Our 52 years of Buddhist Practice
Note: Click here to watch a seven-minute video of this experience.
In 1950, because of my karma and genetics, I was born highly sensitive into an insensitive and abusive household. As a result, I was afraid of almost everything. Most of my teens in the 1960s were spent taking drugs to escape my circumstances and being unable to function at school. I kept losing jobs and wanted to leave this worldly plane.
In June of 1969, on the day of her high school graduation, my girlfriend, Trude, and I ran away from home. For several months, our daily life consisted of hitchhiking around, living on a friend’s porch, and attending rock concerts for peace. I also played piano in a soul group in East L.A. Having any kind of regular job was beyond me.
Fortunately, that November, a young man invited us to a Buddhist discussion meeting in Santa Monica, California. Because we were told Nichiren said, “The voice does the Buddha’s work,” we decided to try chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and a chapter and a half of the Lotus Sutra every day. We had a Buddhist wedding later that same year. We had so little money, that my parents bought us groceries as a wedding gift. We often had to split a single Taco Bell burrito for dinner.
In the early and mid 1970’s, Trude was in the SGI-USA fife & drum corps drill team and an incredibly supportive partner. I was the brass band leader and in charge of the 1975 Hawaii and the 1976 New York parades. These youth activities provided us with training we could apply to our daily lives in countless ways. Somehow, I managed to finish college and build a rewarding information technology career. And we began to learn how to better balance our jobs, family and SGI activities.
Although only 20 and 21 years old, we were also the district leaders. Almost all the members of our district were in their twenties or younger! This was when we first experienced the joy and benefit of introducing others to the practice.
We were both repeatedly encouraged by SGI honorary president Daisaku Ikeda’s encouragement that, “When you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, you will definitely gain the best result, regardless of whether that benefit is conspicuous or inconspicuous. No matter what happens, the important thing is to continue chanting. If you do so, you’ll become happy without fail.“
The 1980s presented us with the challenge of learning how to be the parents of two delightful daughters (now in their forties) and then moving from Central California to Northern Virginia. I’m so grateful to have been able to change my family karma so our daughters could have a nourishing childhood.
This was also the decade that saw Trude finally complete her college education and realize her dream of being an elementary school teacher. This was a huge victory for her. And, of course, she was the most popular teacher in the school!
Ikeda Sensei came to America in 1990 and gave significant guidance that reinforced in me the importance of not comparing with others, looking inside for change, working to create unity, and studying our Buddhist periodicals to deepen my understanding of Buddhism. He also emphasized that those who assume positions of leadership must constantly strive to better themselves and overcome the tendency to become arrogant. This is something I’ve had to be aware of when assuming organizational responsibility.
During this time, my desire to be a writer began to be fulfilled as I wrote for the World Tribune and Living Buddhism and then when Middleway Press published my first book, Romancing the Buddha (now a 3rd edition).
In 1996, Trude was paralyzed from the waist down and was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Through family and friends, our Buddhist practice and community, and with the support of a wonderful psychotherapist, we began to experience tremendous joy, compassion and, ultimately, great victories including her being able to walk again.
This quote from Nichiren was particularly encouraging for her: Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens (from Happiness in this World).
Trude’s victory culminated in her walking almost six miles with Team Lisagor at our first of 25 annual MS Walks. Lots of elated tears that day!
A few years later, I was able to use the sudden loss of my corporate executive job into as the opportunity to start a successful management consulting business — work that was more in line with my personal strengths and Buddhist values.
In 2004, during my sixth decade, Trude and I moved to beautiful Bainbridge Island in Washington State where our two grandkids now visit us every summer. It is also a better climate for someone with MS.
Trude and I have lost both our parents, my sister and a nephew. Through our struggles and chanting to overcome the inevitable pain and sadness that accompanies death, we’ve realized that it’s not whether life is long or short, but how we live each day that’s important.
In my seventh decade, after retiring from my business, I was finally ready to concentrate on dealing with my childhood trauma. I used the strategy of the Lotus Sutra to gain the wisdom to find the right medicine so I could do great work with some wonderful therapists. I’m happy to report that my depression, a major motivator to practice over the years, continues to improve. And that while I have depression, it doesn’t have me!
Another thing I’ve learned is that, unlike with more obvious physical ailments, too many people react negatively or misunderstand less visible serious illnesses like Trude’s MS or my depression, anxiety and trauma. Because everyone has their own unique karma, genetics and history, everyone’s experience is unique. Through their Buddhist practice, some overcome their physical or mental inflictions quickly while for others this can be source of lifetime human revolution. Regardless, everyone can turn any illness into benefit and improve the quality of their lives through this remarkable practice.
I know people who still hesitate to share their mental challenges for fear of being judged. This means they may not receive much needed encouragement. So, I’ll continue to do my best to bring this topic and its difficult reality out in the open where it belongs so no one has to feel marginalized.
On a lighter note, eight years ago I was able to start playing music again as a singer and harmonica player in a local blues band, Good Karma Blues. This was something I thought I’d left behind. And is just another example that that we don’t know when or how our dreams might come to fruition.
While saddened by the tragic worldwide impact of COVID and the corresponding isolation, it did afford me the opportunity to write four books to further my goal of sharing some of the Buddhist and business lessons I’ve learned. Meanwhile, Trude found many new abstract subjects to portray in watercolor.
If my experience has a theme, it’s this — whether we’ve chanted 52 years or one day, rather than bemoaning personal and global challenges, what’s important is to remember that “hope is the state of our mind not the state of the world” (Vaclav Havel).
I’m so grateful for the SGI and Ikeda Sensei as well as the fortune we’ve gained in our lives from financially supporting our diverse organization for the spread of Kosenrufu — a more peaceful world. I’m also 100% confident that by continuing to manifest our Buddha nature by consistently chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can turn today’s obstacles into tomorrow’s conspicuous and inconspicuous benefits.
I’d like to close with a few verses from the song, Louder, by blues great Keb’ Mo’ about how important it is that we listen to and support the youth of today — the leaders of tomorrow — toward the SGI’s hundredth anniversary in 2030!
Young people are thinking
With a mind that’s all their own
They are ready, willing and they are able
Why don’t we just let them take control
They’re gonna fight the fight ’til they find the answers
They’re gonna do what we have failed to do
They’re gonna throw all the cards on the table
It’s their life they’re giving voices to
And they’re gonna get louder
They’re gonna get crazy
They’re pickin’ up power
Pickin’ up steam
We got a new generation
And they’re stronger than steel
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
