Benefit of Human Revolution

In the "Ten Benefits" chapter of the "Immeasurable Meanings Sutra" (The Prologue to the Lotus Sutra) Shakyamuni responds to the audience’s questions, explaining that this sutra comes “from the dwelling and abode of the Buddha.  It’s aim is to lead all living beings to conceive the desire for enlightenment.  And it abides in the practices carried out by bodhisattvas” (LSOC, p21) and then he starts to explain the ten benefits of following the sutra. 

This post focuses on the first of these ten benefits and is one of my favourite sections of the Lotus Sutra.  This extensive list of benefits, all of which make up only the FIRST of the ten benefits, reveals human revolution in action, and explains that negative tendancies and fundamental darkness can be changed into positive traits through this practice.

“Good men, the first [great benefit] is that this sutra can cause bodhisattvas who have not yet conceived the desire for enlightenment to conceive such a desire.

It can cause those who are without compassion or benevolence to nurture compassionate minds.

It can cause those who delight in killing and slaughter to nurture minds of great pity.

It can cause those filled with envy and jealousy to nurture minds of joyful acceptance.

It can cause those who are begrudging and attached to things to nurture minds capable of relinquishing.

It can cause those who are close-fisted and greedy to nurture minds of almsgiving.

It can cause those of abundant arrogance and pride to nurture minds that uphold the precepts.

It can cause those much given to wrath and anger to nurture forbearing minds.

It can cause those who are indolent and lazy to nurture minds of diligence.

It can cause those who are scatterbrained and disordered to nurture minds devoted to meditation.

It can cause those with much ignorance and folly to nurture minds of wisdom.

It can cause those who are not yet capable of saving others to nurture minds set upon saving others.

It can cause those who practice the ten evil acts to nurture minds devoted to the ten good acts.

It can cause those who delight too much in the conditioned to strive for minds fixed on the unconditioned.

It can cause those whose minds are given to regression to cultivate minds of non-regression.

It can cause those given to outflows to nurture minds free of outflows.

It can cause those with many earthly desires to nurture minds that cleanse and extinguish such desires. 

Good men, this is called the first benefit and inconceivable power of this sutra”  (LSOC, p21-22)

New Year Resolutions

Persevering in our goals, working towards our dreams and resisting temptation until we achieve victory can be challenging. 

The best way to stay on track is to truly connect with your goal and to wholeheartedly want to make it a reality.  Ask yourself “Why EXACTLY do I want to achieve [whatever it is]?”, “How EXACTLY will my life, or the lives of others, improve when I achieve this goal?” and “How EXACTLY will I feel, when I’ve achieved it?”   

If you can become emotionally connected to these benefits and positive feelings it will be easier to keep steadily advancing towards your goal when you are tempted by short-term gains or immediate gratifications.  It may also be worthwhile breaking a very long-term goal into smaller steps, so that you can advance and track your progress as the weeks, months and, in some cases, years go by.  Even Shakyamuni knew he had to lead people to the supreme teaching of the Lotus Sutra by breaking the journey down into smaller more manageable steps that his followers could cope with.

By breaking bigger goals into smaller steps, emotionally connecting with the outcome, chanting and taking action based on our Buddha wisdom we should be able to overcome all temptations and realize that the hardships we face during this journey are a small price to pay for the great benefit of seeing actual proof in our lives.

If you do start to slide, or lose sight of your goal, though, don’t beat yourself up over it, but refocus your thoughts and try again.  Take heart from this recent encouragement from President Ikeda:

Some of you may have experienced setting yourself a target, but not being able to stick to it for long. I also understand this feeling well.
 
But even if you only manage to stick to something for a few days, that’s fine. When you challenge something even for three days, you’ll achieve three days’ worth of growth. You should feel good about yourself for having persevered in something for three days. There’s no need to feel bad about stopping after a few days; just keep starting over again. If you repeat that pattern 10 times, that makes a whole month!
 
