Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change
Live Your Youth Undefeated by Anything
(Third Eternal Guideline of Ikeda Kayo-kai)
The third eternal guideline for the young women’s division is “Live your youth undefeated by
anything.” Nichiren Daishonin writes: “A woman who embraces this sutra [the Lotus Sutra] not
only excels all other women, but also surpasses all men” (WND-1, 464). How incredibly noble
you are!
Throughout his writings, the Daishonin repeatedly encourages his female disciples. For
example, he declares: “A woman who embraces the lion king of the Lotus Sutra never fears any
of the beasts of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals” (WND-1, 949). The fact that
you uphold the Mystic Law means that you will never be defeated by anything.
The Daishonin also says: “Although the sun and moon should fall to the ground and
Mount Sumeru1 crumble, there can be no doubt that this woman [of sincere faith] will attain
Buddhahood” (WND-2, 752); and “Whatever trouble occurs, regard it as no more than a dream,
and think only of the Lotus Sutra” (WND-1, 502). It’s foolish to let oneself be swayed by life’s
uncertainties, feeling joy one minute, despair the next. Just resolve to dedicate your life to
kosen-rufu no matter what and spend your youth confidently committed to your mission.
Never forget that beautiful flowers of happiness bloom forth where there are solid roots of
perseverance and effort.
Make Safety and Health Top Priorities
My mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, once remarked: “If we uphold the
Gohonzon and exert ourselves assiduously in faith, practice, and study, we will not forever
remain deluded, unenlightened people at the mercy of various sufferings.” He also said: “When
we look back later, even the most painful experiences eventually fade and vanish like a dream.
That’s why we must remember to be patient and to persevere, taking a long-term perspective
and biding our time.” He also said: “Cultivate perseverance. Doesn’t the Daishonin urge us to
‘don the armor of endurance’ (cf. WND-1, 392)? I would like you to regard perseverance as
being the essence of true Buddhist practice.”
Mr. Toda often said that in our youth, we should focus less on winning and more on not
being defeated. My wife followed his guidance to the letter, living an undefeated youth and an
undefeated life. She has truly won. I hope you will do the same.
1
In Indian cosmology, Mount Sumeru is a towering peak that stands at the center of the world.
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Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change
In these troubled times, please take care not to come into harm’s way. Please be guided
by wisdom and good sense in your daily affairs, making safety and health your top priorities,
and especially ensuring that Gakkai activities don’t go on too late at night, so that you can go
home at a reasonable hour.
Build a Strong, Unshakable State of Life
Courage is vital. Rosa Luxemburg (1870–1919), the Polish-German revolutionary, called on her
comrades: “Fear nothing!”2 and “Be courageous. Have courage!”3
Incidentally, at a summer training course held in 1969, a group of student division
members performed a musical tribute to this heroic activist. Forty years have flown by since
then and I am very happy that all of those young women are today striving with unchanged
enthusiasm as leaders in the women’s division.
The American poet Emily Dickinson (1830–86) wrote:
On a columnar self
How ample to rely;
In tumult or extremity
How good the certainty.4
Faith in Daishonin’s Buddhism enables us to build a strong, unshakable state of life that is never
swayed by anything. As do Gakkai activities, especially those in our youth.
The great Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) wrote:
“Nothing flows faster than the years.”5 Speaking of Leonardo da Vinci, I fondly recall delivering
an address (in June 1994) entitled “Leonardo’s Universal Vision and the Parliament of
Humanity: Thoughts on the Future of the United Nations” at the University of Bologna, one of
the world’s oldest universities. As Da Vinci pointed out, the years pass by quickly. Our youth
2
Translated from Japanese. Rosa Luxemburg, Yogihesu e no Tegami (Letters to Leo Jogiches), translated by
Naruhiko Ito (Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 1976), vol. 1, p. 290.
3
Translated from Japanese. Rosa Luxemburg, Yogihesu e no Tegami (Letters to Leo Jogiches), translated by Hiroshi
Bando (Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 1977), vol. 3, p. 291.
4
Emily Dickinson, Poems by Emily Dickinson, edited by Martha Dickinson Bianchi and Alfred Leete Hampson
(Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1948), p. 340.
5
Barbara O’Connor, Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Genius (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.,
2002) p. 32.
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Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change
only comes but once. All of you, the members of the young women’s division, are now in the
midst of the wonderful time of youth. I therefore hope you will strive your hardest and do your
best to spread our noble Soka movement.
“I’ll Take Care of It!”
To be young is to possess vast potential. In my youth, I struggled and fought with all my might.
After World War II, Mr. Toda’s businesses collapsed and he was left shouldering enormous
debts. Some who worked for Mr. Toda cursed and abandoned him. He eventually decided to
step down as the Soka Gakkai’s general director [in order to shield the organization from his
business problems]. At that challenging time, however, I vowed to continue working for Mr.
Toda and supporting him every way possible. I was a young man in my 20s, and I did my very
utmost to assist my mentor.
