Daisaku Ikeda is a Japanese Buddhist philosopher, educator, author, and nuclear disarmament advocate. He has served as the third president and then honorary president of the Soka Gakkai, the largest of Japan’s new religious movements. Ikeda is the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), the world’s largest Buddhist lay organization, which declares approximately 12 million practitioners in 192 countries and territories, of whom more than 1.5 million reside outside of Japan as of 2012. These Daisaku Ikeda quotes will motivate you.
Best Daisaku Ikeda Quotes
- “When we change, the world changes. The key to all change is in our inner transformation- a change of our hearts and minds. This is human revolution. We all have the power to change. When we realize this truth, we can bring forth that power anywhere, anytime, and in any situation.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Whatever the outcome may be, the important thing is to step forward on the path that you believe is right.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The course of our lives is determined by how we react–what we decide and what we do–at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person’s true worth and greatness.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “No matter what our personal circumstances may be, if we ourselves become a source of light, then there will be no darkness in the world.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “What may look like a small act of courage is courage nevertheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Faith is to fear nothing, to stand unswayed, the power to surmount any obstacle.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “What we need most is to restore and revive our humanity. We must create a society where people can live with dignity, a society where people can live in peace and happiness. People are tired of games played for power and profit. People are tired of hatred and conflict. They want to live with more wisdom and confidence, and in peace. It may seem like a long and distant path, but I am convinced that the 21st century must see a movement to sow the seeds of peace, happiness and trust in every person’s heart. The seeds of a truly humane way of life. I am convinced this is the only path.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The darker the night, the nearer the dawn. Victory in life is decided by that last concentrated burst of energy filled with the resolve to win.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Let us give something to each person we meet: joy, courage, hope, assurance, or philosophy, wisdom, a vision for the future. Let us always give something.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “What our world most requires now is the kind of education that foster love for humankind, that develops character-that provides an intellectual basis for realization of peace and empowers learners to contribute to and improve society.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Being sincere, dedicated and honest is the key. People of integrity triumph in the end.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “In life when we feel we have reached a limit, that is when the true battle begins. Just when you despair and think it is impossible to go any further, will you become apathetic, or will you say it’s not over and stand up with an unyielding spirit? The battle is decided by this single determination.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “I cannot say this too strongly: Do not compare yourselves to others. Be true to who you are, and continue to learn with all your might.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Youthfulness is not determined by age. It is determined by one’s life force. One who possesses hope is forever young. One who continually advances is forever beautiful.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “No matter how hopeless or bleak things appear, the moment always comes when suddenly our spirit revives, and hope is reborn. That is why we must never give up.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Like the ocean that remains calm in its depths even when waves rage over its surface, and like the sun that continues shining on high even during storms, we can at each moment create value and develop our state of life, enjoying our existence to the fullest in times of both suffering and joy.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Come on obstacles! I’ve been expecting you! This is the chance that I’ve been waiting for!” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The misfortune of others is our misfortune. Our happiness is the happiness of others. To see ourselves in others and feel an inner oneness and sense of unity with them represents a fundamental revolution in the way we view and live our lives. Therefore, discriminating against another person is the same as discriminating against oneself. When we hurt another, we are hurting ourselves. And when we respect others, we respect and elevate our own lives as well.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “What is defeat in life? It is not merely making a mistake; defeat means giving up on yourself in the midst of difficulty. What is true success in life? True success means winning in your battle with yourself. Those who persist in the pursuit of their dreams, no matter what the hurdles, are winners in life, for they have won over their weaknesses.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “A person who respects others is respected by others in return. Those who treat others with compassion and concern are protected and supported by others. Our environment is essentially a reflection of ourselves” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “You will pass through storms and heavy rains, and at times you will suffer defeat. The essence of the creative life, however, is not to give up in the face of defeat but to follow the rainbow that exists within your heart.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The important thing is to firmly fix our gaze on our own weaknesses, not run away from them, but to battle them head-on and establish a solid self that nothing can sway. Hardships forge and polish our lives, so that eventually they shine with brilliant fortune and benefit. If left in its raw, unpolished form, even the most magnificent gem will not sparkle. The same applies to our lives.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “What matters is the value we’ve created in our lives, the people we’ve made happy and how much we’ve grown as people.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“There is no one as strong as a person whose heart is always filled with gratitude.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Whatever your circumstances, whatever your past, the forces that determine your future are nowhere but within your own heart and mind. It is here that the star of your destiny shines.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Many things happen in life. There are joyous days and times of suffering. Sometimes unpleasant things occur. But that’s what makes life so interesting. The dramas we encounter are part and parcel of being human. If we experienced no change or drama in our lives, if nothing unexpected ever happened, we would merely be like automatons, our lives unbearably monotonous and dull. Therefore, please develop a strong self so that you can enact the drama of your life with confidence and poise in the face of whatever vicissitudes you may encounter.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Effort and hard work construct the bridge that connects your dreams to reality.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Genuine happiness can only be achieved when we transform our way of life from the unthinking pursuit of pleasure to one committed to enriching our inner lives, when we focus on ‘being more’ rather than simply having more.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “When we care for others our own strength to live increases. When we help people expand their state of life, our lives also expand. Actions to benefit others are not separate from actions to benefit oneself. Our lives and the lives of others are ultimately inseparable.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda quotes
