Springing from the Earth - Daisaku Ikeda

Traveler, 

From whence do you come? 

And where do you go?

The moon has set,

But the sun has not yet risen.

In the chaos of darkness before the dawn

Seeking the light,

I advance

To dispel the dark clouds from my mind

To find a great tree unbowed by the tempest

I emerge from the Earth.

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Daisaku Ikeda is a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet. He is the third president of the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist organization and the founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which is today one of the world's largest and most diverse lay Buddhist organizations, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement for peace.