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.
30 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Know Thyself, Learning, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
The path to enlightenment involves a lot of learning, much of it about yourself.
Wisdom is rooted in the souls of human beings. The way to acquire it is to follow the simple advice of Socrates – ‘Know Thyself’.
This is the starting point for the establishment of a sense of human dignity, preventing the degradation of human beings into anonymous, interchangeable cogs in a machine.
The essence of true knowledge is self knowledge.
28 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Eternal Life, Karma, Reincarnation, Responsibility, Torchwood, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
I’ve been watching the new series of Torchwood, Miracle Day in which the human race suddenly becomes immortal, receiving the ‘gift’ of eternal life. Now, of course this is only the latest outpouring from the fertile mind of Russell T Davies, but it does give us food for thought from a Buddhist perspective.
For millennia, Buddhists have believed in reincarnation, a form of eternal life albeit from the viewpoint of our karma. We believe that every thought, word and deed, from each lifetime, creates causes for the effects we may experience in this lifetime.
Eternal life is a pretty scary thought, growing ever older, our bodies and minds slowly deteriorating, but without the prospect of the release of death. It would be the same as having a day that goes on and on, without a night, or the chance to refresh our bodies and minds with sleep.
Death in Buddhism is the equivalent of that refreshing sleep, except that instead of being between days, it is between lifetimes. Not that Buddhists look forward to death, they simply accept it as a part of the Wheel of Life, and necessary in the process of reincarnation.
There is a sobering thought however. As karma follows us from one lifetime to the next, creating effects as we go through our lives, it leaves us with the realisation that we have an eternal responsibility. Every thought, word and deed has been, and will be, forever stored in our karmic bank balance, to be cashed in at some point, when the circumstances are right.
So if you want to know what causes you made in the past, look at the effects you are seeing now. And if you want to see the effects the future holds, look at the causes you are making now.
Eternal responsibility is both a gift and a burden. Think about how your actions today, will affect your life tomorrow, or the next day, or at some time in the future, and use your wisdom, courage and compassion to make the right causes for the effects you would wish to see.
25 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Anders Behring Breivik, Violence, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
As Norway strives to come to terms with the atrocities of the weekend, we should be very careful not to get into a ‘holier than though’ state of mind. Whilst the actions of Anders Behring Breivik are shocking and difficult to understand, we should remember that we have all been implicated in violent acts of one form or another.
Violence is wrong, no matter what name it is given. Be it liberation, peace keeping, stabilisation, whatever, it never solves the problem. It may change the situation, but it is never the solution.
Buddhism stresses the interconnectedness of all life. It is only the limited capacity of our senses that causes us to place so much stress on the separation and differences between ‘them’ and ‘us’.
Because of this interconnectedness, by using violence, we not only injure or destroy the other person, but also ourselves. Those who use violence and devalue others’ lives actually devalue and bespoil their own lives too.
Violence solves nothing, wisdom, courage and compassion are the only tools we can use to solve everything.
24 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Cause And Effect, Determination, Karma, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
This is my 300th post on The Search For Enlightenment, quite a milestone for me, a post a day since the 30th of September 2010. So wanted to share the one thing that I feel has most changed my life in that time.
My Practice has become a major part of my life, a routine that keeps me on track and provides a constant beacon that keeps me on the path, but that’s not it.
My understanding of how life works has improved in leaps and bounds, that we are all connected with the Universe and that our actions ripple out to affect everything and everyone else, but that’s not it either.
What has changed my life most in the last 300 days is the realisation that through the laws of Karma, those of cause and effect, my life, my happiness, everything is in my own hands. It is such an empowering feeling, to take control, and to look back and see where I went right and wrong in the past, and learn from it.
Of course, with control comes responsibility, but that is one of the main principles of Nichiren Buddhism. As there are no rules, no do’s or don’ts in our practice, the effects of the causes we all make, through the thoughts, words and deeds, are our responsibility.
If you feel your life is like a leaf in the breeze, that you are being blown along by external factors or the whim of others, take time to study the laws of Karma. Take back control, take responsibility and start living your life the way you want for the very first time.
19 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Faith, Nichiren Daishonin, Sairen-bo, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Tonight’s study group concerned itself with Nichiren’s reply to his disciple Sairen-bo regarding The True Aspect of All Phenomena (WND383)
In the letter Nichiren writes
‘Now, no matter what, strive in faith and be known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and remain my disciple for the rest of your life. If you are of the same mind as Nichiren, you must be a Bodhisattva of the Earth. And if you are a Bodhisattva of the Earth, there is not the slightest doubt that you have been a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha from the remote past.’
It is easy to miss the phrase ‘No Matter What’ in the first sentence, but studying it more closely, and taking into account the circumstances in which Nichiren and Sairen-bo found themselves when it was written, we see a deep and most profound meaning.
Both of them were in exile on Sado Island and being held in less than pleasant conditions. So when Nichiren wrote ‘No Matter What’, he was asking Sairen-bo to keep his faith and maintain his practice whatever situation he found himself in.
