Here is a message from Daisaku Ikeda, excerpted from the book "Youth Dialogue." The theme we will introduce this time is about "family." --------------------------------------------------- In any era, youth is a struggle with worries. For example, some people may feel lonely because their family is poor and they cannot buy what they want. Because their parents are poor, because their parents are uneducated, because they fight with their spouse -- "That's why I'm unhappy." That's not true. "That's why the world is human, and I can become a human." I want people to think like this. They should think that all of this makes them a "big person" as a human being, and that it creates a "big heart" for them. It is only by experiencing such pain that they can understand the feelings of others. Some people lose their fathers at a young age. Some people lose their mothers. Some people lose both parents. Such people may feel lonely. They may envy people who have parents. Some people may also have sick parents. Some people have a life of suffering because their father failed in business. However, all handicaps become a source of nourishment for you to live a strong life. The more suffering and sadness you have, the happier you will be. You should live by telling yourself bravely, "I will become the pillar of my family." That is Buddhism. In any case, "become the sun." If you do that, all darkness will disappear. It is you. Not your parents. No matter what happens, live calmly, saying, "I am the sun." Of course, there are cloudy days when we talk about the sun. But even when it's cloudy, the sun is the sun. Even if a person is suffering, their heart must not lose its shine. The sun rises every day. Even on cloudy days, in winter or summer, the sun rises again and again every day. That is the law of the universe. It is reason. Life is something that you have to live every day. Those who can endure that repetition will win. No matter what it is now, the battle of life is decided in your lifetime. So, you have to move forward even in the midst of suffering. It's about not losing. It's about becoming stronger. You are the "sun." You are the "sun." First, you must decide that. As long as you are the sun, no matter what worries you may have now, "morning" will come. "Clear skies" will come. "Spring" will come. ---------------------------------------------------- ◆Youth DialoguesIkeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.1 "Don't give up on yourself" • "Don't give up on yourself" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.1 ~ Soka Gakkai Official Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.2 "Everyone has a jewel inside" • "Everyone has a jewel inside" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.2 ~ Soka Gakkai Official Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.3 "Getting a job is the first step to discovering who you are" • "Getting a job is the first step to discovering who you are" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.3 ~ Soka Gakkai Official Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.4 "You are the sunshine of the family" • "You are the sunshine of the family" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Youth Dialogues Vol.4 ~ Soka Gakkai Official ◆Dialogues of HopeIkeda Sensei's Hope Dialogues Vol.1 "There is no weakness that cannot be an advantage" • "There is no weakness that cannot be an advantage" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Hope Dialogues Vol.1 ~ Soka Gakkai Official Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.2 "A person who takes a step forward even though he is trembling is a "courageous person"" • "A person who takes a step forward even though he is trembling is a "courageous person" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope... Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.3 "It's okay if you only last three days, just take a step" • "It's okay if you only last three days, just take a step" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.3 ~ ... Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.4 "How do you make friends?" • "How do you make friends?" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.4 ~ Soka Gakkai Official Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.5 "Once you have made up your mind, you are half way there" • "Once you have made up your mind, you are half way there" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.5 ~... Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.6 "The world of books is the "second universe"" • "The world of books is the "second universe"" ~ Ikeda Sensei's Dialogues of Hope Vol.6 ~ Soka Gakkai Official ---------------------------------------------------- ■Soka Gakkai official website https://www.sokagakkai.jp/ ■SOKAnet member support https