Those who can keep refreshing their determination and trying again are most admirable. They are winners. The important thing is to continue challenging yourself with perseverance.  (from newsletter NL8689CE)

See also:

"The Same As Last Year" (from 1st January 2014)

"Happy New Year 2015"  (from 1st January 2015)

"Ready, Willing & Able"  (from May 2012)

Katy Perry - "Firework"

Is Katy Perry’s song “Firework” from 2010 a Buddhist anthem?  Here’s some of the Buddhist concepts mentioned in the song together with the lyrics (printed in bold)

The first verse mention feeling that you’re not in control of your life and being overwhelmed, but then introduces hope and the seed of Buddhahood within (“Do you know that there's still a chance for you? Cause there's a spark in you?”)  and mentions “You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine” which represents to me awakening your Buddha nature by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

The chorus introduces that you are a Buddha and have the potential to change society (“'Cause baby, you're a firework.  Come on, show 'em what you're worth.” )

The second verse continues with recognizing that each of us is valuable to society (“You don't have to feel like a waste of space”) and is worthy of respect (“You're original, cannot be replaced”).  The theme from the Gosho that “Winter always turns into Spring” is paraphrased (“If you only knew what the future holds.  After a hurricane comes a rainbow”) and then it mentions that the reason for suffering is to reveal a new path to victory similar to “turning poison into medicine” (“Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed, So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road”)

Finally she sings “Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon. It's always been inside of you, you, you. And now it's time to let it through” which is reminding us again of everyone’s potential for Buddhahood since birth and that now is the time to awaken it and let it shine.

Here are three links to youtube videos, including the original video which shows the enlightenment of several individuals:

The original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

Just the words and music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQtshvDWOFY

Not a fan of Katy Perry?  Try this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocL-o8GY02k

How Many Squares?

Try this quick exercise. 

Copy this figure onto a thin piece of paper, take a good look at it and then say out loud how many squares you can see?

So… how many squares could you see?  Did you say the number out loud?

Some people may only see the 16 small squares and maybe the one extra large square (4x4) on the outside.  Others may also see four 3 x 3 squares and others will see four or nine 2 x 2 squares.  Altogether I think there are 30 squares of different sizes, but if you did copy the figure onto a thin piece of paper, hold it up to the light and turn it around you might see twice as many!  To be honest the number of squares that there ARE isn’t really important and the question I asked was how many squares can you see? 

This was an activity that my uncle did with me once and the point of it is that different people will see different things, even when they are faced with the same situation.  Also, if you want to see change in your life (or the growth of your district) you need to really see the possibility of this change first.

When President Josei Toda became the second president of the Soka Gakkai, he said at his inauguration:

“In my lifetime, I will convert by my own hand 750,000 families through shakubuku. …  If my goal should not be attained by the end of my life, you need not hold a funeral for me, but just throw my remains into the sea off Shinagawa.”

President Toda could SEE 750,000 families practising Nichiren Buddhism, but it wasn’t enough for him just to see it, he also SAID IT OUT LOUD making a determination that he chose to share with the members.  At the time, most of the people in attendance couldn’t see that vision and thought he had misspoken or was showing off, but before his death, his vision of 750,000 families chanting across Japan came true.  On that day, President Toda saw 750,000 squares, whereas the members saw much less.

With any venture you are planning, whether it’s looking for a career change, a promotion, a new relationship, wanting a better relationship or improving and expanding your district, the first step is to SEE the potential for growth.  What are you capable of achieving?  Do you have small goals or big dreams?  Whatever you are hoping to achieve, try to think BIG and SEE what your life WILL look like in the future or SEE what your district WILL look like in five or ten years time.

If you want to see a change in your relationship tomorrow, you need to be able to SEE what that change in your relationship will look like today.  If you want to see a change in your weight tomorrow, you need to be able to SEE what that change in your weight will look like today.  If you want to see your district or division grow in the future, you need to be able to SEE what your district or division will look like at that time today.

Open your mind by chanting and really SEE what your future could look like and then make a DETERMINATION to achieve it. 

