Saturday April 16, 1971-

     Today I got up at about 8:00 and cleaned my room. Sal came over and we chanted an hour of good diamoku and did Gongyo. Afterwards we drove down to Fullerton and got a girl’s World Tribune. It was really a good experience Shakubukuing an older lady and a young girl.  They were Sal’s old acquaintances and it was a good Shakubuku. They fed us lunch and we had a good personable talk, no real hang-ups. It feels real good.

     Then we went to the Honbu and fortunately the Fuji shobo was open and I got my Seattle T-shirt for Band Tommorrow….I had an unbelievably full schedule for me, but the Gohonzon helped me achieve my goal;  for your daily schedule has got to be a goal. I got one World Tribune today which brings my total to four. It broke my record of last month, so I’m happy for that. And it just seemed my schedule answered itself. I was going to pick up my new butsudon, but Russ left it here, I was supposed to call up Jay Stone, but Jay called me; I zipped in cleaning the house and it was just a good day.

     Evening we had a good Zadankai meeting. We had an elderly man and many younger guests. I helped the older man and it made me feel good inside. But not just good, but it put me through human revolution.

     One other thing I must note; My Dad, while buying some hay, ran across a man he hadn’t seen in ten years. The benefit is this man offered my Dad or asked him to interview for a job managing a Rental (U-Rent type of set-up) Shop for $15,000-20,000 + commission a year. It sounds good, but I don’t get my hopes too high. I just have got to get him to chant so it goes through; I will chant, too of course.

     Oh, I practiced my instrument again day by day. Now I must extend that to my studies.

     Tomorrow-Myohoji-can’t wait.

………………………………………………….

Sunday-April 18, 1971

Myohoji Family Day

In 1967, April 18 President Ikeda founded Myohoji temple with Nittatsu “Geka” Shonin and Sogohonbucho. Today was equally a beautiful and significant day in the history of our United States.

     Senator Alan Cranston of California sent Sogohonbucho a letter of congratulations with a flag that flew over the nation’s capitol. Today that flag flies over Myohoji Temple.

     What happened today is not possible for me to express in words. It was just happiness. Pure happiness and Unity.

     I thank Gohonzon for letting us spend a day with our Sogohonbucho.

     Events: Volleyball tournament, Parade, Flag raising ceremony, Young people’s egg hunt, Min-on show, eats and final volleyball, and tug-of-war.

     Nancy and I visited Tony, but I just am not impressed with his lack of life.

     Thanks, Pres. Ikeda.

                                       Must sleep-

                             Goodnight.

APRIL 15, 1971 -THURSDAY

About 3:30 this morning we had a 3.5 earthquake. Really strange…I got back my gov’t test-got a D, as in Despicable, and then had a talk with Professor Machado. I shakubukued him. Now I must really shakubuku him through better grades and class participation.

..I studied for my Man’s religions exam but fell asleep, in the library. That seems to be a real problem with me, I use it as an escape…

Today I have a new determination to advance on my clarinet and in my studies day by day. But we’ll just have to see how long that lasts.

… We had a very good Brass Band practice tonight. I helped another member with his music and it really felt good. After Band, Honbucho, Mr. Kikamura spoke to us about Sundays activities at Myohoji. He quoted President Ikeda, saying that we should all develop our talent.” Because we can do something no one else can do for Kosen rufu. However he said that we should never think that Nichiren Shoshu needs us, but we really need Gohonzon for our individual happiness. He says Sogohonbucho is working very hard and maybe we could help him a little more by chanting some diamoku for our unity and his success in his travels.

..I really chanted tonight to feel unity maybe it will come with hard work.

Ask Gohonzon in Evening Gongyo to be in high spirits the next day and have a constructive meaningful day.

Plan your activities a day in advance during evening Gongyo is a good time. And then rethink it during morning Gongyo.

……………………………

APRIL 16, FRIDAY

Well, today was a far out experience. I took my Man’s Religions exam on Hinduism and Buddhism. I think I faired quite well. My English class brought out my lazy nature again. Mrs. Foster talked to me about trying and said she couldn’t help me if I just didn’t try. I’m ashamed, but then I’m not, because finally I can challenge this problem and overcome it.

…Oh, got a benefit tonight. I got turned onto a new butsudon in exchange for my old one; truly a benefit. I practiced my instrument again today. I hope I can keep this up and extend it to my studies. I’m afraid if I don’t then I will definitely get behind in the busy month ahead. Sunday Myohoji sports festival, parade and picnic are coming. It’s really great to spend a day with Sogohonbucho.

…Today after school I talked with Dr. Shofner and we had a good conversation, he listened very intently to the little I could relate on Nichiren’s Buddhism. He got World Tribune for May.

..Lately, I have really been experiencing what the importance of one’s Ichinen actually is. When it slips (your life force), it really effects your environment; like people you talk to.

…I feel like my practice is getting together again, but usually it blows up again when I say or feel that. I am trying to have faith like water, and not fire. I usually burn out too fast. Hopefully, I can change that.

“High spirits tomorrow and very constructive.”

One of my members is not practicing every day, he’s pushing; so I am really learning more about human nature. I just am not chanting enough Diamoku for my members. I just must make more causes by doing Gongyo with him more often…

June 2, 1972

     Well today was the first day of my campaign and I reached my goal of 14,300 diamoku and it sure ain’t easy. I looked for a job today, made a lot of causes, but still fighting for the result. After I applied at Levitt’s furniture warehouse for a job I went out to start my car and it caught on fire. Great. I went home chanted diamoku.

     We had a discussion meeting with Shibucho tonight, it was successful in that two guests out of two guests joined. After the meeting we had a section leader’s meeting at the Joint Hdqtr’s and figured out what the band is going to do for the June Monthly Leader’s meeting and Recital. Did not practice my instrument or study ½ hour yet. (Studied Kyo-dono Gosho)

.…………..

June 5, 1972-Monday

      Tomorrow is the primary. I have an uneasy feeling that McGovern might not win over Humphrey, but I really hope so. There are also some local elections tomorrow. I’ve met or heard most of the candidates, and I must confess I’ve never seen such as sad lot with the exception of a couple. It is really a discouraging state of affairs in politics. I’m really tired of such politicians and their promises.

     ‘When the time for the meeting came no guests, just Sal and I and Jim were there. He turned around and said ‘What’s wrong with you guys, a Hancho and Jr. Hancho. Never with guests. Don’t you guys have any life force?”

      I didn’t say anything (outloud, but inside I said), “S… I’m trying.” Inside I was really mad at the Gohonzon. 2 ½ years no members, I practice like a s..-of-a-b…. Gohonzon, I do Shakubuku, Gongyo, chant diamoku, why no guests or members? I f I don’t have a guest in twenty minutes I’m quitting or at least walking home, S…!.” I said to myself.

     Well I had a guest, an Indian, Krishna Mennon, a research scientist at UCLA from India. He wants to chant. After the meeting I got into a little argument with Nancy Goyer.”

Thursday, May 25, 1972

Nothing is worse that coming home to a house with no electricity, no phone, no food. Many things are really at rock bottom. It’s strange. My dad is doing poorly in his business, his apartment’s power and gas and phone is off. So are mine, no jobs, no substantial relationships with people besides members, no money. My mom and dad are very far apart, my schooling is