Bharat Soka Gakkai Experience Sharing

Experience by Ritikaa Khunnah

Good morning friends!

I am Ritikaa and I have been practicing this life philosophy for the past 8 years. Today I wish to share a recent experience of mine, which again has reiterated the power of Gohonzon. I have experienced immense benefits from the Gohonzon in these 8 years ranging from Financial to Career to Family Karmas. But this time, I had a very different experience, which I want to share with you, something not related to individual problems but which was addressing a lager issue, an issue of the expansion of my life and creating value from it.

I left my full time job in April 2007. The following month was enjoyable as I loved the time off after continuously working for 8 years. But soon I started feeling bored and a sense of ‘not contributing’ started nagging me. I felt I was wasting my time and my potential. At the same time, other obstacles and devils also started attacking. My husband’s appraisal got stuck and his boss was so unhappy with him that we feared he may loose his job. Other financial expenses also suddenly sprung up as though devils were waiting to attack. I realized that my diamoku in this period was not regular and I was taking my practice easy. As the Gosho lines say: “Strengthen your faith day by day, month after month. Should you slacken even a bit, devils will attack.”

I decided to dedicate this time of my life to kosen-rufu for deep within I knew it was the right time to change something within and around me. I also took out my wish list I had made at the beginning of the year to see what has been achieved and what remains. I realized that some key things were still left to be done. Therefore, decided it was opportune moment to plunge into kosen-rufu activities and show actual proof in my life. It was at this time that I plunged myself in Gakkai activities, chanted for 3 hours 20 minutes regular diamoku and home visited and encouraged members with my life. It was as if kosen-rufu became my full time job. I decided that I needed to concentrate my daimoku towards my targets, and needed to entirely change my style of gongyo and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I wrote down all my goals very clearly, defining and visualizing everything to the last detail. I then chanted very specifically for these goals. I also divided my chanting into 10 minutes of apology for all the negative causes that I may have created, 10 minutes of appreciation for all the Buddhist God’s protection through my life, and the rest was focused daimoku on achieving Gakkai members and my targets. Nichiren Daishonin’s Budhhism stresses on practicing for oneself and for others. Keeping this philosophy in mind, I set up 2 kinds of target lists, one for my own personal challenges and the other for those of my district members. I used to chant for these 2 target lists on alternate days. I attended all study meetings, worked for the district general meeting and volunteered for being the MC for the chapter women division meeting. This gave me an opportunity to do abundant diamoku and really develop compassion towards members.

During one of the Zadankai’s, a few members had shared the correct ways of doing gongyo and daimoku. I applied these to my Gongyo too, stressing on the correct posture during chanting, placing a fresh cup-full of water near the Gohonzon before every Gongyo, using the Liturgy during all Prayers, correcting my pronunciation wherever possible, and doing focused Daimoku all the time.

As Sensei says, no effort in Gakkai goes wasted. My prayers were answered. I first got a consultancy job just near my house, in Suncity itself, which gave me the flexibility of having leisure time for myself and yet earn a decent monthly income. But this job required me to travel and soon I realized that the nature of trainings were not so enjoyable for me. The target group was corporate and since I have been working in the development sector, I wanted to contribute to that sector itself. I chanted more and more that the right job should come to me because there were quite a few demands that I had put. For example I wanted a job which does not require my full time services 6 days a week yet pays me decently. Also it needs to be for the development sector at a good designation, and one which did not require me to travel frequently. I put a target coinciding with Gakkai campaign but unfortunate the date went past and I did not get what I wanted. Perseverance in faith is important and I decided to not give up and set another target date. I researched a lot on various websites, trying to find the right job for myself. I also gave a few interviews, trying to experiment with various sectors for the sake of finding a job, but none of them offered the exact role I was looking for. However, instead of losing hope, I decided to continue my struggle in practice and action, base my challenges on Faith and vigorously immerse myself in my efforts for achieving victory. My guiding light in my struggle were the lines in the New Human Revolution Volume 8, Page 83 – “If you are complaining that these circumstances are not what you expected, that they are more than you bargained for, the you are not yet demonstrating the real essence of your mission. Only when you have a firm awareness of your mission to accomplish Kosen-Rufu are you a true Bodhisattva of the Earth. Then, as you strive to fulfill your mission, your eternal self will take over and boundless strength and wisdom will well forth, enabling you to surmount all obstacles”.

