[ THAT… is a general, universally accepted
interpretation of the Daimoku, which goes something like, Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō.
This is an experience which Apurva shared
with me, in the hope that it might motivate me and help me fight MY demons, giving
things my best shot. I love you, you wonderful amazing woman! With a hundred
things going on around you, you still manage to find time to gather motivation
for me.. :)
And well, i would like to share with whosoever wishes to read it and know about it.. :) ]
I am Vandana Gauria, and was introduced to
Nichiren Diashonin’s Buddhism 4 yrs ago.
My father passed away in 2007 and the
family was left to fend for itself both financially as well as mentally. There
were frequent fights at home and the environment was gloomy. My father was a CA
and left behind an office to be taken care of by us. At the age of 19, I was
dealing with clients more than double my age and solving their financial
issues. Besides, I was a CA student myself and had just cleared the entrance exam.
My work occupied most of my time and it had always been a struggle to study
while taking care of the office. I took to this philosophy as a fish takes to
water. On hearing members experiences, I realized that if I wanted a change within the family, then I had to
take action. Thereon I have been actively participating in the Gakkai
activities and chanting Daimoku with firm faith in the Gohonzon.
I have received numerous benefits during
the course of the last 4 yrs in the form of a happy and joyful family, clearing
my CA Inter exams in the first attempt with good marks, shifting to our own
house, winning the trust & respect of people around me, work that I enjoy
doing among the other benefits that I receive in my daily life, including both
conspicuous as well as inconspicuous benefits. Being human, issues keep
cropping both in my personal as well as professional life as they did earlier, however my perspective of viewing
and handling them has changed. In such times I challenge to maintain a high life condition
and pray to polish my own inner life. The practice has taught me to look for causes within
to be able to understand the environment better and undertake my human
revolution to be able to resolve the situation. The benefit of the
practice reflects in my personality and nature as well.
In July last year, I appeared for the
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Final exams and got through one group. Disheartened with
the fact that I could not clear both the groups, I could not savour the joy of
the victory that I had just achieved. Eventually, after taking guidance I
realised that my result had been a benefit of my practice as despite one of my
papers not going too well, I had managed to clear it.
I expressed my deep gratitude towards the
gohonzon and determined to bring glory to my parents and my mentor by passing
the next set of exams with good marks and become a CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT .
After wasting a month by virtually not
studying anything, I was left with three months to study four subjects.
Meanwhile, we had 3 due dates in the office to take care of and there were
other work commitments. The entire 3 months were marked by immense work
pressure and late nights at the office leaving little time to study. One month
before the exam, there were many days when I could not even open the books. Sensei
said “Study hard to surprise
yourself”. It was time for me to implement this guidance in the form of exerting myself to the maximum extent and bring out my
inherent potential. All this
while, I based myself on chanting Nam Myoho renge kyo and kept reminding myself of my determination. Being
a practioner of nichiren daishonin’s buddhism, I could not give up and I had to
show actual proof of my practice. Not ready to surrender to anything, I finally took an off from my work 10 days before the exam and I was still left with 2 subjects to complete.
As the gosho says “you had
better cut short your sleep by night and curtail your leisure by day, and
ponder this! You must not spend your lives in vain and regret it for ten
thousand years to come.” Basing
myself on these lines, I prayed to be able to stretch my day. During these 10
days I was coordinating work during the first half of the day over the phone as
well as studying hard till late in the mornings. I chanted to be able to study
with the buddhas wisdom and to grasp, remember and recall everything that I
studied. Mystically, I managed not just to complete the syllabus but also
thoroughly revise the course as well.
Usually, the course of certain subjects
undergoes changes in every exam that is held in may. However, this time there
were a number of changes in one of the subjects in the November exam as well
which we had not known about. The protective power of our daimoku came forth when my
sister’s friend informed her about the changes and both of us were thus
protected from an exam going haywire due to this.
I am happy to report that I managed to manifest
courage and not get nervous before any paper. My prayers were answered when I
was able to recall everything that I had studied during the last few days and
very joyfully gave all the exams.
With deep gratitude towards the gohonzon, I
would like to report that both me and my sister have passed the exam with
flying colours and have become CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS. Our family and office had
been waiting for one CA since the last 4
years, and today they have two. The happiness around is unbound. Ikeda sensei
says “ Daimoku has boundless power. It is the source of all victory. A
brilliant and indestructible triumph begins with Daimoku.”
Throughout the period of practice and the
last three months particularly, I was able to manifest a high life condition and
manifest my buddha nature in the form of courage and perseverance through the
power of daimoku.
Today, I determine to excel in my profession
as a CA and earn trust and respect from society and expand my network of
friends. I further determine to strenghthen my faith, practice and study and
work for the happiness of people in my environment.