SEE IT, CHANT ABOUT IT and SAY IT ALOUD TO PEOPLE and one day you WILL SEE that future become a reality in your life.

How the Universe Works

I Asked For Strength

I asked for strength, I was given difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom, I was given problems to solve.

I asked for courage, I was given obstacles to overcome.

I asked for favors, I was given opportunities.

I asked for love, I was given people who need love.

I received nothing I thought I wanted and everything I needed.

Live each moment without fear.

Confront the difficulties, problems and obstacles before you and you will overcome them.

Recognize opportunities and you shall learn to learn from everything.

Love yourself, and others will love you.

And always…remember to breathe.

This poem has appeared on the internet in many versions in support of various faith groups, often starting with “I asked God for…” or “I asked Allah for…” but this non-denomination version is the only one I’ve found on the internet which credits the poem to a writer - Aaron Hoopes.

The Buddhism of Hope

“True cause” (honnin myo) means that we don’t need to waste time and energy regretting things that we can’t change in our past, but should focus on the actions we can actually take in the present to create positive effects in our future. 

In the Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra: volume VI (pp244 – 245), SGI Study Department leader, Katsuji Saito, and President Daisaku Ikeda have the following conversation about true cause and true effect:

Saito:  To continually go forward – this is the Buddhism of the True Cause Ikeda:  Now is eternity.  Right now is the beginning.  The past is gone.  The future has not yet arrived.  The present moment is all that exists. …      To view this present moment of life as the direct effect of some cause in the past is to think in terms of the true effect.  To think, in other words, “I did that, so this happened.”  But that perspective alone will not give rise to hope.  The key is to view one’s life at the present moment as the cause for creating future effects.  This is the true cause that reaches the very depths of one’s being.  It is not a superficial cause. … This Is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the eternal cosmic life, the great principle that moves the entire universe and sparks constant development.  … When we believe in the Gohonzon as the embodiment of that Law, chant the Mystic Law and take action, at that moment we are experiencing eternity. Saito:  So the point is that each moment is time without beginning and everything always starts from now. Ikeda:  This is faith based on the Buddhism of the true cause.  Faith means to have boundless hope.   No matter how bad our present circumstances might be, even If it seems we are fighting a losing battle, we must stand up determined not to be defeated and from there show actual proof of the limitless potential of the Mystic Law.  Is this not the true purpose of faith?

We don’t need to wait until New Year’s Day, next month or even next week, to make a resolution or determination, we simply have to make the decision to plant positive seeds TODAY, NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, and in EVERY MOMENT, of our lives.

Ready, Willing and Able

If you want to change certain aspects of your life, you need to be READY, WILLING and ABLE.

Maybe you want to have more self-confidence, get a job, improve your situation at work, lose weight, get a boyfriend or have a better relationship with your parents.  Whatever it is you want to change about yourself, you need to be READY, WILLING and ABLE to change.

Most people are READY.  If you have reached the point, where you know what you want from your life or what you want to change about yourself, you are READY. 

Most people are ABLE.  Whatever it is you want to achieve in life, you have the ABILITY to do it.  Want a boyfriend?  You can do it.  Want a better job?  It's yours.  Want a better relationship with your parents?  You have the power within you to achieve it.  Want to lose weight?  You got it.

Unfortunately, the thing that will hold you back is the WILLING!

Most people are NOT WILLING to do what it takes to achieve the result they want. 

Can you stop eating sweets?  No, it's too hard. 
Can you get off your arse and go to the gym?  Maybe tomorrow,  The Apprentice is on TV tonight!
Can you improve your job prospects?  You mean I have to study!!!!

We find it easy to talk ourselves out of doing things or want instant results without putting in any effort.  If you really want to see a change in your life, you really have to put some time and energy into achieving it.

Your life is the way it is today, because you have allowed it to get like this.  You have either seen the warning signs and chosen to ignore them or just not even seen them. 

Now you KNOW what you want to change about yourself, here's the three steps...

