Human Revolution and Overcoming Obstacles

Transformation is no easy feat.

Introducing Human Revolution
In today's world where global issues are so important, many people feel a sense of powerlessness and resignation; a feeling that no individual's efforts can change the way things are. But the Buddhist viewpoint is that the world should be seen from the perspective of the individual, and that the human life contains the entire universe. That is why changing our own lives one by one will bring a change in our family, our community and the society in which we live. It will change the age we live in, our history, and indeed all aspects of our world.

If we look for the true causes of war we see that it is essentially caused by the human mind. War stems from the desire to control and conquer others, to have power, and from hatred and antipathy. Such is a human being in the grip of the negative force of life. World peace starts with the inner transformation of the individual, and the struggle to elevate our state of life and free ourselves from the domination of the negative force of life. A single sunflower contains the seeds for more than a thousand new plants.

Similarly, when one brave person stands up for peace, his or her resolve spreads out into the environment in thousands of ways. Courage always brings a response. One person's human revolution can therefore eventually change the destiny of the entire human race.



The Spirit of Human Revolution
In his writing On Attaining Buddhahood, Nichiren Daishonin conveys the basic spirit of human revolution: "You must never think that any of the eighty thousand sacred teachings of Shakyamuni's lifetime or any of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions and three existences are outside yourself. Your practice of the Buddhist teachings will not relieve you of the sufferings of birth and death in the least unless you perceive the true nature of your own life." [WND p3]

We could summarise the spirit of this teaching as being, "It's not up to others; nor can I blame anyone else. I have to change myself first." It is a viewpoint that says, everything in life is part of our own training; it is for our benefit and development. Human revolution takes place right now, in the situation we find ourselves at this moment.

World peace starts with this inner transformation of the individual. And yes it is a struggle to develop and elevate our state of life but human revolution is the foundation for world peace and also for individual peace and happiness. It is at the heart of our Buddhist practice. It is about changing our heart and drawing out our humanity.

It is the most amazing feeling as you discover that if the cause of your suffering is within the realms of your own life then you and only you can change that aspect of your life. This is the most freeing feeling. This is human revolution and the door to your Buddhahood.

Human revolution brings into play all the principles and processes that make up the Buddhist teachings of life. Learning to be able to live our lives on the basis of correct teachings is part of our human revolution. The process is a transformation of the heart.


Transforming the Self, Living the Teachings
When we commit our lives to chanting we embark on a journey of self-discovery and challenge. By taking responsibility for our feelings and emotions, especially those we most dislike, we come to realise we have the ability to transform our lives from within. As we broaden our experiences of chanting daimoku we get experiences of our environment reflecting the transformation of our inner lives. This could be in our family relationships, at work or in other aspects of life.

It is usually within one of these arenas that we find life can be difficult or cause us to suffer. As we continue chanting, the more we start to see our lives very differently. At first this process may seem a little uncomfortable because it is quite unique and new to us. We may or may not like what we see. Perhaps we realise we have set attitudes or opinions about others or various issues that make us suffer. It may seem that others have a problem with us. This can draw out all sorts of feelings and emotions that can make us uneasy, or uncomfortable.

Getting this kind of reaction does not mean that chanting is not working or that it is working in a negative way. On the contrary you are actually in the process of transforming exactly that which has always led you to suffer in that particular area of your life. Your chanting is illuminating an area of your life that needs to change for your own happiness. The realisation that this opinion or attitude stems from our own lives and not from other's opinions of us, leads us to uncover the Buddha nature inherent in our lives. The quickest way to transform these feelings or attitude is to keep chanting until you realise the cause of these uncomfortable feelings.

However, it may be that is exactly when you find it the most difficult time to chant. You are on the brink of changing a part of your life that always stops you from progressing or being happy. It will probably feel like walking up a hill backwards. At such times obstacles and devils arise. You will probably be able to justify why it is more beneficial to watch TV than do gongyo or chant or tell a friend about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo or study some of Nichiren Daishonin`s writings. But this is exactly the time to do these things in order to break through and win over something that has always held you back. This is the time to muster a fighting spirit and to be courageous.

In his book Seven Paths to Peace, Daisaku Ikeda talks about human revolution in terms of self-mastery. Simply put, this means winning control over oneself, overcoming the small self that is dominated by narrow self-interest and awakening to the larger self that works for the good of all humanity. From this standpoint a major obstacle to developing ourselves is to pursue a way of life bound by our small ego or self. Expanding from the lesser self to the greater self is the path of human revolution.

Through our practice of introducing others to Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, and through efforts to share Buddhism with others, we ourselves grow immensely, we can carry out our human revolution, and transform our karma. Therefore by guiding another individual towards happiness, we also guide ourselves towards happiness. The act of introducing others to Buddhism, which enables us to profoundly benefit both ourselves and others, is the formula of hope for humanity.

