Q & A Interview

Q. Please tell us about your special experience that deepened your faith.

A. One of my greatest struggles in life was in 1996 when my mother decided to work in the Middle East for ten years. She suffered from her employer by not receiving her monthly salary. Therefore, I, a college student then, had to stop my schooling for two years and instead work as a sales lady, food attendant, etc. to feed and support my siblings.

During this challenging time, there were two things that supported me emotionally. One is the encouragement from the seniors of Women’s Division and Young Women’s Division members; they encouraged me to establish strong faith to the Gohonzon and that all prayers will be surely realized. Second is the study meeting of the Century Group which was founded to foster the growth of Youth Division members; in this group I learned the importance of the mentor-disciple relationship, that is, without having a mentor in life, one’s life will be swayed, and that we must try hard to respond to the mentor’s expectations, which enables us to lead a fulfilled and victorious life.

In this group meeting I realized I must set a concrete target on what I want to realize and until when I should realize them. Since then, I set my targets and decided to realize them within three months: my first prayer was that I will go back to school and finish my college education in order to acquire a good job, through which I can show the actual proof of this faith as well as affording me the time to join the SGI activities; second was for my mother to acquire a good job and receive her monthly salary.

I prayed earnestly to the Gohonzon with strong determination and I tried hard to participate in as many activities as I could, even though I was often late for the meetings because of my work. During this time, I embraced one passage from the WND: “A woman who embraces the lion king of the Lotus Sutra never fears the beasts of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals. All of the offenses committed by a woman in her lifetime are like dry grass and the single character myo of the Lotus Sutra is like a small spark. When a small spark is set to a large expanse of grass, not only the grass but also the big trees and large stones will all be consumed. Such is the power of the fire of wisdom in the single character myo. (WND - The Drum at the Gate of Thunder - p949)”

Miraculously, all things I prayed for were realized within two months and half; I was able to finish my college education; my mother was able to acquire a good job, and I myself was also able to acquire a good job as an executive secretary in one of the biggest Television Station.

Q. How was your attitude in faith changed since you learned the importance of the mentor-disciple relationship in life?

A. There was a time when I was just praying and practicing without Sensei’s guidance. During those days, my attitude in faith was rather self-centered because I prayed only for my own good. However, since I learned the mentor-disciple relationship and sought for Sensei’s guidance in my life and practice, I became more open to care for other members; I also found out that I can reveal my greater self because I am encouraged to double my efforts in order to respond to Sensei’s expectations.

A big difference lies between those who practice faith with the mentor in one’s heart and those who don’t. It is very important to have Ikeda Sensei in our hearts, because by doing so, we can take the best way in realizing happiness and victory in our lives in any given situation by following his guidance and putting it into practice.