INTRODUCTION (3)
Joselyn Dumas, featured in ASSUMPTA weekly magazine title: ‘Always with Joselyn’ to introduce her students to important Gosho passages, which we will learn to apply in our lives.
“Children Running With Ignorance!” “Everyone is looking forward to seeing you grow.”
The Children running with ignorance have become “Heroes of the World” after they have read and studied the Gosho and learned the correct attitude and behaviour needed to practise Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
I want all of you in this classroom to master chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and attain Buddhahood, and also to save the people of Ghana and the environment in which you are indebted.
The story holds a promise and illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Nichiren Daishonin about “Children running with ignorance.”
Giving one’s heart for a new creation, a new life, can be difficult for us, especially if hurt by disappointment or pain.
But it will bring the wisdom in us back to life, it will bring us closer to open and revealing the Buddha nature that we already possess.
When a person gives his whole heart, he becomes an astonishing force: he becomes an inspirer, a role previously reserved for only earderly.
When an ignorant person chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo he / she becomes fertile, to open and reveal the life condition of absolute happiness, which cannot be upset or destroyed.
Over the years I have seen it in others and experienced it in myself. It is a profound opportunity to create something of value thanks to the trust nurtured by Nichiren Daishonin, thanks to his sincerity.
Adjeley laughed, ‘Oh, I think I might be able to change my mind. “It may be the only chance to introduce my parents to this practice to get them to overcome their selfishness.
That’s nice; miss Joselyn said calmly. That would be a courageous conversation.
Would you tell us what is going on with your parents? Miss Joselyn asked.
It was before we went to bed the previous night, my father had a telephone call, and it was a delivery guy who was reporting a crime.
As a lawyer, my father immediately asked him to pay an amount of money before he can speak about crime jurisprudence.
My mother is also an ordained pastor. She always asks her congregation to pay money after every worship. I see my parent’s weariness and hunger for money and I want them to overcome such selfishness.
Did you hear that, Miss Joselyn asked the class. Well, Nichiren Daishonin was 12 years old when he prayed to become the wisest person in the whole of Japan. You can read it in: “Refuting Ryokan and the others”( writings of Nichiren Daishonin -2,1050 )
At the age of 12 years? Kofi wondered and asked. What kind of a person was Nichiren Daishonin.
Miss Joselyn spun around, her eyes focusing on Kofi who asked the question. Let me tell you about the young Nichiren Daishonin, when he was about your age.
At the age of 12, Nichiren Daishonin made a vow. This vow is mentioned in this Gosho passage, which we are about to study, “I prayed that I might become the wisest person in Japan.”
It is difficult to understand the word “wise”, isn’t it? It means “smart”. However, it has various other meanings as well.
It is also an ability to memorise or to comprehend difficult things. But, a truly wise person is one who uses wisdom to make others happy.
The Daishonin prayed at the age of 12 that he “might become the wisest person in Japan.”
Then, he discovered the means by which everyone in the world would surely become happy. Through his writing he is even now teaching us this “way”.
When Daishonin was young, conflicts were on the rise in society like today. People led very difficult lives. Spells of weird and unusual weather conditions prevailed.
There was a shortage of food and people suffered from serious illnesses too. Many people died because of this.
How can everyone have a peaceful life? How can all people become happy?
The Daishonin determined that he would use his wisdom to work for the happiness of everyone. This was his great vow and he stood up to accomplish it.
You, too, have a great vow to accomplish. The people of the world are waiting for all of you to become fine individuals who stand up, live according to a great vow and help ourselves and others become happy!.
Adjeley lifted her face to Miss Joselyn. Do you have something to say? Miss Joselyn asked.
Now I do understand that there is chaos in our societies that we all need to care about. I care about this country, which is more than i can say.
There is this practice of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo that you have explained to us that its power causes winter to turn into spring, it can also interrupt the organised crime the mafia has had in our country.
Miss Joselyn: But it is a fight that continues. It’s a fight between good and evil that has existed during Nichiren Daishonins’s time.
Nichiren Daishonin educated those so called religious people of his time to be more committed, more consistent, in what they believed in.
For something that Ghanaians believe in so much, they are not committed, they are not consistent. How do you believe such people to bring peace to the nation?
Ghana is what it is today because those who claimed to be men of God are inconsistent with what they believe in.
A country that does not take care of its citizens, its lakes, rivers and the environment. How do you call such a country a religious country.?
The sad truth about being a Ghanaian was that Ghanaians couldn’t justify taking care of themselves and their environment.
Adjeley stood, then carefully put her hands on her chest and said: ” I will pray that I might become the wisest person in Ghana. I am now 12 years old like Nichiren Daishonin.”
At this point; “Daimoku Has The Great Power of Courage, Hope and Victory, will be the next lesson on Thursday 02 February 2023. Episode (4) Thank you everyone.