Gradually, his business situation turned around and Mr. Toda was inaugurated as the
second president of the Soka Gakkai (in May 1951). But then propagation efforts stagnated, and
Mr. Toda lamented that at this rate, it would take 50,000 years to achieve kosen-rufu. Once
again I stood up and declared, “I’ll take care of it!” Spearheading the February Campaign in
Tokyo’s Kamata Chapter (in 1952), I broke through the stalemate and opened the way to the
realization of Mr. Toda’s cherished lifetime goal of 750,000 Soka Gakkai member households. I
helped set a new record of dynamic growth in propagation and created the momentum for the
fresh development of our movement.
Be People Who Are Indispensable
Right after World War II, I found a job at a small printing company called Shobundo. The
company owner was very happy with my work and hoped I’d remain with them long term.
Unfortunately, because of my poor health, after only a short time there, I had to quit and take
another job closer to home at the Kamata Manufacturers Association. A few years later, when I
was given the opportunity to work at Mr. Toda’s company, I decided to leave that job. My boss
and coworkers were sad to see me go, but they threw me a heartfelt farewell party.
Being someone who is indispensable and trusted at their workplace is the hallmark of a
genuine youth division member. I hope our Soka youth will be the kind of people who are
considered crucial assets for the positive development of their workplaces. Moreover, if you
strive earnestly in faith and try to do your best at work each day, you will absolutely become
such a person.
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Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change
No Regrets
All of you are sincerely chanting daimoku and working for the happiness of others. You are
striving hard in Soka Gakkai activities. Nothing is nobler than this. Without a doubt, the
Daishonin is praising and applauding your efforts. You are sure to attain clear and wonderful
benefits. It doesn’t matter whether others are aware of your efforts or not. When you dedicate
your life to kosen-rufu, you will have no regrets. All of your struggles will have meaning and
become causes for your victory. Please continue to fight alongside me as proud Gakkai
members!
Keep Pressing Forward
The noted American cultural anthropologist Dr. Mary Catherine Bateson wrote: “No one can
expect, of course, to go through life without meeting discouragement and criticism, but every
failure [experienced by a woman] is more costly if it is accompanied by the implied message
from outside, and the hidden belief within, that little more could have been expected.” 6 I hope
all of our young women’s division members will live their lives unafraid of failure. Remain
undiscouraged, no matter what happens, and keep pressing forward. The important thing is
that you win in the end.
I have heard, incidentally, that the ideas that I presented in my second address at
Harvard (in September 1993)—namely, that joy can be savored in both life and death—struck a
deep chord with Dr. Bateson.7
Remain Young at Heart
A character in one of the novels written by Danish author and storyteller Hans Christian
Andersen (1805–75) says: “There will come better days! Happy days! [You are] young, and
youth brings health for the soul and body!”8 To remain undefeated by troubles and triumph
over them is both the challenge and inherent strength of youth. May all of you be healthy and
optimistic in your youth.
Of course, you mustn’t lose your vitality even when you grow older. Those who uphold
the Mystic Law are able to remain youthful throughout their lives. Please forever continue to
6
Mary Catherine Bateson, Composing a Life (New York: Grove Press, 2001), p. 37.
7
From an article in the Seikyo Shimbun, March 12, 2008. Report on the public dialogue entitled “Learning to Learn
About Death,” held at the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning and Dialogue (formerly the Boston Research Center for
the 21st Century), on February 27, 2008.
8
Hans Christian Andersen, O. T.: A Danish Romance (Charleston, South Carolina: BiblioBazaar, LLC., 2007), p. 88.
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Empowering Individuals for Lasting Peace
From Inner Change to Global Change
have the hearts of young women’s division members, just as your dynamic seniors in the
women’s division have.
Some of you may be worrying about marriage. I hope you won’t hesitate to discuss your
specific concerns with your parents, your seniors in the women’s division, or someone else you
can trust. Moreover, it is crucial above all to chant earnestly to the Gohonzon. There’s no need
to be anxious or in a hurry. Getting married at a young age doesn’t necessarily guarantee
happiness. Just chant so that you’ll meet a wonderful person and have a marriage that is ideal
for you. I’d like you to polish your life through faith and shine in your own unique way.
Hans Christian Andersen also wrote:
Laughter lightens every sadness.
Trust me, the people we praise
Have usually attained their happiness through laughter.
............................................
Laughter can even win over our enemies.9
My wife, who received training as Mr. Toda’s disciple from her days in the young
women’s division, always has a smile, no matter how difficult the situation. I hope that all of
you, my young friends, will also joyfully move ahead no matter what happens and that you will
chant daimoku wholeheartedly and bring forth powerful life-force. I assert that as long as the
joy of faith shines from the smiling faces of young women’s division members, the Soka Gakkai
will be strong and continue growing.
[cf. Value Creation September 2009]
9
Translated from Japanese. Hans Christian Andersen, “Warae” (Laugh!), in Anderusen Shishu (Collected Poems of
Andersen), translated by Shizuka Yamamuro (Tokyo: Yayoi Shobo, 1981),
p. 95.
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