Spiritual Story by Sandy Elstone
The Boy was unusual. He had always thought this, but he was only just beginning to figure out the hows and whys of it. He had always been sensitive. Even now, as he stared out to sea across the great sweep of the Bay, he felt that he had the answers to things that most boys didn’t even have questions for.
For example, this rock he was currently perched on - several million years old probably, a piece of solid granite. The rock had moved little, if at all, in the last several hundred thousand years. Maybe, the sea had nudged it slightly in a storm. Maybe, it had been worn away a bit. After all, some of the pebbles on this beach were undoubtedly its children - bits of it that had gone off to explore for themselves.
And yet, the boy sensed the life in this rock. Yes, it definitely felt alive to him - vibrant, teeming with swirling thoughts and observations and memories from millennia gone by. But, the rock itself continued sitting there, placidly, still, but somehow silently observing - all seeing and all knowing.
The boy began to feel that this rock knew pretty much everything there was to know about the moods of the sea. It had seen stormy nights, frozen seas, warm seas, waves crashing in, waves lapping out, full moons, new moons, and clear nights when bright stars shone down like you wouldn’t believe.
The boy sensed that through its stillness, the rock knew everything about this beach and the sea that today lapped in gently around the boy’s feet. But, much more than that - the rock really did know everything. It seemed to have all the secrets of the universe within it. A universe within a rock?
And the boy, by sitting on the rock, felt that he too could receive the answers to all the things that he wanted to know. Was the universe also within him? Yes, if the rock could obtain the answers, so could he. All he had to do was sit still, be silent and focus on himself, just like the rock. And so he knew that sooner or later he would indeed receive all the answers. Patience then was what was required..…and time.
So, the boy came back to the beach over many years as he grew older. He visited the rock as often as he could. He had no expectations about anything, he just enjoyed being alone with the rock. He continued to sit and listen to the sea and feel the rock beneath him and watch the waves lap at his feet.
Then, one day as he sat on the rock and stared out to sea, he began to relax, but at the same time, he felt heavier and heavier. He closed his eyes.
But, hang on, did he now feel heavy or light? There was a part of him that felt heavy - yes definitely, so, so heavy….his breathing slowed, the presence of the cool air itself surrounding him seemed to be his means of breathing.
He breathed out, he breathed in - shallower and shallower until his breath virtually stopped. He felt the weight of his body on the rock….or was it in the rock? Yes, he felt he was merging with the rock - going inside the rock, but at the same time another part of him continued to feel lighter and lighter. His arms tingled and then it seemed that his hands were floating upwards. Then this feeling spread…he was both entering deeper into the rock and floating upwards, both above himself and below himself at the same time.
“How could this be?”, he thought for a fleeting moment.
His eyes opened slightly and he caught a glimpse of the glowing white sea; not the grey, green sea he had seen earlier. But, the moment passed even before it was complete, and he relaxed again. His eyelids gently closed and his eyes themselves began to focus on a flickering white light that began to appear in front of him…it seemed to shine within him, like moonlight. But how could he see this light? His eyes were closed! But the light became brighter and brighter. It swirled and pulsated and moved around in front of him, now bright white, now a deep bright violet, now pure gold.
He felt like he was looking into another world - a world within himself? Yes, that was it, he was inside his own inner world. Exploring the universe within himself.
Then….Bang! Flash! Lightening bolt! Wallop! A voice!
“Hello boy!”
The boy jumped up, startled. Simultaneously, he was catapulted up out of the rock and back into his body and from above the part of him that was floating also entered his body again. He straightened and looked around him - no one there!
“Oh well, I’m imagining things”, he thought.
But, then again…
“It’s me!”
“It’s who? What is going on? Voices in my head?” He said out loud.
Who or what was he talking to? Was it the rock talking to him? No - impossible. But then he saw a seagull next to him, simply looking up at him serenely.
Then, the voice again, “It’s me! Sorry to startle you.”
“It’s who?”
“Me…the seagull! I am Natalie Seagull.”, came the reply.
He jumped high in the air and landed on the beach and turned around.
“Natalie Seagull? Seagulls don’t speak!”
“How do you know that? Ever spoken to a seagull before?”
“No!”, said the boy - incredulously.
“Then how do you know that seagulls don’t speak?”, said Natalie Seagull.
“Well, I don’t…um, uh…are you really talking to me?”, said the boy.
“What do you think?”
“Well, after what’s just happened, I wouldn’t be surprised if I am talking to a seagull!
“Is there something you want to tell me?” said the boy.
“Yes. I have a message for you.”
“So, what is it?”, said the boy.
“Well, you’ve always known that you are here for a reason. So, what you do now is you rest and you wait”
“For how long do I ....um, uh rest and.....uh...wait?”, he replied.
“For as long as it takes”.
“As long as it takes? How will I know what to do….when the time comes?”
“It is more a case of what you will ‘be’, what you will ‘become’. Then you will know what to do. In any case, it will be made known to you ….look out for the signs. Not only seagulls speak”.
“But what is my role in …..uh…..whatever it is?”
“You will be required to re-assure the people. Are you a leader? Can you do that?”
“Yes, I think I can. I can, but I’m a bit scared now”.
“Don’t be afraid - focus on love and the truth. These will set you free and guide you to be the best you can be, to do the best you can do and to bring out the best in others. You are a creator, as is everyone. You don’t understand the power of your own thoughts to create your reality. So, think positively and bring about the reality you want. No one is stuck in a hopeless situation created by distant forces. If you want change in your world, change your thoughts, change those external forces for the better, for those seemingly external forces, those immovable objects and events that are apparently out of control are the physical manifestation of your thoughts. They are your thoughts crystallised from the mind of God. For the entire universe is the mind of God and you are an essential part of that mind! Create a better reality! Even if only a few boys and girls like you begin to understand this, the world will be a much better place.”
“But how long will it take? It seems like an awfully difficult task to take on – to change an entire planet for the better.”
“The time is now approaching fast. More and more boys and girls like you are waking up and finding their higher purpose.”
“Thank-you! It’s reassuring to know that I’m not alone in this”.
“You are never alone my child - you know that. You are not alone. Never. Now, go and begin the first day of your new life as a teacher, as a messenger. Prepare yourself. Remember that you are a master. You will find the truth everywhere you look for it. By your presence alone, you will guide others towards the truth and they will find it because of you. You are welcome to talk to me any time you like, for I am here to offer advice and to guide you when you desire guidance. But, it is up to you whether you accept this mission or not – you have free will.”
Somehow, the boy understood all of this. He had been half expecting it….for a long time.
And with that, Natalie Seagull launched herself into the air, flapping her powerful wings as she rose up above the beach and then, catching a thermal, gracefully glided out to sea. She looked back at the boy, nodded her head slightly, extended her wings, swooped low over the white topped waves, then headed up into the sky, soaring ever higher and higher.
The boy followed her with his eyes as she became smaller – until she became just a luminescence speck of bright white light, making its inexorable progress out to sea and up into the sky.
The boy was transfixed. A warm expansive glow appeared to swell up in his chest. He had never felt such joy, such love, such peace before.
Natalie Seagull turned her head and looked back after a little while. He sensed her smiling back at him. Her face was quite the kindest he had ever seen. And at that moment, she became a brilliant, perfect white, radiant star. Rays of light burst outwards from her body in all directions as she soared upwards. On and on, higher and higher, whiter and whiter her body became, until, in an explosion of pure energy, she literally disappeared from view.
The boy looked up to the sky and raised his arms up in a gesture of thanks, as he looked towards the spot where the seagull had disappeared into eternity.
And then he lowered his gaze and looked out to sea. Everything was different. He saw everything differently.
He saw how the waves were talking to him. He saw how the wind that blew his hair was also telling him things. He saw the sun as a pure bright teacher, a perfect reflection of the perfect bright light within him - the very light of his spirit. He saw the ever-changing clouds as a metaphor for the ever-evolving nature of the human soul. Even the pebbles at his feet were infusing him with wisdom. Everywhere he sensed knowledge and wisdom, understanding, acceptance and truth. Everywhere he looked he saw it, but he knew that the greatest source of all these things was within himself. Within his own soul would he find his greatest strength, to become his true self. For he was the universe and the universe was within him. He knew he would now be free to do anything he wanted. He had a job to do. He was a messenger.
He walked across to the rock where had been sitting when he had met Natalie Seagull. He put his hand across his heart, closed his eyes and said a few words quietly, thanking her for the experience he had just had, for strengthening his own soul. He opened his eyes again, stretched out his arm and waved his hand gently over the rock and blessed that too.
The Boy thought of Natalie Seagull and smiled, turned around and looked out to sea one last time. He then left the rock and the beach and walked carefully, purposefully, like the master he would now become, into his new life.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Daily Wisdom - Reply to Sairen-bo
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, April 13, 2012:
Although I, Nichiren, am not a man of wisdom, the devil king of the sixth heaven has attempted to take possession of my body. But I have for some time been taking such great care that he now no longer comes near me. Therefore, because the power of the heavenly devil is ineffectual against me, he instead possesses the ruler and his high officials, or foolish priests such as Ryokan, and causes them to hate me.
Reply to Sairen-bo
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on April 13, 1272
Friday, April 13, 2012:
Although I, Nichiren, am not a man of wisdom, the devil king of the sixth heaven has attempted to take possession of my body. But I have for some time been taking such great care that he now no longer comes near me. Therefore, because the power of the heavenly devil is ineffectual against me, he instead possesses the ruler and his high officials, or foolish priests such as Ryokan, and causes them to hate me.
Reply to Sairen-bo
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on April 13, 1272
Daily Wisdom - Strong Faith
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, April 12, 2012:
I have found that even those who appear to believe just as the sutra teaches may not actually have strong faith at all, as you are already well aware. . . The fact that her prayers have gone unanswered is like a strong bow with a weak bowstring, or a fine sword in the hands of a coward. It is in no sense the fault of the Lotus Sutra.
The Royal Palace
Written to Shijo Kingo on April 12, 1275
Thursday, April 12, 2012:
I have found that even those who appear to believe just as the sutra teaches may not actually have strong faith at all, as you are already well aware. . . The fact that her prayers have gone unanswered is like a strong bow with a weak bowstring, or a fine sword in the hands of a coward. It is in no sense the fault of the Lotus Sutra.
The Royal Palace
Written to Shijo Kingo on April 12, 1275
Monday, January 30, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Essence of the "Medicine King" Chapter
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, April 11, 2012:
The Flower Garland and the other various sutras are like stars in this dark night, while the Lotus Sutra is like the moon. For those who have faith in the Lotus Sutra, but whose faith is not deep, it is as though a half moon were lighting the darkness. But for those who have profound faith, it is as though a full moon were illuminating the night.
The Essence of the "Medicine King" Chapter
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
Wednesday, April 11, 2012:
The Flower Garland and the other various sutras are like stars in this dark night, while the Lotus Sutra is like the moon. For those who have faith in the Lotus Sutra, but whose faith is not deep, it is as though a half moon were lighting the darkness. But for those who have profound faith, it is as though a full moon were illuminating the night.
The Essence of the "Medicine King" Chapter
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
Daily Wisdom - On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, April 10, 2012:
In describing the first, second, and third of the five stages of practice, the Buddha restricts those at these stages from practicing precepts and meditation, and places all emphasis upon the single factor of wisdom. And because our wisdom is inadequate, he teaches us to substitute faith for wisdom, making this single word "faith" the foundation.
On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
Written to Toki Jonin on April 10, 1277
Tuesday, April 10, 2012:
In describing the first, second, and third of the five stages of practice, the Buddha restricts those at these stages from practicing precepts and meditation, and places all emphasis upon the single factor of wisdom. And because our wisdom is inadequate, he teaches us to substitute faith for wisdom, making this single word "faith" the foundation.
On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
Written to Toki Jonin on April 10, 1277
The Boy Who Became An Eagle
Spiritual Story by Marki Parker
There was once a traveling circus: a line of colorful wagons drawn by stocky horses. There were trapeze artists and bareback riders, but the star of the show was the Eagle Boy. He had been stolen from his village when he was three years old and had been an eagle ever since. He was given a pair of wings made of wax and feathers, held together by a leather harness that looped around his body and attached with brass buckles. He had been taught to make a great show of his wings and leap from a tower over an abyss of fire to a platform on the other side.
Since it was impossible for a boy to leap that far, the audience was always on the edge of their seats. But at the last second a trained eagle always rescued him, grabbing the harness with his talons and circling dramatically as the crowd cheered, eventually delivering the boy to the platform unharmed. This went on for ten years as both the boy and the eagle grew older. But while the boy was growing taller and stronger with each passing year, the eagle was growing weaker with age.
One night the boy was asleep in his wagon. He dreamed, or was it a dream, that the eagle came to speak to him about important matters. He explained why his wagon had no bars like those of the other animals, which was something the boy had always wondered about. “The other animals hate men and would go back to their old ways if they could,” the eagle began. “The elephant and zebra would wander and graze. The lion and tiger would hunt. The bear would sleep. The monkey would steal. But I admire the ways of men. It is my destiny to be among them and teach them to fly.”
“I have loved the part I’ve played in our drama, and would go on doing it forever if I could. But every day I grow weaker and one day soon I won’t be able to bring you across the abyss of fire. Then I’ll let go of your harness and as I do, I’ll give you my power of flight. You will be transformed into an eagle, just as I was when I was a boy of 13. You will be able to save yourself and fly for many seasons. When you become old and weak, you must pass the gift on to someone else.”
“But what will become of you?” the boy asked, distressed, because he loved the eagle.
“I will dive to my death in the flames. In time you will do the same.”
“No, no!” the boy cried. “As soon as I am able to fly I will carry you with me to the other side. Even if you can’t fly you can still travel with us in your wagon, offer me advice and observe the people.”
“Who wants to be a walking eagle?” he asked. “After the glories of seeing the panorama of the earth, flying up to observe and coming back to report to the Ringmaster what’s around the bend. I have been respected here. I don’t think I could adjust to being carted around like a clown.”
The eagle paused for a moment as the boy began to cry, but he knew he must disclose the rest of his instructions. “These mysterious ways are both a blessing and a curse. Soon after I am gone, they will bring you a young boy and they will teach him to make a great show of his wings. You will play my part rescuing him at every performance, and take on other duties involving your ability to be a messenger between the Ringmaster and Heaven. In time this day will come for you too, but don’t be sad. My visit here has been a wonderful experience and I will never forget it. I know you will feel the same.”
“No,” the boy replied. “I’ll just fly away. If I’m not here they won’t steal another boy and this way of life will come to an end.”
“Is that what you really want?” asked the eagle. “Would you deny someone else the excitement of a life like yours? This boy they will steal… if you are gone he will live his life in the fields, plowing in the spring, harvesting in the fall. He will never learn to fly. And what of you? You can seek the company of eagles who did not start their lives as boys, but you will find them dull. You are not a child born of an egg, but you are a boy destined to become an eagle.”
When the boy woke the next morning, he went to the eagle’s wagon. But he was just perched on his branch, silent, tilting his head and furling his wings like an ordinary bird. Where was the magical creature of his dream? The boy tried to put the whole experience out of his mind, but a few weeks later, everything came to pass, just as the eagle had predicted.
The boy who was now an eagle sat in the wagon without any bars, but felt like a prisoner. He spread his wings and circled above the wagons and the bonfire in the middle of the camp. He knew that soon they would choose a boy for him to rescue, learn to love, and that he must begin a new life of great responsibility. Suddenly, he felt unequal to the task and began climbing into the night sky. When he finally looked back, the campfire shone like a star from the dark landscape of the countryside. He rested on a stiff current of cold air and tried to decide what to do.
Would he go back to the circus and fulfill his destiny, or make a run for the flames of the Sun?
There was once a traveling circus: a line of colorful wagons drawn by stocky horses. There were trapeze artists and bareback riders, but the star of the show was the Eagle Boy. He had been stolen from his village when he was three years old and had been an eagle ever since. He was given a pair of wings made of wax and feathers, held together by a leather harness that looped around his body and attached with brass buckles. He had been taught to make a great show of his wings and leap from a tower over an abyss of fire to a platform on the other side.
