Experiences

I learnt about Nichiren Buddhism since childhood. At first I only followed my mother to the meetings, but subsequently I started chanting when I was challenging my O-Level exam.

Over the last two years, Covid-19 pandemic has changed the lifestyle of many people. Conducting dialogues with members virtually was a great challenge for me as I was too used to face-to-face meetings.

Since young I have been warmly nurtured in the garden of the Soka Gakkai. I vividly remember my parents lugging our keyboard to discussion meetings where I played Soka Gakkai songs for the cultural segment. I also took part in skits, shared experiences, and helped to copy Gosho passages on big pieces of paper.

It was a family friend who introduced my eldest sister to Nichiren Buddhism. When I started primary school (in 1987), I had an unbearable itch and pain at my feet. The condition made it difficult for me to focus in class. Seeing my condition deteriorate rapidly, my eldest sister encouraged me to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Living aimlessly, tired of the mundane humdrum of everyday life and looking for a sense of purpose, I sought a friend of my husband, a Soka member.

To begin, I was someone who did not chant much, sometimes to the point where I didn’t even do gongyo. However, in 2018, I began to chant more hoping to do well for my Primary School Leaving Examination and get into my desired secondary school.