Wham! Ouch. That's the sound of my investment portfolio crashing to the ground. At least I have an investment portfolio, which is more than many financially strapped Americans can say.
So often, Nichiren Buddhists interpret problems and turmoil in our environment as "punishment." Some are tempted to say that, in this financial crisis, Americans are getting their knuckles rapped by a scowling, disciplinarian Universe.
Permit me, please, to apply a somewhat more positive and hopeful interpretation....
Yes, Nichiren predicted domestic strife and crisis for nations that do not "uphold the Lotus Sutra." To interpret the current crisis through the lens of Nichiren, however, is to imply that the U.S. has "turned its back" on the Lotus Sutra...yet, somehow, other nations have not. This makes no sense.
I know of no nation that upholds the Lotus Sutra. As for which nations "slander" the sutra... It's ridiculous to debate which nations are responsible for the greatest atrocities in history. No nation is without blood on its hands. Even charming little Belgium is a murderer...just ask around in Africa if you doubt it. Canada? Ask the native people. Australia? Ask the aborigines. No country is free from the karmic burdens of killing and degradation.
So perhaps the situation in which America finds itself -- at war, in economic trouble, etc. -- has nothing to do with reverence or irreverence toward the Lotus Sutra. What we are experiencing, then, is not a Great Karmic Butt-Whipping, but a wonderful opportunity.
Wall Street as we have known it for more than a hundred years no longer exists. All the great investment banks as we knew them are gone.
Although many people are feeling the pain of our economic turmoil, we have an opportunity to completely remake the financial industry in this country.
I find this situation quite exciting. We have a chance to "start over" and apply hard-earned wisdom. We have a chance to re-create a "kinder, gentler" capitalism.
Think how you would handle a similar situation at the "micro" level. Suppose you personally were wiped out and had to start again. You would not wallow in blame and fear (at least, not for long.) You would get in front of the Gohonzon and chant fresh daimoku. You would pray for a path to open for you. You would pray to be guided by wisdom and compassion. You would refuse to give in to despair. Through hard work, you would get back on your feet, better and stronger -- more confident -- than ever before.
Our response to the "macro" crisis should be no different than how we would respond on the personal level. We are in the midst of a national crisis, but we would be foolish not to recognize that we also have been presented with a large, new opportunity.
4 comments
My fear is that Congress will throw our money at the problem and tell us it's allll better now and not to worry, but make no substantive changes in the way business is done. You're right about how a lot of people would probably handle this on the micro level, but the current problem seems to involve a lack of "macro" individual responsibility for choices that were made. Scads of people who profited from hallucinated wealth will be let off the hook, but you and I will be left holding the bag. It's as if there's no such thing as individual responsibility anymore at the macro level. Small frauds or foul-ups get punished, but massive frauds and foul-ups get bailed out.
Auntie, you said:
and if I, Kathy, came off being one of those people, that is not what I meant to say. Nichiren, in the Rissho, was very strict with the government officials he sent it to, in the form of a conversation with a very learned host and guest (Nichiren). As Nichiren presented it via the host:Who's to say why malevolence appears? Fundamental darkness is part of the structure of life, n'est ce pas? We may attract it due to our present or former karma, but, then again, we may be totally protected anyway due to the nature of the causes we are making now, like ND at Tatsunokuchi.Whatever is causing trouble to arise, it is no worse than in Nichiren's day when he said, "dead bodies lie side by side like planks on a bridge". My concern is any lack of protection we need as we wise up (and I do think we are) as a nation as we re-establish some basic moral ground rules and, as you, Auntie, so wonderfully suggest, maybe rethink/remake/make for the first time a sound financial establishment in this country. If my grasp of American history isn't fading on me, besides possibly the post-American revolution times, we have been, at least partially, a nation of entrepreneurs venturing on the vicious side of legality. Or, worse, illegality.Not to be rude, but to talk to your observation, Deardenver, it is very cogently expressed. But, given the last 3 or so hurricanes this year, very few people were killed compared to Katrina (1500, I think) and, as you so kindly warned us, Denver looked like trouble awaiting to happen with the DNC. I count myself among the thousands, if not millions, that have and do pray about these sorts of things. However, understanding as much as possible about the interplay of cause and effect, even in theory, as we do, I do believe it makes our daimoku even more effective.How did Nichiren do it, in the violent surge of his times, that makes ours look civilized in comparison? Mercy that he set his heart and mind on, wisdom that he manifested from his own practice, clarity and protection from the Shotenzenjin (protective entities) he gained from ridding himself of his own karma, even as he progressed in his life. One does not compare oneself to him, of course, but the principles, do they not remain the same?As promised, I have been searching my character and behavior for financial blindnesses, thoughts of taking advantage of people, more character weakenesses and so forth, and have been weeding the garden. I chanted (kindly) for the enlightened growth and development of G. Bush tonight, for one outstanding example, and I NEVER thought I would have the character to do that. Sorry to venture into the political.However, as I checked the news before chanting, the problem with the financial situation tonight seemed to be one of lack of harmonious unity and fear on the part of some lawmakers, so that was one of the places upon which I concentrated this evening. To end this up, I heard someone say once, "Itai doshin" [many in body, one in mind] is not the natural state of affairs. You have to chant for that." This seems like a version of the Three Realms to me: For myself, for you and my colleagues, for those grappling with this undeniably enormous and serious problem that you at BuddhaJones all have so clearly elucidated in your own ways.Best regards,Armchair (Kathy)Did you all see this?http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI...It's now obvious that this financial situation is a global problem. Does anyone understand this better than I do, from a "mundane world" perspective? I'm an art major. Financial terms are like Latin to me. What have these fiduciary reprobates been up to here? Can anyone explain?Thanks,Armchair
Armchair, I saw this story:
The prayer is here: