Turning Karma into Mission: August 2014 Zadankai Good morning to all my friends. The experience I am sharing today has come about as a result of chanting vigorous daimoku and reading Ikeda sensei’s guidances over & over again.My life has changed since I started this practice eight years ago. On this wonderful journey of faith, I have learned many nitty-gritty’s of life, and also learned how to face different situations. When I joined this practice, I was in very bad shape – physically, mentally and financially. My circumstances have also brought me close to some dynamic BSG leaders whose guidance has been the foundation of my faith, practice and study. One guidance that got drilled into my mind is [I quote] “We must challenge those things that we do not believe we can achieve. If we never challenge the impossible, we can never, ever, know the full power of the Gohonzon.” [Unquote] Another leader encouraged me, saying [I quote], “When we pray, the Gohonzon hears more than we say and answers more than we ever ask; gives us more than we can imagine, BUT in its own time and way.” [Unquote.] Several pieces of guidance by Ikeda Sensei made me reflect on my life. One struck a particularly deep chord: [I quote] Happiness is not something that someone else, like a lover, can give to us. We have to achieve it for ourselves. And the only way to do so is by developing our character and capacity as human beings, by fully maximizing our potential ... What is important now is to work hard at developing yourselves into truly wonderful human beings.” [unquote] I believed and trusted each and every word of guidance and continued as much as possible to do gongyo, study and involve myself in BSG activities as a district leader. Recently I was flying back from Mumbai. Sitting at the window, sailing over the clouds, I thought about how this practice has removed all the clouds from my life, and in how many ways I have received the protection of the Mystic Law. Eight years ago, I did not have even ten rupees in my pocket to travel by bus for job interviews. Today I can afford to fly. I was looking for a job of a few thousand rupees, but here I was, sitting comfortably in a Boeing A-320, having been served a cosy job with a financial giant. Earlier, even a minor illness disturbed me, but today I have the strength, courage and wisdom to face and fight even cancer. How did all this happen? How did I overcome and expiate my negative karma? My cancer was detected in June 2010 when I was already in the doldrums in my career. I was told to chant as much as possible so I set a target of doing one million daimoku by 18 November 2010. I completed a million daimoku exactly on 18th November, and completed my second million on 2nd May 2011. My seniors in faith also told me to read Gosho along with Sensei’s lectures. With absolute trust, I followed their guidance in word and spirit. As a result of my regular and daily study, the clouds of fundamental darkness began to disappear – that means, I began to believe that through correct faith and practice, I myself can manifest the power of the Buddha in my life. Before 2010 my life was on a roller coaster with the help of this faith. Whatever I touched turned into gold. During this period I received many awards & recognitions. I received the prestigious INDIRA GANDHI PRIYADARSHINI AWARD, LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI AWARD & RECOGNITION FROM CAMBRIDGE PRESS, LONDON. All the awards were for my contribution to the social sector & media. But, life started changing for the worse from May 2011. I lost vision of my left eye and was diagnosed with cancer of the lower eusophagus. The devil’s attack was full when my wife and son left the practice because of my health karma saying after doing so much “WHY YOU?” This was a shock for me. My practice also took a hit and I went into low life condition. My seniors in faith gave me the example of Ikeda Sensei, whose doctors said he would not live beyond 30 years of age. Today, he is 85. I too could challenge my life span by changing my karma into mission. Following guidance, I started doing home-visits, studying with members and doing shakubuku. I read in The Human Revolution that Toda Sensei promised himself never to miss doing gongyo and praying for the spread of the great Law and the fulfilment of kosen-rufu. I took my cue from him. I never miss gongyo, come what may. Buddhist study along with daily gongyo twice a day helped me give up my bad habits of 30 years of drinking and smoking, and helped me fight to eradicate cancer from my body. I am proud to report today that I have been declared completely fit and all medicines have been stopped from 25th July, 2014. Study and prayer also cleaned my mind of all the clutter of negative thoughts and fundamental darkness. I learned from my study that health is the greatest asset, and nothing can disturb me not even when I am seriously ill. contentment is the greatest wealth, and faithfulness the best relationship. In my life, Ive had thousands of failures, made hundreds of wrong decisions and countless stupid mistakes, but given the chance to change my life, I would still prefer to have done the same things. Looking back on my life, I am deeply grateful for all my suffering and foolishness, as they brought me to the Gohonzon, taught me to fight, and define who I was and what I am today. The training I have received in Mens Division has forged me into a confident man with a solid sense of self and a deep awakening of what it means to be truly happy. Friends, my prayer of 4 years was granted on 15th August 2014, the day Gohonzon was re-enshrined at my residence. Astonishingly, my wife started chanting from that very evening. What a breakthrough? I was overjoyed & thanked Gohonzon profusely. This was the icing on the cake. Life is an unending journey. Now I have decided to start some venture related to IT of my own in Bangalore and am on my 3rd one million daimoku. Lastly, before wrapping up, I would like to thank Sensei, my leaders, members from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, the U.S. & Japan and my family for their continued support, guidances and encouragement. I shall remain ever grateful to them till the last breath of my life. DETERMINATION: Today, I bow my head in reverence to Nichiren Daishonin and the three Presidents of the Soka Gakkai, whose philosophy has brought us all together here. Because my karmic challenges are so intense, I am constantly aware of my Vow, my mission.. Today, I reaffirm my commitment to work for the Law and strengthen my fellow members. I will reach deep inside myself to transform my fundamental darkness into a source of happiness not only into my life but all my members of my district. I will move forward to total victory. Right here! Right now! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo forever.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 11:13:52 +0000
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