Makoto Hata’s story
I learned about Nichiren Daishonin’s Buppo through Ms. Kimura and Ms. Otsuka. I started chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo in June 2019.
Soon after my birth, I was left in my grandparents’ care. After elementary school, I grew up being oppressed by my uncle and aunt. I have never felt love from my family.
My uncle’s house was devoted to Shinto at Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima prefecture for generations. In the Lunar New Year, 70 family members were gathered at the shrine to worship and so did I. I prayed and nothing changed for the better.
When I was 12 years old (June, 1991), I went to help relatives affected by the eruption of Mt. Fugen. I was frightened at the sight in front of me. People were panicking and shouting. Some were covered with volcanic ash.
When I was 17 years old, I went to support the Great Hanshin Earthquake (January 1995). I witnessed hell on earth. I still remember the collapsed buildings and destroyed roads. There were bodies that were burned beyond recognition. I could still smell the odors.
Since then, I immersed myself in helping people and participated in many volunteer activities. I flew to the Congo and Afghanistan to support their refugee camps. I was involved in collecting bodies of people who died in ethnic conflicts. I’ll never forget living among the corpses.
I married at the age of 18. After 6 months, I had a fight over a little thing with my wife. She left home and died in a car accident. I became very depressed. I blamed myself and tried to commit suicide four times but could not end my life. Then I kept repeatedly cutting myself.
I became crazy.
I was forced to be hospitalized.
After I was discharged from the hospital, I volunteered so much to try and take my mind off my wife.
When I was 32, my car was crushed by a bus. I had broken seven parts of my spinal cord and both my legs became numb. My doctor told me I would be in a wheelchair for life.
Maybe I still had some good luck because I fully recovered and was able to walk again.
I went back to volunteer and obtained a position to conduct and guide activities.
At that time, I had four good friends who I met during the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
I sent them to Guatemala as volunteers. However, they died in an earthquake (November 7th, 2012). The wives of my four friends blamed me for their deaths.
“Why? You were the one who sent them there! Give us our husbands back!”
They came to see me every day and banged on my door. They yelled at me all night.
My life was hell. My visual and auditory hallucination symptoms got worse.
I was diagnosed with Anthropophobia (fear of people), depression, and panic disorder. I was bedridden for 2 years.
A few years passed, and with other people’s help, I was able to take care of myself. Then I met Ms. Otsuka and Ms. Kimura. The day they visited me, I was in agony from the broken bones in my spine. It took me five minutes to crawl and get to the door.
I was shown the flyer about Nichiren Daishonin Buddha. It said;
The ultimate purpose of life is to gain Unbreakable Happiness.
When people pass away and achieve enlightenment, their bodies become soft, light and bright.
These words reminded me of my past when I was trying to carry an arm of a corpse in Afghanistan. I could not hold it because it was too heavy so I put it on a sheet and dragged it. Also I could not agree with it more because of what I had seen through my volunteering.
I truly wanted to send my prayers to my best friends. I was eager for Ms. Otsuka and Ms. Kimura to teach me how to chant!
After the chanting ceremony, the numbness in my legs were lightened and I was amazed that I was able to stand up so quickly!
Since then I pray sincerely three times a day. I can see tremendous changes in my life! Because of my Anthropophobia, I used to get sick when I was in the waiting room at the hospital but not anymore!
I have become very energetic and I am able to attend Sunday prayer and study class. I feel certain that my prayers toward my best friends are reaching them and they are full of gratitude.
The pain in both knees are gone and my hallucinations are cured. I am able to have a good night’s sleep. Now I can handle the forty minute walk to the prayer hall.
My doctor saw my changes and said to me “You are totally changed. Before, you pretended to smile but now I can see that you are smiling from the heart!”
I am so thankful to Nichiren Daishonin Buddha for changing my life 180 degrees!!:)
I came to the realization that Myo in Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo is Revive.
I have seen that the True Buddha’s immense and limitless love he gives us is immeasurable.
When we chant, we connect with Nichiren Daishonin Buddha. We are creating a cause that will bring positive outcomes in our lives!
I want to learn more about the Daishonin’s teaching.
I learned why Shinto is not the way to bring good results in our lives. Instead it will have a negative impact.
I was searching for an answer and kept asking myself if I am really helping people. After learning about Nichiren Daishonin Buddha’s teachings, I am truly helping people with the root cause of their suffering.
True joy is to gain unbreakable happiness and save people and nations from their fundamental problems.
I will continue to share the power of chanting to others!
Thank you!
Makoto
From Kenshokai Newspaper 10/25/2019
Unbreakable Happiness 