There is little doubt that both Nichiren and Sairen-bo were subjected to much worse conditions than we can ever imagine, let alone experience. Due to their fortitude and strength, Nichiren Buddhism exists today. If they had lost their faith, or stopped practicing in order to improve their situation, Nichiren Buddhism would have died at that time.
So when we find ourselves in difficult situations, when we feel that we are too tired or too busy to practice, we must remember their resolute stance and practice all the harder. To do anything less would be to let their efforts be for nought. Let your practice reflect their strength and your efforts be worthy of their sacrifice.
18 Jul 2011 2 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: SGI, Whale Wars, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
I am a big fan of Captain Paul Watson and the guys at Sea Shepherd. His actions against the Japanese whaling fleet have saved hundreds, if not thousands of whales in Antarctica. Each time I watch the program, I feel I should be there doing my bit. It’s too easy to sit on the sofa cheering Paul and the crew on as they battle with the Japanese whaling fleet.
Being a practicing Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the SGI, I have been concerned about the possible conflict of interests, the SGI being initially a Japanese organisation. So while I had the ear of Ricky Baynes on Saturday, I took the opportunity to ask where the SGI stood on whaling.
Of course, in hindsight, I should have known the answer. The SGI, as an organisation, has no stance on whaling. How could it, Nichiren Buddhism has no rules, no do’s or don’ts, and with all aspects of life, it is the individual who decides their own stance.
That’s how it should be. Each person is free to make their own mind up, to balance the pros and cons and come to a decision. I know where I stand, I hate to see these beautiful creatures being hunted and killed in such a barbaric fashion.
The whalers, and they aren’t all Japanese, mitigate their actions by saying that they are doing it in the name of science. But we all know that is rubbish. Why do they need to kill over a thousand whales a year? What benefit is there to scientific research? What will they hunt when the whales are gone?
Well that’s my viewpoint, and I’m happy to tell the world where I stand. If you feel the same, you might want to help Paul and the Sea Shepherds by donating or by buying something from their shop.
19 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Assisted Death, Terry Pratchet, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Today I sat and watched the BBC program with Sir Terry Pratchet entitled Choosing To Die, about people with terminal illnesses taking the decision to go down the route of assisted death. It was a rather difficult program to watch but I felt I wanted to know more about the process in order to have an informed view about the subject.
The link above will expire, but if you choose to watch it, be prepared to have your deepest emotions thoroughly stirred. It follows two men, suffering from motor neurone disease, and their relatives through the emotional, legal and physical steps that need to be taken in order to allow them to determine the time and nature of their own demise.
It raises a number of huge questions about safeguards and medical ethics surrounding the process, as well as the question of why they have to go to Dignitas in Switzerland in order to take, what is in effect, the most important decision of their lives.
We will all die, of that there is no doubt. When, how, and in what circumstances, are all unknown to us, and I am sure that is a very good thing. While we are in good health, while life is a pleasure and not a chore, and while we have the luxury to allow ourselves to make plans for the future, thinking of dying is something we seldom if ever do.
But because of the nature of certain illnesses, the manner in which they encroach on our faculties, both physical and mental, the decision appears to have to be taken some time before it should.
The average lifespan of people in this country is increasing at such a rate, around three months every year, so it is probable that far more of us are likely to encounter dementia or physical conditions that prevent us from leading a life of independence.
So rather than waiting until we reach the situation where a more significant proportion of the population are left in a similar position to these two men, where they have to rely on a Swiss organisation to help them maintain their dignity, we should be embracing the situation now, so we have more time to take the difficult legal and ethical decisions in a calm manner.
Whilst the subject of assisted death or suicide is very emotive, because there are no gods and no rules in Buddhism, it slightly simplifies the question. Because we are all responsible for our own actions, I feel we should be empowered to embrace that responsibility.
But that is just my view.
18 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Determination, Humility, Kung Fu, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Watching DreamWork’s Kung Fu Panda on TV tonight, not for the first time I have to admit, was another good lesson in humility, wisdom, trust and self confidence.
If you haven’t seen the film it is, on the face of it, a kids cartoon, lots of action, lots of fun.
At a deeper level, it tells the story of the underdog, Po the Panda, who is chosen as the Dragon Warrior against the odds. Nobody believes that Oogway the Turtle has made the right decision, that he was chosen by chance, even though Oogway explains that there is no such thing as chance.
Even Po is convinced that he has been chosen by mistake, and cannot believe that he is the Dragon Warrior. He is slandered by everyone, even Shifu, who is charged with training Po in the ways of Kung Fu. The other pupils of Shifu, Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper and Mantis also look down on Po, though they slowly come to see that his determination is to be admired.
After Oogway passes on, having asked Shifu to believe in Po and following a lot of learning, Po has to meet his nemesis Tai Lung to save the valley.
Lots of Buddhist principles are woven through the film, a good watch and a fun way to learn.
17 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Shakyamuni Buddha explained the fundamental spirit of Buddhism as a sense of individual responsibility.
“You are your only master. Who else? Subdue yourself and discover your master.”
In other words, we must each take responsibility for our own self-discipline and for cultivating meaningful lives.
The Search For Enlightenment 
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