Dear Lydia I hope that all is well with you and that your sister is on the mend.. I have to let you know about this, it's one of the strangest things that has happened to me.. I went to the dentist this morning and had my teeth cleaned. Whilst I was sitting in the chair, I started chanting nam my ho renge kyo.. and felt much better. As I was finishing, I had to make my 6 month appointment for the next cleaning. I pulled out my cell phone and I couldn't believe what I saw.. A note was in my phone as a reminder "can feel the power and protection of chanting name my ho renge kyo!", so I had to send you an e-mail to let you know.. I had not put this reminder in my phone :) All the best, Sarah |
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
From Sarah (Nov. 11, 2010)
Energy (2007)
"What can each of us, as an ordinary human being, do for others, for society?
Religion for the people, religion in the 21st century, must be an inexhaustible source of such awareness and the energy to carry it out.
Daisaku Ikeda"
this is the slogan on the wall of our sgi centre in sydney.
since i arrived in sydney in 2000, every thursday i went to the centre to do volunteer cleaning. i vacuumed all floor areas, incl carpet and floor tiles, mopped the floor, cleaned the kitchen, bench tops, tables, chairs, glass doors and partitions, and sometimes the toilet. there is a total of about 250 sm of space to cover.
growing up in hongkong, where almost all working women hire maids to do their housework and cooking, i found it really really very hard to do the above. not only did i not know how to do it properly, i also had no energy at all because my health condition was not good.
i practically had to stop, pant, rest, drink or eat every fifteen minutes to regain energy, and i took more than three hours to finish the work. here, i have to state that no one, nobody, asked me to do anything at all, it is completely out of my own free will to contribute my time (which i had had plenty) and effort to help.
while having lunch, i always looked at the motto and thought: how i wish i have this inexhaustible source of energy to do what i want to do.
now in 2007, without my noticing, i do have a lot of energy . not only can i finish my work in 1 1/2 hrs, half of the original time, everybody in the centre says that i have done a beautiful job and the centre looks sparkling. at one time, a visitor even asked if i am a professional cleaner 
. at the end of the day, i always feel very very good, that i am able to contribute, and my health is getting better and better.
. at the end of the day, i always feel very very good, that i am able to contribute, and my health is getting better and better.furthermore, to me, to be able to do this work regularly is a real blessing indeed, because i need the time, energy, good spirit....
cheers
lydia
True Happiness (July 18, 2006)
i have brought my grandchildren with me to sydney
a couple of days ago, when i went upstairs to sleep, i saw my loving husband sleeping in bed, my three lovely grandchildren sleeping together on the mattresses on the floor, and my beautiful dog (a maltese (sp?)) sleeping under the couch, i suddenly realized what true happiness is, this happiness and satisfaction is coming from the bottom of my heart. how i thank the gohonzon, how i thank my buddhist practice, i sure have come a long long way.
cheers
A beautiful letter (written in 2006)
Below is a letter I have received from a lovely lady I met five years ago in Melbourne
15.3.06
Dear Lydia
How are you? I’m sorry that it has been so long between my communications, but I stumbled across your address yesterday and was excited about telling you a story!
Ever since meeting you at the Crown Casino I have had the chant that you gave to me written on a piece of card next to my bed. It has been a story that I have shared with nearly everyone who crossed my path and I hold the words/chant in special regard.
Four years ago I met a man on the Geelong Nam
Anyway, last year I was cast in a play in the Melbourne
“Nam
Ha ha…..
We are very happy together…. This story rings true in our hearts and brings us much joy and wonderment. Ever since I have been meaning to share it with you because you gave me such hope when I was lost and needed direction.
Thank you so much!!!
I hope that you are happy and well – and that miraculous things are happening to you too!!!
Love,
From Lydia
Such a beautiful letter, such a beautiful story, all started with her respect for the chanting and her compassion to share with everyone who came across her path. We never know that just a simple act of mentioning of this chanting to other people can have such a great effect on our own, and other people’s lives.
Children - Are they are blessing? or..... (2007)
I am sharing with you my experience in raising my two children, a daughter and a son. I would like to tell you the mistakes that I made, the tears I shed, the problems I had to face, the crisis I had to go through, the agony I had to bear, the desperation that came upon me, and finally, the joy of seeing two fine individuals growing, maturing, refining, succeeding and contributing to the happiness of other people.
