Victor Chua Poh San
Men Division
I was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism more than 40 years ago. A young man around 25 years old, I was often invited to attend discussion meetings by my neighbour. Growing up in a large family with seven siblings, I did not further my studies after primary school as I had to work to support my family, which was plagued by health and financial challenges. My father, who was a retired taxi driver suffered from depression and subsequently dementia for 15 to 20 years.
A Journey of Self-Transformation
I decided to start practising with the SGS seriously after attending a lecture on Buddhist fundamentals. I gained an understanding of the significance of the Buddhist practice and the object of devotion, the Gohonzon. I felt a sense of gratitude well up in me whenever I chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. | began chanting for my father’s recovery and the harmony of my family. True enough, my father’s condition stabilised and he relied less on medication. Unfortunately, my wife objected to my Buddhist practice, as we were practising another religion initially. After noticing the positive changes in my temperament after practising faith and engaging in dialogues with my Men Division (MD) and Women Division (WD) leaders, she finally agreed to let me enshrine the Gohonzon and I did so on February 1, 1999.
I got to know more fellow members within SGS and participated in my first National Day Parade (NDP) under SGS in 2000. It was during this NDP when I witnessed my friends actualise their human revolution amidst their struggles. I learnt more about this concept and how the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism could be practised in our lives. We would dialogue with each other whenever we encountered challenges and share Ikeda Sensei’s guidance to encourage each other.
Although I had received the Gohonzon, my wife who was still practising another faith, did not allow me to bring my children out for SGS activities. I chanted between 30 minutes to an hour every day for the unity and happiness of the family. A turning point came during the Youth Culture Festival, held at Toa Payoh Indoor Stadium in 2005. My daughter, who was in Secondary One then, joined me in all the training sessions. Despite initial objection from my wife, l insisted that it was more of an experience of a Gakkai event for my daughter, and whether she would like to take up faith would be her decision at a later stage. On the last day of the performance, when I returned home, ! was surprised when my wife told me she had decided to stop her religious practice and no longer objected to the children joining me in SGS activities. Even though my family has yet to take up faith, I will continue to chant for their happiness with the conviction that world peace and happiness start from the family.
Ikeda Sensei wrote, “A bright, positive family joined by ties of trust and affection is a reflection of a pure and rich spirit. It is also both the first step and ultimate goal in our efforts to build a world of peace and happiness.” (The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 2: Human Revolution, 13.1)
Realising My Mission through the Twists and Turns
I worked in a technical store of a manufacturing company for 18 years previously, overseeing the movement of about 18,000 spare parts to other departments. As a straightforward and responsible person, I accounted for all my work. Due to my work attitude, I gained the trust and appreciation of my bosses, in particular my manager whom I reported directly to. However, my colleagues disliked me and thought I was an inflexible person who went by the book. I decided to do my human revolution and attempted to amend my relationship with these colleagues. I would greet my colleagues “Good Morning” and bid them goodbye before and after work. Some colleagues noticed the change in me and gradually changed their attitude towards me. Over time, my relationship with them improved.
Later, changes in my job settings prompted me to opt for voluntary retrenchment in 2002. I worked as a deliveryman for several years before becoming a taxi driver in 2012. I was encouraged by a senior-in-faith to give it a try. With the thought that I could use the car as a vehicle for kosen-rufu, ferrying members and new friends to SGS meetings and events, I decided to give it a try.
I obtained my vocational license. However, as soon as I began my new career, I was hit by challenges. As I was not familiar with driving an automatic transmission vehicle, I started accumulating traffic offences, on one occasion receiving five traffic tickets in a day. Within three months, my 24 points was deducted to near zero. | was informed by my company that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had suspended my licence for two weeks and I needed to undergo retraining.
Realising the severity of the situation, I turned to the Gohonzon and chanted three hours each day to transform the situation and create utmost value from it. I met a good instructor, who upon understanding my situation, helped me to appeal to LTA for leniency. The appeal was successful, and I was placed on a year’s probation with 14 points. I set a prayer and determination to maintain the 14 points during the probationary period with no accidents or traffic offences. I also made a determination to focus on my district, making time to attend discussion meetings, plannings and rehearsals. This adversity allowed me to renew my vow for kosen-rufu. I eventually passed the probation without any accidents.
Every morning, I pray for the safety of my passengers and myself, to actualise my human revolution and ensure that I do not reject any passengers. Reading Sensei’s guidance also always enable me to find the way forward and uncover my mission. Amazingly, I always pick up passengers who require assistance, such as those on wheelchairs or going for dialysis. There was once when | picked up an elderly passenger by the roadside. Even though the destination was only a block away, I decided to cancel my on-call as it was going to rain. Fortunately, we managed to reach the destination before the heavy downpour, and he thanked me profusely.
I gradually realised my mission as a taxi driver, that is, to serve others in need. My efforts were recognised by my passengers, who wrote commendation letters to my company. In 2023, I was awarded the Transport Gold Outstanding Award, given out by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and Land Transport Authority to transport staff who have gone the extra mile to help others. To receive this award, the nominee must receive at least five commendation letters and not be involved in any accident during the qualifying period. Recipients of the award were also chosen after a stringent nomination and selection process that involved their peers, supervisors and a panel of representatives from the authorities and Singapore Kindness Movement.
Nichiren Daishonin states: “Joy’ means that oneself and others together experience joy…. Both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion.” (OTT, p. 146). More than the recognition, l am happy with the treasures of the heart I have accumulated during this period.
Growing in the Organisation
I took up the appointment of YMD district leader in 2002. In 2006, I graduated to Men Division and continued to fulfil my mission for kosen-rufu as district chief. As a district chief, I journeyed with several families in overcoming their struggles. Following up with them closely with fellow leaders, these families remained steadfast in faith despite tumultuous life-and-death struggles. Eventually, they were able to build lives of genuine happiness and some of the family members even took up leadership roles in the organisation to support others in their journey of faith. Seeing how they have grown in faith and are dedicating their lives to the happiness of oneself and others is a source of motivation and encouragement for me.
Growing in the organisation and meeting people from all walks of life have enabled me to carry out my human revolution in many ways. There used to be a MD member whom I was not on talking terms with due to some misunderstanding and he did not allow me to home visit him. A few years later, he was diagnosed with leukaemia and gradually stopped attending SGS activities. I visited him when he was in the hospital, sometimes buying food for him. Later, he asked me why I had visited him despite knowing that he disliked me. I replied that I treated him like a family member, and despite our differences, we all have Buddha nature in us. We eventually cleared the misunderstanding between us before he passed away and treasured each other as comrades in faith. After his death, we managed to encourage his mother to take up faith and inherit his Gohonzon.
Ikeda Sensei said,
“Our organisation is one of great human diversity. This acts as a stimulus for our personal growth. In many sports, it’s hard to get an accurate idea of your real level of ability if you only train or practice by yourself. We develop and grow through contact with many other people. In Japan, the mountain potatoes known as taros are rough and dirty when harvested, but when they are placed in a basin of running water together and rolled against each other, the skin is peeled away, leaving the potatoes shining clean and ready for cooking. It’s probably inappropriate to compare people to potatoes, but my point is that the only way for us to hone and polish our character is through our interactions with others.”
(Discussions on Youth)
I am who I am today because of Ikeda Sensei and the Soka family. I am determined to continue to do my best for kosen-rufu and my district, always living as an undefeated disciple of Ikeda Sensei!
(Adapted from May 2024 issue of Creative Life)
