In so doing, they discover a way of living that redirects all things toward hope, value and harmony.

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to make you happy.

It’s not what we do for a living but how we do it and whether we feel useful and find meaning in our work that make the difference.

Nichiren taught that sufferings arise from “looking outside of oneself” for the cause or the solution to problems. The fact that it is you who are suffering means it is your problem to solve, not someone else’s.

Civilization advanced because of the instincts and desires of men and women. The pursuit of wealth produced economic growth. The will to defy winter cold led to the development of natural science. Love, which is a basic human desire, inspired literature. Not only can we fulfill our desires as we change ourselves from within, but also the desires

time. In fact, I think that’s what great mentors do; they excite within you a capacity to look at something in a new way, a way that resonates particularly within you.

There’s no way out of this mess, except to become enlightened and then enjoy it. —Robert Thurman

No matter what a person may be exhibiting at any given moment, it is only one part of a whole human being; each person contains the seed of enlightenment within and therefore deserves respect.

Buddha is you. That is, each and every human being contains the inherent capacity to be a Buddha, an ancient Indian word meaning “enlightened one,’’ or one who is awakened to the eternal and unchanging truth of life.