We must develop a truly strong self which won’t be defeated by adversity, the key lies in perseverance and realizing it through our actions.

Ikeda sensei has made it evident to us the secret to emerge victorious when confronting problems. It lies in perseverance and realizing it through our actions. There may be times when we may be too occupied that we feel lost or too exhausted, that we feel like giving up or feeling helpless upon encountering problems. As long as we view it as an opportunity to prove the greatness of our Buddhism and muster our energy to confront it, we will definitely succeed.

Previously, I undergo an ordeal with a friend in which his words deeply hurt me. The ugliness of human nature; where freedom of speech and thoughts has reached an unreasonable stage. I constantly ask myself why? All the while I have wholeheartedly confided in him but in the end this is what I get in return? Is he the friend I once knew? Or have I always been living in a presumptuous life? I cried and cried, I cried because of my weakness and I cried for being foolish, there was an instance when I even thought of giving up participating activities. At that time to me, I could only use immense hatred to describe this person. I really don’t want to meet him again.

Fortunately, I received an encouragement and kind consideration from a PIC. I know that I mustn’t be defeated by devilish function I then chanted for the kindness which have been buried within him instead. Previously in my blog I have always encouraged people to elevate our hearts, and isn’t now the time for me to put it into practice! I now realized how the devilish function within our hearts could weaken us so upon my next confrontation with it; I will brilliantly triumph. Although I felt reluctant to speak to him when I met him again but in the end I finally made the effort to face him. I will continually chant daimoku for the emergence of the kindness buried within him and assiduously put into practice sensei’s guidance and establish a truly strong self.

There is no need to find any secret or to seek role models elsewhere to become a strong willed person. To become a strong willed person, you just have to exert yourself wherever you are and undergo various kinds of trials which arise from the problems you face and keep advancing forward without evading it! Our mentor is our best role model. Regardless of whether to achieve success or to become an exceptional capable person, there is no other method besides persistence and realizing it through our actions.

No matter how much we may say but without concrete actions, whenever we any confront problems, we will become weak and afraid to move forward, this evidently shows how hopeless one is. This is the crucial moment. Whenever we feel restrained or whenever everything seem to become passive, times when you feel lost…..At that point in time, we must change our mindset and make such determination: ‘Okay, I will persevere in this path!’ ‘Spring’ will definitely arrive within this change in mindset.

The more trials we experience, all the various hardship we experience in life will broaden our perspective. As long as we confront it with the optimistic spirit of ‘What storm have I not encountered?’ and ‘I will strive my very best and overcome the problem once again’, within this endeavour, we will develop into a strong willed individual who would face any problems resolutely and a person who is unbending and undefeated by anything.

Labels: e. Words of mentor