Part One
My daughter - Michele
I was born and grew up in Hong Kong . I got married when I was still a teenager, and had my first child, Michele, born immediately thereafter. I did not even know how to take care of myself, let alone be a mother. Therefore my daughter was being cared for and brought up by my in-laws until the age of 7.
At that time, the finance situation of my ex husband and myself became more steady and we were able to bring Michele back home with us and hired a maid to do the housework and care for her. Being a dedicated career woman, I have to admit that I had never been a good mother, I did not spend time playing, talking, caring or coaching Michele, I failed to give her the attention nor affection which she needed so much and, as a result, Michele and I were never very close. She had always wanted to go back to her grandparents.
When Michele was 13, I had my divorce with my ex husband. I was then immediately faced with the difficult situation where I had to take up the interior design business from my ex husband (who had lost interest in his business and carried a lot of debts) and at the same time, take up sole responsibility of raising Michele and her three year old brother, Kevin.
Before this, I had had worked as a secretary and had no formal training in interior design nor business management, but I knew I had to take up the business to
survive. It was such a struggle! I was all alone in handling problems, both in business and at home. (I can still remember the incident when I was handling a
complaint in the office with a client, I received a letter from Michele in England saying that she wanted to jump off the roof to commit suicide, at the same time, I received a telephone call from home telling me that Kevin was throwing a tantrum not wanting to do his homework.) Life was hard, really hard indeed.
Michele was very disturbed and hated me for divorcing her father. As a result, she failed in all her subjects in Hong Kong and had to continue her studies in England
She was in England Hong Kong before we immigrated to Canada Canada
I was extremely angry, I cried, I yelled and scolded her, I was so angry that, to release my anger, I hit on the table and broke my bracelet. I regarded her as a heavy burden which I wanted to be rid of, but what I did not realize was that her actions were mere results of my failure in fulfilling my duties as a mother. At this critical time, instead of scolding her and getting mad, I should be more understanding, caring, supportive, and guiding.
Looking back, I know she was only following my footsteps. Because, like me, she came from a family with parents quarrelling all the time and gave her scolding instead of love and support, she was very much looking forward to having her own nice warm family and would jump to any chance that came along. This is what we call “ family karma”.
It is very ironic. Although I love Michele, I did not know how to love her. Eventually she got married to a very nice young man, Ben, and has her own children. Later they also returned to reside in Hong Kong . However our relationship had not improved at all, we always argued, fought with each other and regarded each other unbearable.
At one time, she said to me: “If my own mother does not look up and respect me, how can I look up and respect myself?” The reason she said this was because I used to criticize her for the things she did wrong, hoping this would help her improve, and I failed to compliment and encourage her on the things that she did right and recognize her strengths.
In 1996, I started to take up Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhist practice and started chanting nam myo ho renge kyo. I learned about the theories of life, of cause and
effect and began to realize that whatever problems we are having, the cause lies within us. I also learn that by chanting nam myo ho renge kyo, we will have the wisdom, courage and life force to overcome any negative situations and turn them into benefits, but it all begins with our own human revolution, i.e. to change any aspects in ourselves that cause our own sufferings.
I began to change my attitude towards Michele. I tried to respect her as an individual, complimenting her on her achievements. At times of crisis I was ready to give her encouragement and support, but because her experience in the past was so bad, she was still grudging against me and cannot let go of the things that I did. She does not seem to be a happy person and can easily get angry, I can see myself (the old me) in her. As soon as I started talking to her, she would put herself on the defensive and we could not communicate.
I continued to try to make good our relationship, accepting the fact that the pain she gave me is just a result of the things I did to her. Then one day when I was chanting, I could feel that there was a big hole in her heart that needed to be filled, and when I chanted to the gohonzon, I was determined to use my daimoku (nam myo ho renge kyo) to fill up this hole. I also chanted for her happiness. At that time, although Michele also chants, she was not very active.
Meanwhile Michele came across major finance difficulties in her family and for this reason, she and her husband, Ben, began chanting vigorously and learn how to overcome their problems with our Buddhist philosophy. She and Ben also contributed and volunteered in a lot of SGI activities. In the process, she and Ben regained their confidence, happiness and are going through their own human revolution.
With our joint daimoku, I can feel that the hole in Michele’s heart is filling up. She begins to appreciate me, as a mother, more and more, and she is thankful of the things that I am doing for her and her family. She offered me advice when I had crisis with her brother Kevin. She is also helping me in giving guidance to and encouraging Kevin. She is very active in kosen rufu, supporting, encouraging and guiding people who come across her path who need help. Sometimes we even act as a team and contribute joint effort in kosen rufu to support other members.
