The Youthful Diary of Daisaku Ikeda – (continues)
Chapter 4 : Lessons from The Diary
Ikeda’s Youthful Diary is a very unusual book. The author declares in his
statement that he did not scribble his thoughts for others to read initially.
In its present form these thoughts reveal among many other things the unusual
determination of a young man of extraordinary dedication to the cause he
identified under his mentor. The Diary gives also a poignant of a founder
president who died in prison for his beliefs and a disciple whose avowed
mission in life was to realize the vision of his mentor. These two mentors were
the guiding spirit of young Ikeda.
As a Handbook for Leadership Training
While at one level the Diary is a
chronicle of the spiritual growth of the author, at another level it offers
extremely valuable record of the Herculean efforts of the second president of
Soka Gakkai and his disciple Ikeda to lay a strong foundation for a reliable
movement for world peace based on Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
In a language which is poetic, Ikeda
has given us the intimate details of his privations and equally determined
efforts to live up to the expectations of his mentor. At this level it exudes
the lyrical quality of a poem on the sanctity of the mentor-disciple bond.
Triumph of Human Will
Another important message The Diary delivers is the triumph
of human will. The ten years of strivings the diary relates graphically
indicate the pangs of sprouting of a potential thinker and organizer of immense
promise and talents.
The strong foundation the mentor and
disciple laid for Gakkai and the outreach activities that elevated the Soka
Gakkai as a global movement for peace, culture and education and the phenomenal
success the achieved offer very valuable guidance and lessons to everyone.
The multipronged efforts and strategies Ikeda
developed to realize his objectives have been found to be refreshingly
different and unique from what others have adopted earlier.
I have a mission. Without a mission,
a Bodhisattva of the Earth has no reason to exist. Human beings must never
forget their mission. Since this is the case, my only choice is to courageously
carry out powerful, unyielding, indomitable faith. (October 10, 1953)
Faith, confidence, conviction: these
thoughts arise, somehow, in the midst of practice: What is life’s fundamental
energy?
Fate,
destiny, karma: What determines the course of one’s life? What is the most
powerful influence? Thought about how it relates to my efforts in this life.
When a general is rich in humanity,
those under him will be happy. When a general becomes political and authoritarian,
no one will be happy. When a general becomes political and authoritarian, no
one will be unhappier than his subordinates. The Soka Gakkai leaders still have
a long way to go. They must experience more hardship. (March 7, 1955)
My life,
both inside and out, is like a storm. Must do battle with the devil of illness.
Must do battle with those jealous of me as a youth and as President Toda’s
closest disciple. (March 15, 1955)
The power of Chanting Daimoku
There were
periods when young ikeda was assailed by doubts and his spirits went up and
propelled him to action every time he did his gongyo:
No spirit, no will. I am like someone on the brink of death.
The cherry blossoms of the springtime of my youth have now fallen and
scattered. How sad! Must devote myself to chanting daimoku consistently. My
only choice is to spur myself on powerfully, to show actual proof of Buddhism’s
strictness and if the strict power of my own determination.
After fulfilling my mission to
spread the Great Law, wish to die an honourable death. Then, I would like to
rest for eternity. Quietly, deeply.
Life and death. Formation,
continuance, decline and disintegration. Birth, ageing, sickness and death.
Eternity, happiness, true self and purity. Life from the remotest past. Life
that continues eternally. Eternity in the moment. The oneness of life and
death. the oneness of body and mind. The three existences – past, present and
future.
Without
understanding, I deeply sense how pitiful it would be, as a follower of the correct
faith, to die now. Must fight! Must strive! (March 16, 1955)
Life’s
ambitions, life’s tedium, life’s significance. What is the purpose of my
existence? Why must I lead such a difficult life? There are days I wonder
heedlessly about such things. Must challenge society and challenge myself every
single day. Many in this society grow weary and are defeated. (April 23, 1956)
Lessons from the Diary
The diary is a veritable mine of deep
insights which will be helpful to everyone who aspires to be a leader
The diary also offers highly
important lessons in the several aspects of personal management, values and
virtues which youth has to learn. He records:
1.
Don’t
be conceited.
2.
Don’t
speak ill of others.
3.
Don’t
get entangled with weak-spirited people.
4.
Don’t
waste money.
5.
Don’t
talk too much. (July 7, 1950)
6.
Study.
7.
Be
Victorious at work.
8.
