Alexandra (Me): Dear Universe, so much has been happening.

Universe: Do tell, dear one, do tell.

Me: Oh… where to start…

U: Just dive in anywhere, we won’t let you drown.

Me: I see you’ve become good at metaphors! I’m impressed!

U: Thank you very kindly, but back to you…

Me: Well, I had my last session of equine-assisted therapy a few days ago. What a wonderful experience! In the countryside on a real farm with a tuned-in psychotherapist and beautiful horses! And the cutest young barn cat as well, with the deepest rumble of a purr I have ever heard. So much love there!

I learned to be totally present like the horses, and to get over feeling intimidated by them due to their size and strength and power. I learned to assert myself, and also that I have a right to assert myself. I learned about beginner’s mind: Approaching everything with curiosity and wonder. And it occurred to me today that beginner rhymes with winner! 😀 I also showed myself that I’m deserving of such an exceptional experience. In short, it expanded me, my inner world.

U: We couldn’t be more delighted for you, dear one.

Me: Thank you. May I share something else with you about my inner world?

U: Yes indeed.

Me: Well, you know the Nichiren Buddhist teaching of the Ten Worlds – the ten inner states or life conditions that all living beings have as a potential?

U: Yes. The fact that the Ten Worlds are equally inherent within every living being at each moment is the basis for true equality.

Me: And also the explosion of the myth that unless we’re perfect all the time we’re essentially flawed and not good enough. Certainly not good enough for Buddhahood. That “not good enough” thing has had us humans squirming in distress for a long time. But Buddhism teaches that a Buddha takes a negative situation and transforms it into a benefit by applying the wisdom and courage that come from chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Anyway, the other morning in my tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) session, I came to a fresh view of the Ten Worlds. I guess you could say I saw it with beginner’s mind! It’s a sort of design for life by bringing out the best in each “World,” which is what Nichiren Buddhist practice is all about. I read years ago that it’s possible to live in the top six “Worlds,” which sounded very attractive to me.

This is what I wrote down that morning:

• TRANQUILITY/HUMANITY: peace of mind
• RAPTURE/HEAVEN: joy and satisfaction at goals won
• LEARNING/VOICE-HEARERS: listening, learning
• REALISATION/PARTIAL ENLIGHTENMENT: intuition, “light-bulb” moments of realisation, healthy detachment
• BODHISATTVA: kindness, service, helping others, caring
• BUDDHAHOOD/ENLIGHTENMENT: indestructible happiness, indestructible freedom, awareness that all life is sacred

I thought, “Wow, this could really be my life. How wonderful!” But then I remembered the four other states. What about them? “All right,” I thought, “let’s bring out the best in everything. Why not?!”

And so I added:

• HELL: understanding suffering
• HUNGER: endless desire and actions for inner growth, expansion and development
• ANIMALITY: attention to healthy sleep, food, movement
• ANGER/EGO: recognize and respect other people’s individuality

Without setting out to do so, I’ve created a Manifesto for Life. Beginner’s mind again! Strong Buddhist practice and study will make it possible for me to live it.

The Lotus Sutra explains 11 main benefits of faith. Only one — good surroundings — refers to such conspicuous benefits as a good job or a big house. The rest — things like wisdom, persistence, tolerance, sense of mission, confidence — deal with the inner universe of the human being.
So victory in life begins with victory in this inner realm. By making internal transformations we construct a foundation for real and, more important, lasting breakthroughs in life. Our greatest benefit is faith itself — the confidence that no matter what happens we will win.

Photo by Leo Rivas on Unsplash