Unexpected...

Sometimes, unexpected things happened on us. Sad or happy... Yesterday, I got to know that my YWD member's little brother passed away in a motorcycle - car accident. The driver ran away... He died on the spot... I was speechless. I really am! Six months ago, this YWD loss her father due to heart attck. When she started to stand up again, her little brother left her too. What is happening in this world??!! I was having a tough time to accept this my own. After having long thoughts and also after chanting. I had something in mind. I came to a conclusion that I must visit this YWD to listen to what she has to say. We went to her house (five of us) and talked to her for a short while. I wasn't satisfied at all. She is hiding something underneath and I need to find out what is it. Her face let me know that she need to talk to someone alone and there were too many of us. I took her by the hand and asked her what's the matter. She started to cry and said that she misses her brother very much. I let her talk about her brother and listened to every word from her mouth. I talked to her about sensei's guidance and was hoping it can encourage her a little. Then, another Soka Friend that lives two doors away came out and we called her. Soon, we were having lively chat and I think this Soka Friend was our shoten zenjin. We actually laughed a lot during that conversation. I thought that would cheer the YWD up a little. Before I get in to my car, I told her to be strong and we will chant together for her brother and father's happiness. Also, I tols her that she herself have to achieve happiness too. When I went out to dinner together with Soe Lan, I saw 2 rainbows in the sky. It was the second time I saw 2 rainbows. It feels great! In my heart I prayed that the YWD will have hope just like the rainbow up in the sky.

To My Friends & Daily Gosho Feb 8th & Daily Enc. Feb 9th

WEDNESDAY, February 8th, 2006-- TO MY FRIENDS --

Let's try to make every effort to look after all of our fellow memberswho are not able to participate in meetings by encouraging them with kind and caring words! Every single one of us, without exception, has an important and noble mission to fulfil for kosen-rufu!

WEDNESDAY, February 8th, 2006

--- DAILY GOSHO ---

"How gratifying! You have associated with a friend in the orchid room andhave become as straight as mugwort growing among hemp.'"

*"A friend in the orchid room" indicates a person of virtue. The implicationis that the company of a virtuous person works as a good influence, just as one is imbued with fragrance on entering a room filled with orchids. It is said that mugwort supported by hemp plants grows upright.

(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land - TheWritings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 23)

Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin",Seikyo Shimbun, February 8th, 2006

THURSDAY, February 9th, 2006

---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The French writer and philosopher Voltaire (1694??778) wrote: 'Build you rown happiness through the happiness of others.'

"SGI Newsletter No. 6719, The New Human Revolution?

Vol. 18: Chap. 2,Gratitude for One?

Mentor 27, translated Feb 7th, 2006

- WAGATOMO NI OKURU

-KAIGO NI

DERARENAI HITO NI

JIAI NO HAGEMASHI O!

HITORI MO MORENAKU

SHIMEI NO HITO DAKARA

"YOROKOBASHIKI KANA NANJI RANSHITSU NO TOMO NI MAJIWARITE MAHO NO SHO TO NARU" (Gosho Zenshu, page 31)

Constant challenge everyday...

Constant challenge everyday! Wonderlful? Suffering? Sometimes I wonder, Why am I a human? Why am I breathing? Why am I walking? Why am I talking? Why am I thinking? Why... Can you tell me WHY? I am a human because... I have a brain? I am breathing? I can walk? W can talk? I can think? Probabbly... But, the most important thing is... I have Gohonzon with me. I have Sensei's guidance with me. I have the Gosho with me. I have Faith with me. Drives me to the constant challenges everyday. Shall I be sad? Shall I be unhappy? Shall I be worrying? Shan't! But, sometimes... Things got a little too messy to not be sad, To not be unhappy, To not be worrying... Fear not for all these things will dissappear into thin air in no time! Just have faith in Gohonzon... The clear path will unfold infront of our very eyes!

