RUBINA MALIK received the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation award this year (2015 ) in the best actress category at a glittering function in Mumbai. The highest award in the entertainment industry, it also recognises the most bankable actors and actresses in the television industry.

Rubina: I came to Mumbai from my hometown Shimla. My First lead role in the television serial Chhoti Bahu from 2008 to 2012 brought me recognition and fame in India and in several other countries where it was telecast.

My journey to stardom wasn’t smooth. The long hours of shooting and the disharmony on the sets left me angry, frustrated and depressed. One of my co-stars introduced me to the practice of the Mystic Law but though I was chanting I simply couldn’t perceive the value of what I had or appreciate my good fortune. I hated going to work and my attitude impacted my work.

The situation descended into animosity between the actors and the production house. I blamed the others, not accepting that perhaps, I , too, was responsible for the disharmony. At last the production house terminated Chhoti Bahu, though it was still very popular, and did not even pay my dues, which ran into lakhs, I was furious.

Other production houses refuse to work with me because of the false rumors spread about me in the industry by that production house. This jolted me to sincerely pray to break through this situation. I was struck by Ikeda Sensei’s guidance: “Only if you challenge your human revolution in a manner that is true to yourself, will the people around you naturally begin to trust and respect you”

My seniors in faith tirelessly encouraged me as I exerted in faith, practice and study. The joy that I found in doing my Gakkai activities spilled into different areas of my life.

Ikeda Sensei quotes Toda Sensei as saying: “[T]he most important thing is to first become an indispensable person wherever you are. Instead of moaning . . . become a first-class individual at that job. This will open the path leading to the next phase in your life, during which you should also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts will absolutely land you a job that you like, supports your life, and allows you to also contribute to society”

I started applying Buddhism in daily life. Wearing a smile on my face, though deep inside I was struggling hard, became my first step towards leading an undefeated life.

Working alongside members, I realised the importance of gratitude and appreciation in our lives. I never complained because Ikeda Sensei says: “Complaints erase good fortune. Grateful prayers builds happiness for all eternity.”

Gradually, my attitude towards everything changed, and as a result my environment also started to change. production houses and channels became keenly interested in taking me in their projects. I gave 100 percent to my work and without “moaning”!

This became the turning point in my career. In all the shows that followed, i not only enjoyed a healthy working environment but also acquired wealth. On 21 April this year (2015), I received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Award as Best Actor – Female.

I owe this recognition of my contribution to the television industry, to my loving parents and my Buddhist practice. I will dedicate my life to art and culture, leading others to a world of beauty, hope and bright tomorrows.

Today, with absolute conviction, I can say that truth, courage, wisdom, and good fortune – all of these are contained in the word of faith. Basing my life on faith and working alongside my mentor, Ikeda Sensei, I will strive to create value wherever I go.

Value Creation ( November 2015 ) – Press : https://www.eternalganges.com/

Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day.

Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?

Each of us has such a bank. It’s name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.”

You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health,

happiness and success!

The clock is running!! Make the most of today.

To realise the value of ONE YEAR. ask a student who failed a grade.

To realise the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realise the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realise the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realise the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who just missed a train.

To realise the value of ONE SECOND. ask someone who just avoided an accident.

To realise the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why its called the present.

Question by A Women’s Division Member:

What happens to us after we die? Also, what is the significance of the prayers we offer to the deceased when we do Gongyo?

Answer by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda:

 Your Question is extremely important. Answering the question of what happens after death is a vital issue for human beings and for a religion. It is something we can discuss endlessly, but I’ll touch on just one aspect.

“Many people today seem to believe that our lives are limited to present existence. But unless our lives are eternal, how do we come to the terms of inequality into which people are born? The question remains.

Some are born in Japan, some in Hong-Kong, some in America. Some may be born into countries racked by war or famine. Likewise, some children are born into rich families, others into poor families. Some are born with incurable diseases or with physical mental disabilities. The circumstances into which we are born, as well as our faces and our shapes and sizes, are infinitely varied. This is clearly the result of accumulated karma each of us born with.

If Human beings are created by some omnipotent god, then all should be created equal. And if our lives are limited to this existence, how can those born under an unlucky star help resenting their parents and feeling an overwhelming powerlessness or abandoning themselves to pleasure-seeking and self-indulgence, viewing everything in life as a game?

“If we thoroughly pursue the question of where our karma comes from, we realise its source cannot possibly be found in this life alone. We are forced to acknowledge that life is eternal”

Based on the casual law of life that operates over the three existences of past, present and future, Buddhism reveals the fundamental cause of karma and shows how we can change the karma we have accumulated.

Question by Women’s Division Member:

What then, does Buddhism have to say about how karma is formed?

Answer by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda:

 Our karma is made by no one but ourselves; it is something we have created in our past lives. Though this next part maybe difficult to understand, our karma is formed through the accumulation of three types of action – our deeds, words and thoughts – that is, what we have done what we have said, what we have thought and felt.

“For example, acts such as deceiving others, causing unhappiness or taking others’ lives create negative karma. The cause for the greatest negative karma is to fall under the influence of misguided teaching and slander the True law – because such an action diametrically opposes the fundamental law of life”. 

“Now as to what happens after we die, our lives merge into the vast whole, the life of the universe. Death, President Toda said, is like going to sleep at night, while embarking on the next life is like waking up refreshed from sleep to begin a new day. Life is continuous cycle of sleeping and waking.”

“The important point here is that our karma does not vanish after we die. It continues on into the next life. It’s like when we borrow money from someone one day: the debt remains when we wake up the next morning. Similarly, the sufferings of this life will continue in the next. If we die writhing in unbearable pain and agony in this lifetime, we will be born having to bear the same agony in the next. If we die filled with hate or harbouring bitter grudges towards others, in the next life we will again be compelled to hate others. Death offers no escape from our karma. Therefore, committing suicide offers no release from suffering.

“If on the other hand, we attain a secure state of happiness and end our days savouring profound joy, we will be born amid good circumstances in the next life and move towards a happy existence.”

“Having heard my explanation, some of you may think, ‘Well, if we have to suffer from our karma in the next life anyway, we’d be better off not being reborn and just remaining in the sleep-like state we enter immediately after death.’ But that is not the case. Even in the state where our life is merged with the universe – after death and before rebirth – we can still feel suffering. It’s like being plagued by nightmares when we are facing some horrendous problem in life.”  

