Seek clarity when bombarded by negativity | Interfaith | Aug. 20

Published 12:24 pm Friday, August 20, 2010

Lately, I’ve been feeling bombarded by the steady stream of national and local bickering and partisanship as well as awful disasters. Instances of groups working together to find common solutions have been few and far between.

Coupled with this was the sudden relapse of my wife’s multiple sclerosis (MS).

All of these things have been filling me with a sense of futility and an underlying sadness.

As many of us do when seeking clarity, I first tried to figure things out in my head. Which, in retrospect, was kind of amusing since it was my head that got me confused in the first place.

So, after a few days of tying myself in mental knots, I sought out a more spiritual perspective.

In this case, I studied the writings of Daisaku Ikeda, the president of our Nichiren Buddhism lay organization, the Soka Gakkai. In his 2004 Peace Proposal to the United Nations, he said:  

“Peace is not some abstract concept far removed from our everyday lives. It is a question of how each one of us plants and cultivates the seeds of peace in the reality of daily living, in the depths of our being, throughout our lives. I am certain that herein lies the most reliable path to lasting peace.”

  I definitely needed this reminder. Taken at the Time Magazine or major disease level, “little” me seemed pretty powerless.

But, when viewed through the lens of the connectedness of all living beings, I can understand that just a single individual can make a positive difference in the world.

I have seen countless examples of this just on our tiny island. And trying to be part of this change is the highest purpose I can have in this lifetime. Actions like these give me hope.

Ikeda went on to encourage us to engage in constructive dialogue through a considerate spirit toward others – especially those with whom we most ardently disagree.

In Nichiren’s Buddhism, a Buddha is not some perfect, ideal being, but rather an ordinary person, like me or you, who is living in rhythm with the universe, taking wise, courageous and compassionate action for the benefit of others in daily life. Happiness is not something that we should hoard or keep to ourselves.    

So, the problems I’m facing, both personal and global, afford me the opportunity to overcome my narrow egotism, to recognize myself in others and them within me, and to experience even greater fulfillment, compassion and joy. In other words, my problems equal my enlightenment.

Psychologists have recently demonstrated that happiness and depression are highly contagious. This adds another dimension to the importance of protecting my state of mind. So, I’ve decided to minimize my consumption of the news and maximize my connection to encouraging people.

Regardless of our personal challenges or religious beliefs, let’s continue to work together to make the greatest and most lasting contribution to human happiness for everyone. With just a little clarity, we can make a big difference.

Michael Lisagor is a member of the SGI-USA, a 12 million member lay Buddhist organization, and the author of Romancing the Buddha and The Enlightened Manager.