The story of my path to Buddhahood through the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
11 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Determination, Human Revolution, Responsibility, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
It all comes down to you. I hope you will not rely on others, or wait for them to do something.
Try to develop such a strong sense of responsibility that you can stand up to the fiercest opposition and come out of the other side, confident in your ability to win.
Please confront reality, look it squarely in the face, and with wisdom, courage and compassion, challenge everything that lies ahead of you.
31 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution, Practice, Respect
It’s been a weekend filled with interaction, just simple conversations with a number of people I never met before, just because they, and I, were in the right place at the right time.
Like Clive the retired SAP guru, now caring for his disabled wife, who I met while out delivering a letter that had come to my address by mistake. Or the chap from Stafford, who transports potatoes from France to the UK and who was interested in the new Twin Sails Bridge being built in Poole, while we waited for the old bridge to close. Even the couple who were walking their daughters dog in Hamworthy Park and wanted to chat about everything from being Polish immigrants 50 years ago, to how much they loved being grandparents and having time to enjoy them now they were retired.
When we interact with others with true sincerity, the other person will, more often than not, come to respect and value our own character. And this is all the more so when our actions are based on prayer.
Conversely, holding others in contempt only leads to being held in contempt ourselves. One whose life is tainted by feelings of hate towards others will come to be reviled by those they detest.
Let us open the path to mutual respect and harmonious coexistence, so as to bring an end to the vicious circle that has long been part of human destiny. This surely is a major part of our Human Revolution.
I thoroughly enjoyed my impromptu conversations, accepting these people at face value. Interactions are the spice that gives our lives flavour, so take time to talk to a stranger soon.
12 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Trust
I heard a rather profound saying tonight, ‘Don’t lie to those who trust you, and don’t trust those who lie to you’. A pretty good piece of advice in my opinion.
So do you trust your own heart? Can you be sure that, at any time of the day or night, you won’t have some damaging thought, say some hurtful thing, or do something you later regret?
As we tread our own path towards Human Revolution we often find that the things we have hiding away in our subconscious suddenly leap out and try to trip us, or make us deviate from our chosen route.
Do not be alarmed, we are all human, we are all flawed and make mistakes. When these things happen, we must be strong, we must absorb the lessons in order that we are stronger next time, and the time after, and the time after that.
Our path is difficult and long, it will not be without setbacks and mistakes, but while we continue to learn we will only get stronger and grow ever nearer our goal.
Be strong, become wiser and chant with all your heart, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
10 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddha Nature, Gohonzon, Human Revolution, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nichiren Daishonin
There is no such thing as coincidence in Buddhism. I would therefore like to thank Jayne for putting this right under my nose, amongst a number of other good lessons, whether it was intentional or not …
Nichiren writes: “Myoho-renge-kyo is the Buddha nature of all living beings…. The Buddha nature that all these beings possess is called by the name Myoho-renge-kyo” (wnd, 131). Regarding how to manifest one’s innate Buddha nature, Nichiren explains: “When we revere Myoho-renge-kyo inherent in our own life as the object of devotion, the Buddha nature within us is summoned forth and manifested by our chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what is meant by ‘Buddha.’ To illustrate, when a caged bird sings, birds who are flying in the sky are thereby summoned and gather around, and when the birds flying in the sky gather around, the bird in the cage strives to get out. When with our mouths we chant the Mystic Law, our Buddha nature, being summoned, will invariably emerge” (wnd, 887).
In Nichiren’s metaphor, our innate Buddha nature, whose name is Nam myoho renge kyo, is a bird trapped in the cage of ignorance. In other words, our deluded minds create this cage that imprisons our Buddha nature. But when we chant Nam myoho renge kyo to the Gohonzon, which expresses Nichiren’s enlightened life and the potential of all people, our dormant Buddha nature becomes activated.
The singing of the caged bird is our chanting, and the birds flying in the sky are the Buddha nature in our environment, particularly as it is expressed in the Gohonzon. Through our chanting, the Buddha nature within our lives and the Buddha nature inherent in the universe begin their dynamic interaction.
