RESIDENT IKEDA'S WORDS ON JOBS, CAREERS, AND

PERSONAL FINANCE

(Emphasis and headings added)

Beauty, benefit and good
Mr. Makiguchi taught that there are three kinds of value: beauty, benefit and good. In the working
world the value of beauty means to find a job you like; the value of benefit is to get a job that earns you a
salary that can support your daily life; the value of good means to find a job that helps others and
contributes to society. (Faith Into Action, page 45)
No more moaning
President Toda said that the most important thing is to first become indispensable wherever you are.
Instead of moaning that a job differs from what you'd like to be doing, he said, become a first-class
individual at the job. This will open the path leading to your next phase in life, during which you should
also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts are guaranteed to land you a job that you like, that
supports your life, and that allows you to contribute to society. (Faith Into Action, page 45.)
The Fundamental Cause of Unhappiness
Problems as we have seen, are not in themselves the fundamental cause of unhappiness. Lack of
power and wisdom to solve them is the real cause. Fortunately we all innately possess infinite power
and wisdom; and Buddhism shows us how to develop these qualities.
When in the depths of despair or grappling with a difficult problem, it may be hard to believe that our lives
possess unlimited potential. But this is the essence of one of the profoundest Buddhist teachings, known as
three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which we will explore in this chapter. (Unlocking the
Mysteries of Birth and Death, page 105.)
Success Means Not Giving Up
I hope each of you will realize success in your respective fields, fully recognizing that success means
not giving up halfway but resolutely pursuing the path you have chosen. To this end, it is also important
that you realize that the place where you work is a place for forging your character and growing as a
human being. By extension, therefore, it is a place for your Buddhist practice, a place for practicing your
faith. When you view things from this angle, all your complaints will disappear. No one is more pathetic
than someone who is constantly complaining. (For Today and Tomorrow, Daily Encouragement, at
page 283.)
Should you quit?
Once you have decided on a job, I hope you will not be the kind of people who quit at the drop of a
hat and are always insecure and complaining. Nevertheless, if after you've given it your all you decide to
move on, that's perfectly all right too. My concern is that you don't forget that you are responsible for your
environment when you make your decision. (Faith Into Action, page 46.)
Excel at something
There is a saying that urges us, "Excel at something!" It is important to become trusted by others
wherever you are and to shine with excellence. Sometimes people may dislike their job at first but grow to
love it once they become serious about doing their best. "What one likes, one will do well," goes
another saying. Growing to like your job will also enable you to develop your talent. (Faith Into Action, page
46.)
Wisdom vs. Ego
When working for a company--which is like a society or community all its own--it is important to create
harmonious relations with your colleagues and superiors, using wisdom and discretion along the way. If
you incur your co-workers' dislike by being selfish or egotistic, you will be a loser in work and
 society. Wisdom is vital to being successful at one's work. The Daishonin writes, "The wise may be called
human, but the thoughtless are no more than animals." (Faith Into Action, page 46.)
A Buddhist must not be defeated
Buddhism is an earnest struggle to win. This is what the Daishonin teaches. A Buddhist must not be
defeated. I hope you will maintain an alert and winning spirit in your work and daily life, taking courageous
action and showing triumphant actual proof time and time again. (Faith Into Action, page 3.)
What is actual proof?
When we speak of showing actual proof, it doesn't mean we have to try to put on a show of being any
more knowledgeable or accomplished than we are. It is my hope that, in the manner that best suits your
situation, you will prove the validity of this Buddhism by steadily improving in your daily life, your family,
place of work and community and by polishing your character. (Faith Into Action, page 4.)
Past failure, past small success
It's foolish to be obsessed with past failures. It's just as foolish to be self-satisfied with one's small
achievements. Buddhism teaches that the present and the future are what are important, not the past.
Buddhism teaches us a spirit of unceasing challenge to win over the present and advance toward the
future. Those who neglect this spirit of continual striving steer their lives in a ruinous direction. (Faith Into
Action, page 17.)
Chant to become people of strong will
Life is a struggle with ourselves. It is a tug-of-war between progress and regression, between happiness
and unhappiness. Those short on willpower or self-motivation should chant Daimoku with conviction
to become people of strong will who can tackle any problems with seriousness and
determination. (Faith Into Action, page 109.)
President Toda prohibits borrowing or lending money among members

Some members felt that it was the individual's right to loan money if he or she saw fit, but to this President
Toda said: "I have prohibited the borrowing and lending of money among members, because in the end it
will harm the member's faith and destroy the Soka Gakkai, an organization that stands for truth and justice.
A leader who has borrowed from members will no longer be able to offer them proper guidance, nor will
they be objective. Leadership appointments can also be influenced.

