts for the sake of buddhism and humankind. Prayer without action is not the way of Buddhism.

Okay Spica, here's the message for today, short but sweet. What's your argument, bring it .....lol 🙂

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, August 27, 2008


On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway. Likewise, if despite our good fortune in meeting and embarking on the unsurpassed way of Buddhism, we stop halfway, all the efforts we have made thus far will have been in vain; we will not be able to attain Buddhahood.


Oh where, oh where has my Spica gone, oh where oh where can she beeeee—??

JOJOJO,

The flame in my avatar is Yin fire. Its way to weak to cause a furore. 😛

"We accumulate great good fortune through our earnest prayers, devotion and efforts for the sake of buddhism and humankind. Prayer without action is not the way of Buddhism."

There are active words here. "earnest", "prayer without action", all these are still aries. You like aries, no wonder, it's a toned down version of the Art of War. And we don't do anything "for the sake" of anything. I don't like obligations that way 😛


"On any journey, we cannot hope to reach our destination if we stop halfway. Likewise, if despite our good fortune in meeting and embarking on the unsurpassed way of Buddhism, we stop halfway, all the efforts we have made thus far will have been in vain; we will not be able to attain Buddhahood."

Buddhahood is not a goal to be attained. When you actively strive for Buddhahood, you will never reach it. It is an unconscious process borne out of habit and not actual intent.

How did that go? Lol.

Let me paste some pieces from the Iching. You may fall asleep 😛

WAITING. If you are sincere,
You have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of WAITING.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.

Mountain under heaven: the image of RETREAT.
Thus the superior man keeps the inferior man at a distance,
Not angrily but with reserve.

A halted retreat
Is nerve-wracking and dangerous.
To retain people as men- and maidservants
Brings good fortune.

Do you see the disparity from here and Mr. Ikeda?

"Prayer without action is not the way of Buddhism."

If you look at Ghandi, he's the epitome of reticence. He just does nothing. Libra as well does nothing, usually. If you pray, you're supposed to wait for the thing you prayed, not actively go out and seek it. hahahha
(sorry, im just too critical)

haha, chocolate, no, id probably spoil jojo's masterpiece. we are both libras but i feel that i think opposite.

😛

Spica, insightful but I felt like rolling a blunt after reading it. We are opposites and I have many Libra friends that I'm opposite with, so WELCOME!!!

It's a little to passive for me, I've had that attitude all my life. I find myself rolling out the red carpet for others and not myself. Buddhism brings peace and strength, I need both but I need to hear or read it. Thanks for sharing and let's roll one shall we? (just kiddin') 😉

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, September 2, 2008


The stronger the oppression from without, the stronger one's determination to summon forth one's inner resources to fight against it-this is the spirit of youth.


Ahhh Hell this one has the word fight in it.... OH SPICAAAAAA

Chocolate, I may need a body guard girl...

"The stronger the oppression from without, the stronger one's determination to summon forth one's inner resources to fight against it-this is the spirit of youth."

No, that's the spirit of self destruction.
Fight is pointless - we just return what is given to us. Libras believe in cause and effect - not brute force and violence. Violence, even in word form, gives me mental turmoil. We use the force of the oppression from without right back against them, so we do not have to ruffle our inner tranquility.

I feel that Ikeda is most certainly not a calm man. And he cannot sit still for 1 minute 😛

"and that is why it would be interesting!!!!...a battle of the minds"

I have nothing against jojo, I am "battling" Ikeda. 😛😛

"It's a little to passive for me, I've had that attitude all my life. I find myself rolling out the red carpet for others and not myself. Buddhism brings peace and strength, I need both but I need to hear or read it."

Me too, but I have learnt to accept my passiveness instead of fighting against it. What makes me most unhappy is to fight against something. I don't roll out red carpets for others, but I won't let them take advantage of me either.
Libra is the sign of the fall - the sun is weakest here.. fighting against it is like salmon swimming upstream. Once they spawn, you can see their flesh disintegrate because they fought too hard.

Okay, after you roll that one, PLEASE PLEASE pass it to me.

rivers..... salmons.... mountains..... cows in the sky .... puff puff pass

I wasn't smokin' anything when I said that 😛.
Though I'd really like smoked salmon now hahahaha...

"We live one life yet we are afraid to live it."

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Wednesday, September 3, 2008


True character is only forged through hardship and suffering. Moreover, it is the mentor-disciple relationship, not organizational structures, that builds character. Many great scholars, pioneers and leaders of the world have come to note how crucial the mentor-disciple relationship is.

