I started practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buppo in June 2013.
My life before Buppo was full of Shura (Anger, Control); the state of being filled with anger and jealousy.
When I was in middle school, I joined Bousouzoku (A teen motorcycle gang) in Tokyo’s Hachioji city. We got into violence by invading neighboring middle schools. Soon we dominated all the schools in that area.
After graduating middle school, I worked for my Dad’s plumbing company in the daytime, and worked for my Mom’s bar at night.
I was spending time riding my bike and my car on days off.
At the age of 24 years, I was scouted by a Yakuza who was my friend and a customer at my Mom’s bar. He asked if I wanted to join.
I immediately answered “Yes!”
Since then, I was given a territory; Shinjuku & Kabuki Cho, and they taught me how to sell drugs.
The monthly sales were about $20,000 dollars. I became surprisingly wealthy, and started to run a bar and Yakitori (Skewered Grilled Chicken) business.
But I was always worried and uneasy. I asked myself “Will I be arrested someday?”
During that time my wife was disgusted with my behavior. She took our child and left. We got divorced.
Then, around the same time, I ran into another Yakuza team that was our enemy and there was an incident involving gunfire. I was arrested for inflicting bodily injuries, firearms possession, and carrying a sword.
After the trial, I received a sentence of 10 years in prison. While I was there, I fought with others and was put into the cell many times. I was supposed to be released early on parole, but I served all 10 years.
I was celebrated by my Yakuza team after I got out and received $30,000 from them. I was also given a room in a mansion that the Yakuza owned.
Ten more years had passed, and my acquaintances were all gone. I became ashamed of being alone so I kept away from the team and after two months, I quit Yakuza.
While I was spending my time drinking every single day, my money was gone and I had nothing to live on!
One day, I was using the bathroom at the city office in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka (a coastal city in Honshu, Japan’s main island) and was saying to myself
“My life is sucks! Nothing good is happening to me!”
There was a lady who was cleaning the toilets who looked at me and said
“That’s not it! You will become fortunate if you chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo to Buddha!”
I asked her “Huh? What is that?” She explained to me what Buppo was and how this would affect my life.
I was surprised, but at the same time, I was touched by her kindness. After a few days, I met her again and received further information. Then I decided to start practicing Buppo!
I was encouraged daily by the Gongyo prayer and attended the meeting to learn about Nichiren Daishonin Buddha. I was impressed by the bright and energetic Kensho-Kai members.
“Wow, these people are amazing! Their attitude is different. I want to be like them!”
So I prayed Gongyo sincerely.
Then my circumstances started changing.
I was offered an apartment by a friend from my home town (Hachioji, Tokyo) at the lowest price! I had wanted to go back to my hometown, so I was surprised when I was given the chance!
I was transferred to the men’s team of Mr.Sakurai who was a former Yakuza. As I talked with him, I found out that we belonged to the same Yakuza team.
However, he was in a higher position and his friends were scary. They were hard to get along with.
Now he wears a suit and tie and looks distinguished. He is working hard on saving others with Buppo for the sake of the country. I was encouraged by his changed appearance.
Once you believe Gohonzon Sama, anyone can turn their life around! The power of Gohonzon Sama is amazing!
I started Shakubuku (sharing Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with others).
If Mr. Sakurai can change his life, so can I!
The other day, I happened to bump into a female friend who I used to sell drugs to.
The first thing she said was
“Are you really Mr. Suzuki ? You really changed. You really straightened yourself up!”
I was so happy hearing her comment that I started telling her about Buppo without realizing it.
She said “I will see. If you are indeed changed, then I will chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo”.
I was so happy that I changed. Others were surprised as well!
Also I shared Buppo to Mr.Kamihara who was my former manager at a ramen restaurant. He was ex-Yakuza as well.
When Mr.Kamihara’s father who was Kumicho (a leader of Yakuza) died, the team itself had broken up. Since then he runs a ramen restaurant.
When I told him how my life changed with Buppo, he asked about it. Now we are chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo together!
Asai Sensei taught us by using a quote from Nichiren Daishonin’s writing – Shishin gohon sho to explain how chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo affects our lives.
Though muddy water has no mind, it can catch the moon’s reflection and naturally become clear.
When a person simply chants Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo , they don’t need to understand everything to receive the benefits.
When a baby drinks milk, it has no understanding of its taste, and yet its body is naturally nourished.
Does a patient know all the ingredients in medicine that is prescribed by a doctor? No. However, medicine works, doesn’t it?
The practice of Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo contains all practices within itself.
Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo asserts that even those who chant it without understanding its meaning are certain to attain Buddhahood
Even if you have Three Bad habits;
Jigoku (state of suffering from any causes),
Gaki (state of being dominated by desire) and
Chikusho (state of seeing things shortsightedly and irrationally), once you accept Buddha inside of you, your soul will function positively.
For those people who are causing trouble, once they chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo,
their Gihi (mercy, helping others) appears and a kind and thoughtful heart comes out naturally.
I understand how powerful Buddha’s law is through myself. I just cannot believe how I changed. Now, I’m praying for my country’s safety and helping others to reach unbreakable happiness.
I thank you Nichiren Daishonin Buddha! Through my experience, I continue to spread the Buppo power to others!
Thank you.
From Kensho-kai Newspaper 9/25/2014
Unbreakable Happiness 