Happy Parents, Happy Kids: Parenting Advice for the Twenty-First Century
()
About this ebook
Read more from Daisaku Ikeda
The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 1: A Discussion Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Human Revolution, vol. 30 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hope Is a Decision: Selected Essays Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime: Commentaries on the Writings of Nichiren Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth & Death: . . . And Everything in Between, A Buddhist View Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Heart of the Lotus Sutra: Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5New Human Revolution, vol. 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReaching Beyond: Improvisations on Jazz, Buddhism, and a Joyful Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Opening of the Eyes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Stage of Life: Aging in Contemporary Society Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Discussions on Youth: For the Leaders of the Future Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life: Commentaries on the Writings of Nichiren Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Dear Friends in America: Collected US Addresses 1990–96, Fourth Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Flower of Chinese Buddhism Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking the Impossible Possible: The Six Historic Campaigns That Laid the Foundation for Kosen-rufu Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Human Revolution, vol. 24 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 2, Revised Edition: Selections From the Works of Daisaku Ikeda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Living Buddha: An Interpretive Biography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Buddhism: The First Millennium Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Way of Youth: Buddhist Common Sense for Handling Life's Questions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Human Revolution, vol. 26 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shine Like the Morning Sun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Teachings for Victory, vol. 4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Human Revolution, vol. 23 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe World of Nichiren's Writings, vol. 1: A Discussion of Humanism Religion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYou Were Born to Win: Advice to Youth on Living With Purpose and Creating an Undefeatable Self Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The New Human Revolution, vol. 3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to Happy Parents, Happy Kids
Related ebooks
You Were Born to Win: Advice to Youth on Living With Purpose and Creating an Undefeatable Self Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shine Like the Morning Sun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Third Stage of Life: Aging in Contemporary Society Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Human Revolution, vol. 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOn Health and Long Life: A Conversation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gohonzon – a Practitioner’S Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiscussions on Youth: For the Leaders of the Future Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Victorious Teen: Buddhist Advice for Dealing With What Life Throws at You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMakiguchi and Gandhi: Their Education Relevance for the 21st Century Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeachings for Victory, vol. 5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Human Revolution, vol. 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe World of Nichiren's Writings, vol. 1: A Discussion of Humanism Religion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking the Impossible Possible: The Six Historic Campaigns That Laid the Foundation for Kosen-rufu Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Incredible World of Nichiren Buddhism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Champions of Hope: To My Youthful Successors Around the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Buddha in Your Mirror: Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Teachings for Victory, vol. 4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsToward a Century of Health Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Teachings for Victory, vol. 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Teachings for Victory, vol. 6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeachings for Victory, vol. 1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Human Revolution, vol. 19 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRainbow of Hope: Great Figures of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Human Revolution, vol. 11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA New Way Forward: US University Lectures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Light of Learning: Selected Writings on Education Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Human Revolution, vol. 17 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The New Human Revolution, Vol. 7 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Buddhism For You
The Tibetan Book of the Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Art of Communicating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wisdom of the Buddha: The Unabridged Dhammapada Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buddhism for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buddhism 101: From Karma to the Four Noble Truths, Your Guide to Understanding the Principles of Buddhism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Approaching the Buddhist Path Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book of Wisdom: The Heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Commentaries on Atisha's Seven Points of Mind Training Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dhammapada Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Zen of Recovery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/530-Day Meditation Challenge: Exercises, Resources, and Journaling Prompts for a Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What the Buddha Taught Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Zen Monkey and The Blue Lotus Flower: 27 Stories That Will Teach You The Most Powerful Life Lessons Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIn My Own Way: An Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Occult Anatomy of Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for Happy Parents, Happy Kids
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Happy Parents, Happy Kids - Daisaku Ikeda
Part I
Family and Parenting
Children Are the Treasures of the Future
Children are precious treasures of the future. All children have the right to become happy. No child is without a mission. Parents are exerting themselves every day to raise their children, and their work is truly praiseworthy. I offer them my utmost support. The twenty-first century must be an era in which all parents and children can walk the great path to happiness.
Children are messengers from the future. We have no choice but to entrust our world to them. I trust children. I believe in their ability to grow and develop. Every child possesses a unique and important mission. For this reason, I treat children with respect, and I give my all in doing so. If we are insincere with children or try to manipulate them, we will regret it later. So whenever I meet with children, I try to create happy memories for them.