Regain
my strength. (August 20, 1950)
9.
Don’t
neglect self-reflection.
10.
Remember
to advance step by step.
11.
Don’t
be swayed by things.
12.
Be
strict in faith
13.
Never
be hypocritical
14.
Never
be weak
15.
Even
a person of public acclaim should not glory in superficial praise or formal
honours.
Ikeda reminds of what
Lotus Sutra Teaches:
A bronze mirror will
reflect the form of a person but it will not reflect that person’s mind. The
Lotus Sutra, however, reveals not only the person’s form, but that person’s
mind as well. (May 13, 1950)
Lessons for Youth
No flaw is worse than cowardice in a
young man.
He warns at the same time:
“To lie is the basest act in life.”
But in reality, all live under false pretences, and truth is lost to
expediency. The road to hell and the gallant road of a significant and truthful
life are both at the feet of youth. (June 1, 1949)
To the youth he has a special word
of encouragement
Youth, never be envious. Never lose.
(June 8, 1949)
Youth! In whatever drama life may
cast you, play your part well. (May 16, 1950)
Plain, honest work, day by day,
unknown to anyone – that is important. Time alone will reveal my actions to the
world. (May 22, 1950)
Youth must pursue dreams of the future.
Effort. I advance on the great path, step by step, traversing
mountains and valleys.
Patience.
Weather the storms of criticism with a smile.
Await the time. Create the opportunity.
Step by step. (June 15, 1950)
Don’t take Life
Casually
Ikeda who celebrates life as a precious jewel wants young people
particularly young people not to take life casually
There
are three categories of people that all human beings should respect. They are
the sovereign, the teacher, and the parent. (‘the opening of the eyes’,
WND-1,220) (November 4, 1950)
To live a life without regret is
truly difficult. It is even more difficult to die an honorable, dignified
death. I fee keenly aware that the path towards solving such problems lies now here
but with in the realm of Buddhism. (January 18,1951) why are people so foolish?
Why are people so unhappy?
Why are people so arrogant?
How can people be so selfish?
(February 16,1951)
Vitality of daimoku
To Ikeda chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
is the key to enriching our hearts.
To Make a Successful Life
Life demands confidence. Life demands
effort. Life demands compassion. To live without confidence is to live without
meaning, like a stagnant puddle, never knowing what it means to risk or dare.
To live without effort is to live on cunning, like some despicable and insolent
thief. To live without compassion is to be like contemporary scholars and
politicians. People of the limelight, masters of seeking their own advantage,
ignorant of life’s subtle beauty. (June 1, 1949)
I love the whole human race like a
lover. But even if I cry out my love at the top of my voice, they cannot hear
me. (June 2, 1949)
Nothing is achieved in life without
decisiveness. (June 3, 1949)
Progress and revolution involve all
forms of opposition. Those who overcome it are worthy to be called youth. Like
seeds that endure through winter and sprout from the earth in spring.
Youth! Abandon wishful thinking.
Reality is harsh. Youth is the time to advance, to grow, to battle against
corruption. A youth is most worthy of respect when advancing earnestly towards
a goal. But don’t forget to smile. Be cheerful always. (June 4, 1949)
The past is a dream, and the future is a dream, too. Dreams
of the past, still and empty as the moon, excite no fires of passion. Dreams of
the future, like the sun – the morning sun – giving birth to dawn and dreams
that thrill with emotion. (May 31, 1950)
Let there be no regrets
Put up a good fight all day. I have no regrets.
Am
truly grateful for being in the happiest of circumstances.
I rejoice with all my heart that my
efforts and dedication will bear fruit.
I regret
only that I cannot study in a settled atmosphere. (June 4, 1950)
Life is a
succession of struggles. But I think the important thing is what we struggle
for and what foundation underlies our striving.
Why respect Gohonzon ?
According to Ikeda disrespect to the
Gohonzon is the same thing as contempt for one’s own life (June 1,
1949).Chanting Daimoku is the only way to break through deadlocks, whether of
the body or the mind.
I believe in
my eventual victory. Daimoku will be its driving force. (September 9, 1950)
1.
Will
2.
Courage
3.
Sincerity
These three are vial. (October 11,
1950)
Place of untiring
Practice
1.
Remember
the spirit of untiring practice.
2.
Love
the truth.
3.
Live
in the way that’s right for me. (October 22, 1950)
4.