Since it was impossible for a boy to leap that far, the audience was always on the edge of their seats. But at the last second a trained eagle always rescued him, grabbing the harness with his talons and circling dramatically as the crowd cheered, eventually delivering the boy to the platform unharmed. This went on for ten years as both the boy and the eagle grew older. But while the boy was growing taller and stronger with each passing year, the eagle was growing weaker with age.
One night the boy was asleep in his wagon. He dreamed, or was it a dream, that the eagle came to speak to him about important matters. He explained why his wagon had no bars like those of the other animals, which was something the boy had always wondered about. “The other animals hate men and would go back to their old ways if they could,” the eagle began. “The elephant and zebra would wander and graze. The lion and tiger would hunt. The bear would sleep. The monkey would steal. But I admire the ways of men. It is my destiny to be among them and teach them to fly.”
“I have loved the part I’ve played in our drama, and would go on doing it forever if I could. But every day I grow weaker and one day soon I won’t be able to bring you across the abyss of fire. Then I’ll let go of your harness and as I do, I’ll give you my power of flight. You will be transformed into an eagle, just as I was when I was a boy of 13. You will be able to save yourself and fly for many seasons. When you become old and weak, you must pass the gift on to someone else.”
“But what will become of you?” the boy asked, distressed, because he loved the eagle.
“I will dive to my death in the flames. In time you will do the same.”
“No, no!” the boy cried. “As soon as I am able to fly I will carry you with me to the other side. Even if you can’t fly you can still travel with us in your wagon, offer me advice and observe the people.”
“Who wants to be a walking eagle?” he asked. “After the glories of seeing the panorama of the earth, flying up to observe and coming back to report to the Ringmaster what’s around the bend. I have been respected here. I don’t think I could adjust to being carted around like a clown.”
The eagle paused for a moment as the boy began to cry, but he knew he must disclose the rest of his instructions. “These mysterious ways are both a blessing and a curse. Soon after I am gone, they will bring you a young boy and they will teach him to make a great show of his wings. You will play my part rescuing him at every performance, and take on other duties involving your ability to be a messenger between the Ringmaster and Heaven. In time this day will come for you too, but don’t be sad. My visit here has been a wonderful experience and I will never forget it. I know you will feel the same.”
“No,” the boy replied. “I’ll just fly away. If I’m not here they won’t steal another boy and this way of life will come to an end.”
“Is that what you really want?” asked the eagle. “Would you deny someone else the excitement of a life like yours? This boy they will steal… if you are gone he will live his life in the fields, plowing in the spring, harvesting in the fall. He will never learn to fly. And what of you? You can seek the company of eagles who did not start their lives as boys, but you will find them dull. You are not a child born of an egg, but you are a boy destined to become an eagle.”
When the boy woke the next morning, he went to the eagle’s wagon. But he was just perched on his branch, silent, tilting his head and furling his wings like an ordinary bird. Where was the magical creature of his dream? The boy tried to put the whole experience out of his mind, but a few weeks later, everything came to pass, just as the eagle had predicted.
The boy who was now an eagle sat in the wagon without any bars, but felt like a prisoner. He spread his wings and circled above the wagons and the bonfire in the middle of the camp. He knew that soon they would choose a boy for him to rescue, learn to love, and that he must begin a new life of great responsibility. Suddenly, he felt unequal to the task and began climbing into the night sky. When he finally looked back, the campfire shone like a star from the dark landscape of the countryside. He rested on a stiff current of cold air and tried to decide what to do.
Would he go back to the circus and fulfill his destiny, or make a run for the flames of the Sun?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Benefit of Another Perspective
Spiritual Story by Matthew Joyce
As soon as I sat in meditation I met my spirit guide Chien. “Come on, let’s go,” he said as if I’d arrived just in time.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“On an adventure” he called over his shoulder as he shot off into the blackness. “Follow me.”
So I did. I launched myself in the blackness right behind him. At first I traveled out of body in the astral form of my human body, but soon I let that go and continued on as a mere point of awareness racing through the void beside my friend.
As is normal, I felt myself moving swiftly, but without any lights in the void for visual reference I had no sense of speed. After a while tiny points of light winked amidst the inky blackness. At first they were distant as stars in the night time sky. But as we continued to gather speed they shifted into streaks of light blurring across the void. Faster and faster we moved until the streaks of light curved back upon themselves into a spiral.
We rode the swirling spiral of light like specks of consciousness caught in a whirlpool, going round and round until we were sucked in and down. Although I was without form I sensed a collapse or compression until my speck of awareness was indistinguishable from the light itself. Then just as all distinction and movement ceased, we burst forth into another world.
Formless we rocketed through the atmosphere of a distant planet. Pink light spread across the pre-sunrise sky catching on billowing clouds that drifted above a vast violet sea. In the distance I saw a dark streak low on the horizon and realized it was a shoreline. We flew toward it, dropping in altitude as we did so.
In the brightening light I glimpsed the froth and foam of waves breaking upon a sandy beach. Set back from the shore was a sprawling complex of buildings. Here and there lights punctuated the shadowed sprawl, hinting at the waking activities of those within.
As the first rays of the sun broke the horizon and raced across the sea behind us, we flew low over the beachfront complex. In the new found light, details of the multi-storied buildings began to emerge. They were flat-roofed and constructed of grey speckled stone similar to granite. But this was not the crude hand-hewn stonework of ancient times, nor even the finely mortared stonework of modern life on Earth. These buildings appeared to be made of massive stone blocks several stories high and as many wide. Oval-shaped windows and doors appeared to be carved directly from the three foot (1 meter) thick slabs of rock.
We stopped outside one of the windows on ground level. Inside an unseen light source illuminated a common room with a cooking and eating area. From beyond the table, a figure emerged from what I presumed to be bedroom. He crossed to the hearth and lifted a kettle. Steam rose as he poured something hot to drink. I wanted a closer look and moved toward the window.
“Stay invisible,” said Chien. “We’re not here to interact today.”
His voice stopped me where I was.
“Just watch,” he said.
With drink in hand, the man emerge from the front door and turned away from us, walking down a footpath. We followed behind him, drifting along as invisible observers. He walked purposefully yet unhurriedly as if he was sure of his destination and confident he had plenty of time to get there. As he walked, with his free hand he adjusted his clothing. He appeared to be wearing a tunic of white woven cloth, a narrow cord tied about his waist. Sandals adorned his feet.
His walk led us through well-tended gardens with lush, exotic foliage in a surprising palette of colors. Not your basic green leaves and bright flowers of Earth, but a riot of blue and purple fronds with coconut-sized red and orange fruits clustered along their scale-covered stems.
Before long he led us to another building. This one had a grand portico with wide doors propped open to catch the cool morning sea breeze. We followed him inside and found ourselves in a sunken amphitheater. Pockets of people sat here and there. More people were walking in from the far side.
While the other arrivals stopped a few rows down from the back, our man continued to descend toward the center. He nodded to those he passed but remained silent. In fact, everyone was silent as if in contemplative meditation. When he reached the front row he continued on, ascending the stairs that led up onto the central stage.
He stood silently for a time as more and more people entered the amphitheater. When the theater was about a third full he took a final sip of his beverage and set it aside. Then he turned to the audience and clasped his hands together. “I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are.” His voice was rich and sonorous, carrying easily to the far reaches of the room without any amplification.
“I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are,” came the chorused reply.
He smiled as the greeting was acknowledged. “I had a dream last night I want to share with you,” he began. “I dreamt of a man on another world. He too is a spiritual teacher, but unlike me he has the ability to visit worlds like ours at will. Whereas we use our dreams to free ourselves from this world, he can do so while he is awake. With the mere power of his awareness he can travel across the vastness of the universe and he teaches others on his world how to do this.”
Murmurs of interest arose from the audience. My interest arose as well when I realized he was talking about me.
“This world of his is very interesting,” he continued. “While the beings there seem to have abilities different than ours, they have limitations as well. As I observed him interacting with others I realized that in their waking lives the people on his planet are fully immersed in their individual perspectives. Whereas we always have a dual perspective of our current lifetime and our greater selves, the people there have little or no sense of who they truly there. They think they are only the individual being living in the current lifetime.”
More murmurs arose.
“This limited perspective causes all sorts of problems,” he said. “Having no sense of who or what they really are means the people there primarily focus on securing short-term advantage over each other and over the natural elements of their world. Locked into one perspective, they naturally think first of themselves and they often have a difficult time seeing from another point of view. While the more mature among them learn to do so, as a species their short-sightedness causes great strain on their sense of well-being, on their society and their world.
“With each person locked in his or her own viewpoint you can’t imagine the clashes of ideas they face. Arguments, violence, indifference and disease are rampant on their world. At first I was aghast that people could live that way. But the more I watched the more I came to realize that perhaps there was wisdom to their way of being after all. Here our omnipresent sense of connection means that we enjoy a great sense of harmony within ourselves, with each other, and with our world. But perhaps our comfort comes at a price.
“On their world they are unceasingly exposed to new and often conflicting ideas and they must deal with them on the spot and over time,” he continued. “Right or wrong, successful or unsuccessful doesn’t matter from our expanded perspective, but to them it matters greatly. They are fully invested in the moment and in the outcome. This wholehearted and single-minded commitment is a rigorous way of being and it isn’t for faint souls. But if the people I observed are any example, it may be worth it. Their way of life engenders rapid growth and makes them very strong beings.
“To grow they must learn to shift and expand their awareness. Mostly they do this in the physical realm, learning sympathy, empathy, compromise, and cooperation. But when they are ready, they begin to explore the nonphysical world as well. They look to people like the spiritual teacher to help them send their awareness into other times, places, and states of being. In doing so they begin to experience for themselves what we take for granted: That they are intimately interconnected with all things.
“It’s a different way of life to be sure, but it’s one we can learn from. We may prefer harmony to conflict, but sometimes it can be very helpful when someone provides you with a new perspective on things. It helps you to grow,” he said.
I agreed. Not only with his assessment of Earth, but also that we grow immensely when we gain the benefit of another perspective. Not just the perspectives of our neighbors, but the greater perspective of who we truly are beyond this individual lifetime. If you’re interested in learning how, let me know.
As soon as I sat in meditation I met my spirit guide Chien. “Come on, let’s go,” he said as if I’d arrived just in time.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“On an adventure” he called over his shoulder as he shot off into the blackness. “Follow me.”
So I did. I launched myself in the blackness right behind him. At first I traveled out of body in the astral form of my human body, but soon I let that go and continued on as a mere point of awareness racing through the void beside my friend.
As is normal, I felt myself moving swiftly, but without any lights in the void for visual reference I had no sense of speed. After a while tiny points of light winked amidst the inky blackness. At first they were distant as stars in the night time sky. But as we continued to gather speed they shifted into streaks of light blurring across the void. Faster and faster we moved until the streaks of light curved back upon themselves into a spiral.
We rode the swirling spiral of light like specks of consciousness caught in a whirlpool, going round and round until we were sucked in and down. Although I was without form I sensed a collapse or compression until my speck of awareness was indistinguishable from the light itself. Then just as all distinction and movement ceased, we burst forth into another world.
Formless we rocketed through the atmosphere of a distant planet. Pink light spread across the pre-sunrise sky catching on billowing clouds that drifted above a vast violet sea. In the distance I saw a dark streak low on the horizon and realized it was a shoreline. We flew toward it, dropping in altitude as we did so.
In the brightening light I glimpsed the froth and foam of waves breaking upon a sandy beach. Set back from the shore was a sprawling complex of buildings. Here and there lights punctuated the shadowed sprawl, hinting at the waking activities of those within.
As the first rays of the sun broke the horizon and raced across the sea behind us, we flew low over the beachfront complex. In the new found light, details of the multi-storied buildings began to emerge. They were flat-roofed and constructed of grey speckled stone similar to granite. But this was not the crude hand-hewn stonework of ancient times, nor even the finely mortared stonework of modern life on Earth. These buildings appeared to be made of massive stone blocks several stories high and as many wide. Oval-shaped windows and doors appeared to be carved directly from the three foot (1 meter) thick slabs of rock.
We stopped outside one of the windows on ground level. Inside an unseen light source illuminated a common room with a cooking and eating area. From beyond the table, a figure emerged from what I presumed to be bedroom. He crossed to the hearth and lifted a kettle. Steam rose as he poured something hot to drink. I wanted a closer look and moved toward the window.
“Stay invisible,” said Chien. “We’re not here to interact today.”
His voice stopped me where I was.
“Just watch,” he said.
With drink in hand, the man emerge from the front door and turned away from us, walking down a footpath. We followed behind him, drifting along as invisible observers. He walked purposefully yet unhurriedly as if he was sure of his destination and confident he had plenty of time to get there. As he walked, with his free hand he adjusted his clothing. He appeared to be wearing a tunic of white woven cloth, a narrow cord tied about his waist. Sandals adorned his feet.
His walk led us through well-tended gardens with lush, exotic foliage in a surprising palette of colors. Not your basic green leaves and bright flowers of Earth, but a riot of blue and purple fronds with coconut-sized red and orange fruits clustered along their scale-covered stems.
Before long he led us to another building. This one had a grand portico with wide doors propped open to catch the cool morning sea breeze. We followed him inside and found ourselves in a sunken amphitheater. Pockets of people sat here and there. More people were walking in from the far side.
While the other arrivals stopped a few rows down from the back, our man continued to descend toward the center. He nodded to those he passed but remained silent. In fact, everyone was silent as if in contemplative meditation. When he reached the front row he continued on, ascending the stairs that led up onto the central stage.
He stood silently for a time as more and more people entered the amphitheater. When the theater was about a third full he took a final sip of his beverage and set it aside. Then he turned to the audience and clasped his hands together. “I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are.” His voice was rich and sonorous, carrying easily to the far reaches of the room without any amplification.
“I greet the Divine in you. I greet the God you are,” came the chorused reply.
He smiled as the greeting was acknowledged. “I had a dream last night I want to share with you,” he began. “I dreamt of a man on another world. He too is a spiritual teacher, but unlike me he has the ability to visit worlds like ours at will. Whereas we use our dreams to free ourselves from this world, he can do so while he is awake. With the mere power of his awareness he can travel across the vastness of the universe and he teaches others on his world how to do this.”
Murmurs of interest arose from the audience. My interest arose as well when I realized he was talking about me.
“This world of his is very interesting,” he continued. “While the beings there seem to have abilities different than ours, they have limitations as well. As I observed him interacting with others I realized that in their waking lives the people on his planet are fully immersed in their individual perspectives. Whereas we always have a dual perspective of our current lifetime and our greater selves, the people there have little or no sense of who they truly there. They think they are only the individual being living in the current lifetime.”
More murmurs arose.
“This limited perspective causes all sorts of problems,” he said. “Having no sense of who or what they really are means the people there primarily focus on securing short-term advantage over each other and over the natural elements of their world. Locked into one perspective, they naturally think first of themselves and they often have a difficult time seeing from another point of view. While the more mature among them learn to do so, as a species their short-sightedness causes great strain on their sense of well-being, on their society and their world.
“With each person locked in his or her own viewpoint you can’t imagine the clashes of ideas they face. Arguments, violence, indifference and disease are rampant on their world. At first I was aghast that people could live that way. But the more I watched the more I came to realize that perhaps there was wisdom to their way of being after all. Here our omnipresent sense of connection means that we enjoy a great sense of harmony within ourselves, with each other, and with our world. But perhaps our comfort comes at a price.
“On their world they are unceasingly exposed to new and often conflicting ideas and they must deal with them on the spot and over time,” he continued. “Right or wrong, successful or unsuccessful doesn’t matter from our expanded perspective, but to them it matters greatly. They are fully invested in the moment and in the outcome. This wholehearted and single-minded commitment is a rigorous way of being and it isn’t for faint souls. But if the people I observed are any example, it may be worth it. Their way of life engenders rapid growth and makes them very strong beings.
“To grow they must learn to shift and expand their awareness. Mostly they do this in the physical realm, learning sympathy, empathy, compromise, and cooperation. But when they are ready, they begin to explore the nonphysical world as well. They look to people like the spiritual teacher to help them send their awareness into other times, places, and states of being. In doing so they begin to experience for themselves what we take for granted: That they are intimately interconnected with all things.
