FAITH EQUALS DAILY LIFE

Faith manifests itself in daily life. Daily life, in turn, is the stage upon which we show proof of faith. True human victory and happiness are attained through the earnest and steady day-to-day efforts we make. The pattern of our lives, like that of the sun, may seem monotonous and routine, but there is nothing more profound than our daily endeavors. Achieving brilliant victory in our daily lives is what being victorious in faith is all about. (9/26/93) One who takes good care of his or her job, daily life and family is a person of deep and genuine faith. Activities are intended to be carried out in the spare time that you have from work and family. (2/25/90) Please steadily advance along the fundamental path of "faith manifests itself in daily life;' living in the way that best suits you. Just as the sun rises every day, if you persistently advance based on the Mystic Law, the absolute Law of the universe, you can definitely lead a life in which all desires are fulfilled, a life of which you cannot now even conceive. Please be convinced that you are now leading the most certain and valuable life. (2/26/90) We have been born, and life is made for living. It is important that we strive to live on tenaciously to the very end, no matter what happens. Faith in the Mystic Law supplies us with the immense life force we need to live strongly and confidently each day so that we can overcome the various sufferings and hardships we encounter. (6/19/96) Faith and daily life, faith and work—these are not separate things. They are one and the same. To think of them as separate—that faith is faith and work is work—is theoretical faith. Based on the recognition that work and faith are one and the same, we should put 100 percent of our energy into our jobs and 100 percent into our faith, too. When we resolve to do this, we enter the path of victory in life. Faith means to show irrefutable proof of victory amid the realities of society and in our own daily lives. (10/6/95) When we plant the seed of happiness that is faith and carefully tend its growth, it will produce fruit without fail. We have to keep in mind, however, that we cannot plant a seed today and expect it to bear fruit tomorrow. That's not reasonable and Buddhism is reason. If we persevere in the practice of "faith equals daily life" in accord with reason, then our prayers will definitely be answered. This is Nichiren Daishonin's promise to us. And his words are true beyond any doubt. (6/9/96) DAISAKU IKEDA