At a time when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood, or at a time when a person is at a turning point in doing their human revolution, the negative aspect of life will always appear in some form. This is an unavoidable fact of life! Nichiren Daishonin assures us of this and asks us to transmit it as an axiom or principle of faith so that it is understood by all those who practise.


Obstacles
This negative aspect is often referred to as the 'three obstacles and four devils' (in Japanese, sansho shima). Obstacles refer to things which appear to be outside of ourselves (but which ultimately have their origins in our lives) and the devils, or negative elements, are 'internal'. What makes these obstacles and devils serious is that if we are influenced by them we may stop practising Buddhism. They confront us at a specific point in time - usually when we are about to grow in our lives and move forward. The fact that at a difficult moment we may think that we should stop practising is a sign that it is an attack of one of the three obstacles and four devils. From a positive point of view these hindrances enable us to see a weakness in our lives so that we can chant and become stronger in that area.

The first is the obstacle of earthly desires. Buddhism teaches that our earthly desires may be transformed into enlightenment. Second is the obstacle of karma, which includes the influence of those who are close to us such as a spouse, partner or children. Third is the obstacle of retribution, which means opposition from those with power over us, such as our superiors, parents or people in authority.

The devils come from within our own lives. We create our own negativity, our own doubt, uncertainty and confusion. The first devil arises from our earthly desires. It can include egoism, craving for personal fame and riches, laziness or being dominated by force of habit. It can also arise from the three poisons of greed, anger and stupidity.

Second is the devil of weakness that can arise in our own bodies, such as an illness, which will hold us back and reduce our capacity. Third is the devil, which manifests as the hindrance of death. Unless we are confident that death is not 'the end', but rather another phase in the cycle of life and death - then another person's death can trigger a sense of doubt and can considerably weaken our will to practise Buddhism, even though Buddhism is intended to relieve us from the sufferings of birth and death.

Finally the fourth devil is known as the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven who, in Buddhist mythology, works to obstruct Buddhist practice and drain our life force. This is the manifestation of fundamental darkness inherent in life. And because of this can be seen as the most challenging aspect of negativity to conquer. When influential people persuade or threaten us to stop practising this could be said to be the workings of the Devil of the Sixth Heaven.

Whatever form they take, the Daishonin advises us to take these obstacles and devils as confirmation that we are properly practising the true Law through which ordinary people become Buddhas. They offer us insight into aspects of our human revolution, ways to strengthen our lives and assurance that we are on the verge of achieving this, so long as we are neither influenced nor frightened by them. Human revolution includes experiencing this process and transforming some aspect of ourselves. It indicates the real experience of finding we have to confront something. It also includes our need to gain the inner conviction that we can win over the obstacle in question.

In Buddhism, the term 'fundamental darkness' is used to describe the ignorance and delusion inherent in human life. This is the ignorance of the fact that we all have the state of Buddhahood in our lives, at all times, latent and ready to be revealed. The aim of our great struggle for kosen-rufu, our movement of human revolution, is to transform that innate darkness into light. Our goal is to vanquish the destructive tendencies within human life that give rise to mutual distrust and hate, violence and fear. The three obstacles and four devils become an indispensable means for doing this. That is why we should rejoice when they appear.

Reproduced from SGI UK.

Sometimes it all gets too much!

World on your shoulders?

Sometimes it all gets too much.

Sometimes I think about how much there is to do. And I freak out a bit.

Work, life, family, jobs, receipts, bills, death and taxes!

Then I remember that I am a Buddha and there is nothing that I cant handle.

One step at a time.

One foot in front of the other.

NMRK Bobby

Why do we chant Nam myoho renge kyo in Japanese and not English or our native tounge?

A member of Youtube asked me a very interesting question and I asked around a few people their thoughts.

His question was; If the Buddha, didn't speak in Japanese, they why do we chant Nam myoho renge kyo in Japanese. Wouldn't this be a deviation from the Buddha's teaching?

As much as I appreciate chanting can manifest wisdom, I didn't really feel "chant about it" was adequate, so I decided to answer the question myself.

Please let me know what you think of my response. Your feedback both positive and critical is always respected and appreciated.

Hi L, 

Thanks for getting these back to me. 

Unfortunately I do not feel they answer the question to the degree I think Jack would like, I think simply telling someone who has an enquiring mind to chant about it, is not enough in my opinion.

This is only from my experience as a young SGI member.

We live in an age where people ask questions, they want to know how? why? when? 

Centuries ago, life was simpler and people accepted things at face value.

There was no internet, no satellites, no mobile phones, no deep space exploration, no genetic engineering.

So the question asked by Jack; 

Why do we chant in Japanese, when the Buddha never spoke Japanese.

And would it work if we chanted in another language.

I already know the answer, but I wanted to see if someone who has been studying for longer may have a better way of answering the question.

This is what I feel is the answer; 

Since Shakyamuni expounded the teaching of the lotus sutra, he spoke of a Daishonin, who would appear in the latter day of the law, to teach and share The Lotus Sutra. He would appear in a time of great calamity and he would be persecuted with in an inch of his life.

