Daisaku Ikeda was a Japanese Buddhist leader, author and nuclear disarmament advocate. His quotes make one reflect and understand the Yogic path.

Even if things don’t unfold the way you expected, don’t be disheartened or give up. One who continues to advance will win in the end. It is impossible to build one’s own happiness on the unhappiness of others.

Life is painful. It has thorns, like the stem of a rose. Culture and art are the roses that bloom on the stem. The flower is yourself and your humanity. Art is the liberation of the humanity inside yourself.

It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections.

Dear ones, take a moment and read what he says. How true that one cannot build on the unhappiness of others. Yet, let us admit to ourselves, do we not gloat at someone’s failure. It is a painful truth, and self-reflection is the way to change ourselves. Self-reflection means an examination of one’s thoughts, feelings and emotions in a nonjudgmental way.

Swadhyaya is the next step, and it means a deep understanding of one’s inner world. This leads to liberation as one awakens the humanity within. Criticism of others is not the route. One has to approach others with compassion and to be aware that mistakes are made by all of us.

Aim Hrim Klim