Friday, July 16, 2021.
I have ever lived to be a worthy person. In Nichiren's writings "The Eight Winds", he wrote, "Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering, and pleasure." ( p. 794 ). Furthermore, "They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline." (ibid.). But it is not only sufficient as Buddhist practice, because my mentor said, "It is through our relationships with others that we develop and grow; learn from one another; help and support one another; and cultivate genuine humanity." ( Human Relationships ). And then he said, "Therefore, we cannot enjoy happiness for ourselves alone. True happiness is happiness that is shared with others." (ibid.). I take these quotes to heart.