Contemporary thought and philosophy are concerned almost exclusively with the present existence. This, in a way, can be likened to seeing green shoots springing from earth’s surface but remaining ignorant of their roots. Consequently, contemporary thought and belief systems cannot provide a means for solving human suffering on a fundamental level.

Then is there a way for us to change our karma and realise happiness? The answer is yes. Nichiren Daishonin revealed the means by which we who live in the Latter day of the Law can change our karma. This means is none other than chanting daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) to the Gohonzon and teaching others about the True Law. This way of life represents the greatest possible good and accords withthe law of life itself; it is the only way to attain a state of eternal happiness and abiding joy.

“When I say this some of you may think to yourselves, ‘But didn’t Mr. Makiguchi (The First President of Soka Gakkai), die in prison? Isn’t that a wretched way to die?” Most important, however is the state of mind with which we face death. The question is this: With his last breadth, was he filled with suffering – trembling with terror and fear – or did he, despite imprisonment, die peacefully with a sense of profound joy? In one letter from prison Mr. Makiguchi wrote immense delight at having lived in exact accord with the Buddhist scriptures.

Again, some of you may thinking Soka Gakkai members die from illness or accidents, too. But even here Buddhism clearly teaches that those who uphold faith until the end will transform the negative effects of past causes, experiencing them in lightened form. That is, we can completely change our negative karma from the past – karma that might ordinarily have taken many cycles of birth and death and long, excruciating aeons of suffering to gradually eradicate – and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. One proof of this is the person’s countenance at death.

“In the Gosho, the Daishonin, too, describes the outward signs of a newly deceased person having attained Buddhahood, saying that the body will be soft and light, and so forth. President Toda also died with the smiling countenance of one who attained Buddhahood. And I have seen the final moments of many members who have died.

“In any event, those who have continually taken action for Kosen-rufu (meaning: Happiness of all Mankind) throughout their lives as emissaries of the Buddha definitely will never sink into depths of fear and suffering and experience the agonies of hell – irrespective of the circumstances under which they die. In the Buddhist scriptures, it says that after death, a thousand Buddhas will extend their arms and enfold us in their embrace. Having deep faith at the level of our innermost being at the moment of death in itself attests to our attainment of Buddhahood.

“Indeed, we are Buddhas in both life and death. Moreover, as proof of that, the surviving families and loved ones of members who have died will, without exception, become happy. So even if we encounter obstacles or persecution in the course of our practice – even when it seems that life is an endless succession of hardships – we must never abandon faith. Encountering difficulties is a change to transform our karma.

“From the perspective of eternity of life, our sufferings in this life only last for an instant. We are striving to attain happiness that endures for eternity.”

Nichiren Daishonin said, “Therefore I should first of all learn about death, and then about other things”. (WND-2,759) Without a correct understanding of death, we cannot turn our minds to such questions as why and how human beings die. Nor can we correctly answer the question of how we should live. This is because life and death are inextricably bound.

The Japanese today have shown a growing interest in the rituals of funerals. There has been little attempt, however, to probe the question of death itself. Avoidance in the issue is actually at the root of today’s pervasive obsession with personal advantage, vanity and pleasure.

Discussing on the offerings of the prayers for the deceased.

“Now, what happens to our ancestors who have died in the grip of great suffering? Well, some will have already been reborn and are suffering from their karma in their new lives, while others have yet to be reborn. Even if they have been reborn, there is no guarantee that it will have been as a human being. Depending on their karma, they maybe reborn as beasts, animals. This is clearly stated in the sutras. It is actually far more difficult to be born as Human being.

“However, irrespective of the form, place or suffering into which our ancestors may have been reborn, if we, their living descendants, uphold correct faith and chant for them to attain Buddhahood, our daimoku will affect their lives, removing their suffering and imparting joy. This is because Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the fundamental law of the universe that permeates the entire cosmos.”

“Moreover, any ancestors reborn as beasts cannot chant daimoku (Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo) themselves, so they depend solely on the daimoku we send them. At the same time, the daimoku we send our ancestors reborn as human beings will direct their lives to encounter and connect with the Daishonin’s Buddhism and eventually practice faith. Therefore, chanting earnest daimoku is the only way to lead our ancestors to happiness. Whether they attain Buddhahood does not depend on how many wooden memorial tablets you buy for them. If that were the case Buddhahood would be purchasable commodity.

On the other hand, those who staunchly upheld faith in the Daishonin’s Buddhism and attained Buddhahood in this life will, after death, immediately be reborn as a human beings in places near Gohonzon and once again savour the great joy of devoting their lives to kosen-rufu (Happiness of all mankind). The key to determining whether our ancestors have attained Buddhahood is, as I mentioned earlier, whether we, their decadents have become happy through faith. That in itself is proof of our ancestors’ attaining Buddhahood”.

Human beings cannot see their past or future lives. An understanding of the casual law of life operating across the three existences of – past, present, and future – however, offers clear direction as to how we should live in this present existence. The direction we take will determine our future lives.

We have been born as human beings in this life. Moreover, we know the fundamental law of the universe and are working for Kosen-rufu (Happiness of all Mankind) as Soka Gakkai members. This is truly extraordinary.

“For instance, it is said that wherever we step in the forest, there are anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of tiny living organisms – such as dust mites – under our feet. So, if we were to add up the number of all living things on this planet – right down to microscopic bacteria – we would arrive at a truly mind blogging figure.

“Yet, among this great diversity of life, we have been born as human beings and can practice Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. The odds of achieving this would have to be far more difficult than winning first prize in a lottery untold times. It is undeniably because of our immense fortune and profound mission that we have been fortunate enough to encounter an unrivalled opportunity to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Nevertheless, some people still abandon their faith, unable to appreciate how wondrous it is to be born as a human being and practice the Daishonin’s Buddhism. Yet these same people would be ecstatic if they won the lottery even once. This is truly a shame. Our present existence represents a one-in-a-million chance to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. I hope you won’t waste this wonderful opportunity.

“Though we speak of the eternity of life, ultimately everything exists in this present moment. Both past and future are contained in the present. Therefore, please live this moment, this day, this life, with joy and appreciation, striving with all your might for Kosen-Rufu (Happiness of all Mankind).