I am happy to report that I was able to achieve victory in all quarters. I have joined my new job, which requires me to go 3 days a week only and it pays me almost the same as when I was doing a full time job. Additionally it is in the business of providing high quality education, something that interests me. They have offered me a consultant position which would be upgraded to Assistant Vice President after 3 months. My husband also got a fantastic appraisal and had shared his experience with you.

After joining the office, the only problem I faced was commuting to Nehru Place where my new office is located. I chanted to get a solution to this problem. Also the Gakkai introductory study exam date was approaching. I decided this is a good opportunity to challenge myself, study hard and overcome this obstacle. I decided to use whatever time I could find to completely prepare myself for the exam. I used to chant and study while commuting to and fro from office. For one week before the exam, my husband and I spent every evening preparing for the exam, although we could hardly find any energy or time due to family commitments and busy office schedule. I also did study discussions with members to encourage them to study as much as possible for the exam. I am happy to report that I have not only got a driver at the rate we can afford to help me in commuting; but studying for the exam was truly an enriching experience. Concepts that were not clear in my 8 years of practice are crystal clear now and I can feel a change in my life-condition.

I wish to thank the Gohonzon for all the protection and determine to struggle even harder for kosen-rufu. I also determine to share another experience with you in the next Zadankai as I am determined to meet all my targets for this year by the year end. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Gohonzon for continuously guiding me to take up goals and challenges, and achieving one victory after another in life. I also aim to help members fight for their own goals and challenges, and will try to make my district and area a joyful and happy place.

Thank you.

*Experiance taken from - http://experiencethewonder.blogspot.com/

Bharat Soka Gakkai- Sumit Gupta Experience

My Experience

Good evening all. I am sumit gupta practising this life transforming philosophy since 2004. Today what i am going to share with you all is my experience and the journey in faith over the three years i spent in BSG-Rourkela.
Just after graduating from engg i got an offer to join one of india’s best public sector undertaking and subsequently got posted in Rourkela, Orissa . Soon after going to Rourkela, i became member of bsg- Rourkela which was a small block with me as a single ymd. . Being born and brought up in delhi, i found it very difficult to adjust in a small township. Right from the day 1 i always wanted to get back to delhi. I applied for many job openings, prepared for CAT but i didn’t find any good opportunity to get back to delhi or nearby to it. It’s not only the place and the language difference but the job as well which was making my life difficult. To get back to delhi was the only thing that was in my mind .Soon i found myself in depression and anxiety. i used to feel miserable and helpless. Everything around me seemed to be working to create unhappiness for me. During that time i came across sensei’s guidance.
I quote “If your underlying ichinen is full of complaints and dissatisfaction, you will create a gloomy life controlled by unhappy, frustrated feelings. Everything that weaken your happiness is nothing but a product of your own weak ichinen . However if you take everything with a profound sense of appreciation and joy, you will be able to build happiness and fortune at an accelerated rate.”
I felt as if it was written for me only and i could connect to the writing immediately. I again started chanting to strengthen my ichinen and started taking active participation in the meetings. I tried hard to appreciate all the things in my life. Again, During the ymd training course at Kolkata, i received a guidance to start appreciating and have gratitude for my job and try to know my mission. As there are no coincidences in Buddhism, i must chant and find the purpose of my coming to Rourkela .

