Distraction

03 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Lotus SutraBeing a Nichiren Buddhist is a full time thing, and today I have been distracted from my Practice.

The distraction was caused by the very welcome return of my partner, so I think I can be forgiven. We had a wonderful time catching up on missed Christmas and New Year celebrations, but I feel a little guilty at missing morning Practice, so I have given it 200% this evening to make amends.

Now I’m not going to beat myself up over, what is after all, a minor lapse. But it does serve to remind me to keep my Practice and Belief as my Honzon, it’s all too easy to be distracted.

World Cup Woes

02 Dec 2010 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Three LionsSo many English football fans will have been plunged into a World of Hell this afternoon. The story was so important that it made the lead on the BBC’s Ten O’clock News.

The disclosure the Russia will host the 2018 World Cup has been a huge disappointment to those involved with the bid and those who have never seen a World Cup on English soil.

The word was that England had a fair chance of winning, something that may have become an obsession, a dream, and possibly a Honzon.

Basing your happiness on an outcome, over which you have little or no control, is like building your house on shifting sand. A recipe for disaster you might say.

I am old enough, just, to remember the last World Cup we hosted. In fact I watched England triumph over Germany whilst at Cub camp, and I shall never forget it.

But at a the time of financial crisis, there must be more important issues to deal with. The protection of the old, the sick and needy surely has to come first. With the onset of huge cutbacks in public spending, they are on the front line even more than ever.

I would like to congratulate Russia and Qatar on winning the chance to host their first World Cup, I’m sure they will embrace the opportunity and turn the biggest sporting event in the world into a brilliant spectacle.

For us, the English football fans, it is a shame, but we have to take a deep breath and get on with life whilst realigning our priorities.

Wisdom, Courage and Compassion

15 Oct 2010 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

My chanting is helping me improve all three, but as we all know, this is a long journey.

Last night, my courage was high and I was feeling confident and powerful.

During a chat with my partner I fell into the trap of using too much courage and too little wisdom and compassion, which caused us both some pain.

So I chanted about the situation and realised my mistake and made amends as well as make a solemn vow to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Wisdom, Courage and Compassion are all important, but they must be in balance, one with the others.

So, like many things in life, just when you think you have something nailed, reality comes up and bites you. The great thing is, that although I still make mistakes, I have more control and a different view on things.

More Proof Of Progress

13 Oct 2010 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

You know the situation. You are looking forward to some special event, something that you have waited for, for a long, long time.

As the event has come closer, you may have (foolishly) built it up in your mind’s eye and made it even more important than it was in the first place.

Then the reality of things comes into sharp focus, it’s not quite what you had planned and certainly not what you had built it up to be.

Time was, when I would have gone into a tail-spin and ended up in the Hell of all life-states. But not this time.

‘Oh? And why not?’ you ask.

Because I have changed my Honzon, my focus of devotion and adoration, to my practice, to Nichiren Buddhism and the goal of my eventual Buddhahood.

At first it might seem to be selfish, or shallow to make such a change, as my Honzon was, until fairly recently, my girlfriend, partner and the love of my life. Trouble was, with that scenario, I was dependent on her for my happiness. Not good for me, but even worse from her perspective. What a responsibility! It meant that if she was unhappy, I was unhappy. If she was angry about something, I was unhappy. If we had words about something, I was unhappy … etc. etc.

Not only did it have the potential to split us apart, worse still, I was in the wrong life-state to be able to help in even the smallest way, so a downward spiral was always on the cards. Now, I can see situations from a different view-point, more clearly and objectively, without fear of losing my Honzon. Now I can chant for answers, and although they don’t always appear immediately, they do appear.

But don’t get me wrong for even one second. I love her as much, if not more than I did before the change. It’s just that now I can be a help instead of a hindrance in times of trouble and support her in a ways I could never have dreamed of before.

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