*** This concludes the article***

For in-depth understanding you may refer the below books:

UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF BIRTH AND DEATH – by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

SPACE AND ETERNAL LIFE: With an introduction by Sir Fred Hoyle – by  Chandra Wickramasinghe, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

DAUNTLESSLY MARCHING ON, UNDEFEATED

• 

Thiruvananthapuram’s WD Pranjal Patil masters daimoku (Nam-Myoho-renge-kyo), home visits and study to transcend all limitations, and become an Indian Administrative Services officer dedicated to achieve a New Age in India

Over the last six and a half years, since I started chanting the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, my life has unfolded in quite a beautiful and dramatic way.

It was then that a hostel mate told me about Nichiren Buddhism.

I lost my vision at the age of six. And surgeries failed to restore it. Total blindness affected my young mind and I became a stubborn, angry person who would shun all social gatherings. Nevertheless, I was able to make lifelong friends in the blind school where I studied in Mumbai. I topped my batch at both school and university. Wanting to change the world but not knowing how, it was only when I encountered the Daishonin’s Buddhism and Ikeda Sensei’s hope-filled writings that I discovered a new meaning and a new purpose in my life.

Awakening to my mission

As a student division member, I exerted myself on a day-to-day basis in the three ways of faith, practice and study. I chanted for the happiness of myself and of others, sometimes for as little as 10 mins and sometimes for as much as 17 hrs a day. Chanting earnest daimoku became my greatest privilege. Reading Gosho and NHR every single day gave me the courage to stand up, no matter how many times I faltered. And there was hardly a single day when I did not meet a member for one-to-one encouragement, on one occasion meeting 10 in a single day. Raising one capable youth after another for Ikeda Sensei became my personal mission.

My fight for the district, in a true sense, was a fight with my lesser self, which doubted my abilities and made me feel miserable. The struggle for others’ victories forced me to battle my own weaknesses such as fear, self-pity, low life condition, anger and irritation. It was my battle to embrace myself as I am and also to embrace others as they are.

The inner struggle that I was going through against my lesser self had its external manifestation, too. Every street of my university was full of aggressive dogs, so stepping out of my hostel to take an auto for a meeting was itself a great challenge. Numerous deadlines for academic submissions and preparation for the very competitive Civil Services Examinations demanded most of my time and energy. I was also battling my fear of being judged irrational and illogical by my friends, because of my faith. However, I am happy to share that nothing could stand between me and my mission for kosen-rufu. The sincere warmth of my seniors and ever-encouraging fellow members drew me towards Gakkai against all odds.

The great desire to work for the happiness of all filled me with energy. Ikeda Sensei tells us to lead by example, so I prepared for, attended and shared my experience in six consecutive monthly discussion meetings right in the midst of exams, and tried to encourage one or the other person without pause.

Every cause I made in the realm of faith, every daimoku I chanted for the happiness of others, every action I took for kosen-rufu began to manifest in every area of my life in the most unimaginable ways. I began to feel more confident about life. I started valuing my friends and family more than before. I became more active in my local community, be it in my hostel, my department or my university. I got the courage to go all out in my efforts to impart hope even to unknown people who were in need. I got married to a wonderful person who has been supporting me in my studies and faith. The Gakkai meetings he attended filled him with great conviction and enthusiasm. Basing myself on the power of daimoku, I completed my MPhil dissertation with joy and ease. And against all odds, I got my PhD synopsis approved and accepted. My final thesis on Lebanese politics will soon be completed.

“But still I am not discouraged”

Meanwhile, I could also clear the prestigious Civil Services Examination twice in consecutive years. The first time round, I was denied my hard-earned Civil Services posting on the grounds of my complete blindness. This left me shattered and I felt directionless. I felt that I was not capable enough of achieving something substantial in life. The attitude of the world around me would further pull me down into self-pity and self-doubt. It was a struggle, from minute to minute and moment to moment to keep my life condition high. Ikeda Sensei says, “We live in uncertain times. No one knows what the future will bring, and anxiety prevails. But through chanting wholeheartedly, we can change poison into medicine, no matter what happens” (‘Banner of the Law’, NHR-26, 140). I stood up once more and focused on my practice. Daimoku, home visits and Buddhist study once again gave me the courage to pursue my issues with the concerned officials and to fight more for the victory of others.

Consequently, the very next year (in 2017), I could secure an all-India rank of 124, which assured me my place in the prestigious Indian Administrative Services. I took every programme, every interview and every interaction with others as opportunities to spread the teachings and greatness of Ikeda Sensei. I made a conscious effort to gift Ikeda Sensei’s books to various people right from a transgender student to high-level government officials. I engaged in multiple dialogues with my fellow civil servants about the Daishonin’s humanistic teachings. Drawing inspiration from Ikeda Sensei’s efforts for supporting and strengthening the United Nations, I took the lead in conducting the Model United Nations at the IAS Training Academy, which witnessed the highest participation amongst all events, other than the cultural programme.

Soka philosophy in action

As I began to move from state to state because of my IAS training and various postings, I was transferred from one Gakkai district to another. No challenge, whether it was the difficult terrain of Mussoorie or the linguistic challenge in Kochi, made me slacken in my resolve to advance kosen-rufu.

As the Assistant Collector of Ernakulam, I strove for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of stranded people during the Kerala floods of 2018. I based every effort on the Soka philosophy of the preciousness of every human life. During this period, I worked with and supported my senior and juniors with the determination to ensure the dignity of every human life. In October 2019, I joined as the Sub-collector of Thiruvananthapuram. Since then, I have tried to redress the grievances of petitioners with utmost sincerity and to the best of my ability. Taking inspiration from Ikeda Sensei, I have made conscious efforts to reach out to the most marginalized sections of the population and have tried to work for their welfare.

The Daishonin writes to Shijo Kingo, “Live so that all the people of Kamakura will say in your praise that Nakatsukasa Saburo Saemon-no-jo is diligent in the service of his lord, in the service of Buddhism, and in his concern for other people” (‘The Three Kinds of Treasure’, WND-1, 851). I have been trying hard to imbibe this guidance to be Sensei’s representative through my every action and in my every initiative.

Sensei, I promise to become a humanistic administrator, on whom you can rely on to usher in a New Age in India. Sensei, please rest assured I will be a valiant leader for the sake of kosen-rufu, for the sake of the peace and security of every single individual, and for the sake of absolute happiness of entire humankind.

Value Creation, January 2020

“Your subconscious mind works continuously, while you are awake, and while you sleep.” — Napoleon Hill

Your subconscious never rests and is always on duty because it controls your heartbeat, blood circulation, and digestion. It controls all the vital processes and functions of your body and knows the answers to all your problems.