It was very difficult for me to like my job as i ddnt like it at all. And the work environment reflected the same. My boss used to think that i am escapist and used to yell at me in front of all the people.It became daily routine for me to get reprimanded on one thing or the other.
After the training course, i tried to apply the guidance. Meantime i came across another sensei’s guidance, i quote “If you practise faith yet have an attitude of complaint, you will destroy your good fortune in direct proportion, those who are full of complaint are not respected by others. From both Buddhist and secular perspective, their behaviour does not befit a wise or worthy person.”
For the first time i realized the slander i was doing all the while knowingly or unknowingly. I chanted and determined not to begrudge my life from that moment onwards and to appreciate my job and my boss, and for that matter everything in my daily life. Meanwhile, By basing and focussing on discussion meetings, and working on the basics of practise, the member’s faith and number began to increase. I also started to take charge at my work place and enjoy the task given to me. Over the time, situation at my work front improved mystically. The same boss started liking my efforts and started to appreciate me and started supporting me to an extent that i used to get charge in case of emergency and sometimes given a charge to handle the entire plant alone.
Meanwhile I took an apartment so that the ymd’s can come to my home and chant at any time. chanting with the ymds and studying the Buddhist concept became the daily routine. The gosho and sensei’s writing kept me motivated all through the lonely time in my apartment. The love and affection of bsg-rourkela helped me in getting out of depression . The sincerity and seeking spirit of the members was something that i had never seen before. I gave my all to encourage every single member . Being working in shifts, i tried to do daily home visit whenever my work time permited. Though i Still wanted to come back to delhi and to pursue an MBA but this time around i wanted to foster capable ymd’s and other members before departing.
Being from humble schooling background and average marks in boards with 2 years of dropping after 12th, i was always worried about my chances of getting into the premier B-school and to study finance as a subject. Though i got an admission in one good B school last year but due to high fee and financial liabilities i couldn’t take admission. One of my cousin suggested me a certification program in finance which though very difficult can help me in gaining good knowledge and to also help me to mollify my average marks in school. But to write the exam i needed a passport and quite a good amount of money. As i didn’t have passport i applied for it but i was running short of time. Mystically on the last day of deadline i received my passport and at the same time got the requisite money from my friend to apply. I could truly feel the working of shoten-zenjin in my environment.
It was difficult for me to understand the topics but by chanting and studying i able to read more than 4000 pages twice and understand the topics which were completely new to me, in a span of just 4 months. Meanwhile, the bodhisattvas started to emerge and the member’s increased so much so that Rourkela became 2 districts. The strength of Ymd’s also increased from single to 12. Their seeking spirit was so high that to attend a meeting they all with me travel more than 400 km by bus to Bhubaneswar.
The BSG-india also recognised the faith and sincerity of Rourkela member and trusted us with an exhibition of “building the culture of peace for the children of the world” With just over 100 members and with no experience of managing such an exhibition, it was a difficult task for us. But by chanting and putting faith first, we managed to put forth the great show. By spreading the awareness about the exhibition and BSG we managed to get the venue for free and moreover sponsorship from SAIL. Ymds took active participation in arranging for accommodation, transportation of panels , visiting and inviting schools for the exhibition. Apart from that, members raised sponsorship from as far as Mumbai and more than 1500 people attended the exhibition including the CEO of SAIL-RSP unit.
Mystically on the same day as inaugural of exhibition the result of the cfa international level 1 exam declared and i am happy to report that i have passed level 1 exam in a single attempt.
Meantime i applied for a private bank sponsored MBA programme. I chanted to be in high life condition and perform my best. I cleared the written exam and called for gd/ pi round. I cleared the GD round which was elimination round. I am happy to report to you that i have cleared all the round and one of the few to get selected in this coveted leadership programme.
As this is a sponsored programme i don’t need to worry about fees. Infact i will be getting stipend per month for 2 years of an mba which for a year is more than my current salary. Apart from that i will get an opportunity to do MBA in finance and to learn from the best in industry and will join india’s no 1 private bank at a profile offered not even to the graduates of premier B school with a six figure salary. I am happy to report that i am one of the youngest person to get into this programme. mystically the result came a day before i intended to leave Rourkela.
As sensei says and i quote “ the real benefit of mystic law is inconspicuous. Just as trees grows taller and stronger year after year , adding growth rings that are imperceptible to the human eye, we too will grow towards a victorious existence. For this reason it is important that we lead tenacious and balanced lives based on faith” unquote. To me personally as well the biggest benefit i think i have received is accumulating the treasure of heart. I find myself more sensitive to the worries of people and start appreciating good in each and everyone. To really respect and appreciate the cultural diversity and to really acknowledge the buddhahood in each and every person. I owe this to the members of BSG Rourkela who showered me with the love and affection to an extent that i stopped missing my home lately. They never allowed me to get into depression and made sure that i feel at home in Rourkela. And with the bodhisattava’s emerging and taking responsibility i am rest assured of the kosen rufu in Rourkela. The years i spend there will always remain the best years of my life and BSG-rourkela will always be very close to my heart.
Today i determine to strengthen my faith practice and study and to work for kosen rufu at any place where my mission takes me to.
Thank you.


