In April 2006, in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, my friend Ms. Kawaguchi introduced me to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buppo and I joined Kenshokai. I used to be a member of Sokka Gakkai.
I grew up in Fukuoka Prefecture (northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island). I worked as a beautician after graduating from middle school, and got married at the age of 24.
However, I was divorced within three years.
My husband was spending money recklessly, cheating, and abusing me. Later, I remarried. My second husband died from colon cancer, and it was discovered later on that he had accumulated debt in the amount of 28 million yen ($265,000). All in my name! I was constantly harassed from collection agencies.
I joined Sokka Gakkai at the age of 42. I worked diligently in the hope that my hell-like life would improve.
However, the Sokka Gakkai organization discarded Nichiren Daishonin’s Testament. So even when I chanted Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, nothing changed for me. When I think about it now, every time I visited the head temple of Nichiren Shoshu at Mt. Fuji (called Tozan), afterwards my luck worsened.
There was a fire in my house, I contracted hepatitis A that caused heart disease, and I ended up with a pacemaker. On top of all that, I had a thyroid disorder and was physically abused from my demon-like son that caused my knees to stiffen.
At that time, I was approached by a member of Kenshokai in Hakata, Fukuoka prefecture. He explained to me that my life will improve by chanting the correct way. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to participate or not.
One day, I found a Kenshokai booklet in my mailbox under the name of my friend Ms. Kawaguchi. I read the booklet. I couldn’t sit still, so I contacted Ms. Kawaguchi, saying, “There is something going on with Sokka Gakkai. Asai Sensei from Kenshokai is right!”
Ms. Kawaguchi visited me. When I saw her again after a long time, I was surprised to see how much she had changed. I saw her positive appearance and decided to try chant the true Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with Kenshokai.
At Nyushin Gongyo (first time meeting Nichiren Daishonin Buddha’s soul written in ink – Gohonzon sama), I forgot to mention that my knees did not bend. I hesitated at first but tried to kneel.
Surprisingly I was able to sit upright for the first time in several years! I said to myself “Wow this is the power of the Gohonzon sama? Kenshokai is right!”
I was deeply moved, so I started sharing Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with others (Shakubuku), but deep inside my heart, I had a strong hatred for a certain person.
Before joining Kenshokai, I met a man who ran an employment agency with a real estate business on the side. He liked my leadership and wanted me to become his partner. I started introducing my friends to him.
He started telling me “I don’t have a salary to pay them. Can you help me out? I will pay you back when I receive money,” or “I’ll give you land.”
To cover the employee’s salary, I used my disability pension and hospitalization benefits from my life insurance.
After I used up all my funds, I borrowed money and continued to support him.
I found out later that it was a scam. He became out of reach. I put myself in debt for several thousand dollars to help him!
I worked hard to pay it back despite my illnesses. My son didn’t work, and his wife divorced him. She left my grandchild with us. We were at a dead end and we were living in poverty.
After chanting Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, the light was beginning to appear faintly in my dark life. However, the hatred for the man who deceived me never disappeared, and it only deepened every day.
Even when I looked at my cute grandson, I couldn’t stop the hatred for the man who cheated me out of money. I kept thinking “I have to kill him. But how?”
My murderous intent gradually became stronger and my face looked like an Onibaba (demon woman). I was terrified and full of shame that I wanted to kill him. I purchased three butcher knives. Each with a blade length of 15 inches. I prepared a tape recorder and put it in my bag to record the conversation so I can prove the fraud.
The next morning, Ms. Kawaguchi showed up at my house for Sunday prayer. I took the bag with me and went to the prayer hall.
I forgot that there would be a video meeting afterwards. I told her “I have something to do today so I cannot go to the meeting.”
However, Ms. Kawaguchi encouraged me to attend, so I did. My murderous rage was unwavering, so I decided I would kill him after the meeting.
The meeting inspired me. Asai sensei’s (President of Kenshokai) teaching touched my heart and went into my soul. Especially when he said “Nichiren Daishonin’s Buppo is the true law.
It is the ultimate medicine that solves the problems of life. It saves the people and the nation.” I became absorbed in Sensei’s teaching.
I wanted to capture it, so I took out my recorder and started recording his speech.
At the meeting Asai Sensei explained how Gohonzon sama’s (Nichiren Daishonin Buddha’s soul written in ink) benefit appears.
First, your soul changes, then your fate will change for the better. You can gain enlightenment in this life. Even if your fate is to suffer from illness, poverty, family discord, etc. in this life, that fate will change by the power of Gohonzon sama.
Innumerable virtue, infinite and profound power of Nichiren Daishonin Buddha has been infused into Gohonzon sama. So, we just believe in it and chant sincerely. Just like a baby drinks milk without knowing its nutrition.
I felt that I was receiving direct one-on-one guidance from Asai Sensei, and it touched my soul. Then something strange happened.
The resentment towards that man and my murderous intent were gone!
Bright light wiped out my darkened soul. I felt my body getting lighter, and my muddy soul becoming cleaner I felt invigorated.
I found myself eager to save that man! Until that time, I could not control the hate deep inside of me, and even if I were given a billion dollars, it would not change my mind to commit murder.
After the video meeting, my leader said, “I can drive you to the place you are going.” I showed her the inside of my bag and told her that I was about to commit murder.
I told my leader that the hatred in my soul disappeared during Asai sensei’s teaching. She was speechless and immediately drove me back to the prayer hall.
When I sat in front of the Gohonzon sama, my tears started to fall. I said, “If I had committed murder, I would be in jail and wouldn’t be able to be here as a Kenshokai member”
“Nichiren Daishonin Buddha saved someone like me!” I was lying on the floor in tears in front of the Gohonzon sama.
When I left the prayer hall my cell phone rang. It was the man who had taken all my money and the one I was thinking of killing.
I picked up the call and without realizing it, I said, “Don’t worry about the money. There’s an amazing Buddha! I want to tell you more! Let’s meet up!” He agreed and attended the video meeting.
After that, I was able to tell him about Nichiren Daishonin’s Buppo and he wanted to try chanting!
I was filled with gratitude and said to myself “With Nichiren Daishonin Buddha, he will be truly be saved.”
Looking back, I was showed that the great virtue of Nichiren Daishonin Buddha instantly removed my murderous intent.
Through this experience, I was shown that the greedy, angry, and complaining mind (three poisons*) will turn into a spirit of pure life force and will naturally awaken the desire to save people.
*(If the three poisons of the soul: greed, anger and complaining become stronger, they will harm others, and if their life force weakens,
they will be crushed by the environment and constantly be bulled.)
I really understood that the ultimate purpose of the Daishonin is to make the land of eternally tranquil.
The only way to end all the violent acts and afflictions that are rampant in the world is not the law or military power, but Buppo (the Buddhist law) that can change the root of souls of each person.
To complete the Daishonin’s testament, which is to build the ordination platform (The Kokuristu Kaidan), is the key. When it is erected, the positive vibrations will spread throughout the world. Then all people will gain the unbreakable happiness with Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo.
My son’s violence has stopped completely. He is cooperating with me and practicing Buppo (Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching).
If I would have committed murder and disrupted my life, I would have suffered and experienced hell on earth. I am so thankful to Goshonzon sama. Also, I am filled with gratitude to Asai sensei who is teaching me about Nichiren Daishonin’s Law correctly.
I am committed to help as many people as I can. I will tell them about the true Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin and we will all chant together. People like me changed, so anyone can be saved with the true Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo!
Thank you!
Shizuko
From Kenshokai Newspaper (11/5/2006)
Unbreakable Happiness 