What happens on your subconscious level influences what happens on your conscious level? In other words, what goes on internally, even unconsciously, eventually becomes your reality. As Hill further states, “The subconscious mind will translate into its physical equivalent, by the most direct and practical method available.”

Consequently, your goal is to direct your subconscious mind to create the outcomes you seek. Additionally, you want to tap into your subconscious mind to unlock connections and solutions to your problems and projects.

Here’s a simple routine to get started:

Ten minutes before going to sleep:

“Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.” — Thomas Edison

It’s common practice for many of the world’s most successful people to intentionally direct the workings of their subconscious mind while they’re sleeping.

How?

Take a few moments before you go to bed to meditate on and write down the things you’re trying to accomplish.

Ask yourself loads of questions related to that thing. In Edison’s words, make some “requests.” Write those questions and thoughts down on paper. The more specific the questions, the clearer will be your answers.

While you’re sleeping, your subconscious mind will get to work on those things.

From the Perspective of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism : To have many things on our minds, even during our Buddhist practice, is human. The goal of practice in the SGI is to strengthen our positive qualities and create value in life. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we naturally develop the ability to focus and to see ourselves and our own minds more clearly. We are then better able to direct them in the most constructive direction. Nichiren speaks of the need to “Become the master of your mind rather than let your mind master you.” Calming the mind may come as one benefit from chanting but it is not a prerequisite and it is not the goal of the practice. The aim is to tap the vitality, wisdom and compassion innate within us, and apply those qualities to how we live. The goal of Buddhism is to win in life and contribute to the happiness of others—both pursuits needing constructive thought and action.

Ten minutes after waking up:

Research confirms the brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex, is most active and readily creative immediately following sleep. Your subconscious mind has been loosely mind-wandering while you slept, making contextual and temporal connections. Creativity, after all, is making connections between different parts of the brain.

In a recent interview with Tim Ferriss, Josh Waitzkin, former chess prodigy and tai chi world champion, explains his morning routine to tap into the subconscious breakthroughs and connections experienced while he was sleeping.

Unlike 80 percent of people between the ages of 18–44 who check their smartphones within 15 minutes of waking up, Waitzkin goes to a quiet place, does some meditation and grabs his journal.

In his journal, he thought-dumps for several minutes. Thus, rather than focusing on input like most people who check their notifications, Waitzkin’s focus is on output. This is how he taps into his higher realms of clarity, learning, and creativity — what he calls, “crystallized intelligence.”

If you’re not an experienced journal writer, the idea of “thought-dumping” may be hard to implement. In my experience, it’s good to loosely direct your thought-dumping toward your goals.

Consider the “requests” you made of your subconscious just before going to bed. You asked yourself loads of questions. You thought about and wrote down the things you’re trying to accomplish.

Now, first thing in the morning, when your creative brain is most attuned, after its subconscious workout while you slept, start writing down whatever comes to mind about those things.

I often get ideas for articles I’m going to write while doing these thought-dumps. I get ideas about how I can be a better husband and father to my three foster children. I get clarity about the goals I believe I should be pursuing. I get insights about people I need to connect with, or how I can improve my current relationships.

To be sure, you’ll need to practice this skill. It may take several attempts before you become proficient. But with consistency, you can become fluent and automatic at achieving creative and intuitive bursts.

Conclusion:

“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.” — James Allen

Mental creation always precedes physical creation. Before a building is physically constructed, there’s a blueprint.

Your thoughts are the blueprint of the life you are building one day at a time. When you learn to channel your thinking — both consciously and subconsciously — you create the conditions that make the achievement of your goals inevitable.

You are the designer of your destiny. This simple routine will help you crystallize where you want to go, and how you will get there.

From the perspective of Buddhism :SGI members often speak about the positive impact that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has on their lives. This is hard to comprehend and is something that can only be experienced on an individual basis. Often people trying the practice are encouraged to try chanting even a small amount regularly for a while, in order to see the effect, it has. The 13th-century priest Nichiren established the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. He concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the full truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. By chanting “Nam,” or devotion to the essential message of the Lotus Sutra, we activate the state of Buddhahood in our lives. Rather than being a prayer to an external being, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is an expression of the determination of the human spirit, seeking to come into rhythm with the reality of the universe. Through continuing in this practice of determined intention we bring forth our highest potential from within our lives.

I was born and raised in Manipur. My hardworking parents ran a small canteen inside a college campus in Imphal, selling chai (Tea) & snacks to students. As the eldest son in a family of two sisters and three brothers, I helped my parents run the canteen while struggling to attend a local school.

My parents were always fighting with each other as I was growing up. My father was violent and had a drinking problem. I was an angry kid and got into fights, mostly with stronger and older kids who beat me to a pulp. Once, I had to repeat the same class at school.

In 1999, when I was 16, a family friend from Manipur introduced me to Bharat Soka Gakkai – BSG (Soka Gakkai India). I sensed the genuineness of BSG members and enjoyed my first encounter with the Gakkai, but at first “Buddhist Philosophy” sounded unexciting to me and I decided to be a member only because I trusted the person who introduced me to it. For, the next couple of years my practice remained inconsistent.

In 2001, I hit rock bottom. My class 12 results were so poor that I couldn’t get into any college. My father was furious. He had placed all his hopes in me. Having grown up in tough conditions, he wanted his son to succeed in a way he never had. One night he got very drunk and beat me up.

My mother cried bitterly but I could di nothing. My family was breaking into pieces and life became hell. I decided there was only one way out. I would leave my family in Manipur and start a new life in Delhi. With some cash from my mother, I reached Pitampura, alone and directionless.

I would have suffered alone – forever, I think – had it not been for the BSG youth leaders’ repeated knocks at my door. They knelt on my dusty floor, prayed with me and taught me gongyo (Chanting (Daimoku – Nam-myoho-renge-kyo), is termed the “primary practice” and reading or reciting the “Hoben” and “Juryo” chapters is called the – Gongyo – “supplementary practice” or the “supporting practice”. They studied Nichiren philosophy with me and read out President Ikeda’s guidance to me in the dim light of my dingy apartment. Their sincerity, courage, compassion gradually lifted me out of the darkest hour of my youth.

Gradually, my heart filled with hope. I asked myself “What do I want to do in my life?” and sought answers in Ikeda Sensei’s writings, particularly Discussions on Youth and The Human Revolution.

