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Taking 100-Percent Responsibility
David Tan, Australia
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| David Tan |
David Tan's family emigrated to Australia from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in
1985 when he was 10 years old. The family moved because David's father, a
chef with a major hotel chain, had been transferred to the hotel's newly
opened branch in Perth. Life in a new country was exciting for young David,
and even the difficulty he had communicating in English did not detract
from his happiness in his new home. His two sisters and his parents were
also content, and his life was relatively carefree until 1990 when, in his
last year of secondary school, he was forced to think about the future. His
fellow students were choosing subjects for the university entrance exams.
However, due to his poor academic performance in secondary school, David
was ineligible to take exams in many of the subjects he wished to pursue.
Faced with this situation, he became very depressed. He lacked direction
and had very little confidence. It was at this low point in his life that
Mr. Tan joined Soka Gakkai International Australia (SGIA).
After three years of grueling study and a lot of chanting, he was able to
graduate in 1997 with a major in accounting and finance. However, he was
disappointed because he had not received any employment offers during his
last year at university when companies were recruiting accounting students.
Reflecting on this situation, he saw that he felt weak and powerless. He
set about challenging himself to change this attitude because he saw that
it not only affected his ability to find a job but also undermined his
attitude toward life in general. He recalls: "It was a very difficult time
for me, especially because I received so many rejection letters from
employers. My Buddhist practice definitely helped me get through this
period. I was frequently encouraged by the experiences of other members and by the guidance of SGI President Ikeda, and I became determined to change
my pessimistic attitude and to overcome my tendency to give up when faced
with a challenge. Because I was unemployed at the time, I was able to
devote much of my time to preparing for the SGIA Friendship Festival--the
first nationwide SGIA event to be held in the city of Perth. The
preparation activities were challenging, and I was so busy preparing for
this event that I had no time to worry about not having a job; I simply
kept applying for jobs and was determined to find one before the start of
the festival."
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| Perth City |
About one month prior to the event Mr. Tan succeeded in finding an
accounting position. He feels that his fundamental change in attitude was
also reflected in other areas of his life: "I saw that no one else but me
could change my life and that I was really the only one who could make
things happen in my life, including finding a job. As a result of working
closely with youth and other members of SGIA in preparation for the
Friendship Festival, I came to see what a selfish attitude I had
previously. Taking part in this event really helped me broaden my
perspective on many things." Mr. Tan is currently the Western Australia headquarters chief of the young
men's division of SGIA. He feels that he has become a more confident,
optimistic and capable person as a result of participating in SGIA
activities. He has been inspired by SGI President Ikeda's advice that
"Rather than try to move others, you must set yourself in motion, like an
engine. Herein lies the driving force of victory." Mr. Tan says, "I used to
have the tendency to expect others to make things happen. My attitude was:
'Why don't you do this, or why don't they do that?' I became frustrated
when people wouldn't take action to produce the results I expected. Now I
see that I was actually frustrated about not being able to make things
happen or take action myself. Through my practice of Buddhism I have been
able to see my shortcomings and see that it is not others but myself who
must make things happen, and this I can do by making changes in myself."
Mr. Tan is now studying to become a CPA (certified public accountant)-not
only to advance in his career but also to show actual proof of the practice
of Buddhism in his daily life.
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| With SGI members from Perth at the opening ceremony of the World Boys and Girls Art Exhibition in Sydney (May 1999) |
In 1999, Sydney hosted the "World Boys and Girls Art Exhibition." This
SGI-sponsored event featured the drawings and paintings of children from
around the world based on the theme of global citizenship. In commemoration
of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of SGIA, the members in Perth
created a short multimedia CD-ROM based on the exhibition. This CD-ROM,
intended to foster awareness of global citizenship, was shown to 400 guests
who attended the anniversary celebrations. Among those present was Mike
Board, minister for citizenship and multicultural affairs.
Mr. Tan says the CD-ROM was so well received that, with the encouragement
of Mr. Board, SGIA has decided to redesign it for use in schools. He says,
"We are hoping to finish this project in early 2000. The CD can be used by
individuals at home as well as by teachers in the classroom. The diversity
of artistic expression on the CD can be used to spark discussion around
questions such as: 'What country do you think this painting comes from?'
'Why do countries have wars?' and 'What would you do to heal the world?' "
At work and in his Buddhist activities, Mr. Tan now takes 100-percent
responsibility to work for people's happiness without relying on others. He
says, "I think that youth, especially, must follow this spirit. We must
never forget our goals and never be afraid to muster the fighting spirit to
overcome the negative forces inherent in our lives. We must never give up."
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