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.