Ikeda Sensei’s words pierced my heart like an arrow: “You must challenge yourselves in something, it doesn’t matter what. Then, by making consistent efforts, the direction you should take will open up before you quite naturally. It’s important, therefore, to have the courage to ask yourself what is that you should be doing right now at this very moment”. This was the beginning of my journey on the path of mentor and disciple.

Six month later, a BSG friend gave me a brochure of Soka University of America (http://www.soka.edu) which had just opened that year [2001]. My heart leaped at the idea of studying at a university founded by my mentor, but a part of me said: “Poor you, you will never have the chance … maybe in next lifetime”. How could a youth who could hardly afford the next bus ride dream about living and studying in America?

Initially I told myself this was just a pipe dream that would only make me feel miserable, but the more I prayed, the more daring I became in my hopes. I told myself, “If the Gohonzon (https://www.sgi.org/about-us/gohonzon.html) is the Mystic Law of the universe, and it can transform any karma, I should put my prayers into action and see what happens.”

Keeping this Gosho passage in mind – “… misfortune will change into fortune. Muster your faith and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?”. – I started praying seriously, four hours a day, for the impossible to become possible: to study at SUA (Soka University America)

I redoubled my efforts in faith, in BSG activities, my part-time job as tutor and my self-education. I had very little money, so some days I ate only boiled potatoes, and walked miles to BSG centre or member’s house to attend a meeting. I introduced many people to Nichiren Buddhism’s philosophy. Through abundant prayer, study and BSG activities, I discovered a new side of myself: a seeking mind.

Apart from The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and Ikeda Sensei’s writings, I pored over books of literature, history and biographies that Ikeda Sensei has recommended to the youth. Victor Hugo’s Les Miserable, Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, the Toynbee-Ikeda dialogue Choose Life, MK Gandhi’s The Story of My experiments with Truth and Nelson Mandela’s Long walk to freedom influenced me immensely. At the same time, I significantly improved my English and Math skills.

After almost two years of hard work, I complete the challenging application process for SUA (Soka University America). In March 2003, just after the March 16 youth general meeting which I emceed, I learned that SUA had accepted me as its pioneering third entering class with full scholarship and grants. I realised then that with the Gohonzon, if I muster my faith and follow Ikeda Sensei, I will never go wrong in my search of happiness.

At SUA I encountered students who were not only brilliant but also deeply committed to the cause of world development. SUA honed my critical thinking. It gave me a life foundation on which I could build my dreams, my mission. In 2005, I also got the chance to study in Japan and start learning Japanese at Soka university – Japan. In 2007 I graduated from SUA – Soka University America.

Gradually, I have come to realise how to directly work for a peaceful and happy world. My dream is to make Northeast India, which has been plagued by insurgency and poverty, a peaceful and prosperous region. Based on Ikeda Sensei’s philosophy of peace and individual empowerment, I decided to be a socio-economic development practitioner who can help initiate a peaceful solution to the problems in North east India, especially in Manipur and Nagaland.

I will never forget Sensei’s words that youth “who remember they have a unique mission are strong. Whatever problems they have, they will never be defeated. They can transform all of their problems into catalysts for growth towards a hope-filled future”.

I promised Ikeda Sensei that I would go to the institute where some of the best development practitioners, gather, the school that would equip me with the tools I need for my mission – the masters programme in International Development at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. During 2009 and 2010, I challenged myself intensely, basing myself on prayer. While still giving consultancy to a non-profit organisation based in Manipur, I travelled between India, United states and Japan to fulfil my application requirements (economics and calculus courses in the United States, and a Japanese language course at Soka University, Japan).

With every challenge – GRE Exam, personal statements, recommendation letters or policy essays – I went back to the Gohonzon. I prayed at least three hours a day for courage and wisdom, no matter how busy I was or which time zone I found myself in. In March this year, I completed a short, intensive Japanese language programme at Soka University, japan. Later in the month, I was accepted to Harvard University with a full scholarship, and I will be entering this fall.

Ikeda Sensei was very happy to hear about my efforts and my victory. During Soka University graduation ceremony, he addressed me directly and congratulated me. To speak to Sensei without any interpreter had also been a dream and that too happened. He also presented me a book he wrote, The Dance of Victory, and a medal commemorating the 50^th anniversary of his inauguration as the third president of Soka Gakkai president. I wrote to him that I will continue the dialogue of mentor and disciple in my heart forever.

Toda Sensei once said if we practice this philosophy correctly for ten years, we can receive great benefits and transform our life. I believe the greatest benefits I have received in my ten years of practice are my SGI friends, my happy family, and my bond with my mentor, Ikeda Sensei.

I now have trustworthy comrades and friends all over the world.

Both my  brothers, one of whom is happily married to his high school sweetheart, and my younger sister have joined the SGI (Soka Gakkai International). My older sister is happily married and has two beautiful children. My mother also practices.

My father, who had a very desperate life as an orphan, with no siblings or relatives since he was ten years old, has transformed from a reckless man into most loving dad who cares deeply for and enjoys his family. He has long since moved from his chai (Tea) canteen to running his ow grocery store at a prime location in Imphal, capital of Manipur. Although he  still drinks occasionally, recently, for the first time, he expressed his desire to quit alcohol forever and to seek professional help to fight his 40-year-old habit.

I realized that with faith, one can transform any circumstance. My dreams came true only because I tried to follow Ikeda Sensei as best as I could. For the rest of my life, I am determined to walk the path of Kosen-rufu with Sensei, while pursuing the wildest dreams imaginable, achieving victory, and repaying the debts of gratitude I owe to my beloved mentor. 

The Dragon Girl’s Story

Young Women’s Zone Chief Alankrita Shrivastava of Mumbai follows her dream of making films for the empowerment of women, not giving up no matter what obstacles lie in her way

I was 21 when I started practising Buddhism. My friend from college introduced me to the practice of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to help me deal with my parents’ illnesses. My mother had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time, with dim chance of recovery. My father had had severe heart attacks, his heart function was poor and he, too, was fighting for his life.

The year was 2001. I looked after my parents and my little brother, who was barely three at the time; my sister was away at boarding school. Between hospitals, our home and taking my brother to school, I found it hard to make time for college. Because of my poor attendance, the professors advised me to leave college and deal with my family problems. With the determination that each Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chanted would penetrate the life of my father and mother, I participated in meetings, made home visits and studied Ikeda Sensei’s writings and the Gosho, always taking responsibility for the happiness of the members around me.