时光飞逝。。。

不知不觉，已经是2006年了。这个blog已是一岁多了。很高兴因为Human Castle 一直得到大家的关爱和照顾。真的很感谢大家的支持。记得在还没开始建造Human Castle之前，我和一班K友一起去槟城观看一场非常感动和精彩的文化节，也认识了一个我非常尊敬的大姐-Carryn. 认识她是我的荣幸。有了她就有Human Castle。为什么我这样说？很简单。Human Castle 的design是她一手包办的。而我，只是知道把文字放进里头。大家觉得这blog的design如何？是不是一级棒？ 辛苦你了，Carryn. 还有Mr. Boon How,也要感谢他在那么忙也能抽出时间来到贡献文字。背后最大的支持是到访的朋友。感谢您们来到这里读我们的文字。最后，希望Human Castle 能够继续与我们一起成长起来。我们会加油写稿的！谢谢！

New Year Holidays....

Well, today is the third day of New Year. It is hot as usual and guess what? I'm sick!! Yeah.. Yeah!! Perhaps, you might think that I am crazy... I'm not, mind you that. It's just that everytime I fell sick, I got special care from my friends and family... Heehehhe....

To cut the story short, I went back to my Ah Ma's house yesterday at around 11am from my house. Everyone from K.L, JB, And other places flock to P.D... I don't know why, but every year, the beach will be full of people from out station, thus, it caused traffic jam right here in front of my house. It took us 45 minutes to reach my Ah Ma's house (usually around 20-25 minutes). Anyway, at last we were there. All my uncles and aunties came back with their children, so it's a little bit crowded there. Around 12 something, I started to feel uneasy. Headache, sore throat, fever and also red spots on my hand. Small ones, and there are alot of them! I panicked for a while and hope that it's not dengue or chicken pox... I left Ah Ma's house after luch and went to see doctor. It's a benefit from Gohonzon. I was wondering whether the clinic in my garden is open. If not, I will have to go to Town and go to a 24 hours clinic that will cause me a fortune. Luckily, the clinic in my garden was open and it took me not more that 15 minutes and RM20 for that whole process.

Anyway, I slept like a baby from 2pm to 7pm and woke up to eat porridge that my mother cooked and after that they went back to my Ah Ma's house to pick up my father. I was alone at home and I did my daimoku, gongyo, washed the clothes and talked to my buddy for quite a while through the phone and after my family came back, I went to sleep until this morning at 9.30am. I was sleeping all the time and feel like a baby... Heheheheh... Feeling very lethargic is the main problem why I slept so long... Like Ah Ma... Heheheh...

I'm getting better now. My throat still sore, but, I think it'll be all right. Tonight going over to my sister in law's house for dinner. She called just now to check whether I am all right to go. I said Yes. It's hot here and I hope that No one will fall sick during this holiday. I treat this holiday as a chance to be with my family and also to get enough rest for the battles to come. Not to get sick when it's working time. Boleh sakit bila cuti, tapi kalau dah habis cuti, mesti pulih dari sakit! Heheheh... Lama tak tulis dalam Bahasa Melayu.

I'm going to have my first term exam in UM on the 18th and 25th of February which I have yet to start reading the materials... All of us (the 5 of us who is taking the diploma in UM) were elated when we passed up all the assignments... At least we managed to complete all the task last minute!

I think that would be all for now. I'll try to update this blog the best I can. But, I need help from you, Carryn and Boon How!!! Help!!!! I'm desperately calling for help here!!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!