“It’s a different way of life to be sure, but it’s one we can learn from. We may prefer harmony to conflict, but sometimes it can be very helpful when someone provides you with a new perspective on things. It helps you to grow,” he said.
I agreed. Not only with his assessment of Earth, but also that we grow immensely when we gain the benefit of another perspective. Not just the perspectives of our neighbors, but the greater perspective of who we truly are beyond this individual lifetime. If you’re interested in learning how, let me know.
Daily Wisdom - The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, April 9, 2012:
And yet there is one river called the Sahaya that follows a course as straight as a taut rope, flowing directly into the western sea. A woman who has faith in the Lotus Sutra will be like this river, proceeding directly to the Pure Land in the west. Such is the virtue inherent in the single character myo.
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; writen on January 6, 1266
Monday, April 9, 2012:
And yet there is one river called the Sahaya that follows a course as straight as a taut rope, flowing directly into the western sea. A woman who has faith in the Lotus Sutra will be like this river, proceeding directly to the Pure Land in the west. Such is the virtue inherent in the single character myo.
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; writen on January 6, 1266
Daily Wisdom - Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, April 8, 2012:
Above all, both you and your husband are upholders of the Lotus Sutra. You will surely bear a jewel of a child who is going to inherit the seed for the propagation of the Lotus Sutra. I wholeheartedly congratulate you. The child is one who will inherit both your physical and spiritual aspects.
Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child
Written to Nichigen-nyo on May 7, 1271
Sunday, April 8, 2012:
Above all, both you and your husband are upholders of the Lotus Sutra. You will surely bear a jewel of a child who is going to inherit the seed for the propagation of the Lotus Sutra. I wholeheartedly congratulate you. The child is one who will inherit both your physical and spiritual aspects.
Easy Delivery of a Fortune Child
Written to Nichigen-nyo on May 7, 1271
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Beautiful Mountains Captivated Her
Spiritual Story by Alan Dolit
The beautiful mountains captivated her. When Marian saw them she was dumbfounded. How could this be. She had left home moments ago and went to the beach. She remembered running from the beach house she and Justin had rented for their honeymoon, along an isolated stretch on the southern California coastline. It hadn't taken very long for what she had anticipated to be Heaven turn into hell. They hadn't been in the cabin for very long. A piece of paper had fallen out of his pocket. She was about to give it back to him when she noticed a woman's name and phone number on it. She looked at him and by the expression on his face she knew right away this was trouble. She immediately developed a migraine headache. She remembered grabbing a book that was lying on the counter and running and running as far and fast as she could. She eventually became exhausted after about 20 minutes and literally fell onto the soft sand.
Justin had called to her to stop, but he didn't try to follow her. After laying there for several moments, Marian started reviewing the history of their relationship. They met a year previously. Not long after they met, she started getting migraine headaches. It's not that she didn't have them before, but the intensity and frequency increased during the past year. She was also aware that during the past year the thought of Mary Magdalene came to her mind often. In fact she thought that in a previous incarnation she may even have been her. Not that she necessarily believed in reincarnation or was religious in any sense. In fact, she very rarely even attended any church. After she recovered her breath, she looked at the book she grabbed. It was the bible. How funny. She started to laugh. It had been many years since she had read the bible. After a while she felt more relaxed and closed her eyes for a short nap.
Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was mountains. Where could these large mountains possibly have come from. What is going on? They weren't there when she first lay down. Then she recalled that the last words she remembered reading were from Matthew with Jesus speaking the words: "For most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." She thought that this passage on faith was possibly the quintessential teaching of Jesus. But where was her faith now? As Marian was lying on the beach pondering her situation, she heard and saw a group of men about a hundred yards away coming towards her. They were wearing biblical type robes and had long black beards and looked just like characters from central casting. One even looked like Jesus. Now the penny dropped. Of course. They are making a movie about the life of Jesus, and the mountains are just a prop.
As they approached she waved to them but they seemed not to notice her. In fact they were animatedly engaged in conversation with each other, mostly with the Jesus character. They seemed to be speaking in a foreign language, and yet somehow she was able to understand what they were talking about. They were only a few feet from her and no one noticed her at all. In fact they walked through her as though she weren't there. She tried to touch one of them but it was as if he were made of air. She shouted and screamed to no avail. They continued walking down the beach. In her mind she thought she heard Jesus say: "Mary, follow me", but she really didn't believe it. Beside her name was Marian not Mary. After a moment when the procession was about 50 yards from where she was, she felt impelled to follow them.
Some how she had been transported back into history some two thousand years. But we'll let Marian continue in her own words: "This is unreal as though I slipped into the twilight zone. I'm either in a time warp or perhaps I've died. Or perhaps this is some sort of out of body experience. My senses all seem to be working. I don't know what is happening. I don't recognize anything. It reminds me of the Wizard of Oz movie in which Dorothy is transported via a tornado to some where over the rainbow. Only here nobody can sense my presence. I don't know what to make of any of this, but for now I'll just follow them. How utterly strange. I've never been very religious except for my early years when I was a teenager. I had given up my formal religious beliefs while still a teenager and now consider myself an agnostic, even though I sometimes believe in reincarnation. Oh well I'll just tag along and see what develops, since I don't know what else to do.
"They are going in to a building. I follow them in. They go up a long dark staircase. I feel frightened. I momentarily lose sight of them . The building is totally dark. I don't have any way to produce light, so I feel my way against the wall. As I ascend it seems to be getting lighter. I must be going into some sort of loft which has windows and skylights. I can hear voices. I reach the top of the staircase, and hear and see the men. They are sitting around a long table. I have a feeling that this is the Last Supper, only they are seated around the table and not all on one side of it as I've seen depicted in paintings. Most of them are in a somber mood. Only Jesus is in good spirits. The men sense that something serious is afoot and that they will never be together again. The men express their concerns to Jesus and he just waves his hands and says something like "Not to worry, God is in charge no matter what happens."
"Several women show up. They are from some sort of catering service, and pile many platters laden with food of all varieties on the table and leave. Jesus blesses the food and takes food from each dish. The other men follow suit. After Jesus tastes the first item he exclaims: " Wow Peter, you really ought to try this fish, it is delicious." He takes twelve different items and as he tastes each item he makes a similar comment to each disciple in turn. It is as though he is deliberately trying to lighten the mood as everyone is so upset. Judas is really the most upset, he won't even eat. Jesus says to him, "Judas eat something for Christ's sake. You'll need your strength for what you need to do". I think he is saying this remark tongue in cheek.
I note that as Jesus picks an item of food and addresses each person, he makes light of the item. Literally. Whatever he touches, light shines forth from it. I watch the disciples' countenance lighten up as Jesus does this. All except Judas. He keeps getting more and more uptight and finally blurts out : "Jesus, for God's sake, will you stop with the parlor games already? This is a very serious moment." Jesus laughs and throws a chicken leg at him. But before Judas can catch it, it turns into a live chicken and flies away. This is the last straw for Judas. He runs from the room. After everyone had eaten Jesus dismisses the remainder and says he needs to meditate for a while.
"After the last one leaves, Jesus looks directly at me and says: "Hello Mary, its been a long time. Thanks for coming." This totally frightens me. Jesus says: "Don't be afraid. I sent for you." There are no accidents. This is all carefully planned out. You may have noticed how I've been enjoying each item of food. Well why not. Its the last food I'll ever eat. We don't have much time so listen carefully. They'll be coming for me in a short while. It has to be this way. If I live to a ripe old age, my message of peace, love and joy and especially forgiveness, will be totally lost to antiquity. I have to have a dramatic show biz exit. You were correct about Mary Magdalene. You are her reincarnation. And guess what. Justin is Judas's reincarnation. You have never forgiven Judas for betraying me. That is why you are together now. You still haven't forgiven, that is why you still get migraine headaches. However now you have the opportunity to choose again. You know that forgiveness is the key to happiness and also good health. Don't jump to conclusions about Justin. Go back and listen to him. Trust and faith will settle every problem now.
One last thing Mary... Marian, Judas is only fulfilling his assigned role. The human condition will always need someone or something to project guilt on to. Either another person in the form of anger, or to our own body in the form of illness. The only solution to projection is forgiveness. I can hear them coming for me now. Smile Mary, you're on God's candid camera. I'll see you in your dreams. Listen to me. I will never leave you comfortless." I hear a commotion outside. There is Judas with a group of soldiers. "There he is" shouted Judas pointing at Jesus. He really does look like Justin, I notice. Judas says to Jesus in a softer voice "You're still here. I thought I wouldn't see you again"
"Then all of a sudden I am back on the beach. Every thing is back to normal. I see Justin running toward me. "You're still here. I thought I wouldn't see you again. Marian, I love you. I tried to tell you, but you had already gone. That woman is my cousin and she is bringing over a present to us. It was meant to be a surprise. There is no one else in my life. Truly." We embraced. At this point I felt I had truly forgiven Justin and Judas. After we returned to the cabin and were lying in bed that evening Justin said: "You know Marian, it was the strangest thing, I heard a voice telling me to wait about an hour and then go find you. The voice told me precisely where you would be lying and that all would be forgiven. It seemed that in fact I was being forgiven for something that had occurred a long time ago. Perhaps even in a different lifetime. I don't know why but I had the strangest sensation that it was Jesus who was directing me to find you". I smiled and decided not to say anything about the experience I had had. Right after I had forgiven Justin/Judas my migraines cleared up and haven't returned. Thank you Jesus."
The beautiful mountains captivated her. When Marian saw them she was dumbfounded. How could this be. She had left home moments ago and went to the beach. She remembered running from the beach house she and Justin had rented for their honeymoon, along an isolated stretch on the southern California coastline. It hadn't taken very long for what she had anticipated to be Heaven turn into hell. They hadn't been in the cabin for very long. A piece of paper had fallen out of his pocket. She was about to give it back to him when she noticed a woman's name and phone number on it. She looked at him and by the expression on his face she knew right away this was trouble. She immediately developed a migraine headache. She remembered grabbing a book that was lying on the counter and running and running as far and fast as she could. She eventually became exhausted after about 20 minutes and literally fell onto the soft sand.
Justin had called to her to stop, but he didn't try to follow her. After laying there for several moments, Marian started reviewing the history of their relationship. They met a year previously. Not long after they met, she started getting migraine headaches. It's not that she didn't have them before, but the intensity and frequency increased during the past year. She was also aware that during the past year the thought of Mary Magdalene came to her mind often. In fact she thought that in a previous incarnation she may even have been her. Not that she necessarily believed in reincarnation or was religious in any sense. In fact, she very rarely even attended any church. After she recovered her breath, she looked at the book she grabbed. It was the bible. How funny. She started to laugh. It had been many years since she had read the bible. After a while she felt more relaxed and closed her eyes for a short nap.
Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was mountains. Where could these large mountains possibly have come from. What is going on? They weren't there when she first lay down. Then she recalled that the last words she remembered reading were from Matthew with Jesus speaking the words: "For most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." She thought that this passage on faith was possibly the quintessential teaching of Jesus. But where was her faith now? As Marian was lying on the beach pondering her situation, she heard and saw a group of men about a hundred yards away coming towards her. They were wearing biblical type robes and had long black beards and looked just like characters from central casting. One even looked like Jesus. Now the penny dropped. Of course. They are making a movie about the life of Jesus, and the mountains are just a prop.
As they approached she waved to them but they seemed not to notice her. In fact they were animatedly engaged in conversation with each other, mostly with the Jesus character. They seemed to be speaking in a foreign language, and yet somehow she was able to understand what they were talking about. They were only a few feet from her and no one noticed her at all. In fact they walked through her as though she weren't there. She tried to touch one of them but it was as if he were made of air. She shouted and screamed to no avail. They continued walking down the beach. In her mind she thought she heard Jesus say: "Mary, follow me", but she really didn't believe it. Beside her name was Marian not Mary. After a moment when the procession was about 50 yards from where she was, she felt impelled to follow them.
Some how she had been transported back into history some two thousand years. But we'll let Marian continue in her own words: "This is unreal as though I slipped into the twilight zone. I'm either in a time warp or perhaps I've died. Or perhaps this is some sort of out of body experience. My senses all seem to be working. I don't know what is happening. I don't recognize anything. It reminds me of the Wizard of Oz movie in which Dorothy is transported via a tornado to some where over the rainbow. Only here nobody can sense my presence. I don't know what to make of any of this, but for now I'll just follow them. How utterly strange. I've never been very religious except for my early years when I was a teenager. I had given up my formal religious beliefs while still a teenager and now consider myself an agnostic, even though I sometimes believe in reincarnation. Oh well I'll just tag along and see what develops, since I don't know what else to do.
"They are going in to a building. I follow them in. They go up a long dark staircase. I feel frightened. I momentarily lose sight of them . The building is totally dark. I don't have any way to produce light, so I feel my way against the wall. As I ascend it seems to be getting lighter. I must be going into some sort of loft which has windows and skylights. I can hear voices. I reach the top of the staircase, and hear and see the men. They are sitting around a long table. I have a feeling that this is the Last Supper, only they are seated around the table and not all on one side of it as I've seen depicted in paintings. Most of them are in a somber mood. Only Jesus is in good spirits. The men sense that something serious is afoot and that they will never be together again. The men express their concerns to Jesus and he just waves his hands and says something like "Not to worry, God is in charge no matter what happens."
"Several women show up. They are from some sort of catering service, and pile many platters laden with food of all varieties on the table and leave. Jesus blesses the food and takes food from each dish. The other men follow suit. After Jesus tastes the first item he exclaims: " Wow Peter, you really ought to try this fish, it is delicious." He takes twelve different items and as he tastes each item he makes a similar comment to each disciple in turn. It is as though he is deliberately trying to lighten the mood as everyone is so upset. Judas is really the most upset, he won't even eat. Jesus says to him, "Judas eat something for Christ's sake. You'll need your strength for what you need to do". I think he is saying this remark tongue in cheek.
I note that as Jesus picks an item of food and addresses each person, he makes light of the item. Literally. Whatever he touches, light shines forth from it. I watch the disciples' countenance lighten up as Jesus does this. All except Judas. He keeps getting more and more uptight and finally blurts out : "Jesus, for God's sake, will you stop with the parlor games already? This is a very serious moment." Jesus laughs and throws a chicken leg at him. But before Judas can catch it, it turns into a live chicken and flies away. This is the last straw for Judas. He runs from the room. After everyone had eaten Jesus dismisses the remainder and says he needs to meditate for a while.
"After the last one leaves, Jesus looks directly at me and says: "Hello Mary, its been a long time. Thanks for coming." This totally frightens me. Jesus says: "Don't be afraid. I sent for you." There are no accidents. This is all carefully planned out. You may have noticed how I've been enjoying each item of food. Well why not. Its the last food I'll ever eat. We don't have much time so listen carefully. They'll be coming for me in a short while. It has to be this way. If I live to a ripe old age, my message of peace, love and joy and especially forgiveness, will be totally lost to antiquity. I have to have a dramatic show biz exit. You were correct about Mary Magdalene. You are her reincarnation. And guess what. Justin is Judas's reincarnation. You have never forgiven Judas for betraying me. That is why you are together now. You still haven't forgiven, that is why you still get migraine headaches. However now you have the opportunity to choose again. You know that forgiveness is the key to happiness and also good health. Don't jump to conclusions about Justin. Go back and listen to him. Trust and faith will settle every problem now.
