How would Nichiren view and deal with difficult people?
How would Nichiren view and deal with difficult people?
Obviously we can look at this from the perspective of his life and what he experienced, but I was hoping to get your opinions on this. I see him as being patient and compassionate all at once. He had such resolve.
In his writing, Hokkemongu (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra), The Great Master Nichiren said, “If the practitioners of the Lotus Sutra wholeheartedly devote their life to the Lotus Sutra and practice according to its golden words, it is certainly needless to say that not only in the next life, but also in this lifetime they will overcome severe difficulty, prolong their life, receive the great, good fortune of unsurpassed enlightenment, and accomplish the great vow of the widespread, propagation of True Buddhism.”
Re: How would Nichiren view and deal with difficult people?
Dwelling in complete equanimity I believe he would understand that difficult people are driven by pain and suffering and would seek to relieve it in the manner that accords to their capacity to understand.
For people who practice this buddhism I our capacity to facilitate relieving their suffering is done through simple, direct and ordinary means. In this instance meeting their needs as long as they don't slander dharma or harm beings is the most appropriate action. Doing it without attachment to their suffering but rather from a place of proactive compassion.
That is, in order for them to know Buddhahood, they must experience it. The best an ordinary person can do to expose this is to provide is compassion at a time of difficult emotion. I have found externalizing one's self as a cause for other people's suffering makes it easier to be compassionate at a time of need.
You may also find many difficult people have a very different side when they aren't being driven by need or want. If you can see the good past the suffering you may be able to experience it manifest.
As someone who has spent decades servicing business professionals that my best customers where the most difficult initially. Many where very vocal, affluent and reasonable. They simply wanted someone to treat their needs with proper priority based on their perception. Once met they become permanent clients.