He would teach from the Lotus Sutra, that all human beings have the potential for greatness, especially in the areas of love, compassion, wisdom and strength. And that these qualities come from a well-spring of infinite potential.

He taught that through the mindful chanting of the phrase nam myoho renge kyo, we would be able to summon up these wonderful aspects of our nature.

Human beings are all capable of these wonderful qualities, but most of us live lives that have been hard and difficult. These struggles or obstacles as we like to call them, often have an effect on us as people, we feel small, we feel stupid and we feel inadequate. Through these daily struggles, our sense of self and our sense of self worth, are often reduced to nothing.

This is where the daily practice of sitting and chanting comes in. Spending that time with your thoughts and working through your problems. Facing your problems. Is the key to your happiness.

As you know, most of human suffering is in the mind, or as the Buddha would call it, illusion. Our minds are clouded daily with anger, rage, jealousy, hatred, revenge, disgust and judgment to name a few.

These are all illusions. Illusions that we create. Through the sitting, and chanting, we learn to master our minds and take control of our fundamental darkness, our limiting self doubt, our destructive behaviour and our self sabotaging tendencies.

When we do this, we polish the mirror of our lives, that is often so clouded by these illusions that as time passes we begin to truly see... ? what do we see? As we polish harder and harder, day by day... what do we see? We, of course, see our selves. Our true nature as human beings. Loving, compassionate and filled with the deepest of respect for our lives and the lives of others.

Back to the time of Nichiren;

From a young age, Nichiren felt that Buddhism had lost its direction, that the temples and the priests had missed the point. Rituals, money, dogma, was the name of the game.

The purpose of religion is quite simple, whether you are Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Scientologist or Jewish. It matters not what path you take. All religions have the same purpose.

To bring strength to the weak, and hope to the hopeless. Each religion may tell the story differently, but they were created to lift people from suffering and give men and women the tools they need to find happiness, a strong community spirit and of course limitless love.

Many of the teachings of Jesus, are very compatible with what Shakyamuni said, as well as many of the teachings of other saints and religious men.

So, as time passed Nichiren manifested this practice, or the idea of the practice. He took the wisdom the ideas of the Buddha and he taught that each one of us is capable of finding this strength from within.

He studied and he studied and he learnt from life, that the idea that all of us are equal, was indeed the jewel of the Buddhas teachings. 

He realised that this, was the fundamental truth and the law of life as a human being in this universe.

There is a reason we chant together, as singing together, brings people together.

When we are all singing one song, in unity, we are connected.

Many in body, one in mind. That doesn't mean mindless drones, that means a common goal, a common good. Together we are stronger. 

Humans in this world, have become so disconnected from each. This is our primary illness.

We sing the song of Nam myoho renge kyo daily, because we are a family, not by blood, colour or sexuality, but a family with a common goal.

We sing this song, together, daily, because we want the world to change. We want the suffering and the anger to end. We want to spread the truth that has been hidden from most of us for such a long time.

We are a family that wants the world to be a better place. We want our children to be safe and we want our sons and daughters not to have to go to war and kill each other.

Every single one of us on this green earth wants the same thing, love, security, food on our table, the safety of our children and a future.

Yet we all spend so much time trying to convince our friends, our families and our neighbours that our way is the better way.

In doing this we miss the point of why we practice a religion.

We practice to bring happiness and abundance to our lives and the lives of those around us, no matter if they are Christian, Mulsim, Jewish or Quaker.

So the simple answer as to why we chant in Sanskirt (Nam) and Japanese (myo ho renge kyo) is that, that is how Nichiren the teacher, taught it, and that is how we all connect together, through this mantra today. 

Let me paint a picture through, just to be a little more clearer or simpler depending on how you look at it.

Imagine a gospel choir, how wonderful they sound! They sing, filled with joy and happiness. The roof of the churches of gospel choices seem to lift up with the jubilation and the excitement. What a wonderful thing it is to be part of that family of people, together connected. Loving and supporting each other.

Now, for a minute, imagine that each one of the choir, was singing the same joyful song, but in a different language.

How would it sound?

I think quite simply we all sing in the same chosen language, because it allows us all, from many countries, and states, to come together and share a common goal.

The words may seem different, but they mean the same thing.

There are many of us who ask why, but until you, sit and chant and have faith, how can you tell if it works or it doesn't.

There comes a point, when you can ask questions and keep trying to rationalise it, but until you pick up your voice and chant for your life, you wont know if it works or if it doesn't.

I think that it is key, that we trust. And what is so wonderful about Nichiren Buddhism, is that this deep trust, is not in a priest, or in an idol, or a deity or an angel.

This trust, is in your self. Nichiren asked that you polish your life like a mirror, and how should you polish it? By chanting nam myoho renge kyo.

Namaste dear friend.

Robbie