SGI Memberst Testmonial - Taking Responsibility -Geraldine E. Oku, Nigeria I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and qualified as a lawyer in the United Kingdom. I currently work with a bank in Nigeria. I was introduced to Buddhism here in 1988 by my sister. Practicing Buddhism has enabled me to experience significant personal development, allowing me, for example, to become aware of and change a tendency to be critical and judgmental of myself and others. This, in turn, has enabled me to function more happily and effectively in my work. I find the teachings of Buddhism very empowering. They have cleared up a number of perplexing questions for me, like why bad things happen to good people or vice versa. The Buddhist law of cause and effect clearly and logically explains why things happen to individuals and even whole peoples, countries and continents. I have also become more acutely aware of the larger society I live in. I have realized that the causes of our problems on this fantastic continent originate in peoples mindsets and their attitudes to life; I have also realized that the solutions rest with us. We must change the course of our history as a people. It is here that belief systems--religious or not--play their role. It is peoples belief systems that influence the actions that they take. When--individually or collectively--we see the power to create changes as being outside ourselves, we relinquish our responsibility, leaving everything up to that source of power, whatever it may be. In fact, however, wars, famine, the AIDS epidemic and so on are not caused by a source outside of ourselves, and therefore, as Buddhism teaches, the solution to these problems must come from us, now. I have realized that I must be part of the solution in the way that I am best suited to be.Practicing Nichiren Buddhism has enabled me to see that I cannot be happy on my own while others around me are suffering--not just materially but spiritually. My goal is to contribute to relieving that suffering in my own way. I try to do this in my work with my clients by finding constructive ways of resolving problems. I am determined to show that the efforts of one human being continuing to make positive changes in his or her life can help bring about a peaceful world. Source via :sgiquarterly.org/people2001Jly-3.htmlfr
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 06:46:46 +0000
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