Eventually both my parents recovered and we overcame our extreme financial problems. Despite the opposition I faced in college, I kept going, refusing to give up. I made my diploma film on my mother’s battle with cancer. I completed college and left Delhi for Mumbai in 2003 to pursue my dream of making films.

Film making is a very difficult and unstable profession to choose for a young woman in India who does not belong to a dynastic film family, but through my Buddhist practice I found the courage and tenacity not to give up on my dream. I wanted to make Sensei and Mrs Ikeda proud through my work by becoming the dragon king’s daughter and paving the way for the enlightenment of women.

It has been a long journey, but I had the Gohonzon and my Gakkai family. I pushed myself to chant early in the morning, encourage my young women’s division members and read the Gosho every day.

I moved up one step at a time, with only one thought: I must win for Sensei. I started as a trainee assistant director, earning barely Rs 5000 a month and living in a redeveloped slum, and worked on different films. I went from assistant director to chief assistant director to executive producer to associate director. I would be travelling for months on end and, as I often worked in an all-male atmosphere, I had to shout really loud to be heard.

In the midst of this, I took the first steps towards making my own film. I wrote and directed a short film about a woman who is struggling with an abusive marriage. After that I started writing my first feature film, a coming-of-age film about a woman who is Turning 30! Life in Mumbai was beset with challenges. I had very little money; I was constantly moving homes; and I worked incredibly long hours, with hardly any holidays. One time the building society tried to browbeat me into vacating the flat I was renting because I was single. With single-minded prayer and complete confidence of victory, I remained undaunted. I completed my first film and released it after a fierce struggle. Thousands of women across the country loved the film, but I did not have the wherewithal to ensure that my niche film made a profit. It took me a long time and many failed attempts at setting up projects to get my second film off the ground. Again, based on daimoku, I simply kept advancing one step at a time. With the profound desire to deepen my understanding of writing for cinema, I applied and was selected for India’s most prestigious screenwriters’ lab. It was through that process that I wrote my new film.

I continued exploring the theme of women’s search for freedom in this film. Determined to shine for Sensei, I worked very hard on every aspect of making the film. I knew these battles were an expedient means for making me a better film-maker and a more sensitive storyteller.

I write and direct films with a consciously female gaze. My two feature films, my short film and my new scripts are about women finding courage, freedom and happiness in the depths of their lives. I feel I am living out my determination to be the dragon king’s daughter.

During this time my faith went through a deep shift. I fought like never before in my zone for BSG to achieve our goals of 100,000, then 150,000 Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Not only did I shakubuku many, morning after early morning I encouraged young women’s division members to stand up with courage. Based on the Gosho and Sensei’s messages, we discussed the purpose of shakubuku — to create a compassionate world in which many more people will believe in universal human dignity and the sanctity of life. Although my film was hopelessly stuck, I plunged into the work of a bodhisattva, to practise Buddhism and win while enabling others also to win.

Meanwhile, after winning a battle with cancer, my father was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He was constantly in and out of hospital and on the ventilator for a month. He survived, but the disease took its toll on him. Last year, on the eve of the Golden March 16thCeremony, my father had a heart attack and passed away at the young age of 61.

I observed March 16 by lighting my father’s funeral pyre. Through the flames of death arose in my heart the flame of courage. In that crucial moment I felt that Sensei and my father are eternally with me, and that my mother, my brother, my sister and I will be fine. It was 16 years ago when we started our battle for my mother to overcome cancer with the sharp sword of faith. Against all odds, she recovered. She is hale and hearty and leads an active, working life. My sister is a lawyer working in the field of Refugee Rights with UNHCR in Delhi. My brother, sensitive and wise beyond his years, is in second year of college.

Everybody in my family chants. My father also chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo sporadically in the last three years of his life while he was struggling with failing health. I plunged into kosen-rufu with an understanding of mission deeper than ever before. I chanted daimoku like a ferocious lion, giving my life to working for the Gakkai. I did shakubuku without hesitation; worked on BSG videos without begrudging my life; fought alongside my YWD members; and on some days even chanted daimoku for five hours. Working on BSG videos, particularly, helped me understand the rhythm of our organization and deepened my bond with Sensei because I knew that through the videos I would be communicating Sensei’s heart to all BSG members.

Moving towards the goal of 150,000 bodhisattvas, in one week 10 of my shakubukus became members. It was an amazing feeling! And after a year’s gridlock, my film was selected to premiere in competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival. While the actual release and distribution in India were still question marks, my film was screened publicly for the first time in my mentor’s land. My joy knew no bounds.

Back home in Mumbai, my film won the inaugural Oxfam Award for the Best Film on Gender Equality on the day I chanted at Daiseido for the first time. A few days later, I won The Spirit of Asia Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival. It was an incredible honour. I received a message from Sensei saying that he is praying for my continued success.

The film was selected for other prestigious film festivals — in Stockholm, Miami, Paris, Glasgow, Tallinn, London, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, New York, Cairo, Dallas, Washington, Athens, Hawaii and several other places. Sometimes I wondered how my film could compete with award-winning films made by accomplished filmmakers from across the world, but I simply prayed to believe that my film has a mission beyond what I can see. Meanwhile, the censor board in India refused to certify my film, saying it is too feminist. The story of four ordinary women, secretly chasing their small dreams and trying to steal a little freedom from the claustrophobia of their lives, was deemed unfit for public exhibition — because, I think, my film threatens the fabric of patriarchy upon which our society is built.

I reached Glasgow for the film festival with a heavy heart, but from somewhere inside myself I found the courage to challenge the censor board on their unfair decision. After that, one after another, national and international media and other organizations, and women across the country, started to speak up in support of my film, defending the rights of women and the freedom of expression. A conversation that had been due for decades, started.

At the Glasgow Film Festival, my film won the only award which in the previous year had been won by an Oscar-nominated film. On March 14 my film also won the Best Feature Audience Choice Award at the CinemAsia Film Festival in Amsterdam. On March 19, the morning of the March 16 commemorative meeting, I was informed that my film had won the Grand Jury Prize for the Best Feature Film, the highest honour, at Films de Femmes, Creteil, France, which is the oldest and most prestigious women’s film festival in the world. That same night we won the Best Film and the Best Actress (Ratna Pathak Shah) awards at the London Asian Film Festival.

