Brittney and the Bully

By Brittney Graham

Hi Everyone! My name is Brittney and I am 8 years old. Everyone tells me that I am a fortune baby and I like that! Sometimes kids think that they are too young or too small to do important things like a grown-up. But the truth is, some grown-ups need a kid to inspire them.
 
Last year, I had a bully at school. He called me names and hit me almost eveyday. I tried hard to be his friend but the harder I tried, the meaner he got. I didn't understand why. Things got so bad that I finally had to tell Mom and Dad.
 
 Mom and Dad went to alot of meeting at my school because I kept getting hurt. I was sad because my family was trying to help but when I was at school, they weren't there with me so I felt alone.
 
 The strange thing was, I didn't want anything bad to happen to the bully. I felt bad for him. I chanted for him to get better. I knew that if I chanted for him to just go away, that YES it would happen, but that it wouldn't fix the problem. He had to change.
 
 After last year ended, I chanted all summer long for a good 3rd grade. On orientation night, guess who was in my class!? Yes, the bully! Then on the first day of school, he took my glasses and spit on them. I HAD ENOUGH! I was not going to have another year of that.
 
 When my mom picked me up that day, I told her what happened. I thought she would turn the car around and track down my principle, but she didn't. Instead, she told me not to say anything more until we got home. We walked in the door and went straight to the Gohonzon. She said, "Brittney, close your eyes and see what you want to come out of this. Really feel it in your heart too." I pictured him away from me but also getting help for himself. When I was ready, I chanted with my mom.
 
 The next day, my mom and I talked to my principal about how I felt. My principal said there was nothing she could do but we just kept chanting. Guess what? Within 2 days, he was moved to another classroom where he could recieve counciling everyday! At first he was mad, but I kept on chanting again (fortune babies do that!) 
 
Last week, I was waiting in the hall for the bell to ring when he came running up to me. I didn't know if I should duck! He just smiled and said "I'm not that kid anymore." He thanked me for helping him! He even asked to apologize to my parents. He even recieved 2 "respectful ranger" stars!  I only have 1! He was proud of himself and I was proud of him too.
 
 Now my school has a program for bullied kids and kids who bully. All because we didn't give up. We chanted together and changed my enviroment at school.
 
 So, no matter how small or young you are, you have the same power in you that every grown-up has. I am so lucky and feel like the happiest girl in the world. 

Experience

By Gayla Preston

According, to Nichiren Daishonin, in a reply to the lay nun, Toki, from a letter entitled, On Prolonging One’s Life Span, “You still have many years ahead of you, and moreover you have encountered the Lotus Sutra. How truly precious your life is!” How truly precious indeed….

My story actually began approximately 12 years ago, but I had no idea that there would be a story, as I went from doctor to doctor, attempting to piece together all of the elusive symptoms that I had been experiencing for so long, all of which could have numerous outcomes.

During those 12 years, I was not able to afford health insurance, since I was in business for myself. Without health insurance, I was not offered the same types of testing opportunities, as those with insurance.

However, in January 2005, my loving and concerned partner, Deb, was able to have me added to her health insurance, through Nationwide Health Plans. This is where my story and my many benefits really begin.

In October 2005, I was once again experiencing great abdominal pain. At this time, since I now had medical coverage, I was able to go to the doctor, who immediately ordered tests/bloodwork, to attempt to determine the source of my pain. Once the testing was completed, I was informed that I had “Carcinoid Tumor”, a tumor that was cancer like, but was not actually cancer, which I later learned is not a true statement. Carcinoid is a very rare type of cancer, that usually stems from/effects the neuroendocrine system. Since this tumor had been living for so long inside my large intestines, it had spread to my liver.

It was at this time that I studied over and over, the gosho letter, On Prolonging One’s Life Span. I knew that I needed to kick my practice into high gear. Thankfully, I had great support from so many members, who came to chant w/ me, encouraged me to continue w/ my SGI activities and sent many prayers my way. My family and so many of my friends were also a great source of support.

