"you can forge the path to a fulfillinf and enjoyble life if you have the depth of faith to regard everything as a source for creating happiness and value. conversly if you see everything only in a negative or pessimistic light, your life will gradually but inevitable be plunged into the darkness. buddhism teaches the subtle principle of ichinen, and moreover, the power of faith "
When i first read this quote, i realized that these words, these guidance is for me only.
i am working in a plant and from the day 1 i joined i ddnt like my work.
well the working conditions are no better to make you happy, so is the boss.
name a thing and it will be dere. heat, dust, poisonous gases, fumes which chokes your throat, sound, hazardous waste and equally difficult staff to deal with and add on to it, to work in shifts.
it may sound like terrible but its a bit less terrible then i portrayed. nonetheless after coming from college i ddnt expected myself to be in the middle of all these thing. while my other friends in the same plant were enjoying their life with good comfortable condition and relaxation in coming and going out.
i was toiling hard, getting bullied by my boss and cussing .
in last 1 year i studied harder then ever to clear any other PSU exam and go ot of this place.
but much to my surprise i ddnt clear even a single written while a year before this i cleared all the PSU exams even without studying much.
with summer coming, my condition start becoming terrible. the temp in this region reaches to 46 and in plant and moreover in my area of working you can easily add 2-3 degree more to it.
but what i could have done. i have to work untill i get something good enough.
my cat exam was a big fiasco in the last year and with this summer raising i was getting afraid that this coming year cat will have the same fate.
but by reading sensei's guidance i actually realized that what is happening in my life.
by cursing my surroundings, my environment and blaming my job for not being able to do gakkai activities what i was doing last year was slowly but surely developing pessimistic attitude. though i was chanting but the attitude towards chanting wasnt that ought to be.
i was falling into the vicious circle without knowing and all the negative results were just the reflection of my inner state of life.
it took me a year to learn this thing.
but at last i learned it. the job is same, heat is same infact will go on to increase only but i am determined to increase the depth of my faith to become happy, respect this job and ofcourse this PSU for giving me this job and giving me a handsome salary and training me . there are no coincidence in buddhism and my being here in this dept and in this city, rourkela far away from my home that is delhi must have some higher meaning.
i must use my training in delhi to make bsg- rourkela a citadel of happiness.
i determine to improve my life condition and to expand my life so that i can give my best at my job, gakkai activities, health and my study.
Showing posts with label BSG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BSG. Show all posts
Sunday, April 18, 2010
hi, i am back
hi all, i am so sorry for not being able to keep this blog alive for such a long time.
well the major reason was that my CAT exam was coming and besides that i ddnt had my own PC with internet connection.
so now exams are finished and now i hv my own laptop and internet connection.
(did you notice that i ddnt talk about my results much which means i will be writing CAT again, anyways...)
well life is going quite good.
well i think it will be appropriate at this juncture to reintroduce myself.
i am sumit gupta, practising since 26th march 2004.
i would say that initial years of my practice were the best years till now.
with the time it has become more a sort of habit which shouldnt be the case.practising diligently is a daily struggle. isnt it?
as in BSG we always emphasise that it is faith practise and study.
these three things when work in coherent way then you have what is called consistent practice.
so i am trying to balance this tripod of faith practice and study by making all the three legs of this tripod equal.
recently i have been given responsibility of ymd district chief of rourkela district.
well this is a great responsibility. its a direct responsibility given to me by sensei.
i will try my level best to foster the ymds of rourkela to make them capable youth who can really take care of BSG-rourkela.
its been a bit more than 1 year since i am practising here in rourkela.
at that time i was the only ymd, now we have 7. bodhisattavas of the earth are emergiing here in this beautiful and still (and steel) city of rourkela.
well the major reason was that my CAT exam was coming and besides that i ddnt had my own PC with internet connection.
so now exams are finished and now i hv my own laptop and internet connection.
