It's a special day for the amazing "Seven Sisters", in fact Gwen received the Gohonzon! Congratulations!
Saturday 29 March 2014
Friday 21 March 2014
Thursday 20 March 2014
LAURA'S EXPERIENCE!
During the East Haringey HQ Course in Taplow (14th - 16th March 2014), Laura (the vice action chief) shared her amazing experience, enjoy!
My dear friends of East Haringey,
Just over one year ago I was here receiving the Gohonzon in this wonderful place that is Taplow Court. It has been a turning point of my life in which I vowed to be happy (despite all circumstances) and take full responsibility of my life. Of my VICTORIES and DEFEATS, especially of my DEFEATS. I felt so powerful about this, I have tried to keep that life state everyday but, as you know better than me, our fundamental darkness is always with us. So … this is the story of what has happened in the last 12 months.
Among the many difficulties moving from a different country, first of all, I needed a job.
So I started my research about architectural vacancies, applying to several positions and going to some recruitment agencies. One of them told me exactly this “nowadays, with your profile it’s impossible, to find a job as an architect”. The reason was that I had got a strong CV with several years of experience, but In Italy of course, not in UK, so I didn’t know the national building regulations and because the level of competition here is at highest level, an office would never invest time choosing me instead of another British architect.
Well, challenge accepted! I deleted from my CV most of my experiences, bringing me to a post graduate level, and I started looking for an internship. Starting my career from zero again because I had got a much bigger vision for my life, and to reach that goal I was ready to try anything, overcoming the present circumstances.
Meanwhile, because this city is really expensive, the money that I saved in the last years was running out in a few months. At that time I was really scared that after so many efforts, everything could vanish if I was not able to pay my rent for the following months and I was obliged to go back to Italy defeated. I could not allow this to happen. Now I needed a job, any kind of job. This would slow down my final victory but, again, I had a bigger vision for myself. Rome was not build in a day!
In May two job opportunities arose: on one side a full time job as a tourist guide, showing tourists around, it was funny indeed! On the other side a part time job as a private chef for a family in which the husband has got cancer and needed somebody to cook for him following a special healthy diet given by the doctor. Not as much fun as the first option! But this last one, as part-time, could give me the possibility to do an internship meanwhile.
It wasn’t an easy decision. It would change the plans for my life. The right solution could come only through daimoku and, I decided for the cooking job! I decided that it was what I needed for my life at that moment, a paid job just to cover my rent and an internship to get started in the UK network of architecture.
And when the Buddha nature manifest itself from within it will receive protection from the environment (esho funi), so, as soon as I called the family to confirm the job, a part time internship opportunity appeared out of the blue. In Turnpike Lane! Everything was going right!
Then, In August, the family cut my weekly hours, and my salary as consequence. I had just the money to pay the house and the tube. I could not buy anything else, nor Buddhist books or food. For a couple of months I ate stealing food in the kitchen of the family and having bread and butter for dinner. But it never tasted as a defeat, as miserable. To me, that was the taste of the challenge. Of how strong was my determination.
At that time I started to read Ikeda’s youthful diary and I was surprised to discover the hardship he went through in his youth, especially economically. That was the first point of my connection with him.
In September, I received the answer of an important public competition done in 2012 in Italy. I passed all the writing examinations, I was invited to the final oral stage and If I passed it I would win a permanent contract as an architect for the city of Rome. Can you imagine?! I would have been involved in all the public projects for the Italian capital. And do you know what? I didn’t want that. I didn’t want neither to try the final examination. Winning this job meant going back to Italy. Another temptation: on one side a big job opportunity in Italy, and on the other side following a dream spending my time in a kitchen.
This time the answer came from the study. In fact, In those months I was preparing the grade one exam so I decided to carry on both the preparations as an experience of faith. And having faith means having no doubts, that if you chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo (the cause) you attract the right things for your life (the effect). So, I dedicated wholeheartedly to the study (both of the SGI material and of the Italian competition). My life would follow the right path. Even if this meant to obtain a job in Rome.
Meanwhile, I kept working for the family and doing the internship.
In November, I did both the exams, but I was rejected from the Italian commission. Actually, the best defeat ever. To me it sounded like a victory.
The night between the 17 and 18 of November I was flying back home, to London. The day after was the end of the actual proof campaign. I had my card with me in the cabin. I read the list of my determinations, none of them was reached. None of them! And I had a very long list!
I really engaged with the actual proof campaign as it was a massive challenge for all the SGI in the year of my Gohonzon receiving. I always felt a great connection with it.
I found myself at a cross point: to believe or not in this practice.
