If there were a subject that I have no business writing about I would think that the subject would be Love & Relationships. For some unknown reason I will attempt to write a Buddhist lecture on Love & Relationships. I remember a few years ago in 1996 during a visit in Tokyo, Japan we were on a bus with Nichiren Shoshu Priest Rev. Shoshin Kuwabe. Rev. Kuwabe just shook his head regarding the subject and moved to a seat by himself declining to get involved in a discussion about love and relationships. When it came to the subject I was "all ears", because I was anxious to hear what a Nichiren Shoshu priest had to say about the subject. On the bus in Japan the sisters had section themselves off talking about relationships and Rev. Kuwabe was smart enough to distance himself. In the course of the conversation I offered some honest opinions and the sisters blasted me off.

Exactly what is the role of "Love & Relationships" in Buddhism? During my NSA/SGI Buddhist days Daisaku Ikeda wrote two books on the subject. One book was titled the "Family Revolution" and the other was called the "Creative Family". Both copies of my book got away and it is difficult to find writings defining a "Buddhist Prospective" on relationships. We have some idea of the Islamic view of love and relationships and if women were to practice the Christian view it would not be that much more different from the Muslim prospective.

I remember clearly back in the day when a sister would find a Christian Spiritual awaking resultantly life would really become miserable for a brother. When I was a teenager before I started chanting and practicing Buddhism a sister did a flip on me. In a short time the sister told me that she was "Saved, Sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost". The sister told me that she was "Of this world but not in this world" meaning that she had become a "Saint" and she did not partake in worldly things any longer. The sister explained to me that she had turned her life over to "Christ" and if I wanted any dealings with her I too must confess and give my life over to "Christ". I remember so clearly in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1970’s I went to this church one Friday night and people were shouting, crying, jumping up and down and for the first time I witness the "talking in tongue". That "talking in tongue" scared the hell out of me. To those who hear Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist chanting "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" and reciting the sutra could be startling to an unsuspecting person. However once it was explained about the dynamics of chanting and what it meant I was motivated to Chant and recite the sutra. The talking in tongues is explained as a mystical spirit entering a body and causing a person to say strange and incoherent words. Today the same preacher whose church my friend joined years ago has built a massive new facility. I am not sure whether they still speak in tongue but the minister has grown quite sophisticated and he is a higher up in an African/American World-Wide Christian denomination.

The Church and the African/American woman is a very, very serious relationship. Black women are the backbone of the Black church. Women dominate most Churches in the African/American community. Religious ideas of love and relationships in the Black community come from a Christian based background.

The question that we come to now is what is a Buddhist idea of love and relationships. What does Buddhist doctrine teach about premarital sex or extramarital affairs? In Islam a man can have more than one wife. In traditional African culture a man is allowed more than one wife. The aspect of love and relationships have a multitude of dynamics and one simple Buddhist lecture could not possibly cover all of the dynamics of love and relationships. This lecture is offering some insight into the Buddhist religion and in the course of our explanation we would attempt to provide some encouragement via Buddhist principles. Buddhism practice the morals and customs of a society.

Please bear along with my language in that I find it very difficult illustrating Buddhist teachings in a comparative sense. The most celebrated Nichiren
Shoshu Buddhist love and relationship story is that of Soul diva Tina Turner and Soul brother "Ike Turner". Many of you may refer to the "Tina Turner" movie "What’s Love Got To Do With It". In the movie Tina went into wrap drive on Ike. For the sake of the reader I am using a lot "Star Trek" and "Star War" movie language to explain Buddhism. It may be difficult to follow me if you are not familiar with these programs. I could say that Tina took off in a plane, but that is not good enough, I then can say that she took off in a rocket but that is not good enough. When Tina Turner began her Buddhist practice she got into the "Starship Enterprise" and she went from "Annie Mae" (Tina’s given name) to "Captain Janeway" traveling through space and time kicking ass. At this point of space and time Tina and Ike just do not fit.

