THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING GUIDANCE IN FAITH

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING GUIDANCE IN FAITH

Having guidance with someone who has greater experience of applying his teachings in daily life is crucial to developing our 

own understanding and experience of this practice. Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda said:

The Soka Gakkai is an organization for providing guidance. The ultimate aim of guidance is to help the recipient bring forth vigorous life force from within and obtain the great benefits of the Gohonzon.

The purpose of guidance is to gain a deeper view of the problem from the perspective of Buddhism, and also to inspire us with the determination to solve it through our efforts in faith, practice and study. So, it's best to have guidance with someone who has been 

practicing for long enough to accumulate a broad experience and understanding of Buddhism.

Deciding whether or not to seek guidance begins with our Daimoku. Making this decision is often a real struggle. It takes a great courage to go for guidance as it is often very difficult to be open about our innermost hopes and fears. We may start to experience 

doubts, perhaps feeling that the obstacle or problem we're chanting about isn't that big after all, and that talking about it would be a waste of someone else's time. We may fear that having guidance means that our `secrets' will be out in the open; or we may spend ages trying to decide who to go for guidance.

All of these experiences are obstacles that appear quite naturally and are an opportunity for us to strengthen our faith. We should simply chant to have the courage to go for guidance, and then take the appropriate action to arrange it. Usually it's best to contact the person you wish to see directly.

The best way to prepare is to chant. Chanting for the person from whom we are receiving guidance will have two very positive effects. First, the Daimoku will help us to create a great bond with that person even before we meet them and second, it will help to draw out their wisdom to give great guidance.

We also need to prepare ourselves. Chant to express the problem clearly. There is no need to worry about this, simply determine to be open, frank, and, if possible, go directly to the relevant point or points. In addition, it is a good, idea to chant to listen well and absorb what is said to us. We can also determine to take action based on the guidance we are going to receive.

While actually receiving guidance, the most important thing is to listen. Many of us are good at changing what we have heard into what we think we have heard. Some people find it helpful to make notes of key points during or immediately after the guidance in order prevent this from happening.

Just as guidance begins with daimoku, afterwards we must continue to chant – to understand it and put it into practice. If we find that there's something we feel unhappy about, it is very important to seek further guidance with the same person in order to clarify this. It could well be a simple misunderstanding or an incorrect interpretation of what the person has said. It is best to clear this up as soon as possible.

Sometimes, it may seem helpful to share guidance we have received with someone who appears to have a similar problem. We should remember, however, that though another person's problem may seem to 

be like ours, they themselves are, of course, quite different. Thus it is far wiser to encourage that person to seek guidance themselves.

  

Finally, please remember that guidance will not provide an instant solution. Rather, it enables us to deepen our faith so that we can find our own answers and come to our own conclusions about what we must do to overcome our suffering.

Selection: UK Express, Sep 1996, By Steve Smith, Page No 32-33