Today
I was promoted to business department chief.
5.
Must
study economics.
6.
Must
assume more responsibility for the company’s future development.
7.
Must
not fall behind the advance of the Soka Gakkai. (November 27, 1950)
Propagation!.. I will pour my whole
life into working vigorously for kosen-rufu. Mere ideology or speculation is
fruitless. For youth, life should be based on nothing but practice and action.
Faith is the foundation of my life
Faith is the foundation of my life
Pure faith, the root of my existence.
(January 29, 1951)
1.
Firmly
establish my faith.
2.
Build
a splendid foundation for our company.
3.
Cultivate
my ability as disciple and successor to Mr. Toda. (March 8, 1951)
4.
Never
neglect daily self-reflection. Must understand that the basis for such
reflection is nothing other than faith.
5.
If
our life-force is strong, then we can be happy under any circumstance. Must
realize that the only basis for this is faith. (March 8, 1951)
6.
The
faith that can change destiny cannot be carried out easily. Must not doubt.
`The fundamental cause lies in my own determination and faith. (October 10,
1953)
Personal Virtues
Qualities like courtesy and common
sense should serve to enhance spontaneity. They should not exist merely for
their own sake.
When each individual understands the
True Law, and it becomes the driving force, the fundamental principle for that
age, how deep the nation’s foundation will be! (May 26, 1951)
1.
Detailed
planning.
2.
Well-organized
administration.
3.
Ability
to take broad-minded action.
4.
Unyielding
progress. (December 14, 1952)
5.
Exert
myself in study.
6.
Excel
in my specific areas of responsibility.
7.
Carry
out my activities with courageous resolve.
8.
Become
a considerate and decisive leader. (December 16, 1952)
Birthday Resolve
My birthday today. I am now 25.
Lately, I deeply sense my destiny to carry on the struggle for kosen-rufu after
my mentor is gone. Thankful that I can stand up, be active and fight without
being confined to a sickbed. (January 2, 1953)
I am
disgusted with my own immaturity. I am 25. Must study. Must discipline myself.
Must Develop. Amazed at my own shallowness. (January 6, 1953)
Resolved
deep in my heart to develop them into a group of 100, 1,000 or 10,000 youth.
Will take good care of my juniors. Must make them better than myself. This is
the mission of a leader or senior in faith. (June 17, 1953)
Self
Evaluation
As a person of average capacity, I
have many aspects: I sometimes feel like writing and at other times do not. As
a youth, I have many aspects: at times I am swept away by swift currents, and
other times I stand fast amid the raging torrents. At times I enjoy solitude,
while other times I delight in talking with others. Life has many aspects.
(February 7, 1956)
My memory is
fading, perhaps due to fatigue. Human society is complex. At times, I become
distinguished with society. Arrogance, power, scheming… Fortune, sincerity,
conviction… A baffling mixture of realities. Youth is painful. (April 10, 1956)
Cold all
day. My life lacks commonsense – I constantly overtax myself. This is my
unstoppable course of destiny. Severe, uncowed by raging waves of diversity –
the challenging path of mentor and disciple. I absolutely cannot die.
If president
Toda where alive, how happy he would be ! I truly miss him. (April 6,1960)
Shall begin
my lifetime battle to spread the law, transcending life and death.
My fellow
Gakkai members, my friends, were truly happy for me.
Must take
leadership for Kosen-rufu in a way that befits a general, a human being and a
youth.(October 26, 1957)
I am a
messenger of the Tathagata; a great honour. Must not be arrogant. Must not
become bigheaded. Must have a state of life and patience like flowing water.
(October 26, 1957)
Determination
1.
Reiteration
of the dictum: Many in bodies but one in mind
2.
Reporting
to the mentor everyday regularly
3.
Eloquent
demonstration of youth power
4.
Responding
to challenges with courage
5.
Changing
poison into medicine
6.
Visualize
things for yourself
7.
Staying
calm in the face of crises
8.
Prepare
relenentlessly
9.
Through
preparation in mover a waste of time
10. Install preparedness in others
11. Analyse strengths and weakness
12. Learn from great people
13. Style is important as belief
14. Leaders should not succumb to obstacles
15. A youth division leader should have pride
16. Beware of the Gakkai direction and what lies
at its core
17. Seek guidance from many people. (October 12,
1958)
Personality development
through reading
One of the very inspiring aspects of the diary is the intimate record it
offers on the attitude of young Ikeda to study and reading. Even though he was
going through the most tempestuous of times he continued to study always
looking 10, 20 years ahead
The diary is
filled with references to his love of literature also.
