Alexandra (Me): Er… Hello? Are you still there?

Universe: Who’s that?

Me: It’s me – Alexandra. I haven’t contacted you in a while. I’m sorry.

U: Don’t be sorry, child. Be glad that you’re doing so now! We are.

Me: You’re very kind.

U: What happened?

Me: You mean why haven’t I contacted you for four months? I talked myself out of it. I listened to the negative voice inside my head that said it was too much trouble, and I didn’t have anything valuable to say, and it was a waste of time.

U: We understand that humans have a great battle going on inside themselves. And what is different today? Why do we have the pleasure of hearing from you?

Me: You sent me two messengers. One last Saturday and one yesterday. Both of whom chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, interestingly. One said my poetry is like medicine and I should put it on Substack. (I don’t know what Substack is.) The other asked me if I’m still writing to you, because she hasn’t seen anything for a while and she used to enjoy reading our conversations.

U: Good, so you got the message!

Me: I guess so! I never felt good when I didn’t write, so this is rather a relief. I’m grateful to my two friends. And I’ve a feeling this is significant for my life. Because the moment I sat down to write, the fire alarm in my high-rise building went off. I left my laptop and went to my Gohonzon to chant and pray for the protection and safety of every living being in the building. The alarm is deafening, and… well… alarming! But I stayed focused on my prayer. After more than 10 minutes, an announcement said it was a false alarm. But then the secondary alarm – even more sonically invasive than the first – went off no less than six times! I felt glad I had taken my anti-anxiety supplement this afternoon!

U: There will always be negativity. There will always be what you humans call obstacles. How else can you strengthen yourself? Know that we are with you, every step of the way, when your heart is open.

Me: That’s one of the main points of Buddhist practice, right? To open and expand our true self?

U: Yes, to be heart-centred and strong.

Me: And overcome negativity bias. The other day I was looking through an old notebook. I came across notes I made in 2015 during a Buddhist meeting, but then forgot about:

U: Just so. You are not at all the weakened, damaged character who has to feel sorry for herself that you have perceived yourself to be. That’s an illusion. And illusions make your spirit ill.

As we said before, we understand that humans have a great battle going on inside themselves. A battle between darkness and light. Between selfishness and compassion. Between delusion and truth. And the truth is that you are noble and great Bodhisattvas, who long, long ago, made a promise to appear on this troubled planet at this troubled time, and work together to change the planetary karma by changing your own.

And to prove that the Wonderful Law of the Lotus Sutra is indeed wonderful, you volunteered – dared – to go through various trials and troubles in your lifetime. And instead of being permanently scared and scarred by them, you chant the Mystic Law and turn “poison” into an “elixir,” which benefits your heart’s growth and strengthening. Put simply, you become a happy human being who makes a difference for others and for herself.

We are proud of you, and of your struggles to shine your light!

Photo by Mohammad Karami on Unsplash