(did you notice that i ddnt talk about my results much which means i will be writing CAT again, anyways...)
well life is going quite good.
well i think it will be appropriate at this juncture to reintroduce myself.
i am sumit gupta, practising since 26th march 2004.
i would say that initial years of my practice were the best years till now.
with the time it has become more a sort of habit which shouldnt be the case.practising diligently is a daily struggle. isnt it?
as in BSG we always emphasise that it is faith practise and study.
these three things when work in coherent way then you have what is called consistent practice.
so i am trying to balance this tripod of faith practice and study by making all the three legs of this tripod equal.
recently i have been given responsibility of ymd district chief of rourkela district.
well this is a great responsibility. its a direct responsibility given to me by sensei.
i will try my level best to foster the ymds of rourkela to make them capable youth who can really take care of BSG-rourkela.
its been a bit more than 1 year since i am practising here in rourkela.
at that time i was the only ymd, now we have 7. bodhisattavas of the earth are emergiing here in this beautiful and still (and steel) city of rourkela.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
the three carts and the burning house
The Three Carts and the Burning House
[from the Hiyu chapter (Chapter 3) of the Lotus Sutra]
One day, a fire brokes out in the house of a wealthy man who had many children. The wealthy man shouts at his children inside the burning house to flee. But, the children are absorbed in their games and cannot understand his warning, though the house is being consumed by flames.
Then, the wealthy man devises a practical way to lure the children from the burning house. Knowing that the children are fond of interesting playthings, he calls out to them, “Listen! Outside the gate are the carts that you have always wanted: carts pulled by goats, carts pulled by deer, and carts pulled by oxen. Why don't you come out and play with them?"
The wealthy man knows that these things will be irresistible to his children.
The children immediately race out to get into the carts. In this way, the wealthy man is able to get his children safely away from the burning house.
Once outside, the children demand the carts they have been promised. Instead, the wealthy man gives them a much finer and larger cart — one that runs as swiftly as the wind — adorned with many jewels and drawn by a great white ox. This cart is called the Great White Ox Cart.
[from the Hiyu chapter (Chapter 3) of the Lotus Sutra]
One day, a fire brokes out in the house of a wealthy man who had many children. The wealthy man shouts at his children inside the burning house to flee. But, the children are absorbed in their games and cannot understand his warning, though the house is being consumed by flames.
Then, the wealthy man devises a practical way to lure the children from the burning house. Knowing that the children are fond of interesting playthings, he calls out to them, “Listen! Outside the gate are the carts that you have always wanted: carts pulled by goats, carts pulled by deer, and carts pulled by oxen. Why don't you come out and play with them?"
The wealthy man knows that these things will be irresistible to his children.
The children immediately race out to get into the carts. In this way, the wealthy man is able to get his children safely away from the burning house.
Once outside, the children demand the carts they have been promised. Instead, the wealthy man gives them a much finer and larger cart — one that runs as swiftly as the wind — adorned with many jewels and drawn by a great white ox. This cart is called the Great White Ox Cart.
the parable of the impoverished son
The Parable of the Impoverished Son
From the Lotus Sutra Chapter 4, Belief and Understanding
Once a boy ran away from home and wandered for many years becoming more and more poor and confused.
The boy’s father loved his son very much, but had no idea where to find him. As time went on, the father became very rich.
Fifty years passed. One day, the son showed up at his father's estate. He did not know whose grand home this was, but wondered if he could find a job there. The father recognized his son, and set messengers to greet him. The father was overjoyed that his son had returned.
But the son misunderstood. He thought the messengers were trying to arrest him for doing something wrong.
The father saw his son’s fear and confusion. He realized his son was not ready to accept the truth, so he told the messengers to leave his son alone.
Later the father had some of his servants dress in rags. He had these servants go to his son and offer him a job shoveling excrement. The son had been living so poorly for so long, he saw this job as a wonderful opportunity.
Over the years, the father showed an interest in his son. He praised him, increasing his pay, and gave him better jobs. But he never told him his true identity.
After twenty years, the father was old and near death. By then the son was in charge of all of the wealthy man’s business. The son had become a responsible but humble man.
Finally, just before his death, the father gathered all of his friends and all the powerful people of the city to his bedside. He told them all the true identity of his son. He said his son was heir to all his fortune.
well tell me dont telling the truth for 20 years isnt same as tellin a lie?
i would say no. one can argue that but tell me if he had told his son earlier will he had the capacity to take care and to learn so diligently.
rather than owing something its better to acquire skills.
and that wise father who was longing for his son and would love to part away with all his wealth and give it to his son had to wait for 20 years.
how difficult that would have been for the father.
similarly, shakyamuni knew the real and ultimate truth that is lotus sutra but how difficult it would have been for him to not actually speak of it and circumvent for a moajor part of his preaching life to make sure that his disciples can get to that level of understanding.
it was all his compassion.
a vast ocean of compassion :)
From the Lotus Sutra Chapter 4, Belief and Understanding
Once a boy ran away from home and wandered for many years becoming more and more poor and confused.
The boy’s father loved his son very much, but had no idea where to find him. As time went on, the father became very rich.
Fifty years passed. One day, the son showed up at his father's estate. He did not know whose grand home this was, but wondered if he could find a job there. The father recognized his son, and set messengers to greet him. The father was overjoyed that his son had returned.
But the son misunderstood. He thought the messengers were trying to arrest him for doing something wrong.
The father saw his son’s fear and confusion. He realized his son was not ready to accept the truth, so he told the messengers to leave his son alone.
Later the father had some of his servants dress in rags. He had these servants go to his son and offer him a job shoveling excrement. The son had been living so poorly for so long, he saw this job as a wonderful opportunity.
Over the years, the father showed an interest in his son. He praised him, increasing his pay, and gave him better jobs. But he never told him his true identity.
After twenty years, the father was old and near death. By then the son was in charge of all of the wealthy man’s business. The son had become a responsible but humble man.
Finally, just before his death, the father gathered all of his friends and all the powerful people of the city to his bedside. He told them all the true identity of his son. He said his son was heir to all his fortune.
well tell me dont telling the truth for 20 years isnt same as tellin a lie?
i would say no. one can argue that but tell me if he had told his son earlier will he had the capacity to take care and to learn so diligently.
rather than owing something its better to acquire skills.
and that wise father who was longing for his son and would love to part away with all his wealth and give it to his son had to wait for 20 years.
how difficult that would have been for the father.
similarly, shakyamuni knew the real and ultimate truth that is lotus sutra but how difficult it would have been for him to not actually speak of it and circumvent for a moajor part of his preaching life to make sure that his disciples can get to that level of understanding.
it was all his compassion.
a vast ocean of compassion :)
the parables of medicinal herbs
The Parable of the Medicinal Herbs
The world has many kinds of plants — more kinds than can be named. There are bushes and trees, mosses and ferns, flowers and grains. There are herbs that can be made into medicines.
All over the earth there are plants growing. Different plants grow in different areas: on the tops of mountains and at the bottom of the sea, in the desert and in the jungle.
Clouds also cover the earth. In one moment, a cloud can rain life-giving water onto the plants. The rain nurtures the plants and soaks the soil.
Through the soil, the water soaks down, down, down to the plants’ roots. Some of the roots are woody and big. Some are thin and fine. The water goes to all the millions of kinds of plants.
Each plant uses this water according to what kind of plant it is. Some plants may blossom. Some trees may bear fruit. Some mushrooms may grow. Some vines may grow long. Some herbs may grow to be used for medicine. Each plant uses the water differently.
Although all these plants and trees grow in the same earth and are moistened by the same rain, each has its differences. But all may be nourished.
such a simple analogy to explain so profound things. isnt it:)
well just like plants are different, we are all different, we all have our own individuality , characteristics, and basic tendancies.
but inspite of all that just like mother earth treats them all equally, lotus sutra makes them all equal and eligible to attain buddhahood. and whats more?
all that in this lifetime only.
The world has many kinds of plants — more kinds than can be named. There are bushes and trees, mosses and ferns, flowers and grains. There are herbs that can be made into medicines.
All over the earth there are plants growing. Different plants grow in different areas: on the tops of mountains and at the bottom of the sea, in the desert and in the jungle.
Clouds also cover the earth. In one moment, a cloud can rain life-giving water onto the plants. The rain nurtures the plants and soaks the soil.
Through the soil, the water soaks down, down, down to the plants’ roots. Some of the roots are woody and big. Some are thin and fine. The water goes to all the millions of kinds of plants.
Each plant uses this water according to what kind of plant it is. Some plants may blossom. Some trees may bear fruit. Some mushrooms may grow. Some vines may grow long. Some herbs may grow to be used for medicine. Each plant uses the water differently.
Although all these plants and trees grow in the same earth and are moistened by the same rain, each has its differences. But all may be nourished.
such a simple analogy to explain so profound things. isnt it:)
well just like plants are different, we are all different, we all have our own individuality , characteristics, and basic tendancies.
but inspite of all that just like mother earth treats them all equally, lotus sutra makes them all equal and eligible to attain buddhahood. and whats more?
all that in this lifetime only.
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