The struggle to release my film continued but I kept refreshing my determination, telling myself I will win, one day at a time. The Daishonin says, “Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Worthies and sages are tested by abuse” (‘LETTER FROM SADO’, WND-1, 303). I have been tested in unimaginable ways, but my faith remains firm. In the last few weeks I felt as though all my 16 years of Buddhist practice had trained me to develop the courage to fearlessly question the gender norms of popular culture in India and to speak up for the right of women to express themselves. Finally after a long battle the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal has overturned the Censor Board decision, and directed them to certify the film, validating every argument that we made in favour of the film. The film can now be legally exhibited in India.

My film has also become eligible for the prestigious Golden Globes Awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association chose to make the Los angeles screening at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, an official HFPA screening. I now have to campaign for a nomination at the Golden Globes. And I determine to use this opportunity to win the most monumental and eternal honour for Sensei and the Soka Gakkai Arts Division.

In 2017, through efforts in my own life, I determine to help raise a transformative force of 100,000 capable youth who will contribute to the betterment of society, each in their own unique ways. As one of those 100,000 transformative youth, I determine to continue on my path of making films about women that challenge the status quo, and win an Oscar to bring glory to Ikeda Sensei.

Tina Turner, known throughout the world as the “Queen of rock”, began practicing the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin in 1973, in Los Angeles. This is his sixtieth year in music and his 45th year of Buddhist practice. Throughout his career Tina has sold more than two hundred million albums and singles worldwide, won eight Grammy awards, received the Kennedy Center Honor for excellence in the art world and sold more tickets for his live concerts than any other soloist in the history of music; this year she was awarded the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the last decade Tina announced her retirement from the stage, became a Swiss citizen, married Erwin Bach, her companion for many years, and made several interreligious music albums in collaboration with her friend and singer Regula Curti, founder of Beyond Foundation, which joined us in this conversation.

Remember the moment, at the beginning of your Buddhist practice, when you said to yourself: “This is the right thing, this is the way to open my life ” ?
In reality there was no miraculous revelation overnight. When I was desperate, in the worst moments I played Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for several hours a day and I saw that it worked. When I faced a difficult situation the answers emerged from within me, and when I needed them they were right there. My reactions were appropriate to the situation and I felt that they came from a true place in the depths of my life, which we call the innate wisdom of the Buddha. Slowly I began to feel myself again and to have access to my true nature. Forty-five years of acting have opened a door inside me. Practicing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo puts me in another mental condition, it gives me clarity and wisdom. I am more in harmony with myself and I can make the right decisions.

The new theatrical show  Tina: the musical , based on your life, was staged this year in London. What message do you hope to communicate to viewers?
We worked on this new show for more than three years and many people asked me why I wanted to make a musical. I had some difficulty answering because I really didn’t want to do a musical! ( laughter)) I had the luck of a wonderful career and after more than fifty years on stage I don’t need a musical. But I get so many postcards and letters … I still can’t believe what people say they felt when they saw me on stage and the legacy they claim to have received. They say I gave them hope. If this has had such a meaning for so many people, I feel I must leave something for the future and I hope this new show is what people need: a way to remember my work and the message of my life.

Lots of people have known Buddhism thanks to your inspiring movie  What’s love got to do with it. The real story of Tina Turner . Do you think of any anecdote about people’s reactions when they saw it?
Yes, I remember many! Everyone knows that I practice Buddhism thanks to that film, with which I think I planted many seeds. I remember one time when I was at the airport, immediately after the film was released, and a man yelled at me from the other end of the room: “After watching your movie, I’ll never beat my wife again!” That meeting made me understand that Buddhism can also attract a person like that, someone who needs to correct their behavior or their negative vital condition.

If someone who has just started practicing Buddhism asked you what is the most important thing to keep in mind, what would you say?
A good explanation of the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can help you understand, but the sutra can be fully appreciated only by reciting it. The practice allows you to leave on the right foot, twice a day, in the morning when you get up and in the evening, before closing the day. It is a continuous process, day after day, year after year, until you arrive where you wanted. In life there will always be obstacles, in work, in the family and in relationships, and we must constantly work hard to overcome them. This is the life! And this does not change, but what is different for me today is that I do not manage difficult situations with anger, but I try to solve problems in the most harmonious way possible.

The rhythms of your career will have been very pressing. How did you always recite regularly?
I simply had to do it, because my life definitely changed for the better. The longer you stay on this path, the more you avoid making bad decisions. The wisdom of the Lotus Sutra and my practice helped me to become strong and to always have clarity in everyday life. And my life has shown it.

SGI President Daisaku Ikeda compared Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to spiritual training. You said you played several hours every day at the beginning of your practice. Really an intense workout! Has anything changed in this regard during your life?
Yes, as I mentioned before, in the hardest moments I recited four hours a day, in the morning and in the evening, and when it was necessary even during the day. Now that I have retired, I still recite Nam-myoho-renge-kyo every day but not so much. These days I do my morning practice to start the day well and then, since I’m happily retired, sometimes I can afford the luxury of going back to sleep!

Many have been inspired by the story of your triumph despite adverse circumstances. What advice would you give to those who find themselves in an equally impossible situation?
There is always a way to overcome every obstacle that presents itself on our way. But we must work hard, with the determination to “never give up” and to make “the impossible possible”. When I started practicing, they taught us the transformation of karma through the analogy of a watering tube. Imagine having a tube in the garden that has been unused for a long time and has been filled with mud, leaves and debris of all kinds. When you open the faucet again, it will first come out of the ground and dirt, but if you continue to run it at the end the water will come out clean. The practice works like this: you need to keep the water flowing.

Can you quote us some of your favorite passages from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings?
«When there is to suffer, you suffer; when there is to rejoice, rejoice. He also considers suffering and joy, and continues to recite Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. How could this not be the limitless joy of the Law? “( Happiness in this world , RSND, 1, 607); “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What disease can therefore be an obstacle? “( Reply to Kyo’o , RSND, 1, 365).

And the sentences of President Ikeda?
«Life is suffering and, just like the stem of a rose, it has many thorns. Culture and art are the flower that blossoms on that stem. […] You are that flower, you and your humanity. Art is the liberation of human potential enclosed within a single individual “( Art and culture , Esperia editions, 2012, p. 17); “I think that nothing is gained by criticizing the shortcomings of a person: it is much more interesting to look for their strengths” ( Personality and character , Esperia editions, 2013, p. 11); “Anyone who knows how to instill hope in others, no matter how desperate the situation may be, is a true leader” ( http://www.ikedaquotes.org ).