Of my actual proof campaign I had no proof at all. Or maybe not…
I could choose to step back because I didn’t obtain a job. Or … see at the real ACTUAL proof that I have obtained, not the conspicuous benefits but the inconspicuous ones. That indomitable life state. Something that is priceless and untouchable (nobody can pull it away because I have created it).
I looked out from the airplane window and I saw a shining moon which reminded me of a quote from the Gosho ‘Letter to Niike’, "The journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital?".
That was a crucial moment in which I re-determine more than ever my vow, my vision for my life. I restarted a new actual proof chart, another one million daimoku ahead. That was my big victory. The victory in the spirit. And since that day my life started to shift. For example, I obtained another part time job in a café, exactly what I needed to breathe economically. Keeping my cooking job for the family and the internship as well. I was exhausted physically, but high in spirit.
The Last big challenge appeared In December.
Eventually, I obtained an interview in an architectural office. The first interview after months sending CVs all around. They offered me the job but, guess what, I refused it because…
well, it’s hard to explain you why, chanting I felt it was not the right place, it was not exactly what I was chanting for….
I know that this sounds crazy. I was feeling stupid. Come on, Laura, again, what’s wrong with you!? You are a stupid dreamer who would die following her dream.
But…here comes the final victory. After two weeks I was invited to another interview.
After the first technical questions about my career the manager told me, “I have seen many people, you all have the same technical skills. I will choose one of you according to your personality, as we will be spending time with them, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. It is important for us to share our time with the right person. Tell us about yourself, for example, after your working hours, what do you do?”
After a moment a moment of hesitation, I decided to tell him the truth, so I told him about the SGI activities, that I am a Buddhist. He showed interest in this and asked me more about my faith (during the interview), (how I started to practice, why…)
I literally shakubuku him … during the interview. Yes, the best interview ever. I felt that we both enjoyed it. I went out from the office with no expectation about the result but so happy and satisfied about our conversation, about our human dialogue.
And the day after he offered me the job. After a journey of eleven months, the twelfth one I was not only able to see the moon. But also the sun, the stars and all the firmament over this capital.
But, please, trust me, my victory is not the job itself! As I said, this is a conspicuous benefit and I really know it can disappear tomorrow. My real victory has been the journey I have done to reach my goal.
I deeply understood the Buddhist principle that “Earthly desires are enlightenment ” because driven by my personal and selfish desire I studied this universal philosophy, realizing that my life is connected to all the other ones and I am starting to open and expand my life itself.
And I could not reach this point without all the support I have received from you
and the friendship bonds we have created each other.
For this, wholeheartedly, my dear friends of East Haringey,
thank you!
Just over one year ago I was here receiving the Gohonzon in this wonderful place that is Taplow Court. It has been a turning point of my life in which I vowed to be happy (despite all circumstances) and take full responsibility of my life. Of my VICTORIES and DEFEATS, especially of my DEFEATS. I felt so powerful about this, I have tried to keep that life state everyday but, as you know better than me, our fundamental darkness is always with us. So … this is the story of what has happened in the last 12 months.
Among the many difficulties moving from a different country, first of all, I needed a job.
So I started my research about architectural vacancies, applying to several positions and going to some recruitment agencies. One of them told me exactly this “nowadays, with your profile it’s impossible, to find a job as an architect”. The reason was that I had got a strong CV with several years of experience, but In Italy of course, not in UK, so I didn’t know the national building regulations and because the level of competition here is at highest level, an office would never invest time choosing me instead of another British architect.
Well, challenge accepted! I deleted from my CV most of my experiences, bringing me to a post graduate level, and I started looking for an internship. Starting my career from zero again because I had got a much bigger vision for my life, and to reach that goal I was ready to try anything, overcoming the present circumstances.
Meanwhile, because this city is really expensive, the money that I saved in the last years was running out in a few months. At that time I was really scared that after so many efforts, everything could vanish if I was not able to pay my rent for the following months and I was obliged to go back to Italy defeated. I could not allow this to happen. Now I needed a job, any kind of job. This would slow down my final victory but, again, I had a bigger vision for myself. Rome was not build in a day!
In May two job opportunities arose: on one side a full time job as a tourist guide, showing tourists around, it was funny indeed! On the other side a part time job as a private chef for a family in which the husband has got cancer and needed somebody to cook for him following a special healthy diet given by the doctor. Not as much fun as the first option! But this last one, as part-time, could give me the possibility to do an internship meanwhile.
It wasn’t an easy decision. It would change the plans for my life. The right solution could come only through daimoku and, I decided for the cooking job! I decided that it was what I needed for my life at that moment, a paid job just to cover my rent and an internship to get started in the UK network of architecture.
And when the Buddha nature manifest itself from within it will receive protection from the environment (esho funi), so, as soon as I called the family to confirm the job, a part time internship opportunity appeared out of the blue. In Turnpike Lane! Everything was going right!
