Enjoy What There Is To Enjoy
Many people
give praise to the Gohonzon if they are involved in a serious accident and only
sustain slight injuries, but if they return home from an uneventful day at work
safe and sound will complain “Nothing good happened today”. Similarly, a quick recovery from an illness
is seen as a benefit, whereas a long period of good health is barely noticed.
It seems
that some of us only thank the Gohonzon if we are involved in an accident,
become sick or overcome another difficulty, when surely the greater benefit,
and the thing we should be most grateful for, is to not encounter any of these misfortunes
at all.
Suffer What There Is To Suffer
In the postscript
to the Gosho “On Polished Wheat”, Nichiren encourages Nanjo Tokimitsu to have a
positive attitude to his troubles: “Whatever happens… you must not despair. … If
things should not go as you wish … then determine to be more contented than
ever.” (WND-2, p576)
Can we
really be grateful if the worst happens? I think we can. Rather than blaming ourselves or others if
things don’t turn out as we’d like or if we face obstacles, we should embrace
the situation and focus on “What can I do to make the most of this opportunity?”
or “How can I turn this poison into medicine?”
We don’t necessarily need to have the answer at that moment. We just need to chant "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo"
as “earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood” (WND-1, p444) and
take action based on our Buddha wisdom.
Winning in our lives, through our faith in Nichiren
Buddhism, is not the absence of problems, but being
happy and hopeful despite them. If we
can engrave an attitude of “Gratitude no matter what” in our hearts, and chant
with a determination to find the benefit in any situation, we can achieve the same
high life state, and enjoy the same absolute happiness, that Nichiren Daishonin
did.
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