One last thing Mary... Marian, Judas is only fulfilling his assigned role. The human condition will always need someone or something to project guilt on to. Either another person in the form of anger, or to our own body in the form of illness. The only solution to projection is forgiveness. I can hear them coming for me now. Smile Mary, you're on God's candid camera. I'll see you in your dreams. Listen to me. I will never leave you comfortless." I hear a commotion outside. There is Judas with a group of soldiers. "There he is" shouted Judas pointing at Jesus. He really does look like Justin, I notice. Judas says to Jesus in a softer voice "You're still here. I thought I wouldn't see you again"
"Then all of a sudden I am back on the beach. Every thing is back to normal. I see Justin running toward me. "You're still here. I thought I wouldn't see you again. Marian, I love you. I tried to tell you, but you had already gone. That woman is my cousin and she is bringing over a present to us. It was meant to be a surprise. There is no one else in my life. Truly." We embraced. At this point I felt I had truly forgiven Justin and Judas. After we returned to the cabin and were lying in bed that evening Justin said: "You know Marian, it was the strangest thing, I heard a voice telling me to wait about an hour and then go find you. The voice told me precisely where you would be lying and that all would be forgiven. It seemed that in fact I was being forgiven for something that had occurred a long time ago. Perhaps even in a different lifetime. I don't know why but I had the strangest sensation that it was Jesus who was directing me to find you". I smiled and decided not to say anything about the experience I had had. Right after I had forgiven Justin/Judas my migraines cleared up and haven't returned. Thank you Jesus."
Daily Wisdom - The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, April 7, 2012:
If you try to treat someone's illness without knowing its cause, you will only make the person sicker than before.
The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Konichi in 1276
Saturday, April 7, 2012:
If you try to treat someone's illness without knowing its cause, you will only make the person sicker than before.
The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Konichi in 1276
Daily Wisdom - An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, April 6, 2012:
So if a woman makes offerings to the Lotus Sutra now in the last five-hundred-year period, [Bodhisattva Gladly Seen's] benefits will all be bequeathed to her without exception, just as a wealthy man transfers his entire fortune to his only son.
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278
Friday, April 6, 2012:
So if a woman makes offerings to the Lotus Sutra now in the last five-hundred-year period, [Bodhisattva Gladly Seen's] benefits will all be bequeathed to her without exception, just as a wealthy man transfers his entire fortune to his only son.
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Asylum
Spiritual Story by Kahlil Gibran
I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book. His behavior and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates.
I sat down beside him and asked:
"What are you doing here?"
He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied:
"It's very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him.
"My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I would follow his example.
"My mother wanted me to be the image of her beloved father.
"My sister always set her husband before me as an example of the successful man.
"My brother tried to train me up to be a fine athlete like himself.
"And the same thing happened at school, with the piano teacher and the English teacher – they were all convinced and determined that they were the best possible example to follow.
"None of them looked at me as one should look at a man, but as if they were looking in a mirror.
"So I decided to enter this asylum. At least here I can be myself."
I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book. His behavior and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates.
I sat down beside him and asked:
"What are you doing here?"
He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied:
"It's very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him.
"My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I would follow his example.
"My mother wanted me to be the image of her beloved father.
"My sister always set her husband before me as an example of the successful man.
"My brother tried to train me up to be a fine athlete like himself.
"And the same thing happened at school, with the piano teacher and the English teacher – they were all convinced and determined that they were the best possible example to follow.
"None of them looked at me as one should look at a man, but as if they were looking in a mirror.
"So I decided to enter this asylum. At least here I can be myself."
Daily Wisdom - The Rationale for Writing "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, April 5, 2012:
I, Nichiren, observing this state of affairs, proceeded to consult the great collection of Buddhist scriptures. There I discovered the reason why these prayers are without effect and on the contrary actually make the situation worse, along with passages of proof to support it. In the end I had no other recourse than to compile a work to present my findings, entitling it On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.. . . This I did solely that I might repay the debt of gratitude that I owe to my native land.
The Rationale for Writing "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"
Written to Hogan on April 5, 1268
Thursday, April 5, 2012:
I, Nichiren, observing this state of affairs, proceeded to consult the great collection of Buddhist scriptures. There I discovered the reason why these prayers are without effect and on the contrary actually make the situation worse, along with passages of proof to support it. In the end I had no other recourse than to compile a work to present my findings, entitling it On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land.. . . This I did solely that I might repay the debt of gratitude that I owe to my native land.
The Rationale for Writing "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"
Written to Hogan on April 5, 1268
Daily Wisdom - Slanderers are like barking foxes, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, April 4, 2012:
Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs. Slanderers are like barking foxes, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions.
On Persecutions Befalling the Sage
Written to all followers (and entrusted to Shijo Kingo) on October 1, 1279
Wednesday, April 4, 2012:
Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs. Slanderers are like barking foxes, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions.
On Persecutions Befalling the Sage
Written to all followers (and entrusted to Shijo Kingo) on October 1, 1279
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Answer
Spiritual Story by Deepak Chopra
I heard the sea and asked,
"What language is that?"
The sea replied,
"The language of eternal questions."
I saw the sky and asked,
"What holds the answer?"
The sky replied,
"The language of eternal silence."
I heard the sea and asked,
"What language is that?"
The sea replied,
"The language of eternal questions."
I saw the sky and asked,
"What holds the answer?"
The sky replied,
"The language of eternal silence."
Daily Wisdom - Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, April 3, 2012:
If one doubts the strength of the Buddha when he says, "I am the only person who can rescue and protect others"; if one is suspicious of the rope held out by the Lotus Sutra when its teachings declare that one can "gain entrance though faith alone"; if one fails to chant the Mystic Law which guarantees that "such a person assuredly and without doubt [will attain the Buddha way]," then the Buddha's power cannot reach one, and it will be impossible to scale the embankment of enlightenment.
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Tuesday, April 3, 2012:
If one doubts the strength of the Buddha when he says, "I am the only person who can rescue and protect others"; if one is suspicious of the rope held out by the Lotus Sutra when its teachings declare that one can "gain entrance though faith alone"; if one fails to chant the Mystic Law which guarantees that "such a person assuredly and without doubt [will attain the Buddha way]," then the Buddha's power cannot reach one, and it will be impossible to scale the embankment of enlightenment.
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Daily Wisdom - On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, April 2, 2012:
Though I may be a person of little ability, I have reverently given myself to the study of the Mahayana. A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thoroughbred horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet.
On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
Submitted to Hojo Tokiyori on July 16, 1260
Monday, April 2, 2012:
Though I may be a person of little ability, I have reverently given myself to the study of the Mahayana. A blue fly, if it clings to the tail of a thoroughbred horse, can travel ten thousand miles, and the green ivy that twines around the tall pine can grow to a thousand feet.
On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
Submitted to Hojo Tokiyori on July 16, 1260
Daily Wisdom - The Teaching for the Latter Day
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, April 1, 2012:
This teaching was not propagated in the Former or Middle Day of the Law because the other sutras had not yet lost their power of benefit. Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment. Only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can do so. This is not my own judgment. Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, the Buddhas of the ten directions, and the bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth as numerous as the dust particles of a thousand worlds have so determined it.
The Teaching for the Latter Day
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278
Sunday, April 1, 2012:
This teaching was not propagated in the Former or Middle Day of the Law because the other sutras had not yet lost their power of benefit. Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment. Only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can do so. This is not my own judgment. Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, the Buddhas of the ten directions, and the bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth as numerous as the dust particles of a thousand worlds have so determined it.
The Teaching for the Latter Day
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Adopted Stranger In The Garden
Spiritual Story by S R Karthik
Once upon a time there was a man who had a big garden. He had planted many fruit trees and cared for them till they bear fruits. Now he wanted to pick up the fruits and sell them to make money for his family.
One fine day while picking fruits with his son, the man saw a stranger sitting on the branch of a tree and picking the fruits. This man became angry and shouted, "Hey you! What are you doing on my tree? Aren't you ashamed of stealing fruits in the day time?"
The stranger on the branch just looked at the gardener but didn't reply, and continued picking the fruits.
The gardener was very angry and shouted again, "For a whole year I have taken care of these trees, you have no right to take the fruits without my permission so come down at once!"
The stranger on the tree answered, "Why should I come down? This is the garden of God and I am the servant of God, so I have the right to pick these fruits and you should not interfere between the work of God and his servant."
The gardener was very surprised at this answer and thought of a plan. He called his son and said, "go bring a rope and get this man down from the tree."
His son brought the rope and the gardener ordered him to tie the stranger to the tree. The gardener then took a stick and started to beat the stranger. The stranger began to scream. "Why are you beating me? You have no right to do this."
The gardener paid no attention and continued beating him. The stranger screamed, "Don't you fear God, you are beating an innocent man?"
The gardener answered, "Why should I fear? This wood in my hand belongs to God and I am too the servant of God, so I have nothing to fear, and you shouldn't interfere with the work of God and his servant."
The stranger hesitated and then spoke, "Wait don't beat me, I am sorry for taking the fruits. This is your garden and I should seek your permission before taking the fruits. So, please forgive and set me free."
The gardener smiled and said, "Since you have now realized your mistake, I will forgive you but remember that God has given all his servants brain so every person's deeds are in his own hands."
Then the gardener untied him and let him go free.
Once upon a time there was a man who had a big garden. He had planted many fruit trees and cared for them till they bear fruits. Now he wanted to pick up the fruits and sell them to make money for his family.
One fine day while picking fruits with his son, the man saw a stranger sitting on the branch of a tree and picking the fruits. This man became angry and shouted, "Hey you! What are you doing on my tree? Aren't you ashamed of stealing fruits in the day time?"
The stranger on the branch just looked at the gardener but didn't reply, and continued picking the fruits.
The gardener was very angry and shouted again, "For a whole year I have taken care of these trees, you have no right to take the fruits without my permission so come down at once!"
The stranger on the tree answered, "Why should I come down? This is the garden of God and I am the servant of God, so I have the right to pick these fruits and you should not interfere between the work of God and his servant."
The gardener was very surprised at this answer and thought of a plan. He called his son and said, "go bring a rope and get this man down from the tree."
His son brought the rope and the gardener ordered him to tie the stranger to the tree. The gardener then took a stick and started to beat the stranger. The stranger began to scream. "Why are you beating me? You have no right to do this."
The gardener paid no attention and continued beating him. The stranger screamed, "Don't you fear God, you are beating an innocent man?"
The gardener answered, "Why should I fear? This wood in my hand belongs to God and I am too the servant of God, so I have nothing to fear, and you shouldn't interfere with the work of God and his servant."
The stranger hesitated and then spoke, "Wait don't beat me, I am sorry for taking the fruits. This is your garden and I should seek your permission before taking the fruits. So, please forgive and set me free."
The gardener smiled and said, "Since you have now realized your mistake, I will forgive you but remember that God has given all his servants brain so every person's deeds are in his own hands."
Then the gardener untied him and let him go free.
Daily Wisdom - Reply to the Lay Priest Soya
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 31, 2012:
I have written out the prose section of the "Expedient Means" chapter for you. You should recite it together with the verse portion of the "Life Span" chapter, which I sent you earlier. The characters of this sutra are all without exception living Buddhas of perfect enlightenment. But because we have the eyes of ordinary people, we see them as characters.
Reply to the Lay Priest Soya
Written to the Lay Priest Soya in March 1275
Saturday, March 31, 2012:
I have written out the prose section of the "Expedient Means" chapter for you. You should recite it together with the verse portion of the "Life Span" chapter, which I sent you earlier. The characters of this sutra are all without exception living Buddhas of perfect enlightenment. But because we have the eyes of ordinary people, we see them as characters.
Reply to the Lay Priest Soya
Written to the Lay Priest Soya in March 1275
Daily Wisdom - The Teaching for the Latter Day
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 30, 2012:
To mix other practices with this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a grave error. A lantern is useless when the sun rises. How can dewdrops be beneficial when the rain falls? Should one feed a newborn baby anything other than its mother's milk? No addition of other medicines is needed with a good medicine.
The Teaching for the Latter Day
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278
Friday, March 30, 2012:
To mix other practices with this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a grave error. A lantern is useless when the sun rises. How can dewdrops be beneficial when the rain falls? Should one feed a newborn baby anything other than its mother's milk? No addition of other medicines is needed with a good medicine.
The Teaching for the Latter Day
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thank You Letter To An Eye Surgeon
Spiritual Story by Thomas
Thank you letter to an eye surgeon and the spiritual journey of restored vision...
Dear Doctor D,
Not counting the Brownie Hawkeye camera I owned as a teen ager, this will be the the second year of my self-taught foray into amateur photography. I am now 72 years old. You can see by the photographs how important sight is to me and how devastated I was when I could no longer see the camera settings or optical viewfinder that allowed me to take photos. Your life's work as a skilled surgeon has changed all of that.
All of my life I've searched for a meditation that would force me into the present where happiness resides. I've always lacked the necessary discipline to practice any forms of traditional meditation that promises to relieve stress, tame an unruly mind and force one into reality which can only be experienced in the moment. All else, as you know, is either the old dead ashes of history or the useless activity of living in the unknown future.
The things I love most about photography is that it captures moments in time, and forces one to be observant of reality found in the present Photography also gives me a chance to demonstrate my love of Victoria (our fair city), which is beyond words.
The second activity that I was fortunate enough to discover that provides access to the joy of the present is the simple act of feeding wildbirds wherever I find them. My daughter Merritt (seen in the photographs) is very much into this satisfying and immensely easy activity that opens the door to happiness and relaxation that can only be found in the present. Peanuts and dry dogfood for the crows and ravens, whole grains for the waterfowl and seeds for the groundfeeders is just payment for the joy of relating to this wonderful bird life. To feed these miracles of life commercial bread products is to unintentionaly do them harm.
My daughter is self employed and recently told me when she is experiencing life or work related stress she will take an hour between clients, drive to Saxe Point Park and feed her friends the crows who live there. Since crows have the ability to recognize individual people by their facial features they greet her as the friend she is.
Like her I enjoy the friendliness of wildbirds as I make their need to work finding food every day a bit easier by feeding them nutritious, healthy food. Sparrows, finches, crows, ducks, peacocks and geese all express their friendliness by their trust and recognition.
Above all it forces one into the present where these wonderful creatures live. How lucky I am to have found these two realities even this late in life.
This priceless gift of sight you've restored to me makes it impossible to properly express gratitude for a gift of such magnitude. These photos are but a token.
With Gratitude...
Thomas, Vancouver Island Canada
Thank you letter to an eye surgeon and the spiritual journey of restored vision...
Dear Doctor D,
Not counting the Brownie Hawkeye camera I owned as a teen ager, this will be the the second year of my self-taught foray into amateur photography. I am now 72 years old. You can see by the photographs how important sight is to me and how devastated I was when I could no longer see the camera settings or optical viewfinder that allowed me to take photos. Your life's work as a skilled surgeon has changed all of that.
All of my life I've searched for a meditation that would force me into the present where happiness resides. I've always lacked the necessary discipline to practice any forms of traditional meditation that promises to relieve stress, tame an unruly mind and force one into reality which can only be experienced in the moment. All else, as you know, is either the old dead ashes of history or the useless activity of living in the unknown future.
The things I love most about photography is that it captures moments in time, and forces one to be observant of reality found in the present Photography also gives me a chance to demonstrate my love of Victoria (our fair city), which is beyond words.
The second activity that I was fortunate enough to discover that provides access to the joy of the present is the simple act of feeding wildbirds wherever I find them. My daughter Merritt (seen in the photographs) is very much into this satisfying and immensely easy activity that opens the door to happiness and relaxation that can only be found in the present. Peanuts and dry dogfood for the crows and ravens, whole grains for the waterfowl and seeds for the groundfeeders is just payment for the joy of relating to this wonderful bird life. To feed these miracles of life commercial bread products is to unintentionaly do them harm.
My daughter is self employed and recently told me when she is experiencing life or work related stress she will take an hour between clients, drive to Saxe Point Park and feed her friends the crows who live there. Since crows have the ability to recognize individual people by their facial features they greet her as the friend she is.
Like her I enjoy the friendliness of wildbirds as I make their need to work finding food every day a bit easier by feeding them nutritious, healthy food. Sparrows, finches, crows, ducks, peacocks and geese all express their friendliness by their trust and recognition.
Above all it forces one into the present where these wonderful creatures live. How lucky I am to have found these two realities even this late in life.
This priceless gift of sight you've restored to me makes it impossible to properly express gratitude for a gift of such magnitude. These photos are but a token.
With Gratitude...
Thomas, Vancouver Island Canada
Daily Wisdom - Overcoming arrogance and anger
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, March 29, 2012:
Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in a next one. Ah, you should be ashamed of them! And you should fear them, too!
