Morning Daimoku #1,169 — A Silver Week Morning with My Grandchildren: When They Ask, Answer Right Away

Good morning. I hope you are doing well today. This is Shima from Oubaitori. Welcome to Morning Daimoku — my 10,000-Daimoku Journal, session #1,169.

Silver Week: The Grandchildren Race to Be First Up

Yesterday, during Japan’s Silver Week holidays, two of our families came to stay — five grandchildren in all. Early this morning they all jumped out of bed, each trying to be first, and came down from the second floor to the first. I was doing gongyo and chanting daimoku, and I kept going so they could see me. Then one of the grandchildren came up beside me and clung to me. “How many Nam-myoho-renge-kyos are you doing? How long have you been going?”

“What’s That?” — Answer Right Then, So They Understand

The grandchild pointed at the Omamori Gohonzon placed beside the Gohonzon in our altar and asked, “What’s that?” “That’s the Gohonzon.” “Whoa!” At that point I paused my daimoku. It matters to explain it right then and there.

“Wait a moment,” I said, and took it out of its case. “See? It’s the same as the Gohonzon.” I opened it up and showed them — “It’s the same as the Gohonzon in our altar!” — and they said, “Wow, amazing!”

When children ask about faith, answer right away. Answer in a way they can understand. I believe this is what matters.

Once everyone had seen it and understood, I said, “Good,” put it away back in its place, and said, “All right, I’m going to keep chanting,” and went on with my daimoku. I think showing them through what I do, like this, is what matters.

Settling Quarrels, Between Rounds of Daimoku

Before long, a quarrel broke out. It gets noisy, too. This was a moment to talk things over, so I paused my daimoku again and stepped in to settle it.

A little later, I went over to the child who had come off worse, put my arm around their shoulders, and asked, “What happened?” After listening, I went back to my daimoku.

These children will carry the future, so I want them all to get along. Within the family, they will learn how to get along with one another — we are family, one extended family — and so I prayed firmly that they will always get along.

Let’s Daimoku! Thank you, and have a wonderful day.