My progress, through my Practice, has been pretty steady and positive for quite a while now.
So imagine my surprise when I seemed to take a step backwards today. Nothing terminal, of course, and maybe it was long overdue and rather understandable.
Naturally, it’s tempting to only blog my successes, the good things, and paint a rosy picture. But that wouldn’t be a true reflection of my path.
I’m not going to go into details, those who need to know, already know, but I am going to use this challenge to strengthen my resolve, so more poison into medicine and proof that my faith is strong.
When you devote yourself to achieving your goals, you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. 
When life gets a little messy, I tend to go for familiar things from life, things that help me feel more comfortable. While working from home today, I took the opportunity to listen to some classic, and very familiar music, the Genesis album, And Then There Were Three, released in 1978.
It’s amazing how we and the rest of the Universe are so closely connected. Sitting at home, still working, but being allowed to ‘take stock’ of my current predicament, I’m running dozens of ‘what if’ scenarios through my head.
Well, what a strange sort of day. Last week, I received a letter warning that my role within the company was in danger of being made redundant, not the best news. Along with the legalese and waffle about changes to make the company more efficient, there was an invitation to meet and discuss the situation, when I would be able to put my point of view and highlight any details the company might have missed about my role.
Another trip to Dr Paine tonight involved more soul searching than medical examination. The long battle against the dreaded cough seems to have been won, I haven’t had a coughing fit in more than a week now, but the wheezing that appeared, after the hack had gone, has come back with a vengeance in the last few days.
With the economy failing to show any signs of improvement, there is the ever present possibility of changes in our circumstances. Companies are constantly looking to cut costs, increase profits for their shareholders, and staff are often the unwitting victims of such changes. The result of all this may cause us to feel like we are heading for a personal crisis.
Life is a constant stream of changes, some small, others not so small. The manner in which we deal with these changes determines whether we are content with the final outcome, and Nichiren Buddhism is there to help ensure that all goes well.
There was once an old lady who cried all the time. Her elder daughter was married to an umbrella merchant while the younger daughter was the wife of a noodle vendor. On sunny days, she worried, “Oh no! The weather is so nice and sunny. No one is going to buy any umbrellas. What will happen if the shop has to be closed?” These worries made her sad. She just could not help but cry.
When you are waiting for something, an answer, a decision, an outcome, it can be almost like the world is holding its breath.
The Search For Enlightenment 
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