It is The Heart That is Important

President Ikeda's Guidance:

"It is the heart that is important", writes the Daishonin.

When we do something, do we approach it with a negative attitude - grumbling, "Oh, not again! I hate this!" - or a positive attitude - telling ourselves brightly, "All right, here's a fresh opportunity to gain good fortune!"?

This seemingly small, subtle difference n attitude can make a huge difference in our lives. It can change things 180 degrees. This is what the Lotus Sutra and the doctrine of "three thousand realms in a single moment of life" teach us.

The heart is invisible, and Buddhism provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing that invisible heart. It represents the highest form of psychology, neuroscience, and psychotherapy.

Appreciation and joy multiply our good fortune. Complaint and negativity erase it.

We often find that those who live in the city yearn for country life, while those who live in the country long for city life, or that those who are single dream of being married, while those who are married wish they were single again. That is a common tendency of the human heart.

But happiness doesn't life somewhere far away. It is something we must achieve for ourselves through our present struggles in the here and now.

When we have a positive and appreciative attitude toward our communities, it will give greater confidence and impetus to our activities. The joy of kosen-rufu will spread.

Turning Resentment into Appreciation

Excerpt from an experience -

I received a poor job review that came with an ultimatum: Turn things around in the next 30 days or face immediate termination. I felt humiliated. I accelerated my job search, hoping to land a new position before the 30-day deadline. "why should I be treated this way?" I thought. I was doing my part by putting in the hard work.
As I chanted, however, I made a startling realisation. Despite my original determination to do my best at my job, my attitude had been one of complaint. Even my angry effort to find another job was prompted by arrogance and self-righteousness.
I realized that the poison I had to transform into medicine wasn't my job; it was my resentful attitude. Furthermore, changing poison into medicine meant not only that I transform my situation with my boss, but also that my department, company and even the clients win in the process.
As I continued to chant this way, my resentment gradually gave way to appreciation.
When the 30-day deadline came, I was still employed. But the real victory was transforming my way of thinking. My performance review ratings went from mostly, "needs improvement" to the top two ratings of "excellent" and "above average." My raise was double the company average. My boss expressed her appreciation that I had responded to difficult issues with composure and dignity.
I have learned that the best way to earn the respect of others is by being a shining example of someone who is never defeated."
Source: Value Creation, Feb 2014

When We Are Grateful, We Feel Joy!

Shin'ichi said "The spirit of gratitude is very important. when we are grateful, we feel joy. When we are joyful, we also feel courageous. That leads us to want to do our utmost to show our appreciation to others. Having met many people all over the world, I have reached the conclusion that people who are able to feel gratitude are happy.
It is also true that those who betray others do not have this spirit of gratitude. Such people just expect others to do things for them. They come to depend on others and to rely heavily on their goodwill. Therefore, when other people don't do as they expect, they feel cheated and disappointed and start to complain incessantly. The slightest setback causes them to sulk and sends them into depression. But they are really just making themselves miserable, and they end up wandering through a self-created maze of unhappiness.
"The Gosho says; '... even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but an inferior teaching'.
Concerning yourself with what others are doing and complaining when they don't live up to your expectations is looking for the Law outside yourself. Such thinking ultimately comes down to spiritual weakness."
- Daisaku Ikeda
Towards Victory, Excerpted guidances from the NHR Value Creation Feb 2014

Sung Chiang: General of Generals - Why?

Exerpt from the HR Volume 7 - The oath of suiko.

The members finished one volume after another of 'The Tale of Suiko.' Finally they came to the scene in which Sung chiang, the centreal figure, comes to the fortress of Shui Hu (Suiko) and is installed by the people as their head.
"Now, about this man Sung Chiang. He was nothing but a minor local official, but here he is, respected by all the tough fellows as their leader. Can anyone explain the reason for this?"Toda asked the members with a smile....
...One answer followed anohter. Each man frankly expressed his own view as it had occured to him....
...The discussion became more and more abstract and aesthetic. Everyone admitted that Sung Chiang was a very attractive human being but no one could discover specifically from where his charm derived. When the young men had finished talking, Toda began to give a deeper analysis of Sung Chiang's personality.
"Sung Chiang was a man of medium build and dark-complexion, combining all the appearances of the inferior local officials of whom he was one. In other words, he was an ordinary person. He was never popular with women. He had no outstanding talent either in literary or military arts. He was devoted to his parents, honest and faithful to the moral code, and these were about the only virtues he possesed. This world abounds with men like Sung Chiang.
...In other words, he was mediocre. Why then was he one of the Chinese heroes of his day? anyone would be mystified by this...
...In outward appearance Sung Chiang was a featureless man, but he was equipped with a marvelous ability to throughly read the characters of other people. He had a keen insight for discovering talent in whomever he met - he heartily loved that talent and respected it."
Toda's analysis came as quite a surprise to the youth. They stared at Toda in wonder.
"Sung Chiang saw the good as well as the bad in others. No devious strategy works in the presence of one who knows your strengths and weaknesses. So, it all boils down to the saying "A virtuous man is ready to die for one who appreciates him.' It is no accident that Sung Chiang was installed as the head of Lian Shan Po. Nothing pleases a soldier more than to meet one who appreciates him. Nothing gives him greater purpose. Not everyone can see both the strengths and the weakness in another person and still appreciate him. Sung Chiang could. This is the reason he was looked up to as a general of generals. As long as you acquire another's favor by force of authority, money, position, or learning, you remain merely a general over privates. When you have developed the unerring ability to judge and appreciate other people, you will have become a general of generals."