Amulet

I have had little occasion to discuss Odaimoku with others during my ordinary social activities. It is perhaps a matter of not capitalizing as correctly as I could on the opportunities that the environment provides.

In any event, a women friend at work had been experiencing some bad luck, having fallen the week before during a nature walk and bruised her hip and then a few days latter having been hit on the head by a tennis ball and suffered a mild concussion. She mentioned that she should get herself a lucky charm. I asked her if she would like to rub my amulet. So both her and a friend had a little rub on it. I don't know if this is proper usage of the Reidan amulet, but it opened the door to a little talk of Buddhism. This is a rather rare thing for me.

Later the next day, another fellow worker was also suffering some troubles. His wife had been battling cancer for some time, which among other things, had created financial trouble for them. On top of it all, they had just discovered that she also suffered from diabetes. Feeling sympathy for him, but not knowing what else to do, I also offered him the opportunity to rub my amulet, whereupon, he did. After that, a feeling of calm settled on the conversation and we discussed ways for him to deal with his immediate financial difficulties so that the more important problems of his wife's illness could be dealt with without distraction.

So then, only after a week after I had received the amulet, it has already had a positive impact for me. It has provided me a conversation piece, a small vehicle to help to open the door to conversation about Buddhism with others and eventual talk about Odaimoku, Nichiren Shonin, and Gohonzon. This is very encouraging.

By E. G.

Bulletin Lotus #24