Daisaku Ikeda's lecture. The “threefold transformation of the land” is actually a fierce battle to ensure that truth prevails.

News from MY Fantasy Life (cred: Eigenstien):

Everyone let me sleep in this morning and I just woke up! The kids were in Daycare; I could see Eulogio out of the window talking to Max and the construction people; Guy is with Bernie and Lolita, I’m sure; Dee said she needed the entire day to get the kitchen ready. We have no more clients at the Park so Artie texted me to not come to the office!

We had so much fun yesterday with the family: swimming in the lonely pool, hiking around at Letchworth, ice-skating, and going out for pizza. The hardest thing? All the kids fell asleep in Shiny Red as we drove home—and we had to haul our five kids plus Dei and Lori into the house.

Good luck to Heidi and the other Jammy girls on their auditions! I’ve been following Heidi’s posts, and it seems like they are about halfway through.

I’m probably the last to know, but Lolita and Heidi decided to buy the Oliver Elite II RV. They have a meeting tonight with some of the indigenous people to negotiate whether they would be a good fit across the creek and finalize the monthly rental. On top of that, I read that Pupa is handing Lolita the keys to his F-150!

But for this week, I want to keep focusing on the August Living Buddhism lead article, Changing Ourselves to Transform the World Around Us, originally published in 2009, and from the series “Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Mentor-Disciple Relationship.” It is based on this Gosho quote: “From [the] single element of mind spring all the various lands and environmental conditions” (“The Unanimous Declaration by the Buddhas,” WND-vol. 2, p. 843)

Daisaku Ikeda continues:

The ongoing efforts of each of us to carry out our individual human revolution, or inner transformation, as members of the SGI in the midst of society are the means by which we can transform the world around us. They represent a modern-day expression of the “threefold transformation of the land,” a teaching expounded in the Lotus Sutra (see The Lotus Sutra, pp. 173–74). This is because transforming the land ultimately hinges on people transforming their hearts and minds.

Well I think I have something to say here. I know that Heidi has talked about transforming her attitude about school and taking her classwork, teams, and community service to the next higher level. We closely observed the quiet leadership role she has with the Jammy Girls. I’ve heard in my business courses about “leading by example,” but leading by enthusiasm? That’s what she does!

And also I’ve observed how Lolita beats her drum. She feels passionate about Vasyl Sukhomlynsky’s work and has been steering the Longhouse Elem people like a tug boat guiding an ocean liner into the harbor. Go, girl. go!

Myself? I was invited by my NA sponsor to become a sponsor, too! I’m onboard and we are waiting for a new person to knock on the door who’s a good match for me. I understand that this is a 24/7/365 commitment. I’m also trying to play a bigger role in an online group of people with HS.

Of course, I can write at great length about my partners, members of our RV Park Group, or Laverne&Shirley and Fam. But my point is “members of the SGI in the midst of society are the means by which we can transform the world around us.” Plus, we are “a modern-day expression of the ‘threefold transformation of the land.’” It’s a slow process but can lasting change come from anything else?

Finally, for today:

Moreover, when the principles of truth and justice triumph, the land, the place where we live, will be positively influenced. That is why the struggle inherent in the “threefold transformation of the land” is actually a fierce battle to ensure that truth prevails.

Sorry, WBers, we aren’t going anywhere. Like it or not, Buddhism is more about “huffy” than “puffy.” That’s the way Shakyamuni, Nichiren, and the three Soka mentors practiced. We, too!