In all honesty you actually travel to a different world. Compare a Buddhist superstar female singer Tina Turner to a Christian superstar singer Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston can really sing those gospel songs and via her spirit and you know where her heart is in relationship to the Church and her religion. I am not sure if I have the ability to articulate or the ability to write about something as in tangible as a spirit but if you are fortunate enough to have seen a Whitney Houston concert and a Tina Turner concert you may be able to understand what I am talking about. A few years back during a Tina Turner tour Oprah Winfrey packed her show and went on the road with Tina. Whitney Houston is indicative of the beautiful church going, choir singing, praise Jesus, signifying the preacher and shouting sisters in the African/American church today. Tina Turner on the other hand represents the new millennium freedom, passion and a higher consciousness. Tina Turner is really like "Captain Janeway" of the Starship Enterprise. Recently the Star Wars movie  was criticized for having too many Buddhist ideas in the movie.

First and foremost there are no commandments Buddhism other than the diamond commandment to always chant "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. In Buddhism you gain the wisdom to command yourself. Buddhism does not dwell on ideas of Gods or Devils, in that the functions of Gods or Devils are relative. One example just two days ago I was watching 20/20 on ABC and psychologist have coined a new disease called "Influesee-ma" or children growing up with too much wealth. The program talked about how wealthy families with too much wealth are ruing their children lives. Rich children are going crazy with too much wealth. Children are losing motivation, patience and they believe that money is a cure all and rich children are doing crazy things trying to find meaning in life. What some may call a God’s gift is now a curse in America.

Historically the first Buddha Shakyamuni in India was married and he had a son. Shakyamuni gave up secular life and became a priest. One revolutionary idea that Shakyamuni pasted on in the Lotus Sutra (his ultimate teachings) is that women could attain Buddhahood. Imagine circumstances with women 3000 years ago, the idea of a women being equal to a man was a revolutionary idea.

We who practice Buddhism for today study the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin born in Japan February 16, 1222. I personally have never read where Nichiren Daishonin was ever married or had children. In many of Nichiren Daishonin’s writings he councils men and women often and the Daishonin gives us some wonderful insight into marriage and relationships.

We who practice Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism chant "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" to an object of reverence called a Gohonzon. Nichiren Daishonin writes in the Gosho, "The Sutra of True Requital" "When we open the Lotus Sutra and look into it, it is like seeing our own face reflected in a bright mirror, or like being able to discern the colors of all the plants and trees once the sun has risen" (Shinpen-Gosho, p. 1249). The Lotus Sutra for us is the Gohonzon. When we look into the Gohonzon we see our life. We do not mean we see only our body we mean we see our life as it relates to the infiniteness of time and space.

In common everyday terms we realize via chanting that we are part of the vast universe separated by space and time. When we chant we focus our Ichinen or life moment and we are able to see ourselves relative to space and time. At this particular space we meet this person, however at another time we me that person. We who chant understand that things change from moment to moment. Those who we love today are not guaranteed we will love tomorrow. People grow, people change, and people die. When Tina Turner began to chant to the Gohonzon she grew. Thousands who accept faith in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism and began chanting they began to grow.

When individuals began chanting and studying Buddhism their views of life change in relationship to their perceptions and attitude regarding life. Instead of viewing life relative to a God or Jesus individuals view life relative to themselves, the Gohonzon, their Buddha nature and their environment. Via chanting individuals gain wisdom. Wisdom in Buddhism does not simply mean knowledge, wisdom means being able to apply the knowledge. Let me site an example of Buddhist wisdom in a love and relationship circumstance.

