Thank you! Quote and Index
Thank you!
To Tanya Myers, Stephen Lowe, David Gammons and Trudie Czuj, who encouraged me from day one. To Richard, my husband, who helped me find the time to write; to Robyn, my amazing daughter for her editing, ideas and clarity; to Austin Hardiman, Kate Young, Neo Oliver Watts, Tanzie Oliver and Jenny Oliver, Richard Lawson, Chrys Gardener and Cathy Pencak for their editing and encouragement; to Ariane Köhler, Alan McIntyre and Derek Andrews for their help and suggestions, to Dolly Kanwal for her advice and knowledge of India, to Salvador Gonzales Fajardo and Rosa Viñes Andres for their encouragement and inspiration. I also want to thank my Italian friends and family for their help with the Italian version: Grazie! to Laura Boato, Luca Giabardo, Santina Russo, Marilena Taboga, Roberta e Raffaele Tramma, Pasquale Giovannini, Elide Chinellato, Claudio Fabris and Silvano Calzavara, and all those friends who supported me along the way.
To Tanya Myers, Stephen Lowe, David Gammons and Trudie Czuj, who encouraged me from day one. To Richard, my husband, who helped me find the time to write; to Robyn, my amazing daughter for her editing, ideas and clarity; to Austin Hardiman, Kate Young, Neo Oliver Watts, Tanzie Oliver and Jenny Oliver, Richard Lawson, Chrys Gardener and Cathy Pencak for their editing and encouragement; to Ariane Köhler, Alan McIntyre and Derek Andrews for their help and suggestions, to Dolly Kanwal for her advice and knowledge of India, to Salvador Gonzales Fajardo and Rosa Viñes Andres for their encouragement and inspiration. I also want to thank my Italian friends and family for their help with the Italian version: Grazie! to Laura Boato, Luca Giabardo, Santina Russo, Marilena Taboga, Roberta e Raffaele Tramma, Pasquale Giovannini, Elide Chinellato, Claudio Fabris and Silvano Calzavara, and all those friends who supported me along the way.
I dedicate this book to
Richard, to our daughter Robyn and to President Daisaku Ikeda.
In memory of my mother Mercedes Dal Fiore and of my dearest friend Elide Chinellato, for all their support and encouragement!
Richard, to our daughter Robyn and to President Daisaku Ikeda.
In memory of my mother Mercedes Dal Fiore and of my dearest friend Elide Chinellato, for all their support and encouragement!
Little streams come together to form the great ocean, and tiny particles of dust accumulate to form Mount Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, first took faith in the Lotus Sutra, I was like a single drop of water or a single particle of dust in all the country of Japan. But later, when two people, three people, ten people, and eventually a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, and a million people come to recite the Lotus Sutra and transmit it to others, then they will form a Mount Sumeru of perfect enlightenment, an ocean of great nirvana.
From: The Selection of the Time
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pages 579-80)
Written to Yui in 1275
From: The Selection of the Time
(The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pages 579-80)
Written to Yui in 1275
Contents
PROLOGUE..................................................... 1
1. Shanti, Madam, shanti................................ 14
2. A red mark on the forehead...................... 33
3. How many worlds are there?.................... 44
4. Something 'incongruous'........................... 65
5. Cheloh, cheloh! Here we go!..................... 77
6. A moment of magic..................................... 90
7. Always carry your torch............................ 103
8. The secret of happiness.......................... 116
9. The Valley of the Gods............................. 134
10. Signed, Gautama Buddha...................... 148
11. Are you God?........................................... 162
12. The expert touch of a massage............ 179
13. You are the Treasure Tower................. 193
14. We all die sooner or later...................... 207
15. Opium...................................................... 219
16. The Frenchman....................................... 236
17. The present is a gift ................................251
18. The temple of your life ........................... 265
19. The Princess of the stream.................. 280
20. Allons enfants de la patrie..................... 295
21. The weight of freedom.......................... 310
22. Turning poison into medicine ............... 323
23. The impossible becomes possible ...... 333
24. The list of gratitude ............................... 348
25. Back to the homeland ............................362
26. It starts again from now ........................378
27. Thank you Van Gogh ..............................394
28. Believe in yourself .................................408
29. The stars and us ..................................... 421
30. I wanted you to be happy .......................436
31. Life is beautiful! .......................................451
32. Surprises .................................................468
33. Together ..................................................480
About the Author ...........................................485
PROLOGUE..................................................... 1
1. Shanti, Madam, shanti................................ 14
2. A red mark on the forehead...................... 33
3. How many worlds are there?.................... 44
4. Something 'incongruous'........................... 65
5. Cheloh, cheloh! Here we go!..................... 77
6. A moment of magic..................................... 90
7. Always carry your torch............................ 103
8. The secret of happiness.......................... 116
9. The Valley of the Gods............................. 134
10. Signed, Gautama Buddha...................... 148
11. Are you God?........................................... 162
12. The expert touch of a massage............ 179
13. You are the Treasure Tower................. 193
14. We all die sooner or later...................... 207
15. Opium...................................................... 219
16. The Frenchman....................................... 236
17. The present is a gift ................................251
18. The temple of your life ........................... 265
19. The Princess of the stream.................. 280
20. Allons enfants de la patrie..................... 295
21. The weight of freedom.......................... 310
22. Turning poison into medicine ............... 323
23. The impossible becomes possible ...... 333
24. The list of gratitude ............................... 348
25. Back to the homeland ............................362
26. It starts again from now ........................378
27. Thank you Van Gogh ..............................394
28. Believe in yourself .................................408
29. The stars and us ..................................... 421
30. I wanted you to be happy .......................436
31. Life is beautiful! .......................................451
32. Surprises .................................................468
33. Together ..................................................480
About the Author ...........................................485
To move to the next page click here: Prologue