Hi Anna and all Soka friends in Malaysia! This is Viki in Hong Kong - thankyou so much for visiting us and inspiring us, the children loved your visit and so did we! it was so lovely to share experiences, let's continue, and hopefully I will be able to visit your kindergarten in the coming year. Here's the most wonderful article on Courage, from the Amsterdam Zenshu site. Happy Christmas!love Viki In the Gosho “Letter to the Brothers”, NichirenDaishonin says: ‘The cart which overturns on the roadahead is a warning to the one behind. In a time likethis no one can help but thirst for the true way. You may hate this world but you cannot escape…. You must endure this trial and see for yourselves the blessings of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Daishonin will also loudly call upon the Buddhist gods. Now more than ever, you must neither show nor feel any fear. (Major Writings, Vol.1, p.139). When Dr. Kawada (Director of the Institute of OrientalPhilosophy) was asked how we can recognize the qualities of Buddhahood beginning to work in our lives, he answered with one word: ‘Courage!’.We can change the fear, insecurity and lack of confidence by starting to like ourselves and therefore beginning to have more confidence. Once you’re happy within yourself, other people respond positively. If you are in harmony with yourself, others will be too. Only, it’s confusing when you don’t know how to get in harmony. There are different ways to live and different lifestyles. Your lifestyle is not what determines your happiness. What matters is to draw out your Buddha nature. Fundamentally, Buddhahood is about having the confidence to be our true selves wherever we are and whatever is happening. This means really appreciating life itself. When we appreciate our own lives and the lives of others, we are able to perceive things andact in a different way – a creative and positive way. Stress is often the cause of diseases. And stress itself is usually the effect of lack of confidence,like, that things will work out (which causes insecurity to come out); or always trying to control things with your mind (which causes anger to comeout); and thirdly, the fear for commitment. When we start the process by facing the lack of commitment to ourselves and others, fear and anger will come out as physical symptoms of our spiritual ‘poison’. If we don’t take care and speak out for ourselves, how can we take care of others? The opposite of fear is courage. When you have the courage to face yourself, you can overcome the fear. Fear is there because we don’t want to see or acknowledge something. Karma in itself is not good or bad, but what we create from it is important. If we try to cover it up and pretend to be something we are not, then we suffer deeply. It is one’s reaction to one’s karma that matters. If you don’t fear something you can’t discover your courage. Courage is one of the qualities of Buddhahood viki 12.16.05 - 11:40 pm #

Flight to Taipei from Hong Kong 28.11.05

"It's a beautful day today," "25 degree celsius, it's clear blue skies" said the pilot, Albert Low. The sky is indeed blue, carrying my dreams and feelings along. How does it feels like to grasp a handful of clouds? Now I am up away from the clouds, soaring high like a bird, no, higher than a bird... My high school dream has become a reality, My second high school dream, to be precise. The first was realized during my 5th month in TSS, Now, thw second is now a reality to be on a plane flying to different countries... "15 minutes to Taipei." "Ground temperature is 26 degree celsius" Looking out from the window, I see the wings piercing through the wind and the clouds. How wonderful the world is! I have already started to miss every one in Hong Kong Soka Kindergarten. Hoping deeply that I'll be able to visit Hong Kong in near future... WIth love, ~*aNnA*~

They are giving a name to their own flag. They have created a flag of their own before this. By the way, all of the children in Hong Kong are using 繁体字 instead of 简体字(like we all here in Malaysia)。他们真得很厉害哦！虽然有些字不会写，但是，他们模仿字是一流的！小女孩叫 Moon, 小男孩叫Skyey So.

This is Lai Cheok Hei. He's very sweet and nice. All children in HK Soka Kindergarten are adorable! We were having snack together. This was the first time we met.

Yes! At last we are here at Hong Kong Soka Kindergarten! It's a beautiful place. Full of laughter, full of love and passion. Most of all, we don't feel like a foreigner here!

Four of us: Me, Siew Hui, Pooi Yin and Boon Yean took several pictures here. It's written with Ikeda Sensei's words for HKSGI members - 广布，和平。

This is the hotel we stayed at during our visit to Hong Kong for 7 days. It's 15 minutes walk from Hong Kong SGI Headquarters.

