Struggle of Life is Struggle Against Own Weaknesses

SSA Times
16 Jul 2008
Adaptation from SGI President Ikeda's speech at the graduation ceremony for Soka Junior and Senior High Schools on March 16 1995)

The Steep Slope, a book by Russian author, Aljbert A Likhanov, tells a srtory of a young boy living in Russia at the height of WWII. There is a memorable scene when the young boy's father, a soldier came home on a 3-day leave, afyer which he would return to the batterfield. The day before departure, he takes his son skiing. They ended at a steep slope, which the young boy has never been able to conquer.

"Can you ski down that slope? Go ahead and give it a try!" urged the father to his son. But no matter how many times the boy tried, he falls miserably. The father offered no consolation, but instead speaks to his son as if he was uttering his last words, "You'll be able to do it!" You just have to conquer the sense that you can't succeed... Believe that you're strong! That's the important thing!"

Everyone has his or her own "steep slope" to conquer. The most fearful thing is one's own cowardice, as well as the weaknesses of character to always worry about failure and how others view us. The struggle of life is and will always be a struggle against one's own weaknesses.

Will you become weak and think,"I can't do this. I'm certain to fail?"

Or will you challenge the difficulties that lie ahead with the conviction, "I'm strong and I can become stronger still?"

Your destiny in life will vary greatly depending on the spirit that you maintain.