In Jan 2006, surgery was performed to remove as much of the cancer as possible, which included the host tumor, 15 inches of large intestine, the gallbladder, the right kidney, the right ovary and the appendix, but the surgery would not include my liver. Later in April, I received a treatment to my liver, that was to last me about 3 years, attempting to stop the growth of the tumors. This treatment only lasted for 1 ½ years. In Oct 2007, after completing a CAT scan, it was discovered that there had been some slight tumor growth, since the last scans. After discussing my scans w/ my doctor, I asked what type of treatment we were going to use to stop this recent growth. My doctor informed me that there would be NO treatment for me at this time. In fact, she went on to suggest that I could simply wait another 1 ½ years, before looking at doing any type of treatment. She went on to say, “No matter what type of treatment we use, it is not going to cure you.” This answer was completely unacceptable to me.

Obviously, my doctor underestimated me, as well as, my determination to live the longest life possible, so that I can continue on w/ my mission for Kosen-Rufu.

According to President Ikeda, “When your determination changes, everything else will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve/fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, “This is never going to work out,” then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight, and then everything really will move in the direction of failure.”

At that moment, I knew that my life was in my own hands. I had to stand up and become 100% responsible for my own survival, to ensure my total victory of over coming this dis-ease.

I had heard of an aggressive Carcinoid specialist, Dr Eugene Woltering, from New Orleans, Louisiana. I was not certain if I could get an appointment, how I was going to get there or if my insurance would pay for an out of state doctor, but I knew that I was going to go see him… no matter what!

After some research, I located Dr Woltering’s contact information and was able to make an appointment, for Jan 2008, which only took 1 phone call, they were happy to have me come down for a consultation. A few more emails later, I found an organization called, the Angle Flight Network, that assists people w/ cancer/chronic illness, by providing free flights to/from out of state doctors/hospitals. Yet, another benefit….I had been accepted by this organization to be flown to New Orleans for free. During my stay there, I was able to stay at a facility called, Hope Lodge, run by the American Cancer Society, for free also. My prayers were definitely working.

My hope in consulting w/ Dr Woltering was that I might be a canidate for surgery on my liver, to remove as many of the tumors as possible. After looking at my recent scans, he informed that I was NOT a good canidate, but that I was a great canidate for a radical treatment, called Yttrium 90/Y90, a type of systemic radiation that is circulated through out the entire body. The only catch was, I had to go to Basel, Switzerland to receive this potentially curative treatment!

As you can imagine, my mind was racing…“How in the world am I going to get to Switzerland?” I wasn’t certain, but I called Deb from New Orleans and said, “Honey, we are going to Switzerland.” She agreed immediately…never complaining, but simply trusting that this was the right decision and the perfect treatment.

Upon my return from New Orleans, I contacted my health care provider immediately, because I wanted to make sure the treatments in Switzerland were going to be paid for. Dr Woltering had informed me that I was going to need around $20,000.00, just for the treatments…this was not including the airfare/lodging/food for 2 people.

A representative of Nationwide Health Plans instructed me to write a letter, describing the treatments, why they were necessary and where I was to send all of this information.

From February through late July, many phone calls, many emails and many letters later, I had been denied coverage for this life-saving treatment on 5 separate occasions!

Never the less, I could not give up. In my heart, I knew that I deserved to have this treatment paid for. From the beginning, my prayer was, “Nationwide will pay for my treatments in Switzerland.”

Even though the coverage had been denied so many times, Deb and I made the decision to go to Basel anyway and deal with the denials after we returned. We paid for the first treatment, of $9000.00 w/ a credit card, w/ the hopes that the denial of payment would be overturned at some point.