"Prayer without action is not the way of Buddhism."

"If you look at Ghandi, he's the epitome of reticence. He just does nothing. Libra as well does nothing, usually. If you pray, you're supposed to wait for the thing you prayed, not actively go out and seek it. hahahha
(sorry, im just too critical)"

S, i agree, thats how i see it

I must say I agree with Spica on that one too. But in a game of one on one, you can't score unless you actually play. Doesn't mean you will score but atleast you made an effort. You can pray all day for points but unless you play, is the only way you will have a chance.

I'm a firm believer in ask, believe, recieve. But I also believe that once I pray and start to take action, things will begin to be lined up for me to receive a lot easier.

Thanks for taking apart in our smoked salmon session. 😉

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, September 5, 2008


Young people in school should make study their first priority. It goes without saying that faith is important, but faith is something we practice throughout our entire lives. There is a certain period and age when we should study. If we don't work hard during that period, we may fail to acquire important knowledge and skills, and we may come to regret it deeply later. Faith manifests itself in daily life. For young people in school, faith manifests itself in their studies. During this period, to devote themselves to study represents an important part of their practice of faith.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, September 8, 2008


Without opposition there is no growth. It is hard to argue with that logic. A state in which we are free from problems or constraints is not happiness. Happiness is transcending all opposition and obstacles and continuing to grow.


I don't know what happen to Spicy Spica, maybe we will have salmon sometimes soon.

Spica is not spicy. She was rotting somewhere in the dank cupboard hahaha... 😛🙂

chocolate, Sun in Libra is in its fall - most librans are like the autumn leaves gently falling, turning into beautiful hues on the ground. I don't know, but Libra usually gets their way just by being reticent. Its like they're protected by some power due to their adorable passiveness. My guy is a libra; he can just sit there and grin and things just fall into his lap - of course, hard work is needed for most things, in profession and study - but the average libra gets most things done when they do nothing. This is a very good conundrum, I dont understand it, but it works.

When I fight for something, I don't get it, because people get threatened. Usually, when one remains passive - and libra does it so well - things are handed to them without much of a fighting stance.

I love you all
I am feeling a bit out of sorts these few days - but keep posting, jojojo!
((smooches))
hahhaha 😉

"Happiness is transcending all opposition and obstacles and continuing to grow. "

I don't want to fight ikeda today, but this sounds uncomfortable 😛
transcending opposition and obstacles is a very uncomfortable process, sometimes even painful. Happiness, i think is achieving the victory at the end of it. The journey itself is filled with gaping wounds and blisters. Maybe to tolerate it all and maintain happiness is the route to meditation - as in detaching from your physical and mental troubles, so that nothing fazes you.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, September 11, 2008


Nothing can match the strength of those whose lives have been shaped and forged through challenging and overcoming hardships. Such people fear nothing. The purpose of our Buddhist practice is to develop such strength and fortitude. To cultivate such an invincible core is in itself a victory. It is also the greatest benefit. Those who can succeed in this endeavor will savor unsurpassed happiness; they can manifest the supreme state of Buddhahood.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Tuesday, September 16, 2008


A nurse who cared for many terminal patients has observed, "Ultimately, people only die as they have lived." To die happily is therefore extremely difficult. And since death is the final settlement of accounts for one's life, it is when our true self comes to the fore. We practice faith to live happily and also to die happily. One who has faith in the Mystic Law will not die an unhappy death.

Girl you know us libras start something and just drop it. Here ya go

"us libras start something and just drop it"

Yeah, not done on purpose 🙂
I have no fixed signs and very little water as well. Alot of things go over my head

Anyway I hate Ikeda. FuckinA should come on in here, and all the Aries troops.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, September 26, 2008


Our voice costs nothing and it is our strongest weapon. Nichiren Daishonin wrote, "Do not spare your voice" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 726).There are different voices for different situations: the clear, resounding voice that declares truth and justice; the strong voice that refutes evil; the bright, confident voice that tells others about the greatness of this Buddhism; the warm voice that gives encouragement; the sincere, friendly voice that offers praise and words of appreciation to others. The important thing is that we meet and speak with people widely, inside and outside the organization.

Sorry haven't posted for a while. Being a Tax Accountant gets a little busy sometimes.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda
Monday, September 29, 2008


Faith, which at first glance may appear weak, is actually the most powerful force in the world. Many people put on a show of being strong, but true strength has nothing to do with appearances. On the contrary, we usually find that the weaker the individual, the greater their bravado or outward display of strength.