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Thursday, March 29, 2012:
Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in a next one. Ah, you should be ashamed of them! And you should fear them, too!
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Daily Wisdom - The One Essential Phrase
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, March 28, 2012:
The heart of the Lotus Sutra is its title, or the daimoku, of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Truly, if you chant this in the morning and evening, you are correctly reading the entire Lotus Sutra. Chanting daimoku twice is the same as reading the entire sutra twice, one hundred daimoku equal one hundred readings of the sutra, and a thousand daimoku, a thousand readings of the sutra. Thus, if you ceaselessly chant daimoku, you will be continually reading the Lotus Sutra.
The One Essential Phrase
Written to the lay nun Myoho on July 3, 1278
Wednesday, March 28, 2012:
The heart of the Lotus Sutra is its title, or the daimoku, of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Truly, if you chant this in the morning and evening, you are correctly reading the entire Lotus Sutra. Chanting daimoku twice is the same as reading the entire sutra twice, one hundred daimoku equal one hundred readings of the sutra, and a thousand daimoku, a thousand readings of the sutra. Thus, if you ceaselessly chant daimoku, you will be continually reading the Lotus Sutra.
The One Essential Phrase
Written to the lay nun Myoho on July 3, 1278
Monday, January 23, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Bow and Arrow
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, March 27, 2012:
You also are a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, and your faith is like the waxing moon or the rising tide. Be deeply convinced, then, that your illness cannot possibly persist, and that your life cannot fail to be extended! Take care of yourself, and do not burden your mind with grief.
The Bow and Arrow
Written to the lay nun Toki on March 27, 1276
Tuesday, March 27, 2012:
You also are a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, and your faith is like the waxing moon or the rising tide. Be deeply convinced, then, that your illness cannot possibly persist, and that your life cannot fail to be extended! Take care of yourself, and do not burden your mind with grief.
The Bow and Arrow
Written to the lay nun Toki on March 27, 1276
Daily Wisdom - The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, March 26, 2012:
The Buddha explained how difficult it is for a one-eyed turtle to find a floating sandalwood log with a suitable hollow, even after immeasurable, boundless kalpas. He employed this analogy to illustrate the rarity of encountering the Lotus Sutra. One should be aware, however, that, even if one should encounter the floating sandalwood log of the Lotus Sutra, it is rarer still to find the hollow of the Mystic Law of the daimoku, which is difficult to chant.
The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log
Written to the widow of the lay priest Matsuno on March 26, 1279
Monday, March 26, 2012:
The Buddha explained how difficult it is for a one-eyed turtle to find a floating sandalwood log with a suitable hollow, even after immeasurable, boundless kalpas. He employed this analogy to illustrate the rarity of encountering the Lotus Sutra. One should be aware, however, that, even if one should encounter the floating sandalwood log of the Lotus Sutra, it is rarer still to find the hollow of the Mystic Law of the daimoku, which is difficult to chant.
The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log
Written to the widow of the lay priest Matsuno on March 26, 1279
Tested
Spiritual Story by David McLaughlan
On the train heading for Glasgow I raised a subject I'd read about the day before. "Is your church-going a substitute for Christianity?" My wife looked puzzled so I explained. "It's about folk who claim to be Christian because they go to church every Sunday but don't actually lead very Christian lives the other six days of the week."
Well, we tossed the idea about for a few minutes then the train reached the terminus. Once in Central Station we made our way through the masses of travellers towards the exit. The last thing I expected was to have my question put to the test almost immediately.
My wife tugged at my sleeve.
"Look." She pointed to a bank of pay phones against the far wall where a hunched, elderly lady was checking every change return slot. Looking at her many layers of ragged clothing and shoes held together with tape my wife commented,
"She's probably wearing everything she owns. And what she isn't wearing is probably in the plastic bag she's carrying."
I turned against the tide of people and stood for a moment, watching her. Having found no forgotten change this woman, who had to be in her seventies, headed for the newsagent's shop.
She was so small I doubt the sales assistant ever saw her amongst the genuine customers. She picked up a magazine of two and "accidentally" shook out the advertising leaflets and free TV guides. She picked these up off the floor and tucked them into one of her many cardigans. I could only guess they might be insulation to help her through a cold night.
By now I was feeling like something of a voyeur. It was time to move on. I had seen poor people before. On the streets of Glasgow that night I would probably walk past a dozen professional beggars. But I couldn't walk away.
Once again the woman made her way, all but unnoticed, through the crowd. Her next stop was the photo booth, where she pressed the coin return button a few times.
When she came out I was standing in front of her. Now, I'm a fairly big man so I don't blame her for being startled when I said, "Find anything?" But there was something more in her expression. She didn't seem to think I was police, or security, or railway staff, she just seemed totally confused by the fact that someone was paying attention to her.
"Here." I held out some money.
She smiled, tried for a few seconds to speak but she seemed to have forgotten how. Then she mouthed the words, "Thank you."
Stunned and scared I stepped back into the crowd. By the time I reached my wife again my tears were flowing freely.
Minutes before I had been questioning other folk's Christianity. Now I had been tested. If Jesus had been in that old lady I might not have recognised him. Si, instead, he sent a messenger, someone I certainly would recognise. In that deeply lined face and those watery blue eyes I had seen my own dearly loved, long departed Granny.
In another life when I still had a child's innocence I had fixed her fence, brought coal for her fire, anything to see Granny smile. And in that face I had seen proof that, decades after her death, by caring for someone else, I had made her happy again.
We were on our way to the theatre, to see Jesus Christ Superstar, but I confess I only saw about half of it the rest was blurred by tears of happiness.
On the train heading for Glasgow I raised a subject I'd read about the day before. "Is your church-going a substitute for Christianity?" My wife looked puzzled so I explained. "It's about folk who claim to be Christian because they go to church every Sunday but don't actually lead very Christian lives the other six days of the week."
Well, we tossed the idea about for a few minutes then the train reached the terminus. Once in Central Station we made our way through the masses of travellers towards the exit. The last thing I expected was to have my question put to the test almost immediately.
My wife tugged at my sleeve.
"Look." She pointed to a bank of pay phones against the far wall where a hunched, elderly lady was checking every change return slot. Looking at her many layers of ragged clothing and shoes held together with tape my wife commented,
"She's probably wearing everything she owns. And what she isn't wearing is probably in the plastic bag she's carrying."
I turned against the tide of people and stood for a moment, watching her. Having found no forgotten change this woman, who had to be in her seventies, headed for the newsagent's shop.
She was so small I doubt the sales assistant ever saw her amongst the genuine customers. She picked up a magazine of two and "accidentally" shook out the advertising leaflets and free TV guides. She picked these up off the floor and tucked them into one of her many cardigans. I could only guess they might be insulation to help her through a cold night.
By now I was feeling like something of a voyeur. It was time to move on. I had seen poor people before. On the streets of Glasgow that night I would probably walk past a dozen professional beggars. But I couldn't walk away.
Once again the woman made her way, all but unnoticed, through the crowd. Her next stop was the photo booth, where she pressed the coin return button a few times.
When she came out I was standing in front of her. Now, I'm a fairly big man so I don't blame her for being startled when I said, "Find anything?" But there was something more in her expression. She didn't seem to think I was police, or security, or railway staff, she just seemed totally confused by the fact that someone was paying attention to her.
"Here." I held out some money.
She smiled, tried for a few seconds to speak but she seemed to have forgotten how. Then she mouthed the words, "Thank you."
Stunned and scared I stepped back into the crowd. By the time I reached my wife again my tears were flowing freely.
Minutes before I had been questioning other folk's Christianity. Now I had been tested. If Jesus had been in that old lady I might not have recognised him. Si, instead, he sent a messenger, someone I certainly would recognise. In that deeply lined face and those watery blue eyes I had seen my own dearly loved, long departed Granny.
In another life when I still had a child's innocence I had fixed her fence, brought coal for her fire, anything to see Granny smile. And in that face I had seen proof that, decades after her death, by caring for someone else, I had made her happy again.
We were on our way to the theatre, to see Jesus Christ Superstar, but I confess I only saw about half of it the rest was blurred by tears of happiness.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Daily Wisdom - When both wife and husband have faith
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A wife who leads her husband to take faith will enjoy the same benefit as Lady Pure Virtue. All the more fortunate is a case like yours, in which both wife and husband have faith! It is like a bird possessing two wings, or a cart having two wheels. What is there that you two cannot achieve? Because there is a heaven and an earth, a sun and a moon, the sun shines and the rain falls, and the plants and trees of benefit will surely blossom and bear fruit.
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A wife who leads her husband to take faith will enjoy the same benefit as Lady Pure Virtue. All the more fortunate is a case like yours, in which both wife and husband have faith! It is like a bird possessing two wings, or a cart having two wheels. What is there that you two cannot achieve? Because there is a heaven and an earth, a sun and a moon, the sun shines and the rain falls, and the plants and trees of benefit will surely blossom and bear fruit.
An Outline of the "Entrustment" and Other Chapters
Written to Nichinyo on June 25, 1278
Daily Wisdom - It is not that my resolve [to save you] is weak. Rather, it depends on the strength of each person's faith.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 24, 2012:
I feel great pity for you and the others, but there is little I can do to help. Nevertheless, I pray day and night to the Lotus Sutra. Spare no effort in offering up prayers with firm faith. It is not that my resolve [to save you] is weak. Rather, it depends on the strength of each person's faith.
The Story of Ohashi no Taro
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on March 24, 1276
Saturday, March 24, 2012:
I feel great pity for you and the others, but there is little I can do to help. Nevertheless, I pray day and night to the Lotus Sutra. Spare no effort in offering up prayers with firm faith. It is not that my resolve [to save you] is weak. Rather, it depends on the strength of each person's faith.
The Story of Ohashi no Taro
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on March 24, 1276
Taos Writer Lost in Blizzard
Spiritual Story by Sandy Penny
I left Houston, Texas, on a spiritual quest in the balmy fall of 2005 and, after much wandering, found myself in Taos, New Mexico in the cold white month of January 2006. I was working on an intriguing spiritual writing project with hospice doctor, John Lerma about people who see angels when they're dying.
Several times I tried to leave Taos, but the Taos Mountain had decided I was staying, and the weather cooperated with the mountain to keep me here. At the end of March, I took a little jaunt up to Valley View in Colorado, having always wanted to be at the hot springs when it was snowing. It was a lovely place to work on my angel book. After a few days, the weather seemed to be worsening, with five or six inches of snow on the roof of my car every morning, so I decided it was time to go south.
I intended to go down to Albuquerque and re-evaluate staying in Taos. I just really was not used to the cold weather and the snow after 35 years in Houston. As I headed down 285 south, a huge black raven-like cloud appeared in the distance, flying directly toward me. It was kind of mesmerizing. It seemed as if it touched the ground and flew back into the air. I suddenly feared there was a tornado in that cloud formation, and recorded a quick message to my kids about how much I loved them, just in case.
As I headed toward the giant raven cloud, it headed toward me, and suddenly I was under it, and although there was no tornado, the snow surrounded me and whitened my entire existence as if I had died and was in the midst of the clouds before the light appears. I could no longer see the road, and I could barely distinguish where the side of the road dropped off. A mightly wind hurled me across the road, and when I tried to steer into it, relented and I skidded perilously toward the drop-off. I quickly corrected and slowed down even more. It was the closest thing to a blizzard I had ever seen.
I was alone. I slowly dialed the radio and found only scratchy blankness. I set the automatic search and forgot about trying to get a station. I flipped open my cell phone. Nothing there either. I was deeply alone and did not know what I should do in this case. I could not pull over because I could not tell where the drop-offs were, and I was afraid my car would run out of gas while I ran the heater, and I would be found frozen in a hill of snow. So I inched my way forward at about five miles per hour. I could not see what lay ahead of me, and I prayed no one was stalled on the road because I could not have stopped by the time I saw them. I just kept moving forward even though I had no idea where I was headed.
After hours of inching toward my impossible destination and battling with bouts of wind, I had not made much headway, and my only company was an occasional raven clinging to a fence post or walking along the ground, their ominous blackness directly contrasting with the pure white surroundings. I was so scared that I began to cry and plead with whatever power there is to help me get somewhere safe. The silence was truly deafening. I recorded a few more goodbyes on my digital recorder. Finally, the radio blared, and I was blessed by the sound of a human voice. The announcer read off the road closings, and the road I was on, in my little red Mazda Protege, was closed to all but those with chains. I barely had decent tires. Oh well, how could I have known, with no radio and no cell phone?
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what to do. I knew the altitude before I got to Espanola was higher than where I was now, and likely more snowy and frozen. At long last, I saw a turnoff. I was at Tres Piedres, the point where they were telling people not to continue south. The only turnoff was left and it headed directly to Taos. I wondered if I could even make it there as the road was deep with snow. The radio announcer said 32 inches had fallen in the last few hours. Wow, what was I doing out here?
I noted a few tire tracks heading toward Taos on Hwy 64, so I ventured forward. I knew my friend Madeline would let me stay at her house again. I at least had shelter there. I drove in the tracks of trucks that had gone before me and safely crossed the slippery Rio Grande Gorge bridge. I knew I could probably make it the rest of the way into town, and my mood lightened a bit. After OBL, the old blinking light, I picked up cell phone reception again and called Madeline. When she answered, the stress finally let go and I blubbered my plight to her. Although she was currently in Houston, she called her realtor who delivered a key to me while I enjoyed a very belated breakfast burrito smothered in Christmas chile, red and green mixed, at Michael's Kitchen and told my story to a few strangers who had also just completed their harrowing drives. Coffee sure does taste good when you come in from the cold.
After that, I stopped struggling to leave and just accepted my fate. Like many others, the Taos Mountain had claimed me for its own. I had no choice; I might as well enjoy the view.
I left Houston, Texas, on a spiritual quest in the balmy fall of 2005 and, after much wandering, found myself in Taos, New Mexico in the cold white month of January 2006. I was working on an intriguing spiritual writing project with hospice doctor, John Lerma about people who see angels when they're dying.
Several times I tried to leave Taos, but the Taos Mountain had decided I was staying, and the weather cooperated with the mountain to keep me here. At the end of March, I took a little jaunt up to Valley View in Colorado, having always wanted to be at the hot springs when it was snowing. It was a lovely place to work on my angel book. After a few days, the weather seemed to be worsening, with five or six inches of snow on the roof of my car every morning, so I decided it was time to go south.
I intended to go down to Albuquerque and re-evaluate staying in Taos. I just really was not used to the cold weather and the snow after 35 years in Houston. As I headed down 285 south, a huge black raven-like cloud appeared in the distance, flying directly toward me. It was kind of mesmerizing. It seemed as if it touched the ground and flew back into the air. I suddenly feared there was a tornado in that cloud formation, and recorded a quick message to my kids about how much I loved them, just in case.
As I headed toward the giant raven cloud, it headed toward me, and suddenly I was under it, and although there was no tornado, the snow surrounded me and whitened my entire existence as if I had died and was in the midst of the clouds before the light appears. I could no longer see the road, and I could barely distinguish where the side of the road dropped off. A mightly wind hurled me across the road, and when I tried to steer into it, relented and I skidded perilously toward the drop-off. I quickly corrected and slowed down even more. It was the closest thing to a blizzard I had ever seen.
I was alone. I slowly dialed the radio and found only scratchy blankness. I set the automatic search and forgot about trying to get a station. I flipped open my cell phone. Nothing there either. I was deeply alone and did not know what I should do in this case. I could not pull over because I could not tell where the drop-offs were, and I was afraid my car would run out of gas while I ran the heater, and I would be found frozen in a hill of snow. So I inched my way forward at about five miles per hour. I could not see what lay ahead of me, and I prayed no one was stalled on the road because I could not have stopped by the time I saw them. I just kept moving forward even though I had no idea where I was headed.
After hours of inching toward my impossible destination and battling with bouts of wind, I had not made much headway, and my only company was an occasional raven clinging to a fence post or walking along the ground, their ominous blackness directly contrasting with the pure white surroundings. I was so scared that I began to cry and plead with whatever power there is to help me get somewhere safe. The silence was truly deafening. I recorded a few more goodbyes on my digital recorder. Finally, the radio blared, and I was blessed by the sound of a human voice. The announcer read off the road closings, and the road I was on, in my little red Mazda Protege, was closed to all but those with chains. I barely had decent tires. Oh well, how could I have known, with no radio and no cell phone?