"On the other hand, if a member makes a loan to a leader or fellow member and that person doesn't repay
it, the member will begin to doubt his or her faith or the Soka Gakkai, will become resentful, and eventually
discard faith altogether. Whenever this has happened in the past, the outcome has been the same. I have
prohibited these transactions in order to protect the members. If in spite of this you still want to lend money
to another member, go right ahead, but don't expect the Soka Gakkai to have anything to do with it. If you
don't get your money back, don't complain. If you simply must lend money, do it as if you were giving it
away." (The New Human Revolution Volume 8, pages 236-37.)
Faith and deadlocks at work and in life
Over the long course of your life, you may at times find yourself in a deadlock at work, at school or in your
daily affairs. However, these are phenomena of daily life and society which lie on a different plane than
faith and are not themselves the essence of faith.Therefore, you must never allow yourself to be swayed
by such superficial matters and risk losing your faith entirely. (Daily Guidance, Volume Three, page 183.)
Worldly fame and wealth
Worldly fame and wealth which is not based on Myoho may appear to be sources of happiness for the
moment. However, such happiness is merely superficial and cannot last. Through your faith, however, you
can change transient, superficial happiness into actual happiness, and temporary enjoyment into
everlasting prosperity. Everything boils down to the strength of your faith and the power of your conviction.
(Daily Guidance, Volume Three, page 39.)
What is faith?
Everything is contained in a single word faith. It encompasses truth, courage, wisdom and good fortune. It
includes compassion and humanity as well as peace, culture, and happiness.

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 Faith is eternal hope; it is the secret to limitless self-development. Faith is the most basic principle of
growth. (Discussions On Youth, Volume 2, pages 163-164.)
Faith and Work
Faith and daily life, faith and workthese are not separate things. They are one and the same. To think of
them as separatefaith is faith, and work is workis theoretical faith. Based on the recognition that work and
faith are the same, we should put one hundred percent of our energy into our jobs and one hundred
percent into faith, too. When we resolve to do this, we enter the path of victory in life. Faith means to show
irrefutable proof of victory amid the realities of society and in our own daily lives. (For Today and Tomorrow,
Daily Encouragement, page175.)
Strength is Happiness.
Strength is itself victory. In weakness and cowardice there is not happiness. When you wage a struggle,
you might win or you might lose. But regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing
to struggle is proof of your victory as a human being. A strong spirit, strong faith and strong
prayerdeveloping these is victory and the world of Buddhahood. (For Today and Tomorrow, Daily
Encouragement, page 50.)

Ikeda sensei says that you must have impossible dreams and then the courage to challenge them so
that you can prove the power of the Mystic Law.

Ikeda senseis guidance daily. He says that be the best in whatever you do and you will soon be able
to create a new path.

PRESIDENT TODAS GUIDANCE:-

LIFE

1. "True greatness means that, even if you forget what you've done for others, you never forget what others
have done for you. It means always doing your utmost to repay debts of gratitude. Such people radiate
integrity, depth of character, bigheartedness and charm."

2. "You can either tell yourself, 'It's too hard, I don't think I'll be able to do it,' or 'Yes, I can do this. Let me
at it! Only a fine line separates the two. But I'll tell you one thing: if you work like crazy, you'll come to
display capabilities that you never knew you had--potentials that you always possessed, but never tapped."

3. "There are three standards for selecting a job: the three values of beauty, benefit and good. Everyone's
ideal is to get a job they like (beauty), that is materially rewarding (benefit), and where you can contribute
to society (good). The real world, however, is not as accommodating a place as you may think. Those who

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find a job that meets their ideal from the outset are doubtless few and far between. More often than not,
people have to work at a job they never expected to have to do.

"Without running away from a disagreeable job, you should continue to work hard while praying to
the Gohonzon. By continuing in this way, in the end you will definitely find yourself in a position that you
like, that is profitable, and, moreover, that creates great good for society.

"Not only that, when you later look back on this period of struggle, you will see that none of your hard work
was wasted, that your past efforts have all become precious assets. You will then understand that
everything you have been through had meaning."

MESSAGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE

1. "Today, there are many young people who don't even love their parents, so how can they love others?
Ours is a struggle of human revolution--a struggle to overcome our own lack of concern for others and
awaken the compassion of the Buddha."

2. "In life, the final victory is the true victory. The victories of youth are not the decisive ones. They are
nothing but training for that final, ultimate victory in life."

3. "'Too big' is just about the right size for young people's dreams. What we can achieve in a lifetime is
always but a fraction of what we would set out to achieve. So if you start out with expectations that are too
low, you'll end up not being able to accomplish anything at all."

4. "Youth, find time and the space in your heart to read and think seriously about things!"

5. "The basis of earning people's trust is to always keep your promises. If you keep promises, no matter
what you may sacrifice, you will definitely gain trust. This is the crucial social skill for young people. If you
cannot do something, you should clearly say so. But if you say you will do something, you must follow
through. This is the basis of gaining trust. And it is something you can do without spending money."