Minutes from the 8-14-05 MeetingGreetings,
I am happy to report that this meeting was very informative and encouraging. There were about 40 attendees including 5-6 guests and so many youth (Saumya, Gauri, Savita, Maya, etc.). I think it is about time for youth to take the lead on MD/DC GSA group now.
Saumya Mohata (YMD) was the MC: the first time a youth has been the MC. Wow! We surely are making progress in fulfilling Sensei's dream for youth. Saumya said August 14th, 1947, was the day when president Ikeda attended his first meeting. Like any of us, Sensei too faced devilish functions before he could attend his first meeting. He felt terribly sick and tired and he did not want to attend the meeting. In Sensei's own word he calls his encounter with Mr. Toda in his first meeting as "his re-birth." Saumya shared how he encountered this practice in India and initially did not believe that he was responsible for all the causes made in the past and its effects in the present.
There were three presentations based on the three questions asked by President Ikeda in his first meeting with Mr. Toda.
Rama talked about the first question: "What is the correct way of Life?" One encounters many problems in the long course of life, such as food, shelter, financial trouble, disappointments in love, sickness, war, family discord, and so on. All these problems have solutions. But no matter how high a position or how much money we may have, the problems of birth, aging, sickness, and death no one can avoid. Only Nichiren Daishonin has taught a concrete means by which even the most ordinary person can establish the kind of life-condition where he or she can see a clear solution to solve these problems.
Veena talked about the second question: "What does it mean to be true patriot?" A patriot is generally considered to be someone loyal to the country, but the image of the patriot should change with the passage of time. When we chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, we change our karma and nation’s karma also at the same time. We know nations can't change by themselves; it is the people who can change the nations.
Kathy and Fred Grimmnitz talked about the third question: " What is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo?" Fred and Kathy poured their hearts into their presentations. Kathy explained the meaning of NMRK and why we chant to the Gohonzon. Fred described the scenario of the place where Nichiren Daishonin chanted Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for the first time on April 28th, 1253, shortly before dawn. Not until that time had any human voice reached the Great Universe. Fred and Kathy touched on every aspect of our practice -- spiritual, scientific, sickness and birth/death in their presentations. In the end, they gave out very relevant handouts on their presentations that was like icing on the cake.
Mr. Nathan, who is 72 years old, started this practice in January 2003, and ever since then he has challenged many health problems, such as swelling and pain on the right side of his abdomen, which was causing him weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. In the same year, his youngest son and his wife had gone to court for a legal separation that created disharmony in the family. Mr. Nathan used his wisdom, sought guidance, and chanted to restore harmony in his son's life. Instead of blaming his son, he took the responsibility to change the situation. He was happy to report that one fine morning his son and daughter-in-law called him to let him know that they got their misunderstanding ironed out and they have withdrawn their petition from the court.
Gauri shared her sincere and genuine thoughts/experiences. She said that, during the short span of 3-4 months since receiving the Gohonzon, she has felt the following changes in herself: A growing level of fearlessness, and she feels that she is being able to understand her karma and can answer her question "why me ... why does it always happen to me?" She has a higher life condition now. In short, she summed up her feelings in a sher: "Khud ko kar buland itna, ki har taqdeer se pehley, Khuda khud bandey se poochey, Bataa, Teri raza kya hain?"
Neena shared that she was introduced to this practice in India and, after chanting, people can see a change in her, as she become more friendly and attracted more friends in her life.
Savita shared how she began this practice because she was encouraged by the positive changes in attitude of her landlady, how she was able to approach challenges differently. She also gave her input on the merits of quantity vs. quality chanting.
As usual there was delicious food, channa, bread, cake, gulab jamun, pakore, tomato rice, watermelon, etc. etc. etc...
Thanks everyone for attending the meeting. Thanks a million to Fred and Kathy for doing so much for us. Special thanks to Ritu Aggarwal who gladly offered her house and was running around the house and making several trips up and down with a smile. Special thanks to Savita for coming despite her very tight schedule, and special thanks to Saumya for being the MC of the meeting.
In October we will have our combined General with VA, MD and DC. Other details about the general meeting will follow soon.
Best Regards,
Rekha Rajani
Links to the New York GSA Meeting:
http://www.educators-for-humanity.com/GSA_Meeting/
http://www.educators-for-humanity.com/GSA_July9_Meeting/
