Top 30 Quotes & Sayings by Nichiren

Explore popular quotes and sayings by Nichiren.
Last updated on April 15, 2025.
Nichiren

Nichiren was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period.

February 16, 1222 - October 13, 1282
The treasures of the heart are most valuable of all.
Never let life's hardships disturb you. No one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.
It is the heart that is important. — © Nichiren
It is the heart that is important.
If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way
Buddhism is reason. Reason will win over your lord.
If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one's own way.
More valuable than treasures in a storehouse are the treasures of the body. The most valuable of all are the treasures of the heart.
Life is the most precious of all treasures. Even one extra day of life is worth more than ten million ryo of gold.
Do not go about complaining how hard it is to live in this world. such behavior is entirely unworthy of a real man.
Could there ever be a more wonderful story than your own?
Life in this world is limited. Never be in the least bit afraid!
Winter always turns into Spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone heard or seen of winter turning back to autumn.
The Vimalakirti Sutra states that, when one seeks the Buddhas' emancipation in the minds of ordinary beings, one finds that ordinary beings are the entities of enlightenment, and that the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana. It also states that, if the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds.
By an increase in anger, warfare arises. By an increase of greed, famine arises. By an increase of stupidity, pestilence arises. Because these three calamities occur, the people's earthly desires grow all the more intense, and their false views thrive and multiply.
Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity,decline,disgrace,honor,praise,censure,suffering, and pleasure.They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline. The heavenly gods will surely protect one who is unbending before the eight winds.
Suffer what there is to suffer. Enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life.
That which you give to another will become your own sustenance; if you light a lamp for another, your own way will be lit.
Flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have intrinsic value. We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts.
Faith Alone is what really matters.
We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance.
Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law?
If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquility throughout the four quarters of the land.
One should become the master of one's mind rather than let one's mind master him. — © Nichiren
One should become the master of one's mind rather than let one's mind master him.
A person of wisdom is not one who practices Buddhism apart from worldly affairs but, rather, one who thoroughly understands the principles by which the world is governed.
A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Summoning up the courage to take action is always the same regardless of how seemingly big or small the challenge. What may look like a small act of courage is courage nonetheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward.
A coward cannot have any prayer answered.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the greatest joy for all humankind.
When a tree has been transplanted, though fierce winds may blow, it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it up. But even a tree that has grown up in place may fall over if its roots are weak.
Whether one has wealth or not, no treasure exceeds the one called life.
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