*experience courtesy of http://www.sumitbsg.blogspot.com/

Dumb Cargo
 
Karen hated her father and despised her mother. 
Her father drank and beat her and her four older sisters. Their mother did nothing to stop him. 
Karen lived in hell. Her father smashed in every door in the house, except the front door. Her mother started a garden and then was too drunk to care for it. Sections of it browned and died. Karen's mother drank to avoid dealing with the issues of her life. 
Sometimes at night, a light would shine across their beds; then the silhouette of their father would darken the light. He came to beat them. They never knew why. Karen wanted to become invisible. 
Karen was raised and protected by her sisters. One by one, they left the abusive house. One of her sisters married a black man and the father told her to never contact him again. He called his son-in-law racist names. 
Karen saw other families on TV and in her neighborhood. They seemed so perfect. She wished her family were loving and supportive. 
When the last of her sisters left, Karen was left alone with her drunken mother and abusive, drunken father. 
She stopped wishing. 
She left home as soon as she could. Within a year she was introduced to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. The only thing that she really wanted was a happy family. She could not believe that chanting could help, but she couldn't keep herself from chanting for a happy family anyway. 
Karen has a theory based on her observation of Buddhist practice. She calls it the "Dumb Cargo" theory. It goes something like this: 
"Sometimes we are too dumb to know what is the best thing to do — to make the best cause — to do the right thing. But if our practice is strong it seems like our lives have enough wisdom to put us at the right place at the right times to accomplish our dreams. So we are like dumb cargo that is always being directed toward our enlightenment by the Mystic Law in our lives." 
Even though she had left home, she still spoke with her mother. Her mother was especially prone to binges when her husband went on business trips. Karen knew that her dad was leaving town so she called mother to see if she wanted company for lunch. 
Her mother said: "Don't come." 
Karen was bothered by that, but thought to herself: "If she doesn't want me to come, I'll see someone who appreciates my company." 
Karen went to see a friend. After saying goodbye, she discovered that she could not find her keys. She called her sister and asked her to go to the parents' house to give her a ride home. She called a tow truck but the truck got lost. By the time Karen got to her parents' house, the front door was wide open and a neighbor was standing in the lawn. 
"Go to the hospital immediately," he said. 
At the hospital, her sister explained that their mother had fallen out of bed and landed in a way that cut off her breathing. But Karen's sister is a registered nurse and she had arrived just in time to save her (Dumb Cargo?). One by one, the other sisters showed up at the hospital. 
They looked worried. Karen, for some unknown reason, was calm. The nurse motioned Karen to come into her mother's room. Karen thought that the other sisters should see their mother first, because they were the most worried. The nurse insisted that Karen and Karen alone came into the room. Her mom looked only barely alive. Karen reached for her hand and then was overwhelmed with a sense of compassion. It was stronger than any feeling that she had ever had. She could not stop herself from bending over and chanting "Nam Myoho-renge-kyo" into her mother's ear. 
Her mother opened her eyes and said, "I need help. I have no control in my life." Her mother had never used those words. 
While her mother was at the hospital, Karen visited her and tended the garden. 
The doctors informed her mother that if she wanted to live she would have to stop drinking alcohol. The only way that she could quit was if her husband quit too. He agreed. 
The sister who had married a black man was visiting the hospital with her husband and two children. Karen's father showed up at the hospital at the same time. When he meet his son-in-law he walked over to him, shook his hand and apologized. 
After her mother got out of the hospital, she came home to a beautiful garden. She joined a horticulture club. 
Last Thanksgiving, for the first time, Karen's father, mother, all her sisters, and all their husbands (or significant others) and children were in the same house. They ate lots of food, told stories, and trimmed the Christmas tree. 
Karen thought about the wish that was always in her heart for a loving supporting family — just then her sister pulled open the curtains to reveal the snow that was falling. They were all snowed in. 
None of them wanted to leave anyway. 