All children are treasures, full of precious potential. Every child embodies hope. Life itself brims with hope. Should children’s hopes be stifled or broken, wouldn’t that be the fault of adults? It pains my heart to see this happening in today’s society. I do not want to see children’s eyes clouded with fear or tears of sadness. Society must be transformed. Children are mirrors that reflect adult society, and when adults are ailing and their vision clouded, children will also suffer. Let us wipe away the tears of sorrow from the face of each child! We must protect children and give them courage, strength, and vitality. Children are the hope of humanity, and it is parents who nurture them. How noble and great a mission and responsibility parents have!
I wish to make the twenty-first century resound with the laughter of mothers and children. I wish to build a society where children, as the hope of humanity, may grow to be healthy and upright. I wish to protect and encourage all mothers and children, and I will do everything I can for their sake. To protect mothers and children is to protect life itself; it is to nurture peace and protect the future. This is the basis of all, and to this end, I am now exerting my utmost.
The Importance of Home and Parenting
Neither politics nor the economy determines the happiness of humanity or the future of society—education does. Education is the foundation of all. Education is a supreme, sacred enterprise, and parenting its cornerstone.
The Lotus Sutra relates the story of the dragon king’s daughter, or dragon girl, who attained Buddhahood at only eight years of age. Nichiren says, As for the dragon girl, her father is a dragon, and she is his eight-year-old daughter. The two words ‘dragon girl’ imply that both father and daughter attain Buddhahood at the same time
(OTT, 106). This teaching has profound meaning. Applied to parenting, it signifies that the parents’ efforts to nurture their child’s zest for life will in turn spark something in the lives of the parents. It will serve as a positive influence for them as well, enabling both parents and children to enjoy lives of the greatest fulfillment.
The times seem to be moving in a negative direction. Me first
is becoming the prevailing trend, the general mood of society. Education is the only means to change this trend. And I believe education at home is crucial. The Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi said that home is the place for moral education. There are many places to acquire knowledge and skills but few where one can learn how to lead a life of humanity. Home, in my opinion, should be the foremost positive influence, or good friend,
for children to refine their humanity.
Never forgetting the debt of gratitude we owe to those who nurtured us, we must act for the sake of our children and future generations. This is the greatest way to repay our debt of gratitude. Those who remember the gratitude they owe others are beautiful. To know and repay one’s debts of gratitude is the way of humanity. Those who do so will live rich lives. On the other hand, those who forget their debts of gratitude are arrogant and will end up leading a lonely and miserable existence.
Parents’ Love and Sincerity
There is no such thing as a perfect parent. Possessing both flaws and strengths is part of being human and makes children feel more at ease. It is said that children are more comfortable talking with parents who can admit and talk about their failures than with parents who brag. It is important to make efforts to become a wise parent. But just trying to fit the image of a good parent
will make your child suffer. Be true to yourself.
I try as much as possible to understand the hard work of mothers. I appreciate them and join my palms together in reverence for their efforts. Amid their extremely busy lives at work and at home, they still strive for kosen-rufu. Mothers are the sunlight that illuminates their homes and communities; they are the most praiseworthy people in the world. Children are intently watching their parents’ earnest efforts. When our children ask us: Which is more important, me or your work? Me or your Buddhist activities?
we must reply to them clearly, You are the most important.
Then we must clearly and confidently explain to our children the reasons we work or engage in Buddhist activities and to what purpose we dedicate our lives for the sake of others. We must not take for granted our children’s understanding and support in this regard. Nor must we use our busy schedules as an excuse not to explain to our children about what we do. We must express our love for our children concretely. If not, even though children may intellectually understand their mothers’ circumstances, they will feel unsatisfied.
When I interact with youth who are dynamically active in the garden of kosen-rufu, I often sense the wonderful character of their mothers. You do not need to put on airs. You can make mistakes. The greatest treasure a mother can bequeath to her children is her way of life, in which she advances cheerfully and with conviction on the great path of hope.
The love parents shower on young children will become sustenance for their whole lives. It’s fine just to be simple and honest. You may at times make mistakes, become overwhelmed, or lose your temper. What is most important, however, is to always make wholehearted effort. Children grow up watching their parents. It is not the parents’ words that children hear. No matter what wonderful things parents may say, if their words are not accompanied by action, children will never listen. Children’s lives will be determined by how parents live. The parents’ love and way of life will, like magma beneath the earth’s crust, form the innermost core of children’s hearts and become a source of energy to support the rest of their lives.
The more children we have, the more challenges we face interacting with each of them. In this regard, it is important to change our usual thinking. For example, if we have four children, instead of thinking we need to divide our affection into four parts, we might instead resolve to multiply it