Prior to leaving to go to Switzerland, I sent a message to the SGI Diversity Yahoo Groups, requesting any information from any Swiss/ European members regarding meetings/activities/getting together to chant, while we were there. Robert Brown, a friend from London, England, who I had met at FNCC in 2001, responded and said that he was going to pass my information on to his friend in Zurich. W/in a few days, I received an email from Yolanda and Erwin Inauen, long time SGI members, saying that they would be happy to help us upon our arrival in Zurich. When we arrived at the Zurich airport, we were making our way to the exit and suddenly we saw these 2 wonderful, smiling faces…Yolanda and Erwin. They picked us up at the airport, took us to their home, fed us fabulous home cooked meals, took us sight-seeing around Zurich and gave us our own room/bathroom. While I was in the hospital, Yolanda called me everyday, to check on me and see how I was doing. Once I got out of the hospital, they took us into Zurich to attend a large chapter meeting that was being held for Zurich, Basel and the surrounding small villages/rural towns. The entire meeting was in German, even President Ikeda’s video, but it didn’t matter…that day language was not a barrier for anyone. Erwin made an announcement of who we were and why we were there…the members were so gracious and kind, giving us their phone numbers, offering us a ride back to Basel and wishing us the best out come from the treatments.

Once we returned from our first visit to Switzerland, it was back to work on the insurance coverage issue. Since I had 5 denial letters on file, I decided that the only place left to go…was up, so I wrote a letter to the Board of Directors of Nationwide insurance, requesting to be placed on the board meeting agenda, so that I could plead my case for payment of my treatments. Deb faxed my letter to all 11 board members on a Friday. 3 business days later, Wednesday, July 30^th, I received a call from the Director of Nationwide Health Plans, informing me that there had been a horrible mistake made in the handling of my 5 appeals for payment. They went on to tell me that, indeed, they had found a company policy that was going to cover the payment for all 3 of my treatments, which was going to total $20,000.00 and that because of all of the undue stress that was placed on me, they were also going to pay for all 3 trips to include airfare and lodging, for Deb and I both. I was elated…I had obtained my victory of payment, along with the extra benefit of payment of airfare/lodging for 2 people!

Now it’s time for the second trip to Basel, in August, for a second treatment and to see our new friends, Erwin and Yolanda, who have again welcomed us into their home, along with providing us wonderful lodging, sight-seeing in Zurich, lots of chanting and a delightful meeting at their house.. Once again, Yolanda and I talked every day that I was in the hospital…excited to see one another once I was released.

This kind and generous couple took such great care of us, never complaining, never asking us for anything, never allowing us to re-pay them. They did accept our offer to take them out to dinner, to a fancy French resturant, which both of them said that they loved and were so happy that we had been able to spend such quality time together, over such a fabulous dinner.

The day of our departure, we hugged, said our good-byes and expressed our excitement of our return, in December, w/ promises of all going to the Alps.

Unfortunately, our promises will not become a reality. 2 days after we returned from Switzerland, Deb and I received news from Yolanda, that Erwin had been killed in a traffic accident, while on his way to work. He was only 48 years old, leaving his wife and two wonderful children, Luzia and Andreas.

Through my correspondence with Yolanda, she seems very sad and strong, at the same time. She told me that she knows Erwin is still with her, assuring her that, “Everything is going to be alright, Yolanda.” Please keep this wonderful, loving family in your hearts and prayers. Without them, our experience in Switzerland, could have been much more scary and difficult, but they made it easy and comfortable.

As for the treatments, they have been a huge success. The tumors have eagerly absorbed the radiation, saturating the tumors, which has resulted in suspending/creating a dormant state w/in the tumors. As the radiation kills off the cancer cells….I am able to stop worrying about the possibility of liver failure. The Swiss doctors are very optimistic that I am going to have a very good outcome from this treatment for a very long time. Now that’s what I call “Actual Proof”…Our lives truly are more precious than ten million ryo of gold!

Gay Pride 2008

By Gayla Preston

On June 28th, 2008, the morning of the Columbus Ohio Pride March, I was afforded the great opportunity of participating in the Intertraditional Celebration of Life and Community service, with several other GLBT supportive religious organizations, to begin the march with positive and protective energy.

It was my pleasure to be among such groups as St Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Humanist Community of Central Ohio, First Congregational Church, New Creation Metropolitan Community Church, King Avenue United Methodist Church, St Stephens Episcopal Church, Green Faerie Grove and the Three Cranes Grove Druid Fellowship.

All of these groups participated in the parade, all with great support from their members...

The following message is what I chose to share with others, which was received with great applause and cheers.....

