Voiceless Me!

Date- 18th March 2010, I underwent an operation for my throat due to swelling detected in my vocal cords.

What next?? To my surprise, my doctor/speech therapist asked me to be on voice rest for a month or two. From a chirpy, hyper active me- I had to be the Voiceless Me

Nevertheless, fighting spirit that I have inherited from my Buddhist practice helped me go through the voiceless month swiftly. There were times when I felt suffocated, wanting to talk,  just talk. There were times when out of frustration I felt like screaming, but not a word came out of my mouth.

At the same time a very interesting learning process was going on in my life. Not allowed to speak, sitting in a corner, observing people around me lose their cool, screaming, getting irritated was strangely fun. As voiceless days passed by, I became a much calmer person with a smiling face. It gave me ample amount of opportunities to observe. Observe the minds and behavior of people around me. It definitely helped me become a good listener.

All these days I quietly observed the working of my own mind. “Your mind is a skilled painter” It was interesting to observe the creations of my mind. How it taught me to evoke many feelings in a good and bad way. I silently conversed with my mind, stopping or following the instructions given by it to me.

As I have read “Every opportunity or obstacle is a stepping stone to success”

Sometime’s sitting quietly I wondered how not having a voice would help me gain success. But now as I look back, I feel I have become a person with immense patience, calmness, a good listener and a very strong control on my mind.

My Mentor- Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

“A great inner revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of mankind.”- Dr. Daisaku Ikeda.

These are the words of my life mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, third president of Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organisation, promoting a philosophy of character development and social engagement of peace. I encountered faith in my mentor, when I started practising Daishonin’s Buddhism in the year 2007. Since then, till now the meaning and purpose of my life has totally changed.

Sensei, as we fondly call him, is a Buddhist philosopher, peace builder, educator, author and poet. He writes the peace proposal for the U.N each year and has conducted several dialogues with leaders all around the world in political, cultural, educational and academic field.

Sensei was born in a sea-weed producing family in Japan. In short he was a commoner with very poor health conditions. Due to adverse circumstances brought on by World War 2, he did not have the opportunity to enter a university. However, fate brought him to meet his mentor in life- Josei Toda, the second president of Soka Gakkai, where he learnt almost everything from him. Subjects like arts, literature, economics, politics etc.

To have encountered sensei as my mentor and living a life on the path of mentor-disciple relationship is the source of great happiness and makes my life of genuine value. The human mind is a mysterious thing, never stopping even for a moment. I wonder what dire circumstances my life would be in by now if I did not have faith in my mentor.

Referencing two Mongolian maxims, “One’s life was created by one’s parents, but one’s heart is created by one’s mentor” and “The light of a lamp originates from oil; a disciple’s wisdom is born of his mentor.” I take all my actions and decisions based on the guidance’s and insights given by sensei through his writings. Each day I strive to put my mentor’s words into practise and it is my mission to develop and live my life as the same expansive life condition as my mentor’s.

Each day I live my life in contentment and do not easily give in to adversities or obstacles, as I am reassured that there is a parent and a teacher who is always over looking my actions and who would show me the correct path to walk in life. I hold each of his guidance close to my heart as it prevents me from becoming a failure in life and helps me to bravely surmount each challenge thrown at me. Though I am countries apart from my mentor and have never got the opportunity to meet him till now. I feel the strong bond growing between us each day, where just by studying his writings; I am trying to understand his heart and mission.

For me, there is no greater pride than meeting my mentor in life and devoting myself to achieving his dream and mission as his disciple.

Self-awakening, the spirit of gratitude, challenging obstacles with a youthful energy, being compassionate and forging on in life with conviction and courage is the wisdom bestowed upon me by my mentor.

It is my determination to fulfil my mentor’s dream by actively working for world peace and the happiness of all humanity based on the ideals of Buddhism. I also determine to bring glory to him by being victorious in all endeavours in life. I also have immense gratitude towards my mentor who has led me from miserable circumstances in the past to a state of growth and absolute happiness I enjoy today.