鲍鱼tv

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Nichiren Buddhist Robert Harrap.

Good morning.

We don鈥檛 really notice a tree growing from day to day, but if we take a longer view over years or decades then we can clearly see how a sapling has become a mature tree. Today is an important day for members of SGI-UK, the Buddhist organisation of which I am a part, because we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the opening of our national centre in the UK, by our Buddhist teacher, Daisaku Ikeda.

On 21st May 1989 he visited us from his home in Japan, and on his arrival planted a cedar tree and opened our centre as a place to learn about and practise Buddhism, and importantly how to apply Buddhist principles in our daily lives. The cedar tree he planted, 30 years on, is now towering next to the drive. The teacher or mentor plays an important role in Buddhist practice and we describe the purpose of the teacher in different ways. They can be a compass, because the teacher is a person who can lead and connect people to the Law, or dharma, that exists within their own lives.

The mentor is an example who wishes their students or disciples will surpass them and their own achievements. The teacher is like a needle that moves to other tasks once the stitching is complete. I have very happy memories of that day in 1989 when we welcomed our mentor, but we don鈥檛 just celebrate anniversaries to look back into the past, we consider them to be opportunities to make a fresh determination and take action for the future. May I have the wisdom today to know what the valuable lessons are from the past, and to make sure that I apply them in the present and the future.