Good Morning,

My name is Gayla Preston and I want to thank you for this great opportunity this morning.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...

....translated means, "The Devotion to the Law of Cause and Effect through Sound"

Chanting this mantra is done by some 12 million people, in over 190 countries and territories and is also referred to as, Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism.

Nichiren Daishonin, a 13th century Japanese monk, established the practice of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, in 1253.

According to Nichiren, "There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho Renge Kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. Were they not  Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the daimoku." (WND, 385)

Nichiren Buddhist practitioners study the last sutra expounded by the original Buddha, known as the Lotus Sutra. The philosophy of this essential teaching is for each human being, no matter the race, the age, the gender or sexual orientation, to recognize their own inherent Buddha nature and to be able to create a life of indestructible happiness and joy.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. Don't forget to stop by our booth at the rally.

On Being a Buddhist

By Kysten A. Palmore

When I first started this practice I was very excited I was gung ho.  I wanted to go to study meetings, district meetings and the GLBT meetings.  I wanted to bathe in Buddhism, but that was summer when my schedule is light, then came fall and the pressures of school, work and life came upon me like a fly hitting a head light of a car on the freeway.  Just like that fly, my motivation went SPLAT!  I was distraught.  I began thinking maybe I wasn’t really ready for this Buddhist practice.  I can barely prepare myself for the following day when I come home at night and now I am expected to chant too.  You can’t be serious.  Maybe, I shouldn’t have said I was ready for my Gohonzon, there is so much to this Buddhist practice that I need to learn and there is just not enough hours in the day.  I have never been one for organized religion or theology or anything of that sort.  I should have just remained a visitor until I knew I was ready to dedicate myself fully to this Buddhist practice.  

 Several weeks later, after that doubting spell I had my new members’ class.  The class was small, and intimate and exactly what I needed to get some tough questions out into the air and to better understand the journey I had undertaken.  In class paraphrasing of course I said “I have only been practicing for a month or so and already I am being lackadaisical in my practice.  I don’t chant twice a day like I am supposed to and sometimes I can barely prepare for the next day, let a lone chant.”  I was told not to worry, that, my struggle was a natural occurrence and one day I might be able to overcome the struggle, or I may never overcome the struggle, but when I chant, if I chant with sincerity, that will help me on my journey to find my own way of practicing this Buddhism.  I took that advice to heart I pondered it often but I still felt as though I was missing something.  I needed, no I wanted an "ah ha" moment for all the pieces to fall into place so that I was sure without a shadow of a doubt I am a BUDDHA. 

 This week I picked up the Quotable Nichiren and let the book fall open to a page and I came across a passage that caused me to think of my own life and where I am right now.  What Nichiren said and how I think of my life does not necessarily coincide but I was grateful to the Great Nichiren for helping me understand where I am in my practice.  Nichiren says that the Buddha is of course respectworthy, but when compared with the Lotus Sutra he is like a firefly beside the sun or moon.  The superiority of the Lotus Sutra to Shakyamuni Buddha is as great as the distance from heaven to earth.  Presenting offerings to the Buddha produces benefits like that.  How much more is this true of the Lotus Sutra. 

 From that passage I became keenly aware that the journey I am taking is made especially for me, no one can take it for me and no one can tell me how and where to go.  The journey is mine and mine alone.  On this journey, I will learn new attitudes and form new beliefs and gain understanding about life’s purpose.  And more often than I care to acknowledge, I will fall back on old habits, impolite behavior, and old thought patterns but it’s okay.  My journey is much like the ocean tide and the sand.  When the tides comes upon the beach it gathers small grains of sands and when the tide recedes to the larger body of ocean it takes those grains of sands and deposits them on the ocean floor. Each time the tide comes ashore it is different than before each time the tide recedes it too is different than the time before. So when I fall back to my old habits, bad behavior, and old thought patterns that is the ocean of self-doubt and unhappiness I will deposit the small grains of sand that I have collected while being on the beach of new attitudes, pleasant behavior and new beliefs, the beach that is Buddhism. For I am never the same person when I fall back into my old habits, and bad behavior, I have been changed, if nothing but oh so slightly I have changed because of this Buddhism.  It may take thousands of years for an ocean to erode a beach and I now understand it may take a lifetime or more for me to deposit all my grains of knowledge, beliefs and attitudes to form my new beach of happiness and peace from my practice of this Buddhism.  

