HARMONY - April 2013

We practice Nichiren Buddhism to change our lives for the better and to become happy. We will quite naturally encounter difficulties along the way. It’s not always easy to be happy and keep a positive outlook, but we try. When we encounter obstacles and difficulties in spite of a strong and steady Buddhist practice, we must not become discouraged. Rather than lamenting over our predicament, we need to deepen our understanding of Buddhism, re-adjust our thinking, and focus our prayers on appreciation to get us back on track. In other words, we need to reboot our faith. In this month’s issue of Harmony, we examine the ways to refresh and reboot our faith so we can develop a winning Buddhist practice.

The Daishonin writes: “A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” (WND1, p.4).

When we hit a deadlock, when we give in to doubt, when we feel we are unable to win… that’s the time that we should summon great courage and realize that we have the Buddha nature, we have the ability to win. It is up to us to make it so.

Self-pity, regrets, and complaints are manifestations of our fundamental darkness and a low life-condition. Succumbing to this inner negativity can only lead to stagnation in faith. With this weak mindset, we will go nowhere. Rebooting gives us a fresh perspective on our practice so we can become victorious.
Quote of the Month
Faith is another name for demonstrating unparalleled courage, the courage to persevere. Faith is reflected in the ability to take action in the face of obstacles. Courage is the ability to take action in the face of our fears. We all have obstacles and fears, so it follows that we also have the ability to demonstrate faith and courage by taking action.

In Buddhism, we learn that everything is interconnected. So, if we want to change the situation, we have to change ourselves first.
 
Happiness is not found in the absence of problems, although when in the midst of major challenges we may imagine that a problem-free life will bring happiness. The reality is that we all have to face many problems in our daily life, and the secret to happiness is found in facing the situation courageously. Rather than just cope with it, we must challenge ourselves to overcome the problem and move forward step by step. We can then find the strength to win and create an outcome that is best for us and for everyone concerned.

To effectively reboot our faith at crucial times, we need to have an in-depth understanding of this Buddhism and our life. This comprehension develops and deepens through study. Reading the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the guidance’s of President Ikeda is key to developing a better understanding of this Buddhism and our life.
Quote of the month

“The Gohonzon is neither outside of us, nor in some specific place. It is found within faith. Without faith, we cannot bring forth the life state of Buddhahood. The Gohonzon exists in the lives of all who believe in the Mystic Law, chant daimoku, and work for kosen-rufu; it encompasses all of the treasures of the universe.” (Guidance Today Volume 5, p.294)