Vivek Experience : 21 June 2020

Submitted by Anonymous

Yesterday morning I woke up to see two missed calls from my sister in law in Mumbai. My heart skipped a beat, I felt something was amiss, because she would never call me so early in the morning, unless it was something critical. When I called her back she broke the news that my younger brother Vikram had had a heart attack around 2 am, and she had rushed him to hospital. The doctor on duty conducted an angiography and identified two blockages in the heart, then proceeded to an angioplasty process to remove the blockages, and inserted two stents. My brother had responded well, and had been moved to a waiting ICU where he was all day yesterday. In the evening his COVID results came out negative. Thereafter he was moved to the regular ICU. My sister in law said that he was in a high life condition, and very cheerful. We are all praying that his progress continues to be smooth and he is able to return home in the next few days.

Since I heard the news, although my heart was in shock and aching to be able to meet with my brother, I chanted with gratitude for all the protection he had received in this very difficult time. The fact that my sister in law reached out to their neighbour who drove them to the hospital, and that there was a cardiologist available at that time of night, who also competently performed the procedure. So many friends, family and BSG members have reached out and have been chanting and praying for his smooth recovery. It makes me feel that every daimoku I have ever chanted, that my sister in law has chanted, has been returned to us manifold in terms of so much protection.

Nichiren Daishonin says “NMHRK is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?” He also says “Life is the most precious of all treasures. Even one extra day of life is worth more than ten million ryo of gold”. I am confident that this episode will soon be behind us, that my brother’s life has been prolonged and that he will take full responsibility to remain in perfect health. I am truly grateful to the Gohonzon and to Sensei.

My dearest friend Sanjay, since my college days in Calcutta, who is like my second brother, who lives in Noida, was diagnosed a week ago with what seems to be advanced stage of pancreatic cancer. He had been feeling unwell for the last month during the lockdown and had thought his lethargy and body aches were due to inactivity during this pandemic. We were all shattered when his test results and doctors indicated last week that his health was in a critical condition. Even as he was preparing to go for further tests in Delhi, his family arranged for him to fly to the US to one of the world’s best hospitals, Johns Hopkins. He has made that journey smoothly, and is now in his room in the hospital, where tests are being conducted to determine his diagnosis and treatment. Before he left for the US, I encouraged him to chant, and shared with him a video on how to chant. He assured me he would. Only an hour ago, as I was chanting for the success of today’s meeting, I got a WhatsApp video call from him, in his hospital room. I could not believe my eyes. He was calling to ask about my brother’s health, and also asked me to explain to him the daimoku video, so he could begin chanting. I am very confident that all the daimoku that is being sent to him will ensure he gets the best and timely treatment, and that he will be fighting fit again. We will continue to chant to make the Impossible Possible.

Daishonin wrote “The great lantern that illuminates the long night of the sufferings of birth and death, the sharp sword that severs the fundamental darkness inherent in life, is none other than the Lotus Sutra. It is like exchanging a gem for a pebble or trading sandalwood for ordinary lumber. Buddhism is like the body, and society like the shadow. When the body bends, so does the shadow.” I determine to continue encouraging my friend to chant and to be able to heal every illness and show actual proof of being a votary of the Lotus Sutra. As Ikeda Sensei says : “The key to battling illness lies in summoning a vigorous life-force and a positive fighting spirit. This brings out the full effectiveness of a curative treatment”. So while he has the good fortune of having access to the best medical facilities available, I will do my best to see that his life force remains at its highest. Nichiren says “Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life and continue chanting NMHRK, no matter what happens.” While I have been dealing with the suffering of my dear one’s health karmas, I received the good news that my friend and shakubuku Nicholas’s new film AXONE has been released on Netflix a week ago. It is a low budget film that he has made with his blood, sweat and tears and many years of hard work. I have also done a small role in the film. It highlights the story of young people from North East India living in Delhi and have to deal with racial prejudices. The movie has generated buzz all around the world as it is available on Netflix for anyone to watch and people can learn to appreciate the Buddhahood within every person, whatever their background. Nicholas has continued to chant over the years, and I am certain that the daimoku that he has chanted over so many years has definitely helped him achieve this amazing victory.

Ikeda Sensei says “The differences between people need not act as barriers that wound, harm and drive us apart. Rather, these very differences among cultures and civilizations should be valued as manifestations of the richness of our shared creativity.” I am sure this film will reach many people and instil in them the understanding of our shared humanity and interconnectedness, and imbibe in them the value to respect the dignity of every human life.

I determine to imbibe the following lines from Ikeda Sensei’s poem deep within my life:

The brave hearted Rejoice in struggles Welcoming them with pleasure and joy.

The cowardly lose every battle They are gloomy, cheerless and pathetic.

Fear is hell,

Courage is joy.

Never forget that devotion to faith

Without begrudging our lives

Forges, in the depths of our beings,

The heart of an indomitable hero

The supreme state of life.

With an intrepid spirit We solemnly adorn this existence

With justice, courage and triumph!