UNA International Festival

By Don Hardy

The UNA festival, held November 8-9, 2003, is now a thing of the past and it was great fun. And true to my word, I visited the food booths of several countries. China, Hungary, Philippines, Viet Nam, Germany, The Mediterranean (Greek/Middle Eastern), India, and Macedonia (for several of those bread donuts I remember my Italian grandmother making). Enough talk about food-it's making me hungry.

The event was great fun. Several volunteers took their shifts at the SGI booth and greeted hundreds, maybe thousands of people. Our booth displayed information for Soka University, the VoV Campaign, the Earth Charter, Choose Hope (and other books by President Ikeda), and provided information on the SGI. I was encouraged to note how many people actually wanted to know about Buddhism. I was disappointed to note how many asked if we were Tibetan or Theravada or Zen. But we all did our part to tell the visitors about the SGI. I think that is the definition of shakubuku.

I am proud that we handed out so much literature and even more proud of the more than fifty VoV pledges that were signed at the event. It could have been even more but we ran out of pledge forms on Sunday and we had no signs to effectively promote the campaign. But our message of self-mastery and conquering violence within ourselves found more than one willing ear.

People wanted to be contacted. People took our literature and people learned more about who we are and what we are about. And many people, young and old alike, got their passports stamped. That made me feel good.

I would like to thank the members who took their shift at the booth. They made the time go quickly and pleasantly. I am proud to tell you all that the "Peace Rhythm Project" (the SGI drummers from Cleveland) performed. The music and dance covered the world over. And if you like shopping...

By Sunday night I was tired after two full days and a setup Friday, but I was glad that I had participated. It felt good to share the SGI with such a large and open audience.

See you there next year!

Don

Sharing Responsibility for the Earth

By Ernestine Jackson

There are moments when you know with great certainty that what you are doing is absolutely correct.  One of those moments occurred with the Earth Charter Community Summit on Saturday, October 11, 2003.  From the African drumming, to the reading of the Earth Charter principles, to the panel discussions and web cast, there were positive messages and opportunities for involvement for everyone. 

Our day began at 9:00 a.m. with a viewing of the Quiet Revolution, a video movie that features case studies of ordinary people, showcasing the potential of one individual to spark a positive chain reaction.  This was a sobering but encouraging way to start.

And then, Elder Baba Tony West woke the audience up with an African drumming presentation, “Calling forth the Four Corners”.  He involved everyone in the audience; it was thrilling.  Since our Summit was more about creating awareness than taking action, every opportunity was made to involve the attendees.  Instead of reading the principles of the Earth Charter, Susan Tan created an environment for the audience to reading the principles to one another.  We were then treated to songs by Joe Keehner, Jr.  Mr. Keehner calls himself a peacemaker and performance artists.  He has been writing songs and performing for over 30 years.  He sang two songs; “I stand in the Garden of Humanity” and “He Planted Seeds for the New Jerusalem”.

The morning session also included a panel discussion of diverse perspectives.  Panel members were Harvey Wasserman, a well-known journalist; Reverend William Brandt, an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ; Molly Springer, a Native American; and Dr. Junko Watson, recent OSU graduate in Chemical Engineering.  Our panel members explored everything from wind power to environmental catalysis. 

Mr. Wasserman is Free Press Senior Editor and senior advisor to Greenpeace USA and the Nuclear Information & Resource Service.  Recently, he has focused on the rising renewable energy industry.  He is hoping to covert Ohio and the world to a “Solartopia” of wind and solar power.  His discussion at the Summit was a highlight of this interest.  Reverend Brandt modestly discussed his travel and work in other countries where he observed or was involved in activities that embrace the principles of the Earth Charter.  Molly Springer was sobering in her presentation about the life of Native Americas when their desire to be responsible for the earth and themselves is in conflict with the need to survive.  And, Dr. Watson was an inspiration in explaining how her research and current work is designed to respond to an ongoing concern of emissions pollution.

