Buddha Purnima: From Desire To Enlightenment  

By By Getanjali Ayar  

Buddha Purnima: From Desire To Enlightenment  

Religion is not meant to create conflict and division, but to promote dialogue and harmony. Buddha Purnima is an appropriate occasion to dwell a little on the Buddhist philosophy I follow, of Nichiren Daishonin, called the Soka Gakkai, which literally means "Value Creating Society".

Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, says: "The people and the society of our age might be compared to a ship in the middle of the ocean which has lost its compass. Without an accurate guide to lead them, they sail aimlessly along towards the future''.

I have found a perfect compass to navigate my life in the teachings and practice of the Soka Gakkai. Two principles and the faith's attitude towards karma first attracted me to it. The first principle was unusual: ''If someone troubles you in life, don't curse him or your own fate, just pray for that person's happiness''.

Mahatma Gandhi too echoed the same thought: ''In the moment of our trial and our triumph, let me declare my faith, I believe in loving my enemies''.

The second principle was the faith's concept of human revolution. Over centuries, various political, economic, industrial and scientific revolutions have taken place. However, we believe that regardless of how external factors are changing, society will not improve fundamentally as long as the people themselves fail to transform the negative and destructive tendencies inherent in their lives.

Therefore, an inner change for the better in a single person is the first essential turn of the wheel in the process of making the human race stronger and wiser. Human (inner) revolution is the most basic of all revolutions and is bloodless and peaceful.

Although the concept of karma was already in existence in ancient India, Buddhism incorporated this idea and developed it much further.

Originally, karma denoted 'action'. Buddhism identifies three categories of action - physical, verbal and mental. One creates karma in three ways: By deeds, words and thought. Even if a person does not translate his thoughts into words or actions, he still creates karma through his thought process.

In addition to our current actions, karma accumulated in past lives also has an important bearing on our present happiness or unhappiness.

Earthly desires inspire actions and these in turn create karma. Therefore, to transform suffering into happiness and bad karma into good, one must first transform the realm of earthly desires. Positive transformation of one's karma is possible only if we solve the problems of earthly desires. Undeniably, desire gives rise to suffering, but it is too simplistic to dismiss it as wholly evil. One is bound to have desires; they are necessary to sustain life.

The instinctive desire for food, sleep and money, are all earthly desires. Without desires, one dies. The view of the Lotus Sutra, which is the basis of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, is that ''earthly desires are enlightenment''. This phrase does not mean that earthly desires are in themselves enlightenment. Earthly desires are illusions.

It is an error to think that desires, just as they are, are enlightenment. It is also a mistake to think that desires are purely evil. These two extreme thoughts are transcended by the principle of the Lotus Sutra, as we chant the essence of the Lotus Sutra - Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo, and raise our life condition to one of purity and compassion. Then, what functioned as earthly desires begins to function as enlightenment and what produced suffering earlier, now begins to produce joy.

As one taps the Buddha nature inherent in oneself, one's earthly desires are naturally directed towards happiness. This breaks the cycle of earthly desires-karma-suffering and makes possible a transformation of one's destiny in this lifetime itself.

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See also: Buddha Purnima , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul

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