Hope Courage Friendship

Tadika Seri Soka

success

You are worthy of the highest respect. You are noble leaders who are praised and protected by Nichiren Daishonin and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions. Right now you may be unknown. You may have no money. You may be laughed at and ridiculed by people ignorant of the Daishonin's Buddhism. But when viewed from the perspective of the eternity of life you are all supreme victors, people who will achieve unsurpassed success in life. There is no doubt that in future existences each of you will enjoy an expansive life-condition far surpassing that of presidents, business tycoons or eminent scholars. Nichiren Daishonin assures us of this in his writings. If it were not true the Daishonin would be a liar. And that just isn't possible. The Daishonin never lies. (7/11/99) One kind of actual proof of victory in daily life is financial security. I hope, therefore, as you accumulate bountiful treasures of the heart and much good fortune, that you will also become secure financially. As long as we are living and working in society, having a certain amount of financial security is an important element for happiness. (9/26/93) The second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda, used to say, even though your wallet may be empty, there is an abundance of money floating about in the world—it just hasn't come your way, that's all! But, he would continue, if you accumulate good fortune, using it to "drill a hole" into that vast reservoir of money and tap some for yourself, you will never have to be wanting. (9/26/93) A tree doesn't grow strong and tall within one or two days. In the same way, successful people didn't get to where they are in only one or two years. This applies to everything. (DOY 1, ch. 8) In too many cases, acquiring fame, status or wealth alters a person's character. It is as though the person turns into a pup-pet of fame or wealth. How can human beings live in accordance with their unchanging innermost self and not be affected by these influences? Herein lies the battle of human life; such is the path believers in the Mystic Law must follow. (1/6/91) Success is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that; it is not measured in quantity. It means changing the quality of your life. Wealth, power, fame and knowledge alone can-not make you happy, no matter how much of these you ac-quire. Nor can you take them with you when you die. But by improving the quality of your life you will at last approach true happiness. (3/5/97) The only way to succeed is by first bringing to completion that which is most immediate. This principle applies in all affairs—in our daily lives, our work and our families, as well as in the progress of kosen-rufu. (2/17/90) Buddhist scriptures describe secular millionaires as being of a good family, possessing wealth, having dignity; being pure in their actions, exhibiting proper manners and enjoying great prestige. In accordance with the teaching that "all laws are the Buddhist Law," it is worthwhile for us to strive to acquire the virtues of these millionaires. I hope that, basing yourselves on faith, you will become wealthy people of virtue and influence who are widely respected. (2/18/90) What is success in life? Who are the truly successful? There are famous and powerful people who become pitiful figures in their old age. There are people who die alone, feeling empty and desolate inside. Just what is success? The English thinker Walter Pater (1839—94) wrote: "To burn always with this hard, gemlike flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life." The person who lives life fully, glowing with life's energy, is the person who lives a successful life. (3/5/97) Such things as money, fame and material possessions offer fleeting satisfactions that can be called relative happiness. However, when we transform our lives internally, when we develop within ourselves a brilliant inner palace, then we can be said to have established absolute happiness. (DOY 2, ch. 20) A person of success in the true sense is one who can enjoy a free and unrestrained state of life. (2/18/90) You who have embraced this great Law are millionaires rich in life force who possess good fortune surpassing the wealth of even the world's richest people. Material possessions can-not be enjoyed after death. But "millionaires rich in life force" can freely make use of the treasures of the universe in lifetime after lifetime and enjoy a journey of eternal happiness. (2/18/90) Worldly success is not equivalent to true happiness. Achieving this requires that we have a profound understanding of the nature of life. There is much truth to the words of Benjamin Franklin that "success has ruined many a man." (2/18/90) There is nothing wrong with being successful in society and enjoying a degree of fame. But ultimately, the lives of those dedicated to the welfare and happiness of others, even if they remain unrecognized, are the ones truly worthy of respect. (DOY 1,ch.2) Daisaku Ikeda

Even one daimoku can permeate the entire universe. How much greater then is daimoku's capacity to move anything when it is chanted with sincerity and determination! Daimoku chanted with the profound conviction that "my life is the entity of the Mystic Law" or with the resolve that : "I will dedicate my life to spreading the Mystic Law as an emissary of the Buddha" cannot fail to draw a response from the Gohonzon. Such daimoku cannot fail to permeate the universe. (7/21/92) Invisible radio waves travel vast distances through space, reaching Mars and Venus. In the same way, our inner determination, which is unobservable to common mortals, activates the forces in the universe—the heavenly deities and the Buddhas throughout the ten directions—and appears as solid actual proof in accordance with the principle of 3,000 realms in a single moment of life. (4/11/92) Faith means making 100 percent effort—in our daimoku and in our actions. When we practice in this way, the Buddhist gods will lend us their protection. We mustn't have a complacent, dependent attitude in faith, chanting haphazardly without definite goals, making only halfhearted efforts in the belief that we'll be protected automatically. Deep determination and unshakable character are vital. Those with these qualities are second to none in faith. (11/25/96) When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to he victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure. (3/24/97) Anyone who has ever made a resolution discovers that the strength of that determination fades in time. The moment you feel that is when you should make a fresh determination. Tell yourselves: "OK! I will start again from now!" If you fall down seven times, get up the eighth. Don't give up when you feel discouraged just pick yourselves up and renew your determination each time. (DOY 1, ch. 6) Life is a struggle with ourselves. It is a tug-of-war between progress and regression, between happiness and unhappiness. Those short on willpower or self-motivation should chant daimoku with conviction to become people of strong will who can tackle any problem with seriousness and determination. (DOY 1, ch. 6) DAISAKU IKEDA

