Teaching can really be a thankless job sometimes. In our contemporary schooling system, out of 10 students, there may be only 1 who appreciated your efforts. It is truly important to hold on that the thought of that one.
The celebration of the YMD formation took place today. 835 YMD representatives gathered at Senja Soka Centre today. Incidentally, my new car plate number is 835. Does this signify a new beginning for me? To live as a true YMD!
From the time we were born, we were taught reliance. As a baby, we depend heavily on our parents. Then as we grow older, we seek constant approval of our friends. Advancing into adulthood, the views of our spouses take precedence. And for some people, the concept of being responsible is so foreign that they attribute everything to the divine and seek approval from god all the time. In the process, many people fail to learn how to take responsibility for their lives.
All of us heard the golden advice of taking charge of our own lives before. But in reality, when we meet with a difficulty, we look to our parents, or bosses, or friends, or husbands and wives for help. We blame the clients, the partners, the system or even the government. Basically we are conditioned from young to identify where the fault lies when something goes wrong. And mostly, we are never at fault. Why? Everything we do, we subconsciously seek approval for them. We did that since we were children!
But the problem is, when we blame our situations on our environment, we are giving up the power to correct the problem. Only when we decided that we are the problem can we take an active step to improve the situation. But then again, admitting that we are the problem is a serious stab in the ego. It means we lose the “approval” of our conduct we are trying to obtain from everyone.
Hence, to take responsibility for our lives is one of the most fearful things. It takes tremendous courage. That is why many people are frightened when others have high expectations of them. They simply do not believe in their innate potential to excel and do not want to take responsibility for that weakness.
How I applause the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin who taught clearly that once we take responsibility for our lives, we are bound to be able to change it for the better. It is a wonderful philosophy! Yet I can perfectly understand why many people are resistant to it out of the fear of taking this responsibility. I pray for courage.
The celebration of the YMD formation took place today. 835 YMD representatives gathered at Senja Soka Centre today. Incidentally, my new car plate number is 835. Does this signify a new beginning for me? To live as a true YMD!
From the time we were born, we were taught reliance. As a baby, we depend heavily on our parents. Then as we grow older, we seek constant approval of our friends. Advancing into adulthood, the views of our spouses take precedence. And for some people, the concept of being responsible is so foreign that they attribute everything to the divine and seek approval from god all the time. In the process, many people fail to learn how to take responsibility for their lives.
All of us heard the golden advice of taking charge of our own lives before. But in reality, when we meet with a difficulty, we look to our parents, or bosses, or friends, or husbands and wives for help. We blame the clients, the partners, the system or even the government. Basically we are conditioned from young to identify where the fault lies when something goes wrong. And mostly, we are never at fault. Why? Everything we do, we subconsciously seek approval for them. We did that since we were children!
But the problem is, when we blame our situations on our environment, we are giving up the power to correct the problem. Only when we decided that we are the problem can we take an active step to improve the situation. But then again, admitting that we are the problem is a serious stab in the ego. It means we lose the “approval” of our conduct we are trying to obtain from everyone.
Hence, to take responsibility for our lives is one of the most fearful things. It takes tremendous courage. That is why many people are frightened when others have high expectations of them. They simply do not believe in their innate potential to excel and do not want to take responsibility for that weakness.
How I applause the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin who taught clearly that once we take responsibility for our lives, we are bound to be able to change it for the better. It is a wonderful philosophy! Yet I can perfectly understand why many people are resistant to it out of the fear of taking this responsibility. I pray for courage.