Complaints Evaporated Like Dew in the Morning Sun  
By Surender Taneja 

I joined this wonderful life philosophy in February 1999. Since that day, I have been able to turn around many negative tendencies and polish my life for my own happiness and those around me. 
It all started with stagnation in my job. The frustration I felt began manifesting itself in other areas of my life and I felt deadlocked. Then I got an opportunity to work in Kuala Lumpur, where I found my colleagues more efficient, more professional, and better human beings. I returned to Delhi with a desire to become a better human being myself. 
The idea that “the teacher will appear when the pupil is ready” came true for me. I came across a vibrant and joyful colleague in my office, who had transformed herself within very short span of time. She shared with me how Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism and activities in Bharat Soka Gakkai have helped her achieve this change. This motivated me to take up faith and I discovered that I indeed had many negative tendencies. I often used to have doubts in my mind while praying. I sought guidance and was told to strengthen my study and to chant lots of daimoku. Studying Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra helped me  to practice free of any doubt and I began feeling lighter and happier. And a strong conviction welled up in my life. 
This experience underlined the importance of study to me. I decided to apply faith to overcome my relationship problem: my relationship with my wife was strained. Instead of taking responsibility and building a harmonious relationship, I would avoid confrontation with her by coming home very late and even going to the office on holidays. I was full of grudges against her. In turn, she did not appreciate my practice and objected to members who came for home visits. 
I sought guidance and was told “Your wife is not the problem — you are. First, you must become an admirable human being. As long as you are complaining about your wife, you are not practicing correct faith. When you can show your wife the appreciation you would show to the Buddha, she will have nothing to object to.” 
It was a challenge to understand and apply this guidance. Through assiduous practice I slowly began to show results. Negative feelings towards my wife, like hatred, grudges, and complaints, became like dewdrops evaporating from the tips of grass. I took complete responsibility to change this poison into medicine and I started appreciating all the support my wife gave me. As the Gosho says, “It could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.” 
I am so happy to report that my wife joined BSG and we now do our Gongyo together. This has brought benefits into her own life. She overcame severe health problems: obsessive-compulsive disorder and a fibrous growth in her uterus which just disappeared without any surgery. For this I deeply thank the Gohonzon. 
These experiences motivated me to step up my own Buddhist activities, now with my wife’s complete support. Soon my prayer to strengthen my study was answered when I was selected into the MD Pillar Study Group. Sensei once wrote, "Study deepens faith … and spurs our human revolution. When we take action in accord with the Gosho, only then can we say that we have grasped the teachings of the Daishonin’s Buddhism.” 
In Pillar Study Group, we studied Basics of Buddhism, New Human Revolution, and The World of the Gosho. Finding time for regular study was always a big struggle for me; due to my hectic office schedule and my other activities, I would often study after 11 at night. All this has given me the strong conviction that only by practicing this philosophy under the Soka Gakkai, can one actually change karma. 
As I made determinations to work harder in Gakkai, my obstacles also increased. My responsibilities at work increased, demanding me to work seven days a week, each night until 9:00 PM. Now I could not attend any Gakkai meetings and my home visitations almost stopped. 
Suddenly, disharmony appeared at home; first between my brothers and then involving the whole family. A gentle reminder from a senior leader woke me up, and Iknew I had to take complete responsibility. I began to do three activities each week, no matter what, along with taking care of the Future Division. These challenges provided me an opportunity to respect and encourage my daughters and other kids at home. I began respecting my juniors and colleagues at work as if they were Gakkai members. 
Again benefits flowed in my life. My juniors started taking more responsibilities and my seniors showered appreciation. The situation at home started to improve. Soon both my younger brothers joined this faith. My daughters also began practicing sincerely and showed remarkable improvement in their academics and behavior. 
I was given responsibility as a district chief; soon I faced the biggest challenge to my life. I developed acute appendicitis, which had already burst. Doctors told me that even one day’s delay could have proved fatal. With lots of gratitude for being alive, I pledged never to take my health for granted. 
As if this was not enough, after my operation, major complications (like jaundice with infection of liver and pus collection in the operation site) occurred one after another. No treatment worked consistently and my condition became better one day and worst next day. On fourth day, when I started feeling completely exhausted and drained, I remembered Sensei’s guidance, “Anyone would think that victory is impossible and that’s probably how you feel right now. Don’t forget this marvelous Gohonzon. We have the power to transform something you would normally think impossible into something possible. Those who give up before they try, don’t really know the power of the Mystic Law....” 
With deep apology and strong ichinen, I began to pray from the hospital bed to become healthy for kosen-rufu. I recovered completely after 15 days. During this illness, I became very close to my family and deeply learned the power of the Gohonzon. My company bore all the expenses for the costly medical treatment. My benefit is not only in regaining perfect health but also developing deep appreciation and understanding of the value of my family, my excellent workplace, and my Soka Family. 
Before joining the BSG, I could hardly write a few sentences confidently. It gives me immense pleasure to share my experience with you. I determine to live out my life for kosen-rufu and apply all that I learn in the BSG and share with others. I pledge to advance ceaselessly to form deeper bonds with my mentor.