My name is Upasana Arora and I live in Kolkata, india. I'm 24, but will be a year older this November :)
I am presently doing a course in montessori training and will qualify to be a teacher next June. I've studied mass communication in my masters degree and was a student of english literature in my under grad :)
I live with my mom and dad. My brother who's a 2nd year engineering student is in the University of Sheffield in the UK right now.
From Upsana ~
Hello Jamie!
How are you? And how is Ben? I hope he is better now and is recovering well :)
I just read your last post on the blog. It is so inspiring and so encouraging. Whenever I read Sensei's quote where he says that the person who gives others hope despite facing challenges himself is a true leader, you're the first person that comes to my mind. I am sure with your admirable qualities and Buddha nature you WILL surmount your hardship. I have friends here who are also facing various challenges, and some very difficult ones; but their deep rooted faith and daimoku is surely going to give them complete victory. :)
When I first came into the practice, my prayers were based mainly on my desires. Desire to get this, that, have so and so in my life, etc... and I did get all that I chanted for! This was what made my faith in this practice so strong. Seeing benefits, and simultaneously attending the May 3 meeting changed my life and made me the practitioner I am today.
Over time, with more daimoku and study (which apart from the Gosho, and Sensei's writings includes your blog as well) what has fundamentally changed in me is the way I pray.
Now, instead of just focusing on what I want for myself, I try and see how my prayer will benefit people at large. For example, I wish to be a successful montessori teacher, but now, not just for my satisfaction or any other material benefit, but also so that I can from a very early age imbibe good values in young minds so that they can grow to become Buddhas and fulfill their lives mission.
I chant for a good partner... and I know exactly the kind of person I want. And I want it so that my relationship gives me happiness, and also can be a hope to many others that such wonderful things do happen and people can find their dream/kosen rufu partners. I chant for good health and happiness of my parents and brother, and wish that like mom and me, they too will start chanting some day! My brothet has started though, but he isn't very consistent.
Chanting fills me with hope, with a renewed vigour. I do feel low at times and even feel lazy to chant. But when I make myself come out of this low life state and do even 10 mins of daimoku I feel my worries are taken care of. I feel light and happy!
Thank you for initiating the one million daimoku campaign. I am going a tad bit slow, but it is making me chant every day and has really helped in bringing discipline into my daily life. Also, meeting fellow members and participating In Gakkai activities makes me feel wonderful! I did a study
(my very first study) with my fellow ywd and a very dear friend on our last Zadankai about the youth's opinion on world peace and I'm glad to share that our study was loved and appreciated by everyone present at the meeting!
I wrote to you today because I just wanted to share my experience with you about the practice which I got into 5 months ago. And also wanted to thank you yet again for being so instrumental in firming my belief in this life changing philosophy and also changing my life for the best!
Lots of love
Upasana
