Sunday, February 19, 2012
Heaven and Hell

A person once asked God “Why are the people in Heaven living in joy but the ones in Hell aren’t?”


God replied “You wish to know why? I’ll bring you there then.”

In no time, God brought the person to Hell where they walked into a room of people surrounding a gigantic bowl. There was food in the bowl and the people were hungry, but they did not look any happy looking at the food. Looking closely, he realized that their spoons were all too long. The people couldn’t get what they want into their mouth.
God continued “Let’s have a look in Heaven shall we?”

This time, they entered a room with a similar scene. There were people surrounding a huge bowl, and they were all having a long spoon. The only difference is, that they’re all smiling and enjoying.

Just when the person was about to raise a question, God said “Keep on looking.”

The people began to dine, but instead of sending the food into their own mouth, they were all sending the food into the mouths of those who sat opposite them.

This time, he finally understood.



Postscript:

Those in Heaven could easily enjoy their meal with their friends; but those in Hell were always troubled by their spoon.

The difference between Heaven and Hell, is just the way they use their long spoon. Sometimes we’d complain that everything we have is just not enough. We also question why trouble had to follow us? But if you try to see things at a different angle, you might just find out that they’re lessons in life. Such a change of Ichinen, will give us a different attitude in facing problems.

Similarly, when we take a first step to encourage our comrades, we might just find out that they’ve been challenging in their life just like us. It is then we’ll get more hope in facing challenges as we know that we’re not alone. Therefore, the important factor is our attitude on seeing and facing these challenges.

As the Gosho teaches “the wise rejoice, and the ignorant retreat”. Wise men would face problems joyfully, but the ignorant ones would choose to give up. We must let ourselves be wise, to turn the darkest situation into great happiness.

Ikeda Sensei had been facing numerous hardship and challenges on his way of realizing his mentor, Toda Sensei’s dream, and also for the sake of people’s happiness. Therefore Ikeda Sensei never worried about his problems, but others. Sensei’s benevolence thought spread Daishonin’s Buddhism across the world, turning the darkest corners into “Heavens” of happiness.

As his disciples, we must continue our mentor’s spirit to spread the seeds of hope, as Toda Sensei’s aimed “to wipe ‘tragic’ off from the face of Earth”.

Let’s strive harder for the sake of the happiness of our Future Divisions and for kosen-rufu!


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Written at 11:44 PM by Paper Pilot.