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what to do. I knew the altitude before I got to Espanola was higher than where I was now, and likely more snowy and frozen. At long last, I saw a turnoff. I was at Tres Piedres, the point where they were telling people not to continue south. The only turnoff was left and it headed directly to Taos. I wondered if I could even make it there as the road was deep with snow. The radio announcer said 32 inches had fallen in the last few hours. Wow, what was I doing out here?
I noted a few tire tracks heading toward Taos on Hwy 64, so I ventured forward. I knew my friend Madeline would let me stay at her house again. I at least had shelter there. I drove in the tracks of trucks that had gone before me and safely crossed the slippery Rio Grande Gorge bridge. I knew I could probably make it the rest of the way into town, and my mood lightened a bit. After OBL, the old blinking light, I picked up cell phone reception again and called Madeline. When she answered, the stress finally let go and I blubbered my plight to her. Although she was currently in Houston, she called her realtor who delivered a key to me while I enjoyed a very belated breakfast burrito smothered in Christmas chile, red and green mixed, at Michael's Kitchen and told my story to a few strangers who had also just completed their harrowing drives. Coffee sure does taste good when you come in from the cold.
After that, I stopped struggling to leave and just accepted my fate. Like many others, the Taos Mountain had claimed me for its own. I had no choice; I might as well enjoy the view.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Daily Wisdom - If only you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offense could fail to be eradicated?
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 23, 2012:
If only you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offense could fail to be eradicated? What blessing could fail to come? This is the truth, and it is of great profundity. You should believe and accept it.
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
Friday, March 23, 2012:
If only you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, then what offense could fail to be eradicated? What blessing could fail to come? This is the truth, and it is of great profundity. You should believe and accept it.
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
Daily Wisdom - Flowering and Bearing Grain
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, March 22, 2012:
If a tree is deeply rooted, its branches and leaves will never wither. If the spring is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry. Without wood, a fire will burn out. Without earth, plants will not grow. I, Nichiren, am indebted solely to my late teacher, Dozen-bo, for my having become the votary of the Lotus Sutra and my being widely talked about now, in both a good and bad sense. Nichiren is like the plant, and my teacher, the earth.
Flowering and Bearing Grain
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo in April 1278
Thursday, March 22, 2012:
If a tree is deeply rooted, its branches and leaves will never wither. If the spring is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry. Without wood, a fire will burn out. Without earth, plants will not grow. I, Nichiren, am indebted solely to my late teacher, Dozen-bo, for my having become the votary of the Lotus Sutra and my being widely talked about now, in both a good and bad sense. Nichiren is like the plant, and my teacher, the earth.
Flowering and Bearing Grain
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo in April 1278
Sun Loses Heat, Moon Keeps His Cool
Spiritual Story by Greg Miller
The sun and the moon were discussing their respective jobs and both
were somewhat upset.
"It's so hot in my corner of the Universe!," griped the
sun. "Thousands of degrees, millions of degrees, what's the
difference!? I would sure appreciate a little relief!"
"I'm with you, Old Friend," replied the moon. "But my problem is that
my temperature is a little on the cool side - at least for me. I wish
I could be much hotter than I am."
"What's all the whining about?" asked the Lord. "I created you and
gave each of you the qualities you need to serve me and mankind. Why
not be patient and let me work my will through you?"
"Why not let us switch places for just one day?," asked the
sun. "Then we'll know if we were assigned the right jobs."
"That's right," echoed the moon. "And we'll never complain again
about our jobs!"
"All right," agreed the Lord. "Tomorrow, you will exchange places for
one day. Then you'll see that I assigned each of you the correct job."
The following morning, the sun and the moon exchanged places. "Wow!
This is the life!," exclaimed the moon. "I think I will really like
this day-shift job. I can go to work early, leave work several hours
earlier than usual and still have plenty of time to relax."
The sun was equally thrilled with his new one-day assignment. "I can
sleep all day today and I'm sure that the moon's work is less
strenuous than mine. For one day, I won't be as hot under the collar."
By the end of the 24 hours, however, neither the sun or the moon had
the desire to continue with their short-term gig. "Man, that dayshift
job is not what it's cracked up to be," moaned the moon. "I had to
wake up several hours before I usually have to, and I was tired all
day."
"I enjoyed sleeping late," said the sun. "But about halfway through
that long second shift I lost some of my usual bright personality and
became a bit grumpy."
The Lord joined the conversation. "Didn't I tell you that you would
come to your senses and realize that I knew what I was doing when I
created you?"
"Yes, you did," said the sun. "And you were right. We should have
listened to you in the first place."
"What did you learn from this experiment?, " asked the Lord.
"I learned that I'm much more comfortable when I'm at my hottest,"
said the sun.
"And I learned that I feel much better when I keep my cool," chuckled
the moon.
The sun and the moon were discussing their respective jobs and both
were somewhat upset.
"It's so hot in my corner of the Universe!," griped the
sun. "Thousands of degrees, millions of degrees, what's the
difference!? I would sure appreciate a little relief!"
"I'm with you, Old Friend," replied the moon. "But my problem is that
my temperature is a little on the cool side - at least for me. I wish
I could be much hotter than I am."
"What's all the whining about?" asked the Lord. "I created you and
gave each of you the qualities you need to serve me and mankind. Why
not be patient and let me work my will through you?"
"Why not let us switch places for just one day?," asked the
sun. "Then we'll know if we were assigned the right jobs."
"That's right," echoed the moon. "And we'll never complain again
about our jobs!"
"All right," agreed the Lord. "Tomorrow, you will exchange places for
one day. Then you'll see that I assigned each of you the correct job."
The following morning, the sun and the moon exchanged places. "Wow!
This is the life!," exclaimed the moon. "I think I will really like
this day-shift job. I can go to work early, leave work several hours
earlier than usual and still have plenty of time to relax."
The sun was equally thrilled with his new one-day assignment. "I can
sleep all day today and I'm sure that the moon's work is less
strenuous than mine. For one day, I won't be as hot under the collar."
By the end of the 24 hours, however, neither the sun or the moon had
the desire to continue with their short-term gig. "Man, that dayshift
job is not what it's cracked up to be," moaned the moon. "I had to
wake up several hours before I usually have to, and I was tired all
day."
"I enjoyed sleeping late," said the sun. "But about halfway through
that long second shift I lost some of my usual bright personality and
became a bit grumpy."
The Lord joined the conversation. "Didn't I tell you that you would
come to your senses and realize that I knew what I was doing when I
created you?"
"Yes, you did," said the sun. "And you were right. We should have
listened to you in the first place."
"What did you learn from this experiment?, " asked the Lord.
"I learned that I'm much more comfortable when I'm at my hottest,"
said the sun.
"And I learned that I feel much better when I keep my cool," chuckled
the moon.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Story of the Seed
Spiritual Story by Francis Kong
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. 'The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.'
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot...
But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the boardroom. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. 'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said the CEO. 'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!'
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!'
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!' Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
'How could he be the new CEO?' the others said.
Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!'
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. 'The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.'
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot...
But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the boardroom. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. 'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said the CEO. 'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!'
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!'
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!' Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
'How could he be the new CEO?' the others said.
Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!'
Daily Wisdom - The Teaching, Practice, and Proof
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, March 21, 2012:
Now in the Latter Day of the Law, any person—whether wise or ignorant, priest or lay believer, or of high or low position—who embraces Myoho-renge-kyo and practices it in accordance with the Buddha's teaching cannot fail to gain the fruit of Buddhahood.
The Teaching, Practice, and Proof
Written to Sammi-bo on March 21, 1275
Wednesday, March 21, 2012:
Now in the Latter Day of the Law, any person—whether wise or ignorant, priest or lay believer, or of high or low position—who embraces Myoho-renge-kyo and practices it in accordance with the Buddha's teaching cannot fail to gain the fruit of Buddhahood.
The Teaching, Practice, and Proof
Written to Sammi-bo on March 21, 1275
Daily Wisdom - Worthies and sages are tested by abuse.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, March 20, 2012:
It is impossible to fathom one's karma. Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Worthies and sages are tested by abuse. My present exile is not because of any secular crime. It is solely so that I may expiate in this lifetime my past grave offenses and be freed in the next from the three evil paths.
Letter from Sado
Written to Toki Jonin on March 20, 1272
Tuesday, March 20, 2012:
It is impossible to fathom one's karma. Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Worthies and sages are tested by abuse. My present exile is not because of any secular crime. It is solely so that I may expiate in this lifetime my past grave offenses and be freed in the next from the three evil paths.
Letter from Sado
Written to Toki Jonin on March 20, 1272
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Daily Wisdom - Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, March 19, 2012:
Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbor doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection. Do not be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life. This is what I have taught my disciples morning and evening, and yet they begin to harbor doubts and abandon their faith.
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
Monday, March 19, 2012:
Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbor doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection. Do not be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life. This is what I have taught my disciples morning and evening, and yet they begin to harbor doubts and abandon their faith.
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
Daily Wisdom - Reply to a Believer
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, March 18, 2012:
Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality." I hope you will deeply consider the meaning of this passage.
Reply to a Believer
Written to Shijo Kingo on April 11, 1278
Sunday, March 18, 2012:
Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by "No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality." I hope you will deeply consider the meaning of this passage.
Reply to a Believer
Written to Shijo Kingo on April 11, 1278
Story of an Assistance
Spiritual Story by Makram Abu-Shakra
My story took place more than a couple years ago, and the long term effects of the greeting was pivotal to my development. At the time, I was getting easily burnt out from work and I was at the mercy of the cycle of falling from grace on Monday and beginning my climb towards grace on Friday night.
One Saturday, I was trying to calm down from a busy work-week and to find some inspiration to make music. I remained in a funky state throughout the day and I began to get frustrated, my emotions got caught in a knot. That evening, I woke up from a nightmare that admonished me not to bring any more negative energy into this world. I sat up in bed and asked internally for help, as I had done repeatedly throughout the day without a discernible answer. After about a half hour of oscillating between frustration and prayer I finally sensed an external presence.
There was a feeling of slight pressure at the top of my head, the position of the crown chakra or violet-ray energy center. I quickly arrested all my thoughts to be aware of what was happening. I audially hallucinated the following words:
"We request permission to perceive this instrument." [the word 'instrument' denotes a channeler]
Seemingly instantaneously, another voice answered that sounded like me but was much softer. I guessed that it was my inner self: "You are perceiving this instrument."
I remained still and simply waited for something to happen. Nothing apparent seemed to occur, although I continued to feel the slight pressure on the top of my head.
Over time, this sensation faded and I went back to thinking my usual thoughts. But, I was able to do so much more fluidly, and I now believe that the help I received was a balancing and/or unblocking of my energy centers. I started to glimpse the reasons behind the specific type of catalysts I had been experiencing at work, to behold their poetic nature, so to speak. I went to sleep and had a prophetic dream:
I was at my desk at work which now had a large sign that was labeled the number "5" (in the Ra Material, the number 5 denotes a level of vibration corresponding to freely given communication, which also applies to myself as a musician). Two people came into the office and they started rearranging where people sat; instead of sitting in my usual spot beside a window and a view, they moved me to a closed cubicle. I became quite angry but the two people simply stared back without emotion or negative intent in their faces, and they seemed to represent very straightforward, average-looking people. Over time I interpreted this to mean that there was no divine order behind the contemporary workplace being so energy- and time-consuming. that this was simply the product of combined free will.
Monday came around and I was sitting at my desk pondering the events of the weekend. I was marveling at the beauty of life's catalyst and how they affected the movement of my psyche in ways that were enriching and downright poetic. I thought to myself that I'm ready and capable of whatever comes my way, and not a few minutes later did I hear my boss yell for me from across the office. It turned out he was on a conference call with a client and he demanded that the project I was working on be finished in half the time it would normally take.
When I went out for lunch that day, I saw a truck with a large sign that said "PIVOT: The Turning Point in Office Interiors".
Over the next month, I averaged 50-60 hours per week. Having had a dream which prophesied my increased workload at the job, I was more capable of accepting and affirming my situation. I was also thus given the opportunity to focus entirely on balancing my frustrations at work since there was no hope for any other aspirations.
Near the end of my project's completion, I worked through the weekend. Sunday evening came around and I remember a very powerful sunset. Having spent the last two days by myself in the office, I was left alone with my own energy and the space around me started to take on the air of being sacred. Gradually, the objects in my surroundings became more and more expressive, putting on a collective smile.
This expressiveness with time turned into an actual glow of life resonating from everything around me, so that the world felt fully alive. And finally, this living-ness began to exude love, a love that bloomed with bliss. I slipped into a form of ecstasy. And I remained in that place of bliss in varying degrees while I worked.
The long term result was that the office had transformed into a sacred place and from then on I've been able to psychologically revisit a milder form of such a state at will whenever things got too hectic and this helped me accept and enjoy my job from that
My story took place more than a couple years ago, and the long term effects of the greeting was pivotal to my development. At the time, I was getting easily burnt out from work and I was at the mercy of the cycle of falling from grace on Monday and beginning my climb towards grace on Friday night.
One Saturday, I was trying to calm down from a busy work-week and to find some inspiration to make music. I remained in a funky state throughout the day and I began to get frustrated, my emotions got caught in a knot. That evening, I woke up from a nightmare that admonished me not to bring any more negative energy into this world. I sat up in bed and asked internally for help, as I had done repeatedly throughout the day without a discernible answer. After about a half hour of oscillating between frustration and prayer I finally sensed an external presence.
There was a feeling of slight pressure at the top of my head, the position of the crown chakra or violet-ray energy center. I quickly arrested all my thoughts to be aware of what was happening. I audially hallucinated the following words:
"We request permission to perceive this instrument." [the word 'instrument' denotes a channeler]
Seemingly instantaneously, another voice answered that sounded like me but was much softer. I guessed that it was my inner self: "You are perceiving this instrument."
I remained still and simply waited for something to happen. Nothing apparent seemed to occur, although I continued to feel the slight pressure on the top of my head.
Over time, this sensation faded and I went back to thinking my usual thoughts. But, I was able to do so much more fluidly, and I now believe that the help I received was a balancing and/or unblocking of my energy centers. I started to glimpse the reasons behind the specific type of catalysts I had been experiencing at work, to behold their poetic nature, so to speak. I went to sleep and had a prophetic dream:
I was at my desk at work which now had a large sign that was labeled the number "5" (in the Ra Material, the number 5 denotes a level of vibration corresponding to freely given communication, which also applies to myself as a musician). Two people came into the office and they started rearranging where people sat; instead of sitting in my usual spot beside a window and a view, they moved me to a closed cubicle. I became quite angry but the two people simply stared back without emotion or negative intent in their faces, and they seemed to represent very straightforward, average-looking people. Over time I interpreted this to mean that there was no divine order behind the contemporary workplace being so energy- and time-consuming. that this was simply the product of combined free will.
Monday came around and I was sitting at my desk pondering the events of the weekend. I was marveling at the beauty of life's catalyst and how they affected the movement of my psyche in ways that were enriching and downright poetic. I thought to myself that I'm ready and capable of whatever comes my way, and not a few minutes later did I hear my boss yell for me from across the office. It turned out he was on a conference call with a client and he demanded that the project I was working on be finished in half the time it would normally take.
When I went out for lunch that day, I saw a truck with a large sign that said "PIVOT: The Turning Point in Office Interiors".
Over the next month, I averaged 50-60 hours per week. Having had a dream which prophesied my increased workload at the job, I was more capable of accepting and affirming my situation. I was also thus given the opportunity to focus entirely on balancing my frustrations at work since there was no hope for any other aspirations.
Near the end of my project's completion, I worked through the weekend. Sunday evening came around and I remember a very powerful sunset. Having spent the last two days by myself in the office, I was left alone with my own energy and the space around me started to take on the air of being sacred. Gradually, the objects in my surroundings became more and more expressive, putting on a collective smile.