One comes
across in his diary statements such as: “I read Scaramouch,” “was up late
reading Plutarch Parallel Lives. I ‘ll read more tomorrow,” And again: “in the
evening I went to kanada and bought three books at a used book shop. There’s a
mountain of books I want, but I can’t afford all of them. These statements
indicates his love of books and the care he took in reading great classics. He
said, “Encountering a great book is like encountering a great teacher.”
He also said,
The foundation of everything in my
life was forged during my youth. I devoted every minute could spare to
reading-Ikeda said candidly .How does one view life? What is to be human? In reality life is a quest.
In our endless driving and searching for answers to these questions literature
is found to be an excellent companion and guide. Similarly, reading is
generally give as second nature and source of enjoyment.
In one of the earliest
entries in the dairy Ikeda writes:
“Fourteen young champions of
religious reform gathered together proudly and joyfully under our mentor, Mr.
Toda. Each participant expressed his thoughts and impressions on the book, The
Eternal City.” The entry for February 21 says: “Youth, arise! Youth, advance!
Youth, take action! Forward ever forward! Undaunted by towering precipices or
raging waves! Like Rossi and Bruno. Like Napoleon and Alexander. Like Whitman
and Dante!” The entry for February 24 states: “Finished reading The Romance of
the Three Kingdoms. The grand plot skillfully portrays the subtleties of the
human mind. It is a giant epic depicting the exploits of warriors and political
leaders in a time of tremendous strife and chaos. It is packed with political
intrigue, love, tears, ambition, power and moral lessons. The main character,
Liu Pei, is a youth of revolution – a man of construction.”
Ikeda’s love of literature and his thirst for
reading as part of his very life – breadth are revealed in the following
statements by him:
Is just growing older
that makes one an adult? No. What makes one a mature person is one’s growth as
a human being, one’s richness of character and experience, and those are things
that literature can indeed help us develop. Learning languages allows us to
expand our boundaries to encompass other nations and cultures. Reading
literature further widens our horizons, enabling us to become acquainted with
people and places all over the world. Sometimes an encounter with a great work
of literature can entirely change the course of our life.
Literature is the very pulse of life.
Those who have learned to appreciate great literature during their youth are
always vital and vigorous because the pulse of literature beats in them. Those
who haven’t learned to appreciate literature lack that vitality; their lives
are spiritually drab and empty.
He was a voracious reader who understands that reading is an
important as food or clothing
Literature also helps
us relate to other people’s characters and dispositions. In one person, we may
detect something of Hamlet; in another of Don Quixote; in yet another of
Moliere’s hypocritical Tartuffe. We may know a person who resembles the proud
Julien Sorel from Stendhal’s The Red and the Black, or a person who,
like Sydney Carton from Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, goes to the
guillotine for the sake of friendship and love.
Reading
literature allows us to view the incredible kaleidoscope of human behavior and
emotion, just as they are. It also gives us an insight into the vast, deep
ocean of life existing beneath the countless rolling waves.
Ikeda recollects what Yoshida Kenko
wrote
“The
pleasantest of all diversions is to sit alone under the lamp, a book spread out
before you, and make friends with people of a distant past you have never
known.”
It
is really sad to not know this joy! It’s like standing before a mountain of
precious jewels, all there for your taking, and returning home empty-handed.
It is a fact that almost without exception the
great people had a book they held dear during their youth – a book that served
as their guide as a source of encouragement; as a close friend and mentor.
Ikeda has argued that every country has its folk tales and
legends. The spiritual legacy of the people is woven into most of them. Stories
that have been handed down through the generations have a value that has
ensured their survival. Time is the greatest critic. Heolso pointed out that
Literature occupies a very important
place in the history of human thought. Its influence reaches into the depths of
human experience. Humankind will suffer a tremendous loss if all we do is
restrict ourselves and our concerns to the spheres of politics, business and
science, without reading and pondering over great literature.
Literature is a stage upon which many
different realms of human experience are presented: philosophies of life, the
relationship of the individual to society, war and peace, struggle, love and
death among them. Music and art can illuminate one part of that experience, of
course, and it is religion that illuminates it fully and completely. Upon the
foundation of literature unfold other aspects of culture such as drama,
theatre, film and music.
