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Realizing
the Significance of Life
By Suphang
Rujanawech, Thailand
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Ms.
Rujanawech at work
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I am a Buddhist by
birth, but I had never clearly understood Buddhism until I met
a Japanese friend who came to install and implement computer
systems for the company where I worked as an IT manager in
Thailand. At that time my life was in a miserable condition,
my marriage was falling apart, and the business I ran on the
side was going downhill. I ended up heavily in debt.
In 1996, this friend of mine told me about Nichiren Buddhism.
He said that Buddhism stresses how sacred and precious life,
especially human life, is. He told me of the letter by
Nichiren which reads: "A single day of life is worth more
than all the treasures of the universe," and explained
how we can have an influence on our environment by practicing
Buddhism and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I realized that
trying to escape could by no means help me solve my problems.
Before meeting this friend, I was honestly thinking of dying
or running away from my sufferings. He gave me two books which
I finished reading in no time. I was deeply impressed and
started chanting. As I read more, I felt I had found the true
significance of life and how we should lead our lives as human
beings.
I was very impressed when I saw that SGI President Daisaku
Ikeda wrote that "the purpose of life is to achieve
happiness. The spirit underlying the culture of genuine
community, peaceful coexistence, is no different, aspiring to
establish indestructible happiness for all living
beings." I feel there is great truth in these words.
Although I had received a good opportunity to study abroad, I
had successfully graduated in computer science and I had
capability in my work, I was not happy. Gradually, by
chanting, I could feel I was able to gain wisdom and bring
forth my full potential. Instead of blaming others, I began to
feel more confident in coping with problems in life and
learned to live more creatively. My life has changed and
become better since I started practicing this Buddhism. My
marriage ended with separation, but we are now good friends.
My financial situation also improved, and I was able to
negotiate with the creditors and gradually pay back my debt.
We human beings have great expectations of the benefits that
information technology and genetic engineering will bring. Yet
I feel it is tragic that what has followed the global march of
civilization is the retreat of a tradition of coexistence, the
art of living together. Working environments are now very
competitive, and coworkers are losing a sense of friendship.
Family relationships are fading and becoming weaker. I think
compassion is a key factor to heal and improve human
relationships.
I am now starting to work as freelance translator. I have
translated many books concerning IT, and, as a graduate in
computer science, I find Buddhism and computer technology
astonishingly alike. Buddhism views everything from the
perspective of the law of cause and effect, while the computer
is a technology that developed from the law of logic, on the
basis of input and output. Buddhism is a means to develop
wisdom, while computers develop knowledge. I feel that there
is no contradiction between Buddhism and technology.
In addition to my work, I also help my sister run an Internet
shop, and there I teach children to use computers. I always
encourage them to search for knowledge and useful information
from the Internet instead of using it only for
"chatting" or worse. I also translate books
concerning Nichiren Buddhism into Thai as I feel the need to
share with others what I have experienced from practicing
Buddhism.
Young people in today's world are growing up with technology.
They are digitally but not spiritually mature, and many people
live their lives without any goals or sense of direction.
Religion may be the last thing they think about.
I feel that it is necessary to encourage the youth and people
of this world who are obsessed with high technology to
recognize that Buddhism is a contemporary issue, not obsolete.
If we can help young people perceive the correct way to lead
their lives, we are sure to have more capable youth with a
positive vision who can lead their lives happily and steer the
world toward peace and harmony.
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