In the afternoon, Summit participants were treated to encouragement from Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares.  Ms. Tavares was very responsive to the Earth Charter and its principles and the Summit.  Ms. Tavares, in fact, sponsored a Resolution by the Columbus City Council, which was presented, to the Summit organizing entity, Earth Charter of Central Ohio, and Summit participants.  She encouraged us to continue our efforts in promoting the Earth Charter.

Joining the Columbus Chapter of SGI-USA in sponsoring the Summit were Central Ohioans for Peace, Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, Central Ohio Green Party, Arts & College Preparatory Academy, Sierra Club, Simply Living, Friends of Alum Creek Tributary, the Institute for Location Efficiency, Heifer International, Peace Resource Center of Wilmington College, and True Majority.

The Summit was Central Ohio’s first Earth Charter Community event.  Central Ohio joined 32 other areas, raising awareness of the Earth Charter and its principles.  The other cities were Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Ft. Myers, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Indiana; La Puente, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Marin County, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Oakland/Berkeley, California; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Santa Rosa, California; Seattle, Washington; Tampa Bay, Florida; Twin Cities, Minnesota; Ventura, California; Washington, DC/MD/VA; and Andhra Pradesh, India; Brussels, Belgium; Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland; and Senegal, West Africa.  In many of these locations, SGI members were actively involved.

Special thanks to Kroger for health snacks.

Louisville Earth Charter Community Summit

By Susan Tan

For more information on the Earth Charter and to endorse the E.C. check out the web site at www.earthcharter.org

SGI-Columbus Attends GLBT Midwest Conference at OSU/Letter to Danny Nagashima

By Linda Thornburg

Dear Danny,

Just wanted to let you know that members from Columbus, OH, participated in a weekend GLBT student conference "Loving With Pride". It was a Mid-West regional conference of GLBT students, but there were many from the east and west coasts, as well. There were between 1300 and 1500 student attendees. Local members prepared for, chanted for, and staffed an SGI-USA table on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, where we talked with hundreds of GLBT youth. We handed out valentines that said, "Say it out loud Valentine, 'I am awesome'" or "I rock!" or "I'm fabulous just the way I am" and stickers with VOV graphics that said, "I will cherish my own life. I will value all life. I will inspire hope in others." It was an ice-breaker that lead to hundreds of conversations. We gave out stacks of brochures with our local website and the SGI-USA website and told people how to get connected on-line. We also will get some students who are pretty far from community centers connected through the SGI-USA diversity list. We invited many Ohio State students to our regular LGBT meeting. Hopefully some will come this wednesday. 

Member, Suzanne Westenhoefer (Columbus/L.A.) gave an excellent, from the heart, workshop on Saturday afternoon on comedy and living your own truth, and came-out as a Buddhist. Later that evening, she performed awesomely. (No surprise there!) On Sunday, I spoke as part of an Interfaith panel. As a result of the panel, we've been invited to Oberlin College to do a presentation for the GLBT interfaith group there. 

The young people at the conference had incredible seeking spirits. At the very last moment, as we were packing up the table, two young women came up. One had heard that we were there. Her mother is a member, and she wanted to see the table. The other began to recite "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo," the instant I handed her a card that had "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" printed on it. 

We talked with students of all faiths, some of the students who came by, took information to give to friends at home who hadn't been able to attend. One young woman who identified as a Methodist, took several brochures because she knew there were students interested in Buddhism at her school and she was the only one fortunate enough to attend the conference. What a boddhisattva! 

Again, as at the national PFLAG conference I spoke at in September, I was so appreciative of this organization, the practice and the members who are so supportive of LGBT members. Even the other religious presenters had to talk about how their own organizations (Christian and Jewish) could not fully support their GLBT believers because of doctrinal issues. They were so formal in their presentations and spoke of the problems for clergy who supported same-sex unions and the difficulties within the faith traditions and how their support of GLBT practitioners had to be secret for fear of reprisals in their faith communities. I tried to respond about the power of dialogue to overcome such issues. I spoke about the discrimination SGI-USA members had overcome through years of "staying engaged in the dialogue" and strengthing their own elf-esteem. But, I must concede that though we face cultural biases, it is so wonderful not to have to deal with the horrid doctrinal and text based discriminations that Christians and Jews face. 