This expressiveness with time turned into an actual glow of life resonating from everything around me, so that the world felt fully alive. And finally, this living-ness began to exude love, a love that bloomed with bliss. I slipped into a form of ecstasy. And I remained in that place of bliss in varying degrees while I worked.
The long term result was that the office had transformed into a sacred place and from then on I've been able to psychologically revisit a milder form of such a state at will whenever things got too hectic and this helped me accept and enjoy my job from that
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Step Away
Spiritual Story by David McLaughlan
My Dad died last year.
He wasn't an old man. Aged sixty-six it seemed to me he had been taken well before his time.
You can probably imagine the frustration, the anger, the unexpected flood of tears that have filled the twelve months since then. And I've come to realise that he wasn't "taken before his time". If that was when God chose to take him (and surely it was no one else's call) then that was his time.
A lot of my grief was for myself. What would I do without him? More importantly, I had to face up to the fact that, with him gone, I was the patriarch, mine was the final authority on family issues. Scariest of all, I realised that there was now no-one between me and death. His generation was gone and, all being well, mine would be next. Dad wasn't there to save me from the dark any more.
It meant I had to be the grown up.
Terrifying as that was it brought with it another realisation.
All through my life my father had been stepping away from me. Not in a neglectful way, but in a way that kept me moving forward.
When I took my first baby steps, he would have caught me. The next time I tried he held out his hands and, as I moved forward, he took a step back � and I took another step!
In the old, cold, public swimming baths I splashed relentlessly towards the deep end, safe in the knowledge that Dad was right in front, backing away from me as I completed that first length.
He held the seat of my bicycle until he thought I was ready. And then, without me even realising it, he let go and stepped away.
Many times, through the turmoil of the teenage years Dad would survey my latest disaster and go red in the face, then he'd walk away and leave me, ashamed and embarrassed, to fix it or learn from it.
When my own children came along he wasn't slow to tell me how he thought I should raise them. Then he'd shrug and metaphorically back away with the words, "But it's your decision."
Now, I'm a husband, a father, an uncle and a grandfather. I was all of that before he died. I like to think, in our time together, he'd taught me all he could about being a good man � like him.
From that point on in it was all up to me... so he stepped away.
My Dad died last year.
He wasn't an old man. Aged sixty-six it seemed to me he had been taken well before his time.
You can probably imagine the frustration, the anger, the unexpected flood of tears that have filled the twelve months since then. And I've come to realise that he wasn't "taken before his time". If that was when God chose to take him (and surely it was no one else's call) then that was his time.
A lot of my grief was for myself. What would I do without him? More importantly, I had to face up to the fact that, with him gone, I was the patriarch, mine was the final authority on family issues. Scariest of all, I realised that there was now no-one between me and death. His generation was gone and, all being well, mine would be next. Dad wasn't there to save me from the dark any more.
It meant I had to be the grown up.
Terrifying as that was it brought with it another realisation.
All through my life my father had been stepping away from me. Not in a neglectful way, but in a way that kept me moving forward.
When I took my first baby steps, he would have caught me. The next time I tried he held out his hands and, as I moved forward, he took a step back � and I took another step!
In the old, cold, public swimming baths I splashed relentlessly towards the deep end, safe in the knowledge that Dad was right in front, backing away from me as I completed that first length.
He held the seat of my bicycle until he thought I was ready. And then, without me even realising it, he let go and stepped away.
Many times, through the turmoil of the teenage years Dad would survey my latest disaster and go red in the face, then he'd walk away and leave me, ashamed and embarrassed, to fix it or learn from it.
When my own children came along he wasn't slow to tell me how he thought I should raise them. Then he'd shrug and metaphorically back away with the words, "But it's your decision."
Now, I'm a husband, a father, an uncle and a grandfather. I was all of that before he died. I like to think, in our time together, he'd taught me all he could about being a good man � like him.
From that point on in it was all up to me... so he stepped away.
Daily Wisdom - Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 17, 2012:
Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month. Should you slacken in your resolve even a bit, devils will take advantage.
On Persecutions Befalling the Sage
Writen to all followers (and entrusted to Shijo Kingo) on October 1, 1279
Saturday, March 17, 2012:
Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month. Should you slacken in your resolve even a bit, devils will take advantage.
On Persecutions Befalling the Sage
Writen to all followers (and entrusted to Shijo Kingo) on October 1, 1279
Daily Wisdom - The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 16, 2012:
Now, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law, I, Nichiren, am the first to set out on propagating, throughout Jambudvipa, the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, which are the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the eye of all Buddhas. These five characters are the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the source of the enlightenment of all Buddhas.
The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Konichi in 1276
Friday, March 16, 2012:
Now, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law, I, Nichiren, am the first to set out on propagating, throughout Jambudvipa, the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo, which are the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the eye of all Buddhas. These five characters are the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the source of the enlightenment of all Buddhas.
The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Konichi in 1276
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Universal Salty Taste
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, March 15, 2012:
[The Nirvana Sutra] compares "it gradually becomes deeper" to the Lotus Sutra leading everyone, from ordinary people who lack understanding to sages who possess it, to attain the Buddha way.
The Universal Salty Taste
Recipient and date unknown
Thursday, March 15, 2012:
[The Nirvana Sutra] compares "it gradually becomes deeper" to the Lotus Sutra leading everyone, from ordinary people who lack understanding to sages who possess it, to attain the Buddha way.
The Universal Salty Taste
Recipient and date unknown
Daily Wisdom - Letter to the Lay Nun of Ko
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, March 14, 2012:
While I was there, however, you and your husband, the lay priest of Ko, being apprehensive of the eyes of others, brought me food in the middle of the night. Never fearing even punishment from the provincial officials, you are persons who were ready to sacrifice yourselves for me. Thus, though it was a harsh land, when I left, I felt as if the hair that had been shaved from my head were being tugged from behind and as if with each step I took I were being pulled back.
Letter to the Lay Nun of Ko
Written to the Lay Nun of Ko on June 16, 1275
Wednesday, March 14, 2012:
While I was there, however, you and your husband, the lay priest of Ko, being apprehensive of the eyes of others, brought me food in the middle of the night. Never fearing even punishment from the provincial officials, you are persons who were ready to sacrifice yourselves for me. Thus, though it was a harsh land, when I left, I felt as if the hair that had been shaved from my head were being tugged from behind and as if with each step I took I were being pulled back.
Letter to the Lay Nun of Ko
Written to the Lay Nun of Ko on June 16, 1275
So You Are Very Wealthy
Spiritual Story by Kazeronnie Mak
A young man was muttering about his bad luck and that he had no money. Every day he was very sad, and then one day he crossed paths with a wise senior who said:
'Why are you so unhappy?’
‘I don’t understand why I’m so poor always!’ he said.
‘Poor? I think you are very wealthy!’ the wise senior said sincerely.
The young man puzzled, ‘What exactly do you mean?’
The wise senior asked, ‘Suppose someone offers you one thousand dollars to cut your finger off. Will you do that?’
‘Of course, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you ten thousand dollars to chop your leg off. Will you do that?’
‘Certainly, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you hundred thousand dollars to scoop your eyes out. Will you do that?’
‘Surely, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you one million dollars to turn you into a ninety years old man in a blink of an eye. Will you do that?’
‘Definitely, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you ten million dollars to take your life away. Will you do that?’
‘Absolutely, not!' the young man replied.
The wise senior said with a smile, ‘ That’s right. You are already wealthier than ten million dollars. So why are you still lamented for being poor?'
A young man was muttering about his bad luck and that he had no money. Every day he was very sad, and then one day he crossed paths with a wise senior who said:
'Why are you so unhappy?’
‘I don’t understand why I’m so poor always!’ he said.
‘Poor? I think you are very wealthy!’ the wise senior said sincerely.
The young man puzzled, ‘What exactly do you mean?’
The wise senior asked, ‘Suppose someone offers you one thousand dollars to cut your finger off. Will you do that?’
‘Of course, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you ten thousand dollars to chop your leg off. Will you do that?’
‘Certainly, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you hundred thousand dollars to scoop your eyes out. Will you do that?’
‘Surely, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you one million dollars to turn you into a ninety years old man in a blink of an eye. Will you do that?’
‘Definitely, not!’ the young man replied.
‘Suppose someone offers you ten million dollars to take your life away. Will you do that?’
‘Absolutely, not!' the young man replied.
The wise senior said with a smile, ‘ That’s right. You are already wealthier than ten million dollars. So why are you still lamented for being poor?'
Monday, January 16, 2012
Daily Wisdom - On the Treasure Tower
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, March 13, 2012:
Abutsu-bo is therefore the treasure tower itself, and the treasure tower is Abutsu-bo himself. No other knowledge is purposeful. It is the treasure tower adorned with the seven kinds of treasures—hearing the correct teaching, believing it, keeping the precepts, engaging in meditation, practicing assiduously, renouncing one's attachments, and reflecting on oneself. You may think you offered gifts to the treasure tower of the Thus Come One Many Treasures, but that is not so. You offered them to yourself.
On the Treasure Tower
Written to Abutsu-bo Nittoko on March 13, 1272
Tuesday, March 13, 2012:
Abutsu-bo is therefore the treasure tower itself, and the treasure tower is Abutsu-bo himself. No other knowledge is purposeful. It is the treasure tower adorned with the seven kinds of treasures—hearing the correct teaching, believing it, keeping the precepts, engaging in meditation, practicing assiduously, renouncing one's attachments, and reflecting on oneself. You may think you offered gifts to the treasure tower of the Thus Come One Many Treasures, but that is not so. You offered them to yourself.
On the Treasure Tower
Written to Abutsu-bo Nittoko on March 13, 1272
Daily Wisdom - Letter to Endo Saemon-no-jo
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, March 12, 2012:
I recently received an official pardon, and I will return to Kamakura. Can this be the year in which the passage "What I long ago hoped for has now been fulfilled" comes true for me? Without your protection, could I possibly have sustained my life? Could I have survived to be pardoned? My life's achievements are due entirely to you and to those like you.
Letter to Endo Saemon-no-jo
Written to Endo Saemon-no-jo on March 12, 1274
Monday, March 12, 2012:
I recently received an official pardon, and I will return to Kamakura. Can this be the year in which the passage "What I long ago hoped for has now been fulfilled" comes true for me? Without your protection, could I possibly have sustained my life? Could I have survived to be pardoned? My life's achievements are due entirely to you and to those like you.
Letter to Endo Saemon-no-jo
Written to Endo Saemon-no-jo on March 12, 1274
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Daily Wisdom - On the Treasure Tower
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, March 11, 2012:
You, yourself, are a Thus Come One who is originally enlightened and endowed with the three bodies. You should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with this conviction. Then the place where you chant daimoku will become the dwelling place of the treasure tower.
On the Treasure Tower
Written to Abutsu-bo Nittoku on March 13, 1272
Sunday, March 11, 2012:
You, yourself, are a Thus Come One who is originally enlightened and endowed with the three bodies. You should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with this conviction. Then the place where you chant daimoku will become the dwelling place of the treasure tower.
On the Treasure Tower
Written to Abutsu-bo Nittoku on March 13, 1272
Daily Wisdom - Rely on the Law and not upon persons.
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 10, 2012:
A sutra says: "Rely on the Law and not upon persons. Rely on the meaning of the teaching and not upon the words. Rely on wisdom and not upon discriminative thinking. Rely on sutras that are complete and final and not on those that are not complete and final." The meaning of this passage is that one should rely not upon the words of the bodhisattvas and teachers but should heed what was established by the Buddha.
How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1277
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 10, 2012:
A sutra says: "Rely on the Law and not upon persons. Rely on the meaning of the teaching and not upon the words. Rely on wisdom and not upon discriminative thinking. Rely on sutras that are complete and final and not on those that are not complete and final." The meaning of this passage is that one should rely not upon the words of the bodhisattvas and teachers but should heed what was established by the Buddha.
How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra
Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1277
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Daily Wisdom - This is What I Heard
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 9, 2012:
Our contemporaries think of the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo only as a name, but this is not correct. It is the essence, that is, the heart of the Lotus Sutra. . . . Those who seek the heart of the sutra apart from its title are as foolish as the turtle who sought the monkey's liver outside the monkey, or the monkey who left the forest and sought fruit on the seashore.
This is What I Heard
Written to the lay priest Soya Jiro on November 28, 1277
Friday, March 9, 2012:
Our contemporaries think of the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo only as a name, but this is not correct. It is the essence, that is, the heart of the Lotus Sutra. . . . Those who seek the heart of the sutra apart from its title are as foolish as the turtle who sought the monkey's liver outside the monkey, or the monkey who left the forest and sought fruit on the seashore.
This is What I Heard
Written to the lay priest Soya Jiro on November 28, 1277
Daily Wisdom - The debt of gratitude owed to one's father and mother.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, March 8, 2012:
The debt of gratitude owed to one's father and mother is as vast as the ocean. If one cares for them while they are alive but does nothing to help them in their next life, it will be like a mere drop of water.
On Filial and Unfilial Conduct
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on March 8, 1280
Thursday, March 8, 2012:
The debt of gratitude owed to one's father and mother is as vast as the ocean. If one cares for them while they are alive but does nothing to help them in their next life, it will be like a mere drop of water.
On Filial and Unfilial Conduct
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on March 8, 1280
Friday, January 13, 2012
Daily Wisdom - There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, March 7, 2012:
If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds. It is the same with a Buddha and an ordinary being. While deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished.
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Wednesday, March 7, 2012:
If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds. It is the same with a Buddha and an ordinary being. While deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished.
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Daily Wisdom - The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, March 6, 2012:
A passage from the Lotus Sutra reads that it is "the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand." Many hear about and accept this sutra, but when great obstacles arise, just as they were told would happen, few remember it and bear it firmly in mind. To accept is easy; to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith.
The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith
Written to Shijo Kingo on March 6, 1275
Tuesday, March 6, 2012:
A passage from the Lotus Sutra reads that it is "the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand." Many hear about and accept this sutra, but when great obstacles arise, just as they were told would happen, few remember it and bear it firmly in mind. To accept is easy; to continue is difficult. But Buddhahood lies in continuing faith.
The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith
Written to Shijo Kingo on March 6, 1275
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one's own blessings will increase.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, March 5, 2012:
The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its color; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one's own blessings will increase. Bear in mind that the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra contain only a few passages elucidating the truth, but a great many words of praise.
The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra
Written to Myomitsu on March 5, 1276
Monday, March 5, 2012:
The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its color; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one's own blessings will increase. Bear in mind that the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra contain only a few passages elucidating the truth, but a great many words of praise.
The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra
Written to Myomitsu on March 5, 1276
Daily Wisdom - The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, March 4, 2012:
A woman who makes offerings to such a Gohonzon invites happiness in this life; and in the next, the Gohonzon will be with her and protect her always. Like a lantern in the dark, like a strong guide and porter on a treacherous mountain path, the Gohonzon will guard and protect you, Lady Nichinyo, wherever you go.
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277
Sunday, March 4, 2012:
A woman who makes offerings to such a Gohonzon invites happiness in this life; and in the next, the Gohonzon will be with her and protect her always. Like a lantern in the dark, like a strong guide and porter on a treacherous mountain path, the Gohonzon will guard and protect you, Lady Nichinyo, wherever you go.
The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon
Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Daily Wisdom - a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, March 3, 2012:
A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Saturday, March 3, 2012:
A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality. Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Daily Wisdom - Buddha in Everyone.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, March 2, 2012:
Bodhisattva Never Disparaging of old said that all people have the Buddha nature and that, if they embrace the Lotus Sutra, they will never fail to attain Buddhahood. He further stated that to slight a person is to slight the Buddha himself. Thus, his practice was to revere all people. He revered even those who did not embrace the Lotus Sutra because they too had the Buddha nature and might someday believe in the sutra.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Friday, March 2, 2012:
Bodhisattva Never Disparaging of old said that all people have the Buddha nature and that, if they embrace the Lotus Sutra, they will never fail to attain Buddhahood. He further stated that to slight a person is to slight the Buddha himself. Thus, his practice was to revere all people. He revered even those who did not embrace the Lotus Sutra because they too had the Buddha nature and might someday believe in the sutra.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Daily Wisdom - On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, March 1, 2012:
If in this present existence I am so fearful for my life that I fail to speak out, then in what future existence will I ever attain Buddhahood? Or in what future existence will I ever be able to bring salvation to my parents and my teacher? With thoughts such as these uppermost in my mind, I decided that I must begin to speak out. And, just as I had expected, I was ousted, I was vilified, I was attacked, and I suffered wounds.
