The Sutra of True Requital (Living Buddhism, Sept.-Oct,’11, pg 48-63) by Dr. Keith Shulman
“Requital” means repayment of a debt. There are many types of debt. The debt of gratitude is a more profound expression of gratitude. It expresses the commonness or bonding of humanity. In his quest to grasp the mystic Law, or Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nichiren’s indebtedness to his mother is the driving force to repay his debt of gratitude; by opening the way for enlightenment to all women and all human kind. For all of us, repaying a debt of gratitude serves as a driving force for our work and other areas of our life.
President Ikeda explains Buddhism encourages our debt of gratitude in the same spirit of motherly compassion towards others.
Nichiren explains to Shin’ichi, the recipient of this letter (gosho), that a main tenet of the Lotus Sutra is for all women to chant the daimoku of this sutra, in other words, to attain Buddhahood.
Appreciation is a source of development of our greater self. Expression of appreciation from our own hearts is a source of self-esteem, giving us strength to go on living. Appreciation is a powerful source of opening the Treasure Tower and developing our greater self.
“When the compassion of mothers everywhere illuminates all humanity, and when all humanity respects the wish for peace cherished by mothers everywhere, the very tenor of modern civilization will undergo a momentous change.”
H.G (LMFT): I have been really chanting to have increased self esteem and confidence at work. I am a therapist. It is helping. I have had a tendency to compare myself to others and now I am really feeling appreciation for the other therapists, and they express appreciation back. This is really helping and it goes both ways.
K.S.(M.D.) Yes, I have a similar experience. By chanting for the other person’s happiness, it changes our life condition. We have all kinds of worlds within us. What every world we are in the other person reflects it back to us. So, by chanting for another’s happiness we are manifesting the world of bodhisattva and that is the world that comes out of the other.
H.G. (LMFT): I am also struggling to understand my mission. Appreciation is a cornerstone to help in this regard as well.
K.S (M.D.): Yes, the world is filled with seeming contradictions. Daimoku is really important in this situation.
M.U. (D.D.S.): I chant two hours every morning so I can do the right job as a dentist; that I have the patience to treat them when they are very anxious in the dental chair. I appreciate them and want to treat them the right way and not make a mistake. Chanting two hours every day is very important. I want them to be very happy and want to come back. The daimoku is very important, especially when I do surgery.
G.O.(R.N./Hospital CEO): Recently, I was asked to sit in on the Marin Health Care District Board. Not committing to anything is
easier, as I retired a couple years ago. The idea of fulfilling our vow, especially as a member of the SGI-USA Healing Arts: where is it we can create value in the community? How are you able to do that within your profession? I am leaning towards accepting this challenge. It seems as though, through a Buddhist perspective, it is the right direction. I will chant more daimoku prior to making the final decision towards this commitment, but I just wanted to share that with everyone.
M.A. (M.D.): Observing my wife with our infant son, I believe her motherly compassion is an innate condition. Pres. Ikeda’s lecture (The Sutra of True Requital) impresses upon me - this is the state we need to manifest. We have to have compassion for ourselves. Even as men, we have to manifest this compassion. It acknowledges our interdependence.
When others are being mean to you, they may be helping us to see our own inner weakness. I want to challenge myself to appreciate each person. As a physician, with limited time, there is a tendency to be more mechanical in what we do. At times, a patient may be angry at me. If I chanted a lot of daimoku, I can more effectively deal with this. If I am stressed out or really, really tired, I do not have the same capacity to deal with this. It is a moment-to-moment or day-to-day challenge. However, the days I have chanted a lot of daimoku I can understand. I can empathize. I am more like Sensei, more like how I know I can be.
Y.G.(R.N.): As a case manager in a small hospital whose future is unknown, I deal with people with the many difficulties that exist in today’s health care. Many are uninsured and therefore come in very sick. The small hospital has much tension and there is a lot of negativity. The census is low and the corporate office comes down on the hospital staff to have many things done. It is so easy to be swayed by this negativity. As a Buddhist, I realize I need to be positive and upbeat. To not complain is my challenge. There are cutbacks and so much coming down. Without knowing, who or what will be there in a year from now. That is why I feel it so important to chant a lot of daimoku towards this challenge.
K.S.(M.D.): I am one of two oncologists in a small hospital. There is typically competition between the two of us. If I chant a lot of daimoku about what it is between us, it is tolerable. If I do not, it is horrible. It has made me realize the relationships around us are not black and white, good or bad; it is usually many different colors, many different facets. I have found if I really take the time to chant for my associate’s happiness as well as for the nurses I work with, the secretaries, the M.A.s… it makes a big difference. It makes a big difference in the environment. It could be the difference of pure hell vs. moving forward in a positive direction.
M.A.(M.D.)When another person has an evil action, I tend to get nervous. I tend to make a separation between them and me. When I started chanting for every person (colleagues, administrators, everyone) then I do not feel nervous anymore. I feel more
relaxed. I have more of a natural feeling of compassion and I do not feel the tension anymore.
R.W.(D.O.)This past week an employee of my office over the past 11 years, at the end of a workday told me “Dr. Wilson, of all the
doctors you are the one that seems to always be challenging yourself to be the best person you can be.” I felt warm inside. I reflected we are always challenging ourselves inwardly, our human revolution. I deeply appreciate that what seems to be an internal process is actually seen by another who does not practice (this Buddhism). My challenge at this point is not just to continue to bring out my greatest potential, but to encourage those around me; that they, too, can bring out their greatest potential. I expressed to her, “Thank you, however, it is not about me, but about younger persons. How can I encourage them to bring out their highest potential?”