I am very very happy and proud to have a daughter like Michele. Yes, we had had very difficult times, but with our Buddhist practice, which gives us faith, hope and courage, we were able to transform our problems into blessings.
Later I will tell you about my son, Kevin, in Part II of this story.
變毒為藥 (寫於2002年)
我學習日蓮大聖人的佛法已六年。在這期間，除了得到無數的功德外，還把我的生命完全地改變。
為了慶祝婦人部五十週年紀念，我願意與大家一起分享一個去年的體驗。
我於一九九九年十月從香港移居雪梨，並與現任丈夫結婚。雪梨對我來說是一個完全陌生的地方。在這裏我只有兩個朋友。因為我是中國人的關係，一到步我就在找尋一位中國人的家庭醫生。直到去年五月，經朋友介紹在附近找到了一位普通科家庭醫生。我去找他有兩個原因。第一，是希望通過他的介紹，轉介我到另一位中國的女性婦科醫生作每年的婦科檢查。另外的原因是因為我感到有點頭漲、頭暈、作嘔、呼吸困難及腳踝有水腫的現象。
經過那位家庭醫生講解後，說我大部份的不適是因為服食了一種降血壓藥所產生的副作用。我患高血壓已有六年多，一直是吃Plendil(降血壓藥)控制著。但去年二月，我因為覺得頭暈，所以一個在雪梨的心臟病醫生提意改吃另一種名叫Norvacs的血壓藥，而可能Norvacs不適合我，那位家庭醫生建議我數星期後回去覆診，到時看看要不要再換降血壓藥。
壹星期後，當去見那位家庭醫生介紹的婦科醫生時，她說我的子宮頸生了壹粒瘜肉，並即時(下午三時左右)替我做了一個十分簡單的切割手術。其實這手術我在香港也曾經做過，並不是大問題。所以手術後如常到雜貨店買東西。但突然間感到子宮頸內有大量分泌物。直到回到家裏才發現一些血水，並持續數小時之久。當我致電給婦科醫生時，她說一切正常。而這情況會持續數小時。大概六時許，當我駕車接丈夫下班時，頓時發現大量出血；並在丈夫的工作地方再次打電話給我的婦科醫生，同時也決定前往她的診所。
我漸漸有點緊張，並開始唱唸「南無妙法蓮華經」。當抵達診所時，我不停地顫抖及有點害怕。醫生把我帶到另外一個房間嘗試給我止血，初時並不成功。過了不久，她說一切正常並可以回家去。當我差不多到達家裏時，又發現再次出血，比上一次來得嚴重。於是我立刻返回那醫生的診所，她替我檢查時，我不斷大量出血，所以她要我立刻進入醫院。
當我的丈夫把我送到醫院時，我便即時打電話給香港的家人請求與我一起唱唸題目。不久我被送到手術室，醒來時血已停止了。而我的婦科醫生憶述在手術期間，發現有另外三個瘜肉在我的子宮內，並給我看了她在手術室拍下那三個瘜肉的照片。她說因為我不停地流血，所以沒有把所有瘜肉切除。她還說每星期也做同樣的手術，但從未遇過這種流血不止的情況。
第二天，當我出院時因失血過多，身體十分虛弱，需要吃些強身藥增強體力。直至第五天的晚上我又開始流血，但並不嚴重。過了數天，血還是沒有停下來，我開始有點擔心。我很想再聽取其他醫生意見，但又不知應該找誰？最後還是回到那位婦科醫生。她說一切正常，並說我大概會持續流血六星期傷口才會完全復原，需要小心處理。
我不知道應否再信任這個婦科醫生。那個時候我真的處於地獄界。一個小小的傷口，竟會不停地流血多達六星期，這是我不能接受的。我也曾生了兩個孩子，但每次產後流血的時間通常都不會多過四個星期。
這一次我知道只有向御本尊祈求，才能找到解決的方法。我嘗試卧在床上不隨便走動，但仍不能止血。這情況持續了兩個多星期，有很多會友都為我而唱題，而我自己就好緊張、擔心和不安。
再過一星期後(星期五)，我再到那位家庭醫生那裏，希望他給我多點意見。他說可以介紹我去見另外一位婦科醫生，並且給我換了另外一種血壓藥。我一開始服食這藥時就感到十分頭暈，於是我致電到這藥的製造商查詢。他們說這是副作用，遲些便會沒事。第二天(星期六)情況更差，除了頭暈、頭痛、手部不停地顫動外，視力也不能集中，像快要暈倒下來。我不停向康座(御本尊)祈求，讓我知道應該怎樣做。到了晚上，我突然有種感覺要停服這種藥。但是我已心力交瘁，同時要受流血及藥物副作用的煎熬。
到這時我忽然間想起一位幹部的指導。她說如要達成願望，最好的方法便是努力地去幫助他人，去做好廣宣流布。於是我決定暫時忘記自己的病痛，把精神轉移去幫助其他人。
到第三天(星期天)，我先生的弟婦與她的女兒到訪。她的女兒因在感情及工作上不如意，而顯得十分不開心。雖然我仍然流血及身體感到不適，但還是好誠懇地向她解釋我們的佛法，教她唱唸題目。同時也給她一些會友的體驗。並鼓勵好的母親為著她的女兒一起唱唸題目。真的奇怪，到了第四天(星期一)，我流的血不其然地停止了。
因為以上所發生的事情，我的血壓又再度上升。我開始體會到可能因自己的頑固及執著，以至令到自己受著不必要的痛苦。在這期間，有數位會友在一個星期五的早上到我家與我一起唱唸一小時的題目。當她們離開後，我第一次感到心境十分平和、寧靜。同時我也醒覺到，一個人能夠輕鬆地吃、睡及走動，已經是生命中的一大功德。
我明白到所有瘜肉在我身體內出現；是因為自己從小時及以往的不愉快經歷所積聚的憂慮、懊惱及怨恨所產生的。只有快樂才能有真正的健康。我一定要通過人間革命把自己負面的想法改變。並且我向御本尊祈求體內的瘜肉會自動排出，因為我真是害怕再要做手術。同時我也醒覺到因為自己對御本尊的信心不夠強盛，才會遇上問題時驚惶失措。