On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276
Thursday, March 1, 2012:
If in this present existence I am so fearful for my life that I fail to speak out, then in what future existence will I ever attain Buddhahood? Or in what future existence will I ever be able to bring salvation to my parents and my teacher? With thoughts such as these uppermost in my mind, I decided that I must begin to speak out. And, just as I had expected, I was ousted, I was vilified, I was attacked, and I suffered wounds.
On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276
Daily Wisdom - The Opening of the Eyes
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, February 29, 2012:
In the end it is nothing other than the loving kindness with which the woman cares for her child that makes the difference. Her concern concentrates on one thing just like the Buddhist practice of concentration. She thinks of nothing but her child, which is similar to Buddhist compassion. That must be why, although she created no other causes to bring it about, she was reborn in the Brahma heaven.
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
Wednesday, February 29, 2012:
In the end it is nothing other than the loving kindness with which the woman cares for her child that makes the difference. Her concern concentrates on one thing just like the Buddhist practice of concentration. She thinks of nothing but her child, which is similar to Buddhist compassion. That must be why, although she created no other causes to bring it about, she was reborn in the Brahma heaven.
The Opening of the Eyes
Written to Shijo Kingo in February 1272
Daily Wisdom - The Proof of the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, February 28, 2012:
Since you now appear certain to attain Buddhahood, perhaps the heavenly devil and evil spirits are using illness to try to intimidate you. Life in this world is limited. Never be even the least bit afraid!
The Proof of the Lotus Sutra
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on February 28, 1282
Tuesday, February 28, 2012:
Since you now appear certain to attain Buddhahood, perhaps the heavenly devil and evil spirits are using illness to try to intimidate you. Life in this world is limited. Never be even the least bit afraid!
The Proof of the Lotus Sutra
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on February 28, 1282
Monday, January 9, 2012
Daily Wisdom - Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, February 27, 2012:
However, people all turn their backs on these sutra passages, and the world as a whole is completely confused with regard to the principles of Buddhism. Why do you persist in following the teachings of evil friends? T'ien-t'ai said that to accept and put faith in the doctrines of evil teachers is the same as drinking poison. You should deeply consider this and beware.
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Monday, February 27, 2012:
However, people all turn their backs on these sutra passages, and the world as a whole is completely confused with regard to the principles of Buddhism. Why do you persist in following the teachings of evil friends? T'ien-t'ai said that to accept and put faith in the doctrines of evil teachers is the same as drinking poison. You should deeply consider this and beware.
Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written in March 1263
Daily Wisdom - On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, February 26, 2012:
The Great Teacher Tz'u-en wrote a work in ten volumes entitled Praising the Profundity of the Lotus Sutra in which he praised the Lotus Sutra, but the Great Teacher Dengyo criticized it, saying, "Though he praises the Lotus Sutra, he destroys its heart." If we consider these examples carefully, we will realize that, among those who read the Lotus Sutra and sing its praises, there are many who are destined for the hell of incessant suffering.
On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, February 26, 2012:
The Great Teacher Tz'u-en wrote a work in ten volumes entitled Praising the Profundity of the Lotus Sutra in which he praised the Lotus Sutra, but the Great Teacher Dengyo criticized it, saying, "Though he praises the Lotus Sutra, he destroys its heart." If we consider these examples carefully, we will realize that, among those who read the Lotus Sutra and sing its praises, there are many who are destined for the hell of incessant suffering.
On Repaying Debts of Gratitude
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Two Kinds of Faith
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, February 25, 2012:
Today there are people who have faith in the Lotus Sutra. The belief of some is like fire while that of others is like water. When the former listen to the teachings, their passion flares up like fire, but as time goes on, they tend to discard their faith. To have faith like water means to believe continuously without ever regressing.
The Two Kinds of Faith
Written to Nanjo Tokumitsu on February 25, 1278
Saturday, February 25, 2012:
Today there are people who have faith in the Lotus Sutra. The belief of some is like fire while that of others is like water. When the former listen to the teachings, their passion flares up like fire, but as time goes on, they tend to discard their faith. To have faith like water means to believe continuously without ever regressing.
The Two Kinds of Faith
Written to Nanjo Tokumitsu on February 25, 1278
Daily Wisdom - The Fourteen Slanders
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, February 24, 2012:
No matter how humble a person may be, if his wisdom is the least bit greater than yours, you should ask him about the meaning of the sutra. But the people in this evil age are so arrogant, prejudiced, and attached to fame and profit that they are afraid that, should they become the disciple of a humble person or try to learn something from him, they will be looked down upon by others. They never rid themselves of this wrong attitude, so they seem to be destined for the evil paths.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Friday, February 24, 2012:
No matter how humble a person may be, if his wisdom is the least bit greater than yours, you should ask him about the meaning of the sutra. But the people in this evil age are so arrogant, prejudiced, and attached to fame and profit that they are afraid that, should they become the disciple of a humble person or try to learn something from him, they will be looked down upon by others. They never rid themselves of this wrong attitude, so they seem to be destined for the evil paths.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Daily Wisdom - Letter to Misawa
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, February 23, 2012:
Even though one may encounter a wise teacher and the true sutra and thereby embrace the correct teaching, when one resolves to break free from the sufferings of birth and death and attain Buddhahood, one will inevitably encounter seven grave matters known as the three obstacles and four devils, just as surely as a shadow follows the body and clouds accompany rain. Even if you should manage to overcome the first six, if you are defeated by the seventh, you will not be able to become a Buddha.
Letter to Misawa
Written to Misawa Kojiro on February 23, 1278
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, February 23, 2012:
Even though one may encounter a wise teacher and the true sutra and thereby embrace the correct teaching, when one resolves to break free from the sufferings of birth and death and attain Buddhahood, one will inevitably encounter seven grave matters known as the three obstacles and four devils, just as surely as a shadow follows the body and clouds accompany rain. Even if you should manage to overcome the first six, if you are defeated by the seventh, you will not be able to become a Buddha.
Letter to Misawa
Written to Misawa Kojiro on February 23, 1278
Daily Wisdom - On Offering Prayers to the Mandala of the Mystic Law
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, February 22, 2012:
Though this mandala has but five or seven characters, it is the teacher of all Buddhas throughout the three existences and the seal that guarantees the enlightenment of all women. It will be a lamp in the darkness of the road to the next world and a fine horse to carry you over the mountains of death. It is like the sun and moon in the heavens or Mount Sumeru on earth. It is a ship to ferry people over the sea of the sufferings of birth and death. It is the teacher who leads all people to Buddhahood and enlightenment.
On Offering Prayers to the Mandala of the Mystic Law
Recipient and date unknown
Wednesday, February 22, 2012:
Though this mandala has but five or seven characters, it is the teacher of all Buddhas throughout the three existences and the seal that guarantees the enlightenment of all women. It will be a lamp in the darkness of the road to the next world and a fine horse to carry you over the mountains of death. It is like the sun and moon in the heavens or Mount Sumeru on earth. It is a ship to ferry people over the sea of the sufferings of birth and death. It is the teacher who leads all people to Buddhahood and enlightenment.
On Offering Prayers to the Mandala of the Mystic Law
Recipient and date unknown
Friday, January 6, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Swords of Good and Evil
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, February 21, 2012:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will be your staff to take you safely over the mountains of death. The Buddhas Shakyamuni and Many Treasures, as well as the four bodhisattvas headed by Superior Practices, will lead you by the hand on your journey. If I, Nichiren, precede you in death, I will come to meet you at your last moment. If you should precede me, I will be sure to tell King Yama all about you. Everything that I tell you is true. According to the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren is the guide who knows the passes and gorges along the way.
The Swords of Good and Evil
Written to Hojo Yagenta on February 21, 1274
Tuesday, February 21, 2012:
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will be your staff to take you safely over the mountains of death. The Buddhas Shakyamuni and Many Treasures, as well as the four bodhisattvas headed by Superior Practices, will lead you by the hand on your journey. If I, Nichiren, precede you in death, I will come to meet you at your last moment. If you should precede me, I will be sure to tell King Yama all about you. Everything that I tell you is true. According to the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren is the guide who knows the passes and gorges along the way.
The Swords of Good and Evil
Written to Hojo Yagenta on February 21, 1274
Daily Wisdom - The Fourteen Slanders
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, February 20, 2012:
Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra. No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if someone proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, "You should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you would a Buddha." You should respect one another as Shakyamuni and Many Treasures did at the ceremony in the "Treasure Tower" chapter.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Monday, February 20, 2012:
Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra. No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if someone proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, "You should rise and greet him from afar, showing him the same respect you would a Buddha." You should respect one another as Shakyamuni and Many Treasures did at the ceremony in the "Treasure Tower" chapter.
The Fourteen Slanders
Written to the lay priest Matsuno Rokuro Saemon on December 9, 1276
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Daily Wisdom - Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism.
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, February 19, 2012:
Be sure to strengthen your faith, and receive the protection of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions. Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase.
The True Aspect of All Phenomena
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on May 17, 1273
Sunday, February 19, 2012:
Be sure to strengthen your faith, and receive the protection of Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions. Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase.
The True Aspect of All Phenomena
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on May 17, 1273
Daily Wisdom - The Essence of the "Life Span" Chapter
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, February 18, 2012:
Grass without roots will die in no time and a river without a source will not flow far. A child without parents is looked down upon. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the "Life Span" chapter, is the mother of all Buddhas throughout the ten directions and the three existences of past, present and future.
The Essence of the "Life Span" Chapter
Recipient unknown; written on April 17,1271
Saturday, February 18, 2012:
Grass without roots will die in no time and a river without a source will not flow far. A child without parents is looked down upon. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart of the "Life Span" chapter, is the mother of all Buddhas throughout the ten directions and the three existences of past, present and future.
The Essence of the "Life Span" Chapter
Recipient unknown; written on April 17,1271
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, February 17, 2012:
Bodhisattva Superior Practices received the water of wisdom of the Mystic Law from the Thus Come One Shakyamuni and causes it to flow into the wasteland of the people's lives in the evil world of the latter age. This is the function of wisdom. Shakyamuni Buddha transferred this teaching to Bodhisattva Superior Practices, and now Nichiren propagates it in Japan.
The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood
Written to Soya Jiro Hyoe-no-jo Kyoshin on August 3, 1276
Friday, February 17, 2012:
Bodhisattva Superior Practices received the water of wisdom of the Mystic Law from the Thus Come One Shakyamuni and causes it to flow into the wasteland of the people's lives in the evil world of the latter age. This is the function of wisdom. Shakyamuni Buddha transferred this teaching to Bodhisattva Superior Practices, and now Nichiren propagates it in Japan.
The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood
Written to Soya Jiro Hyoe-no-jo Kyoshin on August 3, 1276
Daily Wisdom - How slanderous monks should be treated?
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, February 16, 2012:
According to the Buddhist teachings, prior to Shakyamuni slanderous monks would have incurred the death penalty. But since the time of Shakyamuni, the One Who Can Endure, the giving of alms to slanderous monks is forbidden in the sutra teachings.
On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
Submitted to Hojo Tokiyori on July 16, 1260
Thursday, February 16, 2012:
According to the Buddhist teachings, prior to Shakyamuni slanderous monks would have incurred the death penalty. But since the time of Shakyamuni, the One Who Can Endure, the giving of alms to slanderous monks is forbidden in the sutra teachings.
On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land
Submitted to Hojo Tokiyori on July 16, 1260
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Daily Wisdom - The spirit of many in body but one in mind
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, February 15, 2012:
All disciples and lay supporters of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the spirit of many in body but one in mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. This spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate Law of life and death. Herein lies the true goal of Nichiren's propagation. When you are so united, even the great desire for widespread propagation can be fulfilled.
The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on February 11, 1272
Wednesday, February 15, 2012:
All disciples and lay supporters of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the spirit of many in body but one in mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. This spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate Law of life and death. Herein lies the true goal of Nichiren's propagation. When you are so united, even the great desire for widespread propagation can be fulfilled.
The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on February 11, 1272
Daily Wisdom - On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, February 14, 2012:
Whether you chant the Buddha's name, recite the sutra, or merely offer flowers and incense, all your virtuous acts will implant benefits and roots of goodness in your life. With this conviction you should strive in faith.
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Tuesday, February 14, 2012:
Whether you chant the Buddha's name, recite the sutra, or merely offer flowers and incense, all your virtuous acts will implant benefits and roots of goodness in your life. With this conviction you should strive in faith.
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
Significance of Inner Cleanliness
Spiritual Story by BK Surat Singh Ayer
Salty and Sugary were not only ants, they were both very close friends with different eating habits. Sugary lived on a mountain of sugar and ate sugar. Likewise Salty lived on Salt Mountain and ate salt. Sugary felt bad for his friend Salty who had never tasted the sweetness of sugar, so Sugary invited Salty over for dinner.
But when Salty was about to leave for dinner, he became scared not knowing how sugar would taste. Salty thought maybe he should bring his own food with him, just in case the sugar tasted bad and he didn't want to eat it, so he filled his mouth with salt to bring with him.
When Salty arrived at the mountain of sugar he noticed that it looked just the same as his own mountain of salt, and upon his arrival he was welcomed with great respect by Sugary. They both shared about what had happened in their lives recently, eventually leading up to Sugary bringing in some sugar to share.
"What do you think of the sugar," Sugary asked?
Salty replied "It's not as good as salt."
Sugary was confused because he knew how good sugar tasted, and after inspecting the sugar, he determined that maybe Salty had a little bit of salt left over in his mouth. Sugary looked in Salty's mouth and saw a pile of salt so large that it made it impossible for Salty to even taste the sugar!
Sugary wasn't upset, he just wanted to share this wonderful gift with Salty, and he asked Salty to clean out his mouth. Salty cleaned it as pure as could be, and then Sugary gave him some new sugar to taste. Immediately, Salty was amazed at how good the sugar tasted, and could not believe that he had never experienced this before in his entire life. It was so good, in fact, that Salty asked if he could move to the mountain of sugar and live with his friend from then on. Being the wonderful friend that he is, Sugary agreed.
From then on, they lived together with happiness and harmony.
Salty and Sugary were not only ants, they were both very close friends with different eating habits. Sugary lived on a mountain of sugar and ate sugar. Likewise Salty lived on Salt Mountain and ate salt. Sugary felt bad for his friend Salty who had never tasted the sweetness of sugar, so Sugary invited Salty over for dinner.
But when Salty was about to leave for dinner, he became scared not knowing how sugar would taste. Salty thought maybe he should bring his own food with him, just in case the sugar tasted bad and he didn't want to eat it, so he filled his mouth with salt to bring with him.
When Salty arrived at the mountain of sugar he noticed that it looked just the same as his own mountain of salt, and upon his arrival he was welcomed with great respect by Sugary. They both shared about what had happened in their lives recently, eventually leading up to Sugary bringing in some sugar to share.
"What do you think of the sugar," Sugary asked?
Salty replied "It's not as good as salt."
Sugary was confused because he knew how good sugar tasted, and after inspecting the sugar, he determined that maybe Salty had a little bit of salt left over in his mouth. Sugary looked in Salty's mouth and saw a pile of salt so large that it made it impossible for Salty to even taste the sugar!
Sugary wasn't upset, he just wanted to share this wonderful gift with Salty, and he asked Salty to clean out his mouth. Salty cleaned it as pure as could be, and then Sugary gave him some new sugar to taste. Immediately, Salty was amazed at how good the sugar tasted, and could not believe that he had never experienced this before in his entire life. It was so good, in fact, that Salty asked if he could move to the mountain of sugar and live with his friend from then on. Being the wonderful friend that he is, Sugary agreed.
From then on, they lived together with happiness and harmony.
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