All great literature, ancient and
modern, is a bridge connecting one human being to another, one spirit to
another. The quality of our life is determined by how many of those bridges we
can cross.
Ikeda
continues,
Books
introduce you to the fragrant flowers of life, to rivers, roads and adventures.
You can find stars and light, feel delight or indignation. You are set adrift
on a vast sea of emotion in a ship of reason, moved by the infinite breeze of
poetry. Dreams and dramas evolve. The whole world comes alive.
To gain true satisfaction and pleasure from
anything requires some kind of practice, training and effort. You can’t fully
enjoy skiing without working at it. The same goes for playing the piano or
using a computer. It also takes effort, perseverance and patience to appreciate
reading. Those who have tasted this joy, who have looked on books as friends,
are strong.
Reading gives you free access to the treasures
of the human spirit – from all ages, from all parts of the world. One who knows
this possesses unsurpassed wealth. It’s like owning countless banks from which
you can make unlimited withdrawals.
Ikeda
has recorded that the foundationfor everything in his life was forged during
his youth. He devoted every minute he could spare to reading.
One
summer I even went down to the Zoshigaya Cemetery [in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward]
occasionally to read. Sitting outside on a straw mat under the moonlight, with
a flashlight I would read books such as Hugo’s Les Miserables. It was
cool and Quiet there. We had no air-conditioning in those days, you see. The
mosquitoes were quite a nuisance, though!
From a young age, probably because I was
sickly, books were my greatest treasure. During World War II, there were times
I would take them into the air-raid shelter to shield them from the bombings.
When the war eventually ended, I was 17. As
far as the eye could see, Tokyo was in ruins. The only serenity to be found
among the destruction, on the rubble-filled streets of a defeated land, was the
sprawling clear blue sky overhead. I still remember vividly the color of that
sky.
Though we had nothing, lacking even basic
necessities such as food and clothing, I had boundless hope – peace had finally
been restored! Now I could study as much as I wanted. I could read at last, and
books were a wonderful feast.
Reading good book cultivates and nourishes
one’s life. A classic never grows old; it is always refreshing and new. And its
message will be just as valid in the twenty-first century as today.
Encountering such a work is a lifelong treasure.
Life is short. So we should make a point of
reading good books. The only way to find the time to do so is simply to stop
reading bad books. In terms of Buddhism, bad books are those that bring forth
the lower of the ten worlds – the life-conditions of Hell, Hunger, Animality
and Anger. They are like poison or drugs that produce misery.
On the other hand, good books point your life
toward happiness, wisdom and creativity. They possess a sound substance that
enables you to think and grow.
Ikeda compares Reading to Moutain Climbing
. There are high
and low mountains. Ascending a steep summit is quite difficult, but how great
is your exhilaration when you've successfully conquered it. Vast vistas stretch before you.
From your vantage point, you can see how
low the other hills and mountains are.
The greater the struggle, the more enriching the
experience. That said, if you immediately set out to climb a high peak without
preparation, the challenge could be beyond you. You may be forced to abandon
your ascent, losing your way or suffering altitude sickness! It might be better to first
attempt a goal suited to your level.
You all have a mission in the twenty-first century. No
matter how talented you may be, without culture, wisdom and rich character, you
will never be respected in the world arena. In fact, like many Japanese today,
you might be dismissed as a money-driven automaton.
Reading makes us human. We mustn’t limit our lives to
one field of narrow specialty to the exclusion of all else. No matter how high
people’s positions are, if they haven’t read great novels by the world’s
renowned authors, they can never hope to become outstanding leaders. To build a
humanistic society where people live with dignity, we must have leaders
acquainted with honest-to-goodness great literature. This is extremely
important.
A True hand book to every one
Ikeda’s Diary, thus is a handbook and an
inspiring source book on the very art of growing up, leadership and management.
It is a constant companion to this writer ever since I started reading this
remarkable book. It is difficult to lay it aside from those constant reference
materials to me in my daily life.
Every line in the Diary constantly
reminds me of the heroic fight of a brave young man who challenged all odds and
registered thumping victory under his mentor.
Devotion to his mentor,
determination to fulfill the goals and a clear mission in life have been the
salient aspects of Ikeda’s heroic battle to realize the of his mentor.
His
Youth Diary is thus a living record.
It
is highly inspirational and truly a handbook and guide to every one every where.
nice
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