Shin'ichi proceeded to discuss the basic attitude leaders need to have when offering personal guidance.
First, you must never become emotional. Some members may have a weak commitment to faith and make negative remarks about the Soka Gakkai, but you mustn't allow yourself to get emotional or raise your voice. If you do, you'll cause the other person to close their heart to you. Then, any guidance or encouragement you offer won't have any effect.
Second, strong conviction in faith is crucial. The key to encouraging others is being able to move and inspire them through your own conviction. That way, logical explanations will have an impact. That's why it's important to chant a lot and bring forth powerful life force before going to offer guidance. To communicate your conviction, it's also important to relate your own or other members' experiences in faith.
Third, you must never share with anyone else what somebody has told you in a personal guidance session. Leaders in the realm of faith, in particular, have a responsibility to protect others' privacy. If the things you were told in confidence were to get out, it would lead people to mistrust the Soka Gakkai as a whole. It is also a very serious offense in terms of Buddhism, because it obstructs the progress of kosen-rufu.
Fourth, always carry out personal guidance with patience and a warm, embracing spirit. Say, for example, you visit and encourage one of your members who has stopped coming to meetings. It is unlikely that they will be inspired to make a fresh determination in faith after only one visit. You need to call on them from time to time and patiently continue to encourage them. Eventually, your sincerity will reach them and they will come to trust you and want to become active again. Perseverance is vital i offering personal guidance.
When you've been able to help someone to stand up in faith, it's important to follow up with them, perhaps with a phone call or letter, to find out how they're doing, to see if they've overcome their problem, and to continue encouraging them. When you become a leader, you set out enthusiastically to home visit members and encourage them. If you leave it at that, with just a single visit, however, you haven't finished the job.
Fifth, never forget that the ultimate goal of giving guidance to somebody is to relieve their suffering and bring them joy. People grapple with various kinds of problems and seek guidance only after they've been struggling for a while. It's important that you encourage them in such a way as to alleviate their suffering and pain.
A caring spirit and deep concern for others is indispensable in offering personal guidance. That spirit will manifest as warm consideration and words of heartfelt concern and encouragement.
Observing many leaders, I have come to the conclusion that those who have dedicated themselves to offering personal guidance to members never give up their practice. I think this is because giving guidance—though hard, unglamorous, and inconspicuous work that requires a great deal of patience—truly deepens one's faith. And as these leaders continue to offer guidance, they reflect seriously on their own lives and are able to guide themselves as well. That is why they don't abandon their faith.
From The New Human Revolution, vol. 27, "Fierce Struggle" chapter.
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