When I told a friend that I was chanting about my housing situation, she replied saying that what I am facing is good for me. I smiled because often in this Buddhist practice I have heard that it is good to see challenges as a positive.
They are opportunities for growth, for us to do our human revolution as Daisaku Ikeda says: “No matter what the problem is, the way it is interpreted can have a positive or negative effect on one's life. By adopting a positive interpretation, one can make one’s problems a source of nourishment for personal growth.”
I’m chanting like I did in my last post, Trusting my daimoku, because chanting worked, but unlike last time, I have doubts. I have doubts that I will get the result I want. On the surface level the doubt is because the situation involves many people, while in Trusting my daimoku the battle was with myself alone. I doubt because I feel I can’t influence the outcome because others need to be involved and they have their own valid opinions. On a deeper level it boils down to me doubting the power of nam myoho renge kyo, doubting my life because my life is not separate from this mystic law. I do have the ability to manifest what I want.
Every now and then passages of the gosho crop up in my mind, such as: “if a commanding general is fainthearted, his soldiers will become cowards. If a bow is weak, the bowstring will be slack. If the wind is gentle, the waves will never rise high. This all accords with the principles of nature.” - WND, 463-465. Therefore I need to let go of this doubt.
I’m going to chant and study. I don’t know what exact gosho, no I do, The Strategy of The Lotus Sutra. I’ve read it before and right now I’m the complete opposite of this: “The heart of strategy and swordsmanship derives from the Mystic Law. Have profound faith. A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.” - Nichiren Daishonin. Actually squash that idea. I’m going to study Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment.
As I’m writing, I’ve realised that I’m holding tightly to how I believe my determination, my goal will manifest and by when. So much so that the idea of not getting it in that why and by that date is making me suffer. I have a deadline in mind and its fast approaching. Okay. I need to slow down. I don’t want to feel like this. I want to feel light about it. Human revolution doesn’t have to be painful. I definitely need to chant more. Yes more chanting plus study. Watch this space.