For Nichiren’s metaphor to work, however, it is necessary for the caged bird to recognize the birds in the sky as being its own kind. In other words, when we pray to the Gohonzon, rather than thinking of it as an external power or deity, we must think of it as the mirror image of our own Buddha nature. If the caged bird thinks of itself as an elephant, it is unlikely to give the slightest thought to flying.
Nichiren Buddhism clarifies that the teaching of the Buddha nature is a teaching of faith and practice. All people have it, but not many can believe in it. Furthermore, some of those who believe in their Buddha nature may not practice to manifest it, erroneously thinking-I’m already a Buddha, so I don’t have to do anything. One’s faith in the Buddha nature must be expressed in one’s actions to manifest it.
Those who see the universal Buddha nature of oneself and others, and work to awaken it in all people are already Buddhas, for such actions belong to none other than a Buddha. As we cultivate our inherent Buddha nature through our conviction and actions to manifest it no matter our circumstances, we begin to see it and experience it. In our everyday lives, seeing may be believing. But in the world of Buddhism, believing in the Buddha nature is the first step toward seeing it.
(from Living Buddhism – February 2005)
06 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution, Learning
Reading is a dialogue with ourselves, it is self-reflection, which cultivates profound humanity. Reading is essential to our self development. It expands and enriches the personality like a seed that germinates after a long time and sends forth a multitude of blossom-laden branches.
People who can say of a book ‘this changed my life’ truly understand the meaning of inner happiness. Reading that sparks inner revolution is urgently needed to help us escape drowning in the rapidly advancing information society.
Reading is far more than simple intellectual ornamentation, it is a battle for the establishment and preservation of the self, a ceaseless challenge that keeps us young and vigorous.
20 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Daimoku, Gongyo, Happiness, Human Revolution, Practice
In today’s world where global issues are so important, many people feel a sense of powerlessness and resignation; a feeling that no individual’s efforts can change the way things are. But the Buddhist viewpoint is that the world should be seen from the perspective of the individual, and that the human life contains the entire universe. That is why changing our own lives one by one will bring a change in our family, our community, and the society in which we live. It will change the age we live in, our history, and indeed all aspects of our world.
If we look for the true causes of war, we see that it is essentially caused by the human mind. War stems from the desire to control and conquer others, to have power, and from hatred and antipathy. Such is a human being in the grip of the negative force of life. World peace starts with the inner transformation of the individual, and the struggle to elevate our state of life, and free ourselves from the domination of the negative force of life.
A single sunflower contains the seeds for more than a thousand new plants. Similarly, when one brave person stands up for peace, his or her resolve spreads out into the environment in thousands of ways. Courage always brings a response. One person’s human revolution can therefore eventually change the destiny of the entire human race.
The Spirit of Human Revolution
In his writing On Attaining Buddhahood, Nichiren Daishonin conveys the basic spirit of human revolution: “You must never think that any of the eighty thousand sacred teachings of Shakyamuni’s lifetime or any of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions and three existences are outside yourself. Your practice of the Buddhist teachings will not relieve you of the sufferings of birth and death in the least unless you perceive the true nature of your own life.” [WND p3]
We could summarise the spirit of this teaching as being, “It’s not up to others; nor can I blame anyone else. I have to change myself first.” It is a viewpoint which says, everything in life is part of our own training; it is for our benefit and development. Human revolution takes place right now, in the situation we find ourselves at this moment.
World peace starts with this inner transformation of the individual. And yes it is a struggle to develop and elevate our state of life but human revolution is the foundation for world peace and also for individual peace and happiness. It is at the heart of our Buddhist practise. It is about changing our heart and drawing out our humanity.
It is the most amazing feeling as you discover that if the cause of your suffering is within the realms of your own life then you and only you can change that aspect of your life. This is the most freeing feeling. This is human revolution and the door to your Buddhahood.
Human revolution brings into play all the principles and processes that make up the Buddhist teachings of life. Learning to be able to live our lives on the basis of correct teachings is part of our human revolution. The process is a transformation of the heart.
When we commit our lives to chanting we embark on a journey of self-discovery and challenge. By taking responsibility for our feelings and emotions, especially those we most dislike, we come to realise we have the ability to transform our lives from within. As we broaden our experiences of chanting daimoku we get experiences of our environment reflecting the transformation of our inner lives. This could be in our family relationships, at work or in other aspects of life.