Then, In August, the family cut my weekly hours, and my salary as consequence. I had just the money to pay the house and the tube. I could not buy anything else, nor Buddhist books or food. For a couple of months I ate stealing food in the kitchen of the family and having bread and butter for dinner. But it never tasted as a defeat, as miserable. To me, that was the taste of the challenge. Of how strong was my determination.
At that time I started to read Ikeda’s youthful diary and I was surprised to discover the hardship he went through in his youth, especially economically. That was the first point of my connection with him.
In September, I received the answer of an important public competition done in 2012 in Italy. I passed all the writing examinations, I was invited to the final oral stage and If I passed it I would win a permanent contract as an architect for the city of Rome. Can you imagine?! I would have been involved in all the public projects for the Italian capital. And do you know what? I didn’t want that. I didn’t want neither to try the final examination. Winning this job meant going back to Italy. Another temptation: on one side a big job opportunity in Italy, and on the other side following a dream spending my time in a kitchen.
This time the answer came from the study. In fact, In those months I was preparing the grade one exam so I decided to carry on both the preparations as an experience of faith. And having faith means having no doubts, that if you chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo (the cause) you attract the right things for your life (the effect). So, I dedicated wholeheartedly to the study (both of the SGI material and of the Italian competition). My life would follow the right path. Even if this meant to obtain a job in Rome.
Meanwhile, I kept working for the family and doing the internship.
In November, I did both the exams, but I was rejected from the Italian commission. Actually, the best defeat ever. To me it sounded like a victory.
The night between the 17 and 18 of November I was flying back home, to London. The day after was the end of the actual proof campaign. I had my card with me in the cabin. I read the list of my determinations, none of them was reached. None of them! And I had a very long list!
I really engaged with the actual proof campaign as it was a massive challenge for all the SGI in the year of my Gohonzon receiving. I always felt a great connection with it.
I found myself at a cross point: to believe or not in this practice.
Of my actual proof campaign I had no proof at all. Or maybe not…
I could choose to step back because I didn’t obtain a job. Or … see at the real ACTUAL proof that I have obtained, not the conspicuous benefits but the inconspicuous ones. That indomitable life state. Something that is priceless and untouchable (nobody can pull it away because I have created it).
I looked out from the airplane window and I saw a shining moon which reminded me of a quote from the Gosho ‘Letter to Niike’, "The journey from Kamakura to Kyoto takes twelve days. If you travel for eleven but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital?".
That was a crucial moment in which I re-determine more than ever my vow, my vision for my life. I restarted a new actual proof chart, another one million daimoku ahead. That was my big victory. The victory in the spirit. And since that day my life started to shift. For example, I obtained another part time job in a café, exactly what I needed to breathe economically. Keeping my cooking job for the family and the internship as well. I was exhausted physically, but high in spirit.
The Last big challenge appeared In December.
Eventually, I obtained an interview in an architectural office. The first interview after months sending CVs all around. They offered me the job but, guess what, I refused it because…
well, it’s hard to explain you why, chanting I felt it was not the right place, it was not exactly what I was chanting for….
I know that this sounds crazy. I was feeling stupid. Come on, Laura, again, what’s wrong with you!? You are a stupid dreamer who would die following her dream.
But…here comes the final victory. After two weeks I was invited to another interview.
After the first technical questions about my career the manager told me, “I have seen many people, you all have the same technical skills. I will choose one of you according to your personality, as we will be spending time with them, 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. It is important for us to share our time with the right person. Tell us about yourself, for example, after your working hours, what do you do?”
After a moment a moment of hesitation, I decided to tell him the truth, so I told him about the SGI activities, that I am a Buddhist. He showed interest in this and asked me more about my faith (during the interview), (how I started to practice, why…)
I literally shakubuku him … during the interview. Yes, the best interview ever. I felt that we both enjoyed it. I went out from the office with no expectation about the result but so happy and satisfied about our conversation, about our human dialogue.
And the day after he offered me the job. After a journey of eleven months, the twelfth one I was not only able to see the moon. But also the sun, the stars and all the firmament over this capital.
But, please, trust me, my victory is not the job itself! As I said, this is a conspicuous benefit and I really know it can disappear tomorrow. My real victory has been the journey I have done to reach my goal.
I deeply understood the Buddhist principle that “Earthly desires are enlightenment ” because driven by my personal and selfish desire I studied this universal philosophy, realizing that my life is connected to all the other ones and I am starting to open and expand my life itself.
And I could not reach this point without all the support I have received from you
and the friendship bonds we have created each other.
For this, wholeheartedly, my dear friends of East Haringey,
thank you!
Laura
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)