The study is from the November Indigo pg 24:
The Buddhism of the Sun—Illuminating the World
A Religion of Human Revolution - Part 12
'It Is the Heart That Is Important' - Paving the Way to Human Revolution for All Humanity
00:00:00 - 01:00:00 In the November 2023 Gosho Study meeting discussed in the YouTube video, Oliver welcomed attendees and acknowledged the traditional land owners.
Susie Chan presented on the importance of the heart in human revolution from Part 12 of the lecture series "Buddhism of the Sun: Illuminating the World." Juliana Mono shared a personal experience, and Susie and Carl conducted a Q&A session.
The topic emphasized the significance of the heart in overcoming daily challenges and creating a life of happiness and contentment.
President Ikeda encouraged the audience to improve themselves and cultivate their humanity, emphasizing the importance of relationships and interactions.
Juliana shared her personal transformation from seeking only her own happiness to wanting to contribute fully to others' happiness.
The video also featured inspiring stories of individuals from the past and present who faced challenges and persevered. The speakers discussed the importance of altruism, challenge, and conviction in cultivating the heart and creating value in difficult circumstances. They also addressed the importance of learning from seniors and mentors and dealing with the loss of loved ones.
The concept of negativity arising during the practice of chanting was explored, with the idea that it can be a necessary ingredient for personal growth. Overall, the meeting emphasized the importance of expanding one's heart and creating a spirit of care for others and oneself, even in challenging circumstances.
00:00:00 In this section of the November 2023 Gosho Study meeting, Oliver, a member of the SJ in WA and the MC for the day, welcomes everyone to the meeting and acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. He introduces Susie Chan, the Nationwide women's leader, who will present the study topic "The Heart that is Important: Paving the Way to Human Revolution for All Humanity" from Part 12 of the lecture series "Buddhism of the Sun: Illuminating the World." Juliana Mono, the young women's assistant State leader in Queensland, will share a personal experience, and Susie and Carl will conduct a live Q&A session. The topic emphasizes the importance of the heart in human revolution. Susie expresses her appreciation for the youths supporting the meeting behind the scenes, despite their busy schedules.
00:05:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker begins by expressing thoughts with Lisa, a young women's leader who is unable to attend due to supporting her parents overseas. The advice given is to not read the lecture on an empty stomach due to its inclusion of beautiful food photographs. The focus of the lecture is on the concluding installment of the "Religion of Human Revolution" sub-series, with the importance of the heart being emphasized. President Toad's intent behind the term "religious Revolution" is discussed, with the idea that it is about creating a life of happiness and contentment, rather than a battle against other religions. The speaker encourages the audience to improve and polish themselves to cultivate their humanity, as religion cannot be separate from this effort. The history of religion being more about subjugating others or advancing self-interests is acknowledged, but the aim is to help oneself and others become happy.
00:10:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, President Ikeda of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) emphasizes the importance of overcoming daily challenges and becoming happy both for oneself and others.
He encourages the recognition of the uniqueness and interconnectedness of individuals in society, emphasizing the significance of relationships and interactions. President Ikeda calls for a religious revolution to value life and living beings in the intricate web of human relationships.
00:13:00 Juliana, a young woman from Brisbane, shares her personal experience of being part of the young women's division and how it helped her transform from a member seeking only her own happiness to one who wanted to contribute fully to the happiness of every human being she encountered. This transformation occurred after she lost her grandma while studying abroad and felt lost and sad. She found solace in chanting with conviction and became determined to help others.
00:15:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, a woman shares her experience of transforming sadness into gratitude after her grandma's passing. She decides to live a contributive life, inspired by her grandma's care for others, and becomes a young women's division leader. Despite having no job or money, she finds joy in supporting others and eventually secures a prestigious PhD scholarship in Australia. After returning to Perth, she connects with the members of SGI Australia and faces challenges in her personal life, but continues to chant and persevere.
00:20:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker, Juliana, shares her personal experiences of facing numerous challenges during her PhD journey and beyond. Despite dealing with anxiety, depression, and financial hardships, she remained committed to her faith and the SGI (Society for the Creation of Value) movement. Juliana's resilience and determination led her to become the assistant State young woman's leader in Queensland, and she continues to support the organization despite more obstacles on the horizon. The video also highlights the struggles and breakthroughs of several disciples from over 800 years ago, emphasizing that challenges are a natural part of life and that perseverance is essential for personal growth and contributing to humanity.
00:25:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker discusses the deep bonds between Nitan and his disciples, despite the physical distance between them. Nitan was able to convey his heart and awaken courage, conviction, and hope in his disciples, even from afar. The focus of the study is on cultivating the heart from three perspectives: the heart of altruism, challenge, and conviction. The speaker emphasizes the importance of altruism, which is the devotion to the good of others without expecting anything in return. Food is used as an example of altruism, as giving food to others improves one's own lot. The speaker also highlights Nitan's deep appreciation for the food sent to him by his disciples during times of scarcity.
00:30:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker discusses the importance of altruism and the heart of challenge in our lives. Using the example of Shijo Kingo, a disciple of Nan, the speaker illustrates how sincere actions for others lead to personal rewards. Despite facing jealousy and disgrace, Kingo continued to serve and support others, ultimately regaining his Lord's trust. The speaker also acknowledges that emotions can cloud judgment and encourages continuous challenging and engagement with others. This fundamental relationship between mentor and disciple nourishes our lives and helps us transform adversity into victory. The speaker quotes Leonardo DaVinci, emphasizing that inactivity sets the vigor of the mind, and shares the example of a dear friend, Grana, who lived a simple life but never took anything for granted and expressed immense gratitude for the support she received.
00:35:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker shares a heartwarming story about a woman named Chisana, who expressed her gratitude through her beautiful garden and the sharing of fruits with others. Despite facing immense struggles, Chisana's conviction in faith and the words of her mentor gave her strength. The speaker was inspired by Chisana's story and adopted her pure heart and conviction into her own life. The speaker then emphasized the importance of having a serious attitude in faith and undergoing inner transformation through Buddhist practice, which can produce profound changes in one's life. The speaker encouraged the audience to keep making causes in their lives and not be impatient, as the experience of struggle and proof becomes a powerful resource to connect to others and give hope. The team's determination was to joyfully exert themselves in spite of personal challenges and keep expanding their lives, and the speaker encouraged the audience to take this shared determination away with them. The speaker also mentioned that faith, friendship, and food are all essential parts of life.
00:40:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, Carl, the host, answers a question about balancing practical concerns with keeping the heart at the forefront during challenges. He shares his perspective that it can be counterintuitive to focus on the bigger picture and act altruistically when facing problems. Carl emphasizes the importance of trusting mentors' guidance and taking action, even when it's difficult to understand it intellectually. He also references a passage from President Ikeda about lighting the way for others and how it can improve one's own life.
00:45:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, Carl shares his perspective on the importance of learning from the experiences and inspiring examples of seniors and mentors to tackle challenges with renewed belief and conviction. He emphasizes the value of taking action for the sake of others and creating value from difficult circumstances. The conversation then shifts to the topic of dealing with the loss of loved ones, with Carl acknowledging the pain and difficulty of such experiences.
He encourages keeping the eternal legacy of loved ones alive by living in honor of their lives and continuing their inspiration. The speakers agree that creating value through determination to contribute to the betterment of humanity is a powerful way to honor the past and live meaningfully in the present.
00:50:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, the speaker discusses the concept of negativity arising during the practice of chanting and how it can be seen as a necessary ingredient for personal growth.
Using the analogy of a clear glass with sediment, the speaker explains that challenges and negativity are not external causes but rather a stirring up of existing issues in one's life. The process of Human Revolution is about cleaning out the sediment in one's life, leading to clarity and the recognition of one's innate dignity and creativity. The speaker shares the story of Midori, a woman who faced immense challenges in caring for her disabled daughter and aging parents, and how she dealt with the practicalities of daily life while maintaining her determination to help everyone to the best of her ability.
00:55:00 In this section of the "November 2023 Gosho Study" YouTube video, a woman named Midori is discussed. Midori had been caring for her mother full-time, giving up her dreams of writing and drawing children's books.
However, she was determined to encourage her mother and herself, writing a postcard every day for several years. Her mother eagerly awaited the postman for these daily messages. After a few years, a doctor noticed that her mother's dementia seemed to be reversing, and after about seven years, her dementia seemed to be cured. Midori collected and published the postcards into a book, and they now travel around the country giving talks on caring for those in need of full-time care. This inspiring experience highlights the importance of expanding one's heart and creating a spirit of care for others and oneself, even in challenging circumstances.
The speaker also references the idea that negativity can become a cause of positivity and encourages listeners to establish conviction in their lives.
Comments
Post a Comment