How has Buddhist practice transformed your way of dealing with obstacles?
Buddhism helped me get out of a difficult situation and make a far better life. my life condition has changed. I was born into a Baptist family and for a long time I continued to recite the  Our Father . But Buddhism gave me other words, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and another spiritual system that worked. It gave me the clarity and wisdom to change what is in my power to change.
The Buddhist concept of turning poison into medicine works, and my life is the proof. I learned to forgive and embrace. Now I’m a happy and best person. And still today it keeps me going, day after day. But we have to do it. “Continue singing … singing takes you beyond, beyond …” (From the album  “Beyond”, Buddhist and Christian Prayers,  2009,  ndt )

Even if you retired from the scene you continued to develop projects like  Tina: the musical  in London and to create music for Beyond together with your friend Regula Curti who is here today with us. What is the focal point of your creative activity in recent years?

Tina: Unity! Music is an invitation to open one’s heart to others, beyond the diversity of religion or belief systems, and to be united. The spiritual messages I talk about in our last records aim to bring people into a place within themselves where all the differences vanish. I believe my role is to inspire people to help themselves, and also to help myself get better and better in life and give something back to the world.
Regula:  The name we chose for our music and our foundation (“Beyond” means “beyond”,  ndt) comes from a poem by Rumi: “There is a field beyond good and evil / there I will meet you”. I hope our music is preparing that field of compassionate love capable of embracing all human beings beyond culture, religious faith, race and gender. Our mission is to unite cultures through music, to create understanding, awareness, dialogue and intercultural respect.
Buddhism was an important part of my life even before I met Tina in the late 1990s. I was born into a Protestant family, yet it was also thanks to my Buddhist spiritual practice that I felt a direct connection with God, with the universe.

What do you think is the most important thing that people can find in Buddhism, regardless of their religion?
Tina:  What really matters is to feel love and compassion for all living beings and be kind to everyone. I believe that one of the main problems in today’s world is that many people are not in touch with true love, they have never experienced it in life.
For example, when you are born of parents who did not want us, you are in a negative situation right from the start. Violence and abuse can occur and so negativity will become a normal thing and will probably attract the same situations repeatedly even in relationships. Many people have been forced to live in such places, where there is no love or trust. They are not taught that they can correct that aspect of themselves. Buddhism offers a method to free the subconscious mind. Reciting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo transforms negativity into positivity.
Regula: I believe that Buddhist practice gives people inner peace and the ability to cultivate wisdom and compassion. In the first album we made together Tina talks about this in her spiritual message: “We all need a constant discipline, a real training to let go of old mental habits to find and maintain a new way of seeing”. Buddhist practice has helped me make the best decisions and see the true nature of my life.

We live in an age of ever greater divisions. What do you think people can do, of any religious confession, to help unite the world towards peace?
Tina: The experience of singing prayers together in an intercultural unit helps us to connect deeply on an emotional level, in that place of love and respect where all worldly differences vanish. Music can build bridges between “you” and “me”, between “us” and “them”. I feel strongly that the time has come for the world to start going beyond the divisions to create a greater spiritual connection.
Regula:  Build bridges! The modern world is increasingly divided. And what divides us is our ego. Create peace within yourself! That’s where it all starts. Cultivate a personality full of love and compassion and live it with your family, neighbors and friends.

You both live in Switzerland, a country known for peace. How much has this environment influenced your work?
Regula: Tina often says that Switzerland is a very spiritual place. It is a safe and peaceful country with ethical values. Tina and I consider ourselves fortunate to live in such a place, open to the world and welcoming people from other countries, cultures and spiritual traditions. We also feel the sense of responsibility to reciprocate. This is where the energy for our inter-religious projects comes from.
We are proud that Beyond’s music albums have been made in Switzerland, but we would like ours to be a global exchange point for artists who share these ideas and want to meet and collaborate for world peace. We would like our work to be a celebration of the universal power that has the music of uniting people, promoting solidarity and compassion and making it clear that we, human beings, are part of the same team.

On September 23, 2018 the young people of the SGI-USA will host the “Lions of Justice” festival which will bring together fifty thousand boys and girls of all backgrounds committed to creating a society based on justice, peace and respect. What message would you like to give them to encourage them?
Tina: Work on yourself to become kind and loving people. Respect all people. Acting will help you think and act correctly, have clarity and develop peace. Build bridges and help others. Remember the words of President Ikeda: “People can live fully only by helping others to live: when you give life to your friends you are truly living. Cultures can be further enriched only by honoring other traditions. And it is only by respecting the nature that humanity can continue to exist “(” The Sun of  Jiyu  Over a New Land “, in  My Dear Friends in America,  third edition, p. 211).
Regula: In the intercultural programs for the youth of our foundation we use that powerful phrase, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you would like to see in the world”. I hope this message of wisdom can resonate in each of the participants in the “Lions of Justice” festival.

Tina, you always gave the impression of being an ageless spirit. What are the ingredients to stay young all your life?
Singing and dancing helped me stay young and full of life. But I also have good genes and I take great care of myself. A positive attitude towards life is also important. As President Ikeda says: “Youth is not determined by age, but by life force. A person who has hope will always be young. A person who continues to advance will always be beautiful “( http://www.ikedaquotes.org ).

How would you describe your long journey of life?
I faced all the difficulties as they were, and I overcame them. My life is a love story!

Jawaharlal Nehru’s (former Prime Minister of India) thoughts were as follows:
The genius of the Buddha has to do with the fact that he is a [human being]. The originator of one of the most profound systems of thought in the history of humanity, an inflexible spirit and the most Noble compassion. An accuser, vis-à-vis the teeming multitude of the Gods. When he became defied he merged with that multitude, which closed round him.”

Dr. Daisaku Ikeda says:

Shakyamuni Buddha lived his life as a human being, and he repudiated the Gods that were widely worshiped at that time.

Nichiren Daishonin, likewise, remonstrated with Hachiman, considered a Guardian deity of Japan. He did not be beseech the heavenly deities – the productive forces of the universe – for assistance; rather, as a human being who embraced the Mystic law, he summoned them to action. 
In essence, Buddhism teaches how human being should live. Through his own example, shakyamuni taught us how to live our lives. This is the path of mentor and disciple.

But at some point, the human being shakyamuni was elevated and transfigured into deity. While meaning in present day India still Revere  The Buddha, it is generally as one of the Gods of the vast Hindu Pantheon. Though they regard The Buddha as an object of reverence, he is no longer seen as a model on which to base one’s life. The path of mentor and disciple has been lost.