It is usually within one of these arenas that we find life can be difficult or cause us to suffer. As we continue chanting, the more we start to see our lives very differently. At first this process may seem a little uncomfortable because it is quite unique and new to us. We may or may not like what we see. Perhaps we realise we have set attitudes or opinions about others or various issues that make us suffer. It may seem that others have a problem with us. This can draw out all sorts of feelings and emotions that can make us uneasy, or uncomfortable.
Getting this kind of reaction does not mean that chanting is not working or that it is working in a negative way. On the contrary you are actually in the process of transforming exactly that which has always led you to suffer in that particular area of your life. Your chanting is illuminating an area of your life that needs to change for your own happiness. The realisation that this opinion or attitude stems from our own lives and not from others opinions of us, leads us to uncover the Buddha nature inherent in our lives. The quickest way to transform these feelings or attitude is to keep chanting until you realise the cause of these uncomfortable feelings.
However, it may be that is exactly when you find it the most difficult time to chant. You are on the brink of changing a part of your life that always stops you from progressing or being happy. It will probably feel like walking up a hill backwards. At such times obstacles and devils arise. You will probably be able to justify why it is more beneficial to watch TV than do gongyo or chant or tell a friend about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo or study some of Nichiren Daishonin`s writings. But this is exactly the time to do these things in order to break through and win over something that has always held you back. This is the time to muster a fighting spirit and to be courageous.
In his book Seven Paths to Peace, Daisaku Ikeda talks about human revolution in terms of self-mastery. Simply put, this means winning control over oneself, overcoming the small self that is dominated by narrow self-interest and awakening to the larger self that works for the good of all humanity. From this standpoint a major obstacle to developing ourselves is to pursue a way of life bound by our small ego or self. Expanding from the lesser self to the greater self is the path of human revolution.
Through our practice of introducing others to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, and through efforts to share Buddhism with others, we ourselves grow immensely, we can carry out our human revolution, and transform our karma. Therefore by guiding another individual towards happiness, we also guide ourselves towards happiness. The act of introducing others to Buddhism, which enables us to profoundly benefit both ourselves and others, is the formula of hope for humanity.
At a time when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood, or at a time when a person is at a turning point in doing their human revolution, the negative aspect of life will always appear in some form. This is an unavoidable fact of life! Nichiren Daishonin assures us of this and asks us to transmit it as an axiom or principle of faith so that it is understood by all those who practise.
Taken from the SGI-UK study notes, this encapsulates the meaning of Human Revolution. It beautifully explains the way that self discipline through practice makes us examine our own thoughts and deeds and promotes an inner change by increasing our self awareness.
Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (at least) twice a day, every day may seem a mindless practice, but it enables us to devote our whole lives to changing for the better.
15 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution
The years pass.
The times change.
All that survives and transcends this inevitable process, that shines brighter with each new era, is the record of a great human spirit that has endured the unendurable and remained true to the very end, to its deepest convictions.
12 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution, Ten Worlds
Nichiren spoke of earthly desires being used as fuel for the flame of Wisdom.
Buddhism teaches the converting of personal ambitions and desires, even base ones, into good traits like Wisdom, through altruistic living. A Buddhist doctrine that earthly desires are enlightenment, indicates that greed, anger through violence and egocentricity can be transformed into altruistic traits such as compassion, trust and nonviolence.
The underlying delusions that drive our desires, including the desire for the development of science and civilisations, can be essentially transformed in a way that changes selfishness into altruism, violence into nonviolence and suspicion into trust.
06 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Human Revolution, Oneness Of Self And The Environment
The Buddhist teaching of the Oneness of Life and it’s Environment tells us that humanity and The World are one.
That is why, if we wish to protect the environment, we must transform and purify the Three Poisons of Greed, Anger and Foolishness, that exist in every person’s life.
The principle of Human Revolution focuses on precisely this, inner transformation at the most fundamental level through our practice.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
24 May 2011 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Arab Spring, Daisaku Ikeda, Human Revolution
This is a marvellous quote from Daisaku Ikeda …
“A great resolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of an entire society and further, will cause a change in the destiny of humankind.”
The changes in the Middle East and the advent of the Arab Spring are showing that it can come true.
Just look how it all started …
The Search For Enlightenment 
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