FACING THE EIGHT WINDS
"Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away
by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure,
suffering, and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved
by decline."
"The Eight Winds," (WND-1, 794)
How much time do we spend trying to fit in, hoping to impress people and avoid
criticism? How much time do we spend working on self-improvement?
Naturally, we feel good when people say nice things about us and feel down when people
treat us badly. In Nichiren Daishonin's quote above, he isn't saying that worthy people
simply don't care about how they are treated; he's saying that worthy people are not
controlled or overpowered by negative or positive treatment.
The "eight winds" have one thing in common: all of them originate outside ourselves.
As such, none of them can be basis for true happiness, as true happiness is built from
within and cannot be taken away by external circumstances. Also, the four negative winds
can only really harm us if we give them that power, if we are "carried away" by them, as
Nichiren says. This is true of the positive winds as well.
SGI President Ikeda writes: "Many automatically think that one who boasts of high status
in society is fortunate; that one who enjoys fame is admirable; and that one who has a great
deal of money and property is respectable. These perceptions are misguided illusions.
Who, then, is fortunate? Who is genuinely a person of truth and integrity? Granted, these
are difficult questions, but be assured that the answers have nothing to do with outward
appearances" (Discussions on Youth, 2nd Edition, 30).
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone faces embarrassment at some point. And everyone
has moments when they are acknowledged, rewarded or praised for their actions. But
from the Daishonin's perspective, life is long and such highs and lows are fleeting. A life of
faith, compassion and wisdom developed through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and
sharing the Daishonin's teachings with others creates lasting happiness and fulfillment
generated from within. Chanting and supporting others through good and bad times praise
the Buddha within us and within all life, and in the long run that's the praise that matters
most.
Living Buddhism (Sept-Oct 2011) The Writings – Awakening (P. 20)
FACING THE EIGHT WINDS
"Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away
by the eight winds: prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure,
suffering, and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved
by decline."
"The Eight Winds," (WND-1, 794)
How much time do we spend trying to fit in, hoping to impress people and avoid
criticism? How much time do we spend working on self-improvement?
Naturally, we feel good when people say nice things about us and feel down when people
treat us badly. In Nichiren Daishonin's quote above, he isn't saying that worthy people
simply don't care about how they are treated; he's saying that worthy people are not
controlled or overpowered by negative or positive treatment.
The "eight winds" have one thing in common: all of them originate outside ourselves.
As such, none of them can be basis for true happiness, as true happiness is built from
within and cannot be taken away by external circumstances. Also, the four negative winds
can only really harm us if we give them that power, if we are "carried away" by them, as
Nichiren says. This is true of the positive winds as well.
SGI President Ikeda writes: "Many automatically think that one who boasts of high status
in society is fortunate; that one who enjoys fame is admirable; and that one who has a great
deal of money and property is respectable. These perceptions are misguided illusions.
Who, then, is fortunate? Who is genuinely a person of truth and integrity? Granted, these
are difficult questions, but be assured that the answers have nothing to do with outward
appearances" (Discussions on Youth, 2nd Edition, 30).
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone faces embarrassment at some point. And everyone
has moments when they are acknowledged, rewarded or praised for their actions. But
from the Daishonin's perspective, life is long and such highs and lows are fleeting. A life of
faith, compassion and wisdom developed through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and
sharing the Daishonin's teachings with others creates lasting happiness and fulfillment
generated from within. Chanting and supporting others through good and bad times praise
the Buddha within us and within all life, and in the long run that's the praise that matters
most.
Living Buddhism (Sept-Oct 2011) The Writings – Awakening (P. 20)
