How do we know whether or not a decision we make is coming from our Buddha wisdom?

In the first paragraph of the Gosho 'On attaining Buddhahood', Nichiren Daishonin tells us that we can attain enlightenment in this lifetime and perceive the mystic truth that is in all things by chanting Myoho-renge-kyo. In other words he assures us that by chanting Myoho-renge-kyo we can bring out our Buddha nature, which has the qualities of wisdom, courage and compassion. Thereby we can see and grasp the truth of every situation. Nichiren Daishonin says:

"You, yourself, are a Thus Come One who is originally enlightened and endowed with the three bodies. You should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with this conviction." (WND, p. 299-300)

In countless other Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin tells us that we have the Buddha nature deep in our lives and we can reveal it by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon. Thus the first step is to trust absolutely what Nichiren Daishonin says and chant earnestly to the Gohonzon 'as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground' (WND, p.444). Then we can be certain that any decision we make by doing this comes directly from our Buddha wisdom.

The next step is to act 100 per cent on that decision with confidence that it is the right one for our lives, and determine to create value. The outcome may not be what you envisaged, but the effect will be to direct your life towards happiness. Looking back months or even years later you will see that taking the particular decision at that time led your life in a positive direction to achieve your potential, create value and bring happiness to yourself and everything around you. Through strong practice, we can create value from any decision.

I began practicing in 1976 when I was a secondary school teacher. I changed my job about every two years, hoping to improve all aspects of my working life when I did so. Each time I chanted lots of daimoku to make the right decision for my life. Sometimes the new job was worse than the one before. But each time by challenging the situation with daimoku I was able to grow as a person and ended up, happily and creatively, in the last ten years of my career in the perfect job for me, teaching adults with learning difficulties. I have had similar experiences in all areas of my life, for example in relationships, housing and finance.

Many of us think that the proof we have acted on our Buddha wisdom will be a wonderful outcome to our problem or dilemma. That the relationship we have decided on will be fantastic. That the job we have decided on will have the perfect boss, and so on. However, that is not necessarily true. Our Buddha wisdom shows us what is best for our lives at that particular moment. This may mean that we need to see clearly some aspect of our life which causes us unhappiness, and which needs to be challenged. We may make a decision, or simply find that after chanting life presents new challenges, which accentuate the problem we have been challenging, rather than eradicate it. This is why we must trust our master, and keep on challenging, using our practice.

The important thing is to chant daimoku, decide, act and keep on challenging. Then, as many people who have been practising for some time can tell you, your life heads for happiness in every area, without fail.

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This page was last modified on Sunday, August 20, 2006.