So many of the students who attended the interfaith panel were trying to get help from anyone who could understand the difficulty of reconciling their faith practice and their lives. Many were having trouble being supported anywhere. Their churches don't support them for being GLBT and their GLBT friends don't support their Christian faith. They were such brave and seeking young people. At the end, I tried to encourage them by saying, "All people are spiritual beings and are ultimately seeking a spiritual path. You are to be congratulated for seeking those paths, whatever they may be, especially in the face of great obstacles. You are to be congratulated for coming here this morning, and for facing the issues you face in reconciling your spirituality and your sexuality. Thank you for your wonderful efforts. Don't give up. You will be able to change things." I just wanted so much for them to feel encouraged. 

Thanks for all of your encouragement to LGBT members and for showing us so profoundly how to encourage others with our own lives. 

Sincerely, 

Linda Thornburg
Columbus, OH 

News from the Midwest – the Heart of it All!

By Theresa D. Bell

On September 13, 2002, the Kentucky-Ohio Region welcomed Matilda Buck to Columbus, Ohio.  The meeting hall was filled to capacity with over 500 people from Ohio, Kentucky, and Western Pennsylvania chanting daimoku.  The chanting errupted into cheers as Matilda Buck took the stage.  Maltilda, in her “common Brentwood housewife” style imparted some very important wisdom to help us all deal with these trying times, to continue open dialogue and kosen rufu.  She encouraged us to pray our strongest daimoku for our determination, to take action through studying and then to see it happen.  Also, she reminded us of Nichiren’s words in “Reply to the Mother of Ueno” that to build a great pagoda, you need to gather great wood and for the scaffolding, to use a lessor wood.  The scaffolding is essential in building the pagoda; however, it should be discarded once the pagoda is completed.  It is the same with our practice – we should build a strong practice based on the Lotus Sutra and discard other teachings.

 Lastly, Matilda emphasized the need to overcome negativity that she likened to a bad case of the flu.  We should give up grudges, turning them into positive experiences and, through determination, not repeat the act and polish our lives.  Our lives are a movie with a happy ending and we are responsible for the details.

 After leaving the stage, Matilda greeted people outside as they left the building.  Attendees lined up to take photos and continue dialogue.  Matilda graciously shook hands and posed for pictures for over an hour.  We all left there with the tremendous gift of encouragement, a rejuvenated spirit and determination to continue kosen rufu.

We want to see Sensei in Ohio in 2003!

Danny Nagashima Visits Columbus

By Suzanne Garrett

Danny Nagashima, the joyous, energetic and highly inspirational General Director of SGI-USA, was in Columbus on August 3, 2002, to participate in World Peace Prayers at the Columbus Community Center.  The Center was packed with standing room only.  Danny presented Gohonzons to 15 new SGI members and mugged for the camera while hugging and shaking hands with each of them.  Matter of fact, so much energy was generated by the crowd that the Center blew a circuit breaker.  Nothing stopped the festivities as Mr. Hamada named new leadership by flashlight.  We applauded, we laughed, we sweated,  we chanted, and power was restored (of course).

Mr. Nagashima then spoke passionately about "singing for President Ikeda" and how he would not be denied that opportunity, particularly when it came to the Brazilian delegation singing "picka-picka-picka" which brought waves of laughter from the group.  He did get to sing, by the way.

On a more serious note, he spoke of death and how one's life is but a page in a book and emphasized that there are many pages in a book.  "You cannot take even a penny with you in death.  The only thing that you can take from this life into the next one is NAM-myoho-renge-kyo."

He then compared the unenlightened to caged birds who can hear the other birds singing outside the window and only by chanting NAM-myoho-renge-kyo can they uncover their true selves, bend the bars of the cage and be free.

Not only was Mr. Nagashima an inspiration, he is a mentor.  His visit was food for the heart to nourish your practice.  Danny, thanks for stopping by!