One minute, envy-inducing, birthday victory

I’m a member of SGI(Soka Gakkai International), which is the international lay organization of a branch of japanese Buddhism, known as Nichiren Buddhism. I have been for more than two years now, and should admit that I follow that path very loosely. Anyone who’s looking into studying Buddhism or changing religions to Buddhism, should absolutely check this out. It’s an amazing pool of positive humanism. It has an interesting history, practical and rational doctrinal structure, and a vivid practice, which essentially centers around what Hindus know as jaapa. I’m glad to have found this group because of the dear friendships I’ve made as a result. I’m also pleased to note that the members of its ranks really and truly do come from all walks of life and all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

There are gatherings held a few times each week, as well as monthly district meetings.

There are many sides of this religion, but I’ve noticed that enormous emphasis is placed on chanting for things, and getting them because of the chanting’s efficacy. This kind of experience, apparently, leads to enlightenment or the revealing of one’s essential and innate Buddhahood. I could go off into a number of side stories here, but for the sake of this post’s cohesion I’ll try to focus on the chanting and regular meetings.

So… There’s a mantra shared by all members. This mantra is chanted for many and numerous reasons. When one of these reasons comes to fruition or to be realized in the chanter’s life, this is considered a victory and is generally celebrated. At virtually every gathering, people share stories of the victories and many times there’s time set aside specifically for this purpose. For the sake of good time management, this is theoretically limited to around one minute, and so this designated time period is known for sharing one minute victories. It’s very tough to comprehend, I know. 🙂

I never share in the victory telling. Ever, except perhaps in very private settings. I thought of this recently as my birthday celebrations came to a close.

There’s a gal I work with, and she’s about as sweet as they come. For odd and not yet fully understood reasons, this year when her birthday came few people around the clinic did anything. In fact, the one lady who always makes a cake for the birthday of every soul under the clinic’s roof, didn’t even make a cake for this gal this year. Inconsistencies like that lead to hurt feelings.

Something else that leads to hurt or bruised feelings? How about you and I are praying or chanting or working toward the same goal and I get what I want but you don’t.

And so, when it comes time for one minute victories or boasting about birthdays, I’m almost always silent. I know there are, and I am friends with, people who are aiming for the same things in life as I do, yet I prosper and they continue to struggle. In my personal worldview, I attribute this to one multi-part factor: Karma. There’s nothing inherently biased about karma: you get only that which you have already given -whether you realize you gave it, or not. Within my own life, the concept of karma has been a source of comfort, arrogance, and remains one of the very very very few areas lefts wherein I still manage to feel what most would label to be guilt.

In my religion, the proof is never anywhere but in the pudding. My religion is founded on experiential revelation. You don’t believe something because you “know” it to be true. You believe something because you experience it (or not) to be true (or not). Consequently, it would seem to reason that notions like “leading by example” are particularly useful here: One’s life is kick-ass and continues suchly, precisely because his or her thoughts, words, and deeds are also at least minimally kick-ass. This doesn’t just happen -it takes real and continued effort on the part of the kick-ass person.

I think this says more generally, and says more about Truth, than any one minute victory every could. In this case, some people might still wonder, “Why the good things happen to her and not me?” but at least they can see the example of that person’s life and, if they so choose, can begin to model their own life after one they can see with their own eyes is achievable (a form of experience, no?). Sitting in a circle talking about all the boons your chanting has brought you can lead to encouragement for others, but at least as easily leads to envy or jealousy.

And so, I’ll refrain from blabbering on about the details of how normal and fabulous my 32nd birthday was. I’m older. I think (hope!!!) I’m wiser. And anyone who wants the details of this, or wants the same for their own current existence, is welcome to study living examples and make their own necessary efforts. Someone else’s bragging simply won’t get you there.

Om Shanti