Answer: With respect to the quote "Buddhism is about victory or defeat", Toda Sensei mentioned "the success of life is about winning ourselves." Ikeda Sensei also stated that “Life is a challenge with hardship, and there lies the true meaning of human revolution. Life is a self-challenge afterall, if we were to have the thoughts of giving up on our dreams once we felt challenged, then we would be the loser who had lost to ourselves. On the contrary, if we were to have the endurance to cope with hard times even at the most abominable situation, then we are of the true victors who have won ourselves. By merely so, we would posses value and meanings to live an unregretful life. Thus, the practice of belief is to prevail through our weakness, the ugly side of our own towards self victory, that will be the fundament in bridging victory.

There was a news stating that "There is nothing more important than 'endurance' when it comes to sports training or practice. This is because a 'relentless practice' is the key commitment of every athletes. Regardless of the types of sports, daily practice is still vital. This is why sport is about the 'victory or defeat of our willpower'."

In order to build up our strength, we need to carry out repetitive practice although it may seems hard. Or else, there is no shortcut in achieving the aim. However, a continuous practice requires a strong determination. Without a strong determination, we could fail at the middle of our way. Hence, it is still regarding the 'victory or defeat of our willpower'.


An international wrestler once said "After I woke up at 6, I'd take 10 kilometres of jogs as an exercise to start my day. Waking up early isn’t an easy task, albeit it may be tiring, but still I have to overcome that at any cost. This is because I would not be able to unleash the true willpower to win if I couldn't even endure such a little hardship." Literally, he pointed out that we have to overcome ourselves in order to be a great athlete.

Any talented person would fail to do their best if they did not be strict to themselves to carry out the continuous practice.

Furthermore, an educator once said "A victory over ourselves in the spirit of self competition is rather crucial than surpassing others. 'Self competition' is a confidence that takes place when we achieved an aim we set through out relentless effort." Then, he added on "Actually, most weak students are not weak at all. They are weak because they gave up in themselves without giving any effort to try and overcome their weakness. This is attitude of giving up is the 'reason of failure'.

Ikeda Sensei once gave a guidance that says "Enduring hardship at youth times will bring glorious victory to life. Thus, we shall not evade from the hardships during youth times. Whether or not we would achieve the 'stability' in the very end of our life, it all depends on the 'training of hardship' during our youth." Hence, fundaments of victory is the training and endurance through hardship. Those who never be strict to themselves will bond to have the fate of failing.

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