SLANDER

"To speak ill of that person [who embraces the supreme Law] is to speak ill of the Law, just as to show contempt for the son is to show contempt for the parents who bore him" (MW-5, 32). The "person" here, in the specific sense, refers to Nichiren Daishonin. In a broad sense, however, it indicates his followers, we Soka Gakkai members who promote kosen-rufu. To speak ill of those who propagate the Law even at the cost of their lives is to speak ill of the Mystic Law. To show contempt for the children of the Buddha is to show contempt for the Buddha himself. (9/30/91) When people worship the Gohonzon, all Buddhas and bodhisattvas in the entire universe immediately respond to their prayers by lending their protection. If people slander the Gohonzon, the response will be exactly the opposite. For this reason, one's mind of faith is extremely important. The mind of faith has a subtle and far-reaching influence. (2/27/90) Shijo Kingo suffered on account of calumny. But the Daishonin told him, "Never let life's hardships disturb you." Those who resort to libelous accusations are defeated as human beings; no action is more lowly and base. We should not be swayed in the least by such despicable actions. Just as we do not put garbage into our mouths, we must not permit such rubbish to enter our hearts. The Daishonin encouraged Shijo Kingo to shut the cowardly behavior of his accusers out of his mind. The Roman philosopher Seneca says that the arrows of slander cannot pierce the heart of a person of wisdom. (LG, p. 242) Those who abuse the SGI, who exploit the members for their own selfish reasons and aims, are committing the gravest slander of the Law. (6/25/96) There are cases when we wonder why merit doesn't reveal it-self in spite of our earnest and high degree of faith. At such times, rather than suspecting that you may entertain doubt about the Gohonzon, it is better to ask yourself whether you are guilty of any slander. Because a person who is contemptuous, hating, jealous or holds grudges will realize no benefits. (2/20/90) Buddhism reveals the ultimate Law of the universe and the ultimate principle for achieving happiness. Taking faith in Buddhism plants the seed of true happiness in our lives. Therefore, we must not uproot and throw away, scorch or otherwise spoil this seed of happiness as a result of harboring hatred and jealousy toward fellow believers and eventually discarding our faith. (2/14/90) DAISAKU IKEDA

What Is Buddhahood ?

What it certainly isn't is some transcendental state of life that is seperate from daily reality. Buddhahood means enlighment : enlighment to the true nature and potential of life. As such, it is a state of life which each individual inherently possesses. The awakening of this state in our lives brings with it such characteristics as strengthened life-force, courage, determination, compassion and wisdom. There are no commandments whatsoever in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, since an awakening to our higher state of life, or Buddhahood, enables us to make our own moral and ethical judgments. These are based, above all, on respect for the dignity of all life and a growing awarness of the reality of a strict and inescapable, universal law of cause and effect. Buddhism does not believe in the concept of heaven or an afterlife but rather speaks of the eternity of life. Our physical body must at some point decline and need to be replaced, but the essence of our life will continue, to be reborn in a new body at some time in the future. Buddhism states that life is to be enjoyed and, whilst it recognises the basic suffering of life, directs its followers to challenge them. Through this, we grow as human beings and become strong, improving both the quality and circumstances of our own lives and that of society, with all the potential at our disposal. The Buddhist practice activates the power within us to do this.

