Most people think that they would become happy if only their present circumstances or environment would change. People who are ill want to be well. If there is discord at home, they want harmony. And it’s only natural for those living a hard life of poverty to think that they want to become prosperous. These are aspirations that everyone shares, and they are sometimes the entryway to faith.
But if one’s attitude toward faith leads only to the pursuit of such wishes, and a feeling of completeness if they are granted, I must say that this merely gratifies selfishness. Certainly, the pain of an illness is difficult to bear. You can, however, gain something important through that sickness. Being ill makes it possible to ask sincerely, “What can I do to gain peace of mind?” and, “How can I live a life that is meaningful?” and to seek the path that will lead there.
When you confront your own suffering head-on, you will see a world that is unexpectedly different from before. For example, thanks to an illness you can awaken to a new appreciation of family and of good health, and from that a feeling of gratitude will grow in you. In Buddhism, liberation is about accepting absolutely everything, just as it is, with gratitude; it is about savoring the joy of knowing that you have been caused to live. Illness, financial hardship, and conflict are all situations that make us aware of the important fact that we are alive.
Kokorono manako o hiraku [Opening the Mind’s Eye] (Kosei Publishing, 2013), pp. 61–62
Nichiko Niwano is president of Rissho Kosei-kai and an honorary president of Religions for Peace. He also serves as an advisor to Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan).