Off the top of my head I think about the Isaac Hayes hit song recorded years ago "By the time I get to Phoenix". Just thinking about my age perhaps the song is not a good example if you are not aware of classic "Soul Songs". In Memphis they play a lot of hits from the 60’s 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Back to the example in some of our lives perhaps a relationship is not the best and we are better off getting out but we do not have the courage or will power to leave. On the other hand we are in relationships that are truly the best for us and we do not have the courage or wisdom to stay. Things that will break a relationship up today may not be important tomorrow. One example is one partner could be in a job that is demanding and on the other hand the other partner demands more attention a couple break up, however ten or twenty years later they both realize that each could have made adjustments and that they would have been better off staying together. What about the Tina Turner song "Let Stay Together".

The Christian religion would have you believe that the only  key to a successful relationship is faith in God or Jesus. The Buddhist religion on the other hand deals with the strict law of "Cause & Effect". The law of "Cause & Effect" has nothing to with the concept of "Christian Grace" (meaning that you are fortunate by the grace of god) or a blessed from above. Many people marry or enter a relationship because of the feelings of Love. The Buddhist religion does not advocate a relationship one way of the other because of love. Buddhist teachings perceive the nature of things and advocate harmony based on the nature of relationships. In the Gosho (writings of Nichiren Daishonin "like a Buddhist bible") "Letter To The Brothers" Nichiren Daishonin writes, "Women support others and thereby cause others to support them. When a husband is happy, his wife will be fulfilled. If a husband is a thief, his wife will become one, too. This is not a matter of this life alone. A man and wife are as close as a body and shadow, flowers and fruit, or roots and leaves, in every existence of life." (major writings vol. 1 page 146).

There is a Buddhist term called Esho Funi or Oneness of a person (Shoho) and his environment (Eho). This is an ultimate Buddhist principle which teaches that a person and his environment are one (funi) two but not two. Let me site a street example if you took me to a crack house I would be scared, nervous and angry. If you took a crack-head to the same place and he had money to buy crack he would be in heaven. One’s environment is a reflection of one’s life. If you have an abusive spouse the environment would be a reflection of your life. In the Tina Turner movie Tina had an abusive husband however when she chanted she changed on the inside reflecting a higher life condition and her environment changed. It is not possible to be one way on the inside and not reflecting it on the outside. One can preach about God and Jesus all day long however until you change on the inside nothing will change on the outside. The slavemaster made a slave on the inside (conditioned his thinking) to have a slave on the outside.

Buddhism is a religion whereas you purposefully condition your mind. Mind in Buddhism is not just thoughts but includes ones spirit, body and heart. When your heart is into something you can do it. Many people have the mind for achieving a goal but they lack the heart. Tina Turner changed her heart.

Let me site you an example of Buddhist heart or mind. Men have you ever in your life had the heart of a woman? If you have ever had the heart of a woman there is nothing you can do is wrong. You can call her late you can even wake her up in the wee hours of the morning or even ask her to go over and beyond the call of duty and she will do it. The same applies for a man whose heart is captured by a woman. In Buddhism you condition your mind to have an honest heart thereby creating a Buddha life condition. When you develop a Buddha life condition you are actually becoming yourself. Once you become yourself you do not need a preacher, physic, boyfriend, girl friend, mother or father or any one to direct your life. You become the director, the scriptwriter, and the actor.

Buddhism teaches that a relationship is karma or Karmic. Relationships are not just with a man and woman but we also have a Karmic relationship to our environment. One example if you are born White you have a different relationship with the sun than someone who is born Black. Also if you are born an albino you certainly will have an interesting relationship with the sun. Relationships are Karmic. One sister emailed me a few months ago and asked to do this lecture on Love and Relationships and this sister asked me to write on Black males dating white women. The Gosho reads, "Only Buddhas know the true entity of all phenomena " meaning the ten factors 1. Appearance (Nyozeso) 2. Nature (Nyozesho) 3. Entity (Nyozetai) 4. Power (Nyozeriki) 5. Influence (Nyozesa) 6. Internal cause (Nyozein) 7. Relation ( Nyozeen) 8. Latent effect (Nyozeka) 9. Manifest effect (Nyozeho) 10. Consistency from beginning to end (Nyoze hommatsu Kukyoto).

