Selection Source: From SGI President Ikeda, World Tribune, 02/27/98,
pg. 11
The first thing is to pray. From the moment we begin to pray,
things start moving. The darker the night, the closer the dawn.
From the moment we chant daimoku with a deep and powerful resolve,
the sun begins to rise in our heart. Hope — prayer is the sun of
hope. To chant daimoku each time we face a problem, overcoming it
and elevating our life-condition as a result — this is the path
of “changing earthly desires into enlightenment” taught in Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism. (July 5, 1996, World Tribune, P. 17)
When you purify your lives with daimoku, you will definitely develop
an utterly indestructible state of absolute happiness that abounds
with great fortune. In such a state of life, everything will become
a source of joy. You will feel a deep sense of fulfillment even if
you have neither worldly fame nor wealth. Each moment will be
totally satisfying. Your heart will be filled with joy and all
things will appear beautiful to your eyes. You can instantly
discern the truth, distinguish between good and evil. You will
think about the welfare of others in any circumstances. This is the
state of mind you can develop through faith. (April 1993 Seikyo
Times, P. 40)
Once, when encouraging a member who had begun practicing Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism to change his angry nature, second Soka Gakkai
president Josei Toda said: “You don’t have to worry about changing
your personality. All you have to do is chant daimoku and live the
best you can. Then, very naturally, you will see the negative
aspects of your personality disappear, leaving you with the positive
ones.” (Aug. 8, 1997, World Tribune, P. 10)
Shin’ichi Yamamoto would consistently chant earnest daimoku that
those attending his lectures could savor the deep joy of faith and
go about their activities with absolute conviction. This daimoku
was infused with a powerful prayer, driven by a fierce determination
to without fail bring forth the life force he needed to adequately
convey the spirit and immense compassion of the Daishonin, whose
goal was to save all humanity. (Aug. 15, 1997, World Tribune, P. 
