Katie Higgins, once a follower of Nichiren, Greg's, and my friend...

"Thank you, Greg-- it is exactly the experiences I have had here that refreshed my faith. by that I mean returning to *seeking* understanding through correct daimoku and returning to "The Four Debts of Gratitude" in order to sort out the confusion that has arisen from the "Arrogant False Sages" that have commanded the largest following in the two most heretical *sects* of our time, SGIkeda and Nikkenstein's NST!

My husband Kevin's awakening is perhaps the most compelling actual proof I have for the *good medicine* here on Eagle Peak. I'm getting slammed over on arbn for using the google acct. Kevin set up on our shared server-- BUT, the irony is, it is because I took this easier route to participating here immediately when I found Eagle Peak, that Kevin was aware of this site. and them arbn as well. We are husband and wife -- despite how SGI Boston tried to divide us, we somehow emerged with a stronger bond and deeper commitment to correct faith that transcended SGI Boston's nefarious activities.

Kevin witnessed my overcoming a near fatal health crisis-- with faith and determination NOT to recant my faith no matter what. Such experiences appear here-- and actually are not to be found in SGI Boston these days-- AGAIN, a huge benefit to encounter Eagle Peak and genuine practitioners of Nichiren's Buddhism.

"nichiren was strict because the law of renge is strict. the thing that amazes me the most , is that the ANSWER to the problems that modern man/womankind is facing lies within the buddhas highest teaching, the lotus sutra. yet people like chas and richard etc, etc, etc, arrogantly kling to what , in truth, we already have, and in truth, is exactly why mankind has the problems it does. in other words they kling to the poison and reject the medicine. deluded? i think so. although sometimes frustrating, the causes we make by trying to share a correct faith in the L S must be great....we are the dirt under the fingernail and as a rule our behavior is in line with the buddhas will. if things were any different, the buddha would be a liar."

Well said, Greg-- I find that there is a difference in what people are seeking and how they regard *The Buddha* is a stunning reflection of how they approach this practice. How strange that so many abandon the Buddha and then say they are practicing Buddhism ! This was noted by my husband early on-- He actually gave me my small statue of Shakyamuni as a gift. Kevin opened his eyes when I disengaged with him and participated vigorously here--

I am following the same course with so many former *friends* still prcticing with SGI-- those who circle back to find out how I am faring :-) I refer them here-- and simply say, "don't take my word"- and of course, the dramatic turn around in my marriage speaks volumes to those who believed I was holding Kevin prisoner!! LOL!

Cheers! ~Katie

Greg, I know what you mean by *difficult to express in words*-- so it is really encouraging to see that you did use words here and I totally got what you meant-- There is a Gosho reference for this. Nichiren talks about how Shakyaumni bestowed *life span* years for the votaries in the Latter Day-- I think he, Shakyamnui sacrificed some 40 years of his own lifespan?

Another difficult to articulate experience is the *protection* of the bodhisattvas who made vows at the ceremony in the air-- ALL showing gratitude for being able to attain that which had been previously prohibited for them, namely, Buddhahood--ALL vowing to protect votaries of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day--

Those protective forces-- show up as circumstantial miracles--but I have to say that *life threatening* illness seems to be the common experience of those who have openly, publicly rebuked the slander of SGI/NST with the *teachings* and not from personal grudges-- Makes what Nichiren said about attaining Buddhahood being a matter of laying down one's life for the Law All the more relevant-- in a day and age when some of us are fortunate not to be subjected to public execution for our religious beliefs.

Mark, you remind me of the self-proclaimed *country* doctor I worked for in the early seventies, who has always been my *gold standard" for practicing medicine. His name was richard Dobson- of Brandywine Maryland, who made a fortune selling and buying Real Estate-- charged $%. for office visits and had the most amazing barter system --We had patients who cut acres of grass around Dr. Dobson's clinic and other's who painted walls, performed repairs-- etc. Dr. Dobson lived at his clinic-- for the most part -- . I learned more about medicine, human nature and true compassion at Dr. Dobson's Brandywine-Waldorf Clinic than anywhere else I have ever studied :-)

I am finding all of this NEWS to be a great comfort at the end of my 62nd year-- as I turn 63 on January 1st, I can say for the first time in over a decade that I am finally hopeful about the future-

Namu-myoho-renge-kyo ~Katie