D.N.(Rad.Th.) As mentioned in “My Dear Friends of America”, we really do not want to believe in others that are vial and scheming. In addition, our directive from Sensei, as Culture Department, we are in a position of high profile, we do need to make a difference. For years, I wanted to stay away from any responsibility and just work with the patients.
Recently, I went back to work in the hospital I wanted to work in. On the 90thday, they said they choose to no longer employee me. I was caught off guard. I found out it was a fall out of my having spoken up against an inhumane action of another team member. At this time I have been happy and at ease. I know I need to get back to work. A position of opportunity, that I had wanted, has
come up. It is now up to me to have the courage to go for it.
R.W.(D.O.): How do we create value at work?
M.U.(D.D.S.) I mentioned how I chant daimoku. If I create a trusting relationship with my patient and that patient decides to see
me forever (as a dentist) then we create value for each other. My son is the manager of my office. He also, is training others to be my assistance. He has the patience to make an excellent assistant. Therefore, he is helping to create value in the office. It is to create value to bring the Buddha to work.
M.P.(M.D.):Reflecting on my own trajectory, sometimes things do not happen overnight. Part of creating value is continued
diligence; continue to move forward. I have a son with severe emotional disturbances in a residential school. We have had many challenges, including hospitalizations. Two years ago, he was arrested for assaulting me and another child. It has been a two-year process dealing with all the different aspects of his being a teenager, behavioral and neurologic challenges and more recently growth and endocrine issues. Finally, just recently, we went to court and all charges were dismissed. It did not happen overnight. It was the ability to proceed, to move forward. That is what is important. That is my value creation; to not give up when things seem incredibly bleak. I do not have many material things, but there is great value in who I am as a person. I have been able to contribute with my medical profession by doing medical writing and more behind the scenes work that influences how physicians
practice medicine.
With the Occupy Wall Street protests and the youth division standing up against nuclear weapons, I ask myself “Where do I fit into this? How do I contribute?”
R.W.(D.O.): I just read the section of The New Human Revolution where the Watts Riots had just broken out. It was at the same time the first U.S. Nicheren Shoshu temple in Etiwanda was to opening. Shin’ichi Yamamoto and Chief Priest Nittatsu were
scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles right in the midst of the riots. A Soka Gakkai member who arrived in advanced called back to Japan and suggested Shinichi and Chief Priest Nittatsu cancel plans out of concern for their safety. Shin’ichi realized, though Civil Rights Laws was written, the hearts of the people had not changed. In reaction to the injustice the riots occurred. This spread of Nichiren Buddhism is what allows individuals to change on the most fundamental level. With this intention, Shin’ichi was all the more determined to come to America at this particular time.
This experience may relate to the situation (of Occupy Wall Street) today. While there is a uniting of people towards a positive cause, it is with a deep, deep-rooted perspective towards change, on the most fundamental level, which is required for a sustainable change.
V.H.(R.N.) I wanted to touch on appreciation as was discussed earlier on this phone call. I am an R.N. I am involved in something I am use to. I am a hands-on kind of person and had been in direct care of patients. Now I am on the phone with clients, rather than face-to-face. I still try to apply my compassion and care of clients. I am really appreciation of this opportunity because I was looking for a job to try to make ends meet. This job truly provides benefits for me. A few weeks ago I came to realize many things I needed to do. There was a shift from being too relaxed to appreciating what I do if the face of what was expected of me. I really appreciated the gosho (“The Sutra of True Requital”).
Both being a mother and caring for my mother going through Alzheimer’s. I feel appreciation as this gosho encourages.
I am happy about what is going on today: helping people to become aware of what is going on. I also, appreciate the youth division’s efforts to actualize real change. Youth are joining our district. I really encourage and support the youth division on how to use the practice to change their lives and to change the concerns we all have. I never want to take that for granted. I want to understand even more deeply: my nature and my roll, every aspect of my life and to somehow use that and encourage others.
R.W.(D.O.): Encouragement from Mr. Masao Yakota, was director of The Boston Research Center now called The Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning and Dialogue)since its founding and the first 17 years. It is Mr. Hasagawa, the Chair of The Ikeda Center received direction for President Daisaku Ikeda.
What is important is to sow the seeds. While showing the “flower”of one’s self is away to show actual proof, it is not the flower part of theplant that continues to grow. However, what is important is focusing on the causes, or the actual sowing the seed. Sowing the seed means to continuously making causes and to continuously encouraging the potential in others.
What are the conditions for sowing the seed? There are four conditions.
- Great Sincerity in everything we do. One cannot see sincerity from the outside. We need to ask ourselves,
“What is great sincerity?” - Never give up spirit: Each person will have their own understanding to what never give up spirit means. Through dialogue, we can gain a greater understanding. We should never give up hope to actualize another’s potential. This is the work of the Bodhisattva. It is Buddhahood. Is also to use all of our effort.
- Wisdom: The wisdom to know what the other person needs. For example, some seeds need to be watered everyday. Other seeds would not do well if watered every day. How do we know hat the other person really needs? Of course President Ikeda emphasizes dialogue. What is dialogue. It is not just telling someone what they need to hear. It is being open to changing
your own perspective. Buddhism has placed importance on overcoming attachments. Another term is “transform”, to transform one’s attachments. Having attachments is actually good (i.e. attached to your goals and responsibilities). Sticking to one thing may prevent growth and be a cause for suffering. Therefore, “transform” may best describe our intentions with dialogue. - Perseverance: It is necessary for growth. It is important to focus on continuous causes, as opposed to focusing only on the goal. Naturally, if one makes great causes great results will manifest.
This could apply to anything we do. In furthering our dialogue on Buddhist concepts, it does not matter if someone has a shallow
understanding or a profound understanding. Through the process of dialogue, the collective wisdom of each person is going to be greater than the perspective ofan isolated individual.