- “An attitude of compassion does not mean looking down on someone, pitying them in their misery. Compassion is based on respect. We discuss life as equals, learn from each other and strive together to improve our lives.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The profound unity of subjective existence and objective environment leads naturally to the idea that the life-force of one human being can affect other living beings and even the fundamental being of humankind as a whole. Furthermore, the minds of humankind fuse into one and exert a continuous influence, both physical and spiritual, on other living beings and on the whole of nature.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Hope is the sun. It is light. It is passion. It is the fundamental force for life’s blossoming.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Why is it that sometimes our prayers seem not to be answered? This is a manifestation of the Buddha’s wisdom, so that we can deepen our prayers, become stronger people, live more profound lives and secure deeper, more lasting good fortune. If our slightest prayer was answered immediately, we would become lazy and degenerate. And we could not hope to build a life of great dignity and substance.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Even if things don’t unfold the way you expected, don’t be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Embrace your dreams and advance as far as they can take you.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The human spirit is as expansive as the cosmos. This is why it is so tragic to belittle yourself or to question your worth. No matter what happens, continue to push back the boundaries of your inner life. The confidence to prevail over any problem, the strength to overcome adversity and unbounded hope — all reside within you.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine. You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don’t do or say anything, it’s not real compassion.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The experience of losing a loved one impels us toward a deeper understanding of life. Everyone fears and is saddened by death. That is natural. But by struggling to overcome the pain and sadness that accompanies death, we become sharply aware of the dignity and preciousness of life and develop the compassion to share the sufferings of others as our own.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Keep moving forward, even one or two steps, in your own way. Those who live out their lives to the fullest, unperturbed by the noisy clamor around them, are the true winners.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Life can unfold unlimitedly as long as we have a heart of appreciation and an undefeated mind.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Why doesn’t constant trampling defeat the dandelion? The key to its strength is its long and sturdy root, which extends deep into the earth. The same priciple applies to people. The true victors in life are those who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the roots of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “The power of growth, of improvement, the power to overcome all stagnation and break through every obstacle and transform a barren wasteland into a verdant field – that unstoppable power of hope resides right within your own heart. It wells up from the rich earth of your innermost being when you face the future without doubt or fear: “I can do more. I can grow. I can become a bigger and better human being.”” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“Increase your joy by doing the good you wish to have done to you.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Envying another’s beauty will diminish your own. But when you praise beauty in others your own beauty deepens.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Before comparing yourself with others, win the battle with yourself. Strive to be better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Self-centered anger generates evil, but wrath at social injustice becomes the driving force for reform. Strong language that censures and combats a great evil often awakens adverse reactions from society, but this must not intimidate those who believe they are right. A lion is a lion because he roars.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “No matter what kind of difficult situation one may find oneself in, some opening, some opportunity to fight one’s way out, can always be found. What’s most important is to hold fast to Hope, to face the future with courage.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“The person who lives life fully, glowing with life’s energy, is the person who lives a successful life.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “it is impossible to build one’s own happiness on the unhappiness of others. This perspective is at the heart of Buddhist teachings.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Living here on Earth, we breathe the rhythms of a universe that extends infinitely above us. When resonant harmonies arise between this vast outer cosmos and the inner human cosmos, poetry is born.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Happiness does not exist as an isolated quality, nor does it conform to a single fixed pattern. Happiness is something that breathes and lives in the relationships between one person and another.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Never be shaken, no matter what happens or what others may say. Never be flustered; never lose confidence. This is the way we should strive to live our lives. Being able to do so is a sign of genuine character.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Reality is harsh. It can be cruel and ugly. Yet no matter how much we grieve over our environment and circumstances nothing will change. What is important is not to be defeated, to forge ahead bravely. If we do this, a path will open before us.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “To be fearless no matter what happens-that is the root of true happiness. To move forward resolutely regardless of what lies in store-that is the spirit, the resolve, that leads to human victory.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Only when we connect to nature, engaged with nature, are we truly alive and vigorous. To really be alive, one must be under the sun, the moon, the shining stars and surrounded by the beautiful greenery and pure waters of the natural world.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “One thing is certain: That is that the power of belief, the power of thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. If you really believe you can do something, you can. That is a fact.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
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“No one should be left to suffer alone.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Ideal love is fostered only between two sincere, mature, and independent people. Real love is not two people clinging to each other; it can only be fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality.” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
- “Hope is life’s greatest treasure. If you have no hope, create some!” ~ Daisaku Ikeda
