Nichiren Shu Beikoku Betsuin 
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My Religious Experience:
When I was a child, my parents used to tell me that "even though a person may die, his soul continues to live and will not be limited by time or space."
Several years afterwards, my mother passed away and six years later my father died. One day a feeling of loneliness come over me. I recalled what my parents had once told me about what happens when one dies and wondered if what they had told me was really true. I wished they would show me a sign.
As I was looking out of the window from my office on the fifth floor, I saw a some rubbish suddenly start to swirl outside; in about a minute it got stronger and turned into a large twister. A cardboard box on the trash bin began flying about in the strong wind in front of building across the street. The window pane started shaking to the point that I thought the glass would break. The people who were in
the building with me looked outside and became frightened at what was happening.Seeing this, I knew that this was a sign from my parents, I finally realized that what my parents had told me was indeed true. I decided that "from that moment, I would always hold a Buddhist memorial service for my mother and father on the anniversaries of their death." As soon as I had made this decision, the wind suddenly stopped blowing, as if by magic, and the debris that had been flying about returned to its original place.
Some of the dirt that was blowing in the wind passed through the closed window and settled on my desk. I was awestruck by this experience.
When we think logically about such matters, we are blinded by what we can see physically and do not see the reality through awareness. Today, I feel grateful for what was shown me.
From that day on, I have continued to hold Buddhist memorial ceremonies twice a year for each of my parents during the months of January and August. I feel this is the best way to repay the debt of gratitude I owe my beloved parents.
by K.Y.
Lotus #15
March, 1997
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"empty in meaning -- practice w/o joy, life w/o the great vehicle dharma {daijo myohorengekyo}" |
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