(1) Be READY.  Don't just know you want to change but prepare to change yourself and make a determination to achieve your goal or self-improvement.

(2) Be ABLE.  Recognize what you need to do to achieve your goal.  Chant to open up the full potential of your abilities.

(3) Be WILLING.  Really commit to improving yourself.  Devote time and energy to your faith and daily practise, as well as taking the steps necessary to fulfill your ambition or achieve the human revolution you are looking for.

HUMAN REVOLUTION  =  DETERMINATION  +  CHANTING  +  ACTION

(This article is based on Larry Winget's thoughts on Ready, Willing and Able.)

WE ARE ALL BUDDHAS

One of the key points of the Lotus Sutra is that everyone of us, no matter what gender, what social class, what ethnicity or what sexual preference is a BUDDHA. 

This can be really difficult to believe especially when you are suffering and going through hardships, and even Shakyamuni Buddha explains in the Lotus Sutra ... "The door to this wisdom is difficult to understand and difficult to enter."

But, whether you believe it or not, You ARE a Buddha in the making. 


The only thing harder than believing in the concept that "We are all Buddhas" is changing some of our deep seated beliefs about ourselves and the world.

I used to believe in Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy. 
After watching Jaws when he was eight, my step-brother used to believe there was a shark in his closet.
When I was ten, I used to think the idea of kissing girls was disgusting.

I’m sure some of you had similar beliefs, and like me, as you grew up, you realized that none of these were true.  I did and my life is certainly better for it – especially the one about kissing girls!

But for some reason there are lots of other equally ridiculous beliefs that we hold on to as adults:

“Life should be fair”

“Other people are to blame for my suffering”

“Everything always happens to me”

"I'm so useless at everything"

None of these negative beliefs help us in our lives, but we still cling to them like security blankets.  Even when I first learnt that Father Christmas wasn’t real I still held on to the belief just in case I didn’t get any presents! 


Think of a ridiculous belief that you have about your ability or the situation you are in.

Think to yourself: "How will I take control of my life if this isn't true?"

How will I take control of my life, if other people aren't to blame for my suffering?
How will I take control of my life, if I am not useless at everything?
How will I take control of my life, if I make more time for the important things?

Think of the potential YOU have WITHIN you to improve your current situation.

Base your life on the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin and the power of “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”.

Truly believe with your whole being that "YOU HAVE THE BUDDHA POTENTIAL" and truly appreciate the BUDDHA NATURE in others.


BONUS QUOTE from President Ikeda

If somewhere in your heart you have decided "I alone am incapable of becoming happy", "Only I cannot become a capable person" or "Only my sufferings will forever remain unsolved," then that one factor of your mind or determination will obstruct your benefit.

The extent to which we can receive and use the vast, profound joy derived from the Law depends entirely on our faith.  Will we take only a small cup of water from the ocean, or will we fill up a large swimming pool?

(Learning from the Gosho, p240)

To Be Or Not To Be

The Lotus Sutra contains many Bodhisattvas who live shining lives and are an inspiration to others.  Here's my growth tip for today.

STEP ONE – Make a “To Be” list

Many of us make to do lists to try and focus our time, but my stepdad used to recommend making a “To Be” list to focus your personality.

 Make a list of the kind of qualities you’d like to be: patient, forgiving, confident, punctual, determined

STEP TWO – Create your own Bodhisattva name

 Using your “To Be” list from STEP ONE, create your own Bodhisattva by combining positive words like always, excellent, paramount, eternal, vibrant, stunning, outstanding, etc.  You may need to change the adjectives from STEP ONE into their noun form.

i.e.  Bodhisattva Steadfast Patience, 
        Bodhisattva Effortless Forgiveness,

       Bodhisattva Supreme Confidence,
        Bodhisattva Perfect Punctuality       
        Bodhisattva Unsurpassed Determination

STEP THREE – Become the Bodhisattva

Keep your “To Be” list or Bodhisattva name next to the Gohonzon or somewhere you will frequently see it and chant to awaken these valuable qualities in your life.