A Black man with a White woman or a White woman with a Black man is only a relationship waiting to happen and the relationship only happened because of Karma. It is no more than a poor man dating a rich woman or a rich man dating a poor woman or an Old man dating a young woman or an old woman dating a young man.

Let me get to Black men dating white women. Many sisters find it very insulting to see eligible Black men dating White women. Please refer back a few years ago when the hit television show "Living Color" written and produced by Keenan Ivory Wynans aired on the Fox network. "Living Color" made a joke about Black men and White women. One scene made a joke whereas these two brothers were at a restaurant with one Black and one white women. The sister had all kinds of awards including a law degree and the white woman’s claim to fame was she could only do aerobics. The brothers went crazy over the white woman and in their minds (heart) the white woman was simply superior in their eyes. In the hearts of many Black men who have a (white Heart) mind a white woman will be the optimum female in their eyes. Examine the heart of Black Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Clarence Thomas does not have the heart of a Blackman. On the other end there are Black women who have a white (heart) mind and in these women mind they have the optimum man meaning a white man.  There are White people on the other hand that have the heart or mind (kokoro in Japanese) for Black people meaning they enjoy the culture.  I like the song by Latimore "Redneck In A Soul Band Getting Down".

Please pardon my language on what I am about to say but the example that I am about to give explains the Karmic relationship of Black men and white women in a language that you can understand. In the 1980’s comedienne Richard Pryor as I was told had to speak to the brothers in the hood. When Richard Pryor stepped up to the Microphone the brothers kind of booed him became he spoke before  all the brothers at a Black rally with two White women at his side. Richard Pryor told the brothers " Yall Niggers need to shut up and listen and learn something. You see this woman on my left, this bitch is a smart hoe, she went to all them big white folks schools and this hoe can write and she is teaching me how to write scripts and all that kind of shit. Stand up Hoe! And the woman stood up and took a bow. Richard continued you see this hoe sitting on my right, this hoe make me feel good. I don’t have to do shit, when I want my dick sucked, she sucks my dick, if I ask her to blow my ass, she blow my ass. This hoe just make me feel good, stand up hoe". The woman stood up an took a bow. The brothers stood up and gave Richard Pryor a standing ovation giving each other five.

The point that Richard Pryor brought out that in every relationship there is an underlying cause for the relationship. When Whitney Houston was about to marry Bobbie Brown many were trying to understand the Karma of Whitney and Bobbie Brown. In plain terms people asked why would Whitney marry Bobbie Brown? Remember the Buddhist word Esho Funi (oneness of man and his environment). What is on the outside of Whitney reflects what is on the inside of Whitney (Bobbie). When Tina was with Ike her life on the outside reflected what was going on in the inside, however when she changed on the inside her life manifested a change on the outside. From what was written about Ike he appears to be a brother from the old school who they say would "Kick Ass first and take names later" if this is true I am sure you want be seeing Tina with no brother no time soon. Also you have to factor in the external environment and well as her internal mindset.

One example of the environment factoring on relationship is perhaps a solider oversea. During overseas duty many soldiers brought back brides of different nationalities. In fact Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in America started with Japanese brides married to American soldiers.

Relationships happen for social, economic and political reasons. Take a star athletic, musician, artist or someone in any esoteric venture. Relationships usually manifest based on the karmic ties. A friend of mind who is very African centered found himself in a relationship with a White Nichiren Shoshu member from New York. That relationship was not about Black or White but based on a mutual love for Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. Many sisters find themselves in environments surrounded by White men and based upon the internal make-up of the person relationships manifest. Take Oprah Winfrey for example if she had to base her relationships on economics she would have a limited pool of African/American men to pool from. Based upon Oprah’s background internally she has some background  resources to call upon as to not to lose her culture and sense of self.

I believe that Oprah graduated from A Black college Tennessee State I believe. You will find that individuals who attended traditional Black colleges will have a stronger sense of Black pride than those who did not.