題目的力量真是不可思議。去年十月我回香港時，到一位政府婦科醫生處請教我的問題。她替我做了一個掃描，之後告訴我體內沒有瘜肉。並且給了我用掃描拍下來的相片做記錄，我內心真是十分十分之感激御本尊。
這次的病業給了我很大的啟發。我不時地提醒自己在生命裏所有的恩惠。並在遇到問題時，嘗試以歡喜的心去面對。無論發生什麼事都要對御本尊確信，把問題及困難扭轉為功德。我開始盡量輕鬆地面對自己及週圍的人。
我衷心地感謝各會友的關心及為我唱唸題目。我希望每一位讀了這個體驗後的朋友都會得到鼓勵，以及生活得更輕鬆更快樂。
By Lydia Leung (梁麗荷) Sydney 2002
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
My dreams come true - 2006
Ever since I was a little child, I have always dreamed of myself studying under a tree in a huge lawn and in a very nice medieval school - that is, a college overseas from Hong Kong . Evidently, I did not have the luxury or means to be able to study overseas when I was young.
After settled down in Sydney, I began to feel very bored, with no full time job, no satisfaction, etc etc. Last year, I started to ask the Gohonzon to give me a direction. I did not know what I want to do, to get a job, and do what?
To study? What subjects? Then I came across a lady when I was on a tour to Spain Sydney Sydney
On my return to Sydney, I recevied a magazine from the Gallery of NSW and in the magazine, I saw an ad from Sydney U on a course called The History of Art - The Western style which teaches us the development of art from cave to canvas. It covers all periods, paintings and painters ie Michaelangelo etc.
I was thrilled and enrolled. Last week I started school. I tried to grasp in every word (like a sponge) of what the lecturer said and even had a tape recorder to record her speech thoughout the lesson. The things she said are exactly the things I wanted to know. I was sooo happy.
Afterwards, we were given a tour of the library. As I walked along the paths and the roads in the campus, smelling the nice fragrance of flowers, grass, and tress I then realized that my dreams have finally come true. I am studying in a University! How I thank the Gohonzon for guiding me to the right direction to achieve my happiness.
What I want to say is, in the course of our lives, there are lots and lots of times when we are not sure about what we are going to do, where we are heading, what is the right thing for us etc etc. At such times, please go and ask the Gohonzon, sincerely ask and all your questions will be answered.
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