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When we have a genuine sense that, no matter how difficult our present circumstances, we are not alone—that we are vitally connected with others and with the world—we will, without fail, rise up to the challenge of living again.

Just as a spring breeze awakens tender new shoots of green, sincere encouragement can thaw a frozen heart and instill courage. It is the most powerful means to rejuvenate the human spirit.
Friendship is not a matter of the amount of time you spend with someone. Rather, it is a measure of the strength and depth of the spiritual resonance that arises between you.
Japanese mountain potatoes known as taros are rough and dirty when harvested, but when they are placed in a basin of running water together and rolled against each other, the skin peels away, leaving the potatoes clean and ready for cooking. Similarly, the only way for us to hone and polish our character is through our interactions with others.
Genuine sincerity opens people’s hearts, while manipulation causes them to close.
A Buddhist scripture states that “the voice does the Buddha’s work.” The voice has the power to convey one’s compassion for another. No matter how much you care, the sentiment alone will not communicate itself. When your feelings are conveyed in words, your voice will have the immense power to move another person’s heart.
It is this time and this place that matter—not some other time or place. What matters is here and now—the people here and now.
One person’s heart moves another’s. If one’s own heart is closed, then the doors of other people’s hearts will also shut tight. On the other hand, someone who makes all those around him or her into allies, bathing them in the sunlight of spring, will be treasured by all.

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The Courage to Rebuild

Following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March 2011, Ikeda applauds the hope, strength and resilience of those battling to rebuild their lives and communities.

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Raising Children

What is the greatest gift a parent can bequeath to a child? Ikeda believes the ultimate goal of child-rearing lies in nurturing in children the fortitude to prevail over the tests of life and belief in their limitless potential. Read here ...

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The Power of Words

What is the most powerful tool for change and enrichment in the world? Ikeda maintains it is our ability to engage in dialogue, the exchange of ideas and ideals that is uniquely human. Read here ...