MIND OF FAITH

There may be times when you feel reluctant to do gongyo or take part in activities for kosen-rufu. That state of mind is reflected in the entire universe, as if on the surface of a clear mirror. The heavenly deities will then also feel reluctant to play their pan, and they will naturally fail to exert their full powers of protection. (2/27/90) No matter how healthy, intelligent or affluent we may be, if our minds are weak, then our happiness will also be frail and brittle. Our minds of faith, moreover, enable us to bring out the full positive potential in all things and situations, so it is crucial that we strive to forge our minds of faith. (2/2/93) Mahatma Gandhi (1869—1948) once said that people become the people they expect themselves to be. Your mind, your ichinen, determines your future, your life. (3/9/93) Faith is the secret to happiness for all people. When you truly forge your mind of faith, you will become an eternal victor throughout the three existences of past, present and future. Strong faith enables you to display appropriate wisdom, so that you can take advantage of change and move forward in the direction of hope and victory. (1/31/93) It may seem perfectly all right to put ourselves and our wish-es first, to simply follow the dictates of our emotions and cravings, but the truth is that there is nothing more unreliable than our own minds. Life doesn't always go like clockwork and things will not necessarily turn out as we had hoped or planned. Consequently, Nichiren Daishonin frequently stressed that you should become the master of your mind, not let your mind master you. We mustn't allow ourselves to be ruled by a self-centered mind. Rather, we have to discipline our mind and gain mastery over it. This is the Daishonin's strict admonition. (8/27/97) As long as our mind of faith is connected to the Gohonzon, our benefits will never disappear. That's why it is vital to per-severe in our Buddhist practice throughout our lives, no matter what, even if on some days our physical condition or other circumstances prevent us from doing gongyo and chanting daimoku to our full satisfaction. Those who continue to challenge themselves to the end savor ultimate victory.(1/31/93) The mind of faith is invisible. Those who advance together with this organization dedicated to kosen-rufu will evolve the correct mind of faith that matches the time. With this mind of faith, you can fill the canvas of your lives with portraits of happiness in which all your wishes are fulfilled.(1/31/93) DAISAKU IKEDA

FAITH EQUALS DAILY LIFE

Faith manifests itself in daily life. Daily life, in turn, is the stage upon which we show proof of faith. True human victory and happiness are attained through the earnest and steady day-to-day efforts we make. The pattern of our lives, like that of the sun, may seem monotonous and routine, but there is nothing more profound than our daily endeavors. Achieving brilliant victory in our daily lives is what being victorious in faith is all about. (9/26/93) One who takes good care of his or her job, daily life and family is a person of deep and genuine faith. Activities are intended to be carried out in the spare time that you have from work and family. (2/25/90) Please steadily advance along the fundamental path of "faith manifests itself in daily life;' living in the way that best suits you. Just as the sun rises every day, if you persistently advance based on the Mystic Law, the absolute Law of the universe, you can definitely lead a life in which all desires are fulfilled, a life of which you cannot now even conceive. Please be convinced that you are now leading the most certain and valuable life. (2/26/90) We have been born, and life is made for living. It is important that we strive to live on tenaciously to the very end, no matter what happens. Faith in the Mystic Law supplies us with the immense life force we need to live strongly and confidently each day so that we can overcome the various sufferings and hardships we encounter. (6/19/96) Faith and daily life, faith and work—these are not separate things. They are one and the same. To think of them as separate—that faith is faith and work is work—is theoretical faith. Based on the recognition that work and faith are one and the same, we should put 100 percent of our energy into our jobs and 100 percent into our faith, too. When we resolve to do this, we enter the path of victory in life. Faith means to show irrefutable proof of victory amid the realities of society and in our own daily lives. (10/6/95) When we plant the seed of happiness that is faith and carefully tend its growth, it will produce fruit without fail. We have to keep in mind, however, that we cannot plant a seed today and expect it to bear fruit tomorrow. That's not reasonable and Buddhism is reason. If we persevere in the practice of "faith equals daily life" in accord with reason, then our prayers will definitely be answered. This is Nichiren Daishonin's promise to us. And his words are true beyond any doubt. (6/9/96) DAISAKU IKEDA