During the Black movement days Black revolutionary leaders found themselves with White women. If you saw the Keenan Ivory Wynans hit comedy "Gonna get you Sucka" in the movie was a classic scene of a revolutionary Brother with a White woman. Such a relationship was based on political reasons. During the Black revolutionary days many rich liberal thinking White women via their reading developed the heart for the Black movement and joined the movement at the expense of being ostracized and censored by their families. Such relationships transcended race and was based on political reasons.  Jomo Kenyetta the first President of Kenya married a White woman. Kenyetta went to school in Britain.

About 15 years ago International paper made the decision to move their headquarters from New York to Memphis, Tennessee. It was reported in the Memphis Newspaper that many African/American males feared moving to Memphis because they would no longer have the environment conducive to dating White women. Due to economic growth many African/Americans find themselves in Euro-Centric environments and practices resulting many African/Americans are Black on the outside but White on the inside through and through.

Take the example of O.J. Simpson. During the Simpson trial O.J.’s trial became a focal point and rally for Black injustice. O.J. Simpson is Black on the outside but definitely Lilly-White on the inside. Look at O.J.’s Karma meaning the history of his relationships and you will understand why he is so White inside.  Also check out the background of Dennis Rodman he was raised by White people and he acts more like a white man than a Blackman. Background and culture influence our thinking. Spike Lee in his movie "Jungle Fever" gives a great example of Karmic relationships and how the White/Black thing happens.

I think that I have endeavored upon the subject of Black men and White women or White women and Black men. Here is a review of the Buddhist ten aspects.

The Gosho reads, "Only Buddhas know the true entity of all phenomena " meaning the ten factors 1. Appearance (Nyozeso) 2. Nature (Nyozesho) 3. Entity (Nyozetai) 4. Power (Nyozeriki) 5. Influence (Nyozesa) 6. Internal cause (Nyozein) 7. Relation ( Nyozeen) 8. Latent effect (Nyozeka) 9. Manifest effect (Nyozeho) 10. Consistency from beginning to end (Nyoze hommatsu Kukyoto).

Let me get back to the Buddhist prospective of love and relationships. Many people run games regarding keys to success of relationships however via my research into the matter Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism gives the most practical solutions to love and relationships that I have researched. Many religions take advantage of people during a venerable time in a person’s life resultantly many get hooked on religious nonsense. Many Churches are full of women who have suffered the devastation of love and relationships find themselves being used trying to find the answer to why love knocked them down.

One thing that history proves and that is people caught hell in love and relationships in the past, they are catching hell in the present and if their lives do not change they will catch hell in the future. I will get specific on what Buddhism teach about the matter but let me site you some historical references. All you have to do is read history  old or new and you will read about the struggle of love and relationships.

If there were one thing that is equal in life I would have to say that the challenge of love and relationships hit us all equal. Whether you are Black or White, young or old rich or poor we all catch hell in relationships.

Please pardon my language on what I am about to say but I must tell the story straight just the way it was told to me to keep the spirit of what this man once told me. There is a man who lived next door to me when I was growing up by the name of Wayne. Wayne was a tall dark Black man with straight hair. In the course growing up I had the chance to talk to Wayne on many occasions. During my young Buddhist days I laughed at Wayne, now I really understand the wisdom of Wayne. When I was a little boy I just thought of Wayne as being just an adult who worked everyday took care of his family and came home. When I got old enough to be told of what went on in my neighbor hood I was shocked. Wayne I told me about many of the women in the neighborhood who he had sex with. Not only that, families who I thought were perfect he told me about extra-marital affairs on almost everybody. Wayne had even told me about he having sex with one of the neighbor hood girls my brother’s age. Wayne explained to me that he gave her $100 dollars. If you were to calculate how much money that was in the 1960’s this young woman was rich. Wayne worked a then Firestone tire and rubber company and he was a loan Shark and he sold illegal liquor from his home. When I was a youth trying to go into business this man gave me the money. The very home that I live in today due to my past credit problems way back then, Wayne got the house for me.

One day I was doing some work on some property that Wayne owned and Wayne reached into his pocket and pulled out a big roll of money. Wayne said "boy now that I have paid you your money, I must go and give my woman some money". My friend Barry and I cracked up at Wayne and I said to him you old sucker now that you are old you have to buy a women. Wayne paused a bit and looked Barry and I direct in the eye and said "Boys you do not know a damn thing about life, do you know that pussy is one of the most powerful things in the world? Boys don’t be no fool in life, whatever you do you must take care of your pussy. Do you know that most of these wine heads out there got that way because of pussy? Many of these fools you see out there, boy pussy got them that way! You two boys may laugh at me boy one day you will come to know that pussy is the most powerful things in the world. Wayne said boy read your bible! Pussy has gotten the strongest, the wisest and the richest! He said read you bible. What happen to Solomon in the Bible; was he not the wisest and the richest man? He said what happen to Samson was he not the strongest man and did not a woman get him? Who in the hell do you think I am I am not rich like Solomon and I am not strong like Samson but I am wise enough to know that you do not get something for nothing. So boys call me what you want but I am happy because I take care of my pussy and my pussy take care of me. Every week I give my woman money and every week she gives me her honey, fair trade gentleman you keep on laughing at me but while you are laughing I am happy."

Wayne was an old man with a young woman. He had a wife and a woman. If he saw a woman he wanted he was willing to pay her price if she had one. Being a man now in my 40’s Wayne statements make a lot of sense especially when I put it with Buddhist teachings.

One of the most read books by successful people is the book by Napoleon Hill "Think and Grow Rich". I remember a part of the book on "Sexual Transmutation" Napoleon Hill explains that one of mans greatest desires in life is sex. Hill explains that only a man who can transmute sexual desires can become rich. Hill explains how the driving force of sex transmuted to charisma will make you successful.

The keys to success that Napoleon Hill wrote about, the historical Buddha Shakyamuni wrote about 3000 years ago. The Buddha talked about channeling desires. The Buddha talked about Birth, Old age, Sickness and death. Love and relationships is one of the problems of Birth and Death. During the time of the Buddha Shakyamuni this woman put a melon in her stomach and accused Shakyamuni of being the father to the baby. Even 3000 years ago scandals occurred and trickery occurred.

The Gosho reads "only Buddhas know the true entity of all phenomena". No matter what story the experts tell you problems of love and relationship have gone on since time. Wayne explain about the problems in the Bible. You want to know about a Black and White relationship then look no further than Anthony & Cleopatra. Cleopatra was a Black queen of Egypt (in Africa).

Do you know that King Edward gave up his throne for the woman he loved? Read about the great Napoleon who once ruled the world. Napoleon was tough general but when it came to a woman he was as weak as water. Napoleon’s wife had it going own while Napoleon was conquering Egypt his wife had this young dude servicing her. Napoleon’s wife almost financially  broke him while he was in Egypt she was spending all of his money in France. Napoleon was a sucker for a woman if there ever was a sucker. The father of America George Washington had a slave woman. I am sure you have recently read about the Black woman Sally Hemming who Thomas Jefferson had children by. In fact if you do research on the matter you will find very few White people named Jefferson. Most Jeffersons today are Black people due to Thomas Jefferson and a Black woman. All of these American Presidents had women on he side. John and Bobbie Kennedy serviced Marilyn Monroe.

It does not matter who you are young or old rich or poor Black or White relationships are hell. The "Greatest" Muhammad Ali had problems with women. When Wayne talked about the strongest, the wisest and the richest he was correct. "Iron Mike" Tyson could knock most men out in a few seconds however Robin Givens whipped the boy up so bad he did not know who he was. Did you see Mike that time on the Barbara Walters special? I am not laughing I do understand, Wayne told me about how powerful a woman was. When Tyson went to jail, it was a young woman that got him.

Remember it does not a make a difference whether you are young or old, rich or poor or beautiful or ugly relationships are hell. You do not catch hell because you are too big or too small you catch hell because of your Karma. If beauty was the answer Hallie Berry would have never caught hell. Pretty women catch just as much hell as ugly women. Oprah Winfrey is one of the most wealthiest women in the world and she catch hell in her relationship.

I have given enough evidence that relationships are difficult and no one is immune from the sufferings of relationships. Let me now get into answers to such problems as taught by the True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin.

The aim of the Buddhist practice is to attain enlightenment and Nichiren Daishonin gives us some clues as to how to fine happiness. In his first writing Nichiren Daishonin writes in the Gosho "On Attaining Buddhahood". The Gosho begins "If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life. This truth is Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Chanting Myoho Renge-Kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth within you." Love and relationships are simply suffering of birth and death or something that has been with us through eternity. The Daishonin teaches that if we wish to free ourselves we must awaken to the mystic truth that has always been within our lives. We as humans have a Buddha life condition within us. We have a condition inside ourselves that is not relative to the next person. Our mates may be good or they may be bad. Whether they are good or bad we can be happy regardless. The Daishonin further writes in the same Gosho "If you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but some inferior teaching". Many religions will have you believe that this Law or God like condition exist outside yourself like a place called heaven. Buddhism teaches us that this Law is inside us however we must wake this condition up. Nichiren Daishonin gives us a clue as to how to wake this state up. He further writes in this Gosho; "Even a tarnished mirror will shine like a jewel if it is polished". The Daishonin teaches us that our minds are like a tarnished mirror, however if we work on ourselves, dedicating ourselves to be better we will shine like a jewel or overcoming all of our problems.

In another Gosho titled "Happiness in this World," the Daishonin writes "Never let life hardships disturb you no one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages." Everyone has problems even saints or sages. Think about all of the money that Michael Jordan has or how great a basketball player he is, imagine the pain he must have felt when he learn of his father’s murder. Think about Bill Cosby and how much we love Bill however despite that someone murdered his only son, Also a girl popped us claiming to be his daughter. No one absolutely no one can avoid problems as the Daishonin writes. In this Gosho the Daishonin writes "There is no greater happiness than having faith in the Lotus Sutra. It promises us "peace and security in this life and good circumstances in our next life"

In the Gosho "Letter to Nike" major writings page 255 the Daishonin writes: How swiftly the days pass! Friends enjoy the cherry blossoms together on spring mornings and then they are gone, carried away like the blossoms by the winds of impermanence, leaving nothing but their names. Although the blossoms have scattered, the cherry trees will bloom again with the coming of spring, but when will those people be reborn? The companions with whom we composed poems praising the moon on autumn evenings have vanished with the moon behind the shifting clouds. Only their mute images remain in our hearts. The moon has set behind the western mountains, yet we shall compose poetry under it again next autumn. But where are our companions who have passed away? Even when the approaching Tiger of Death roars, we do not hear. How many more days are left to the sheep bound for slaughter?"

In my own personal life I can remember when I was heart broken and I simply did not want to live. Even as I write I can remember the pain of love. Just as he Daishonin writes "Friends enjoy the cherry blossoms together on spring mornings and they are gone." How many loves have we had? How many tears have we shed? We do not know whether we will be in this world one day or the next as the Daishonin writes "Even when the Tiger of Death roars we do not hear." We cry over love and relationships something that we have done lifetime after lifetime and when we comeback into this world we carry the same nonsense instead of devoting ourselves to our Buddhist practice to straighten our lives up in this life and in the future.

There is more that I a can say but I think I have said enough. Via Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism you can change your life and overcome any problem. There is no magic, no quick fix however via practice and struggle you can overcome any circumstance and make your life the life you desire and even better. I hope that you gained some insight into Buddhism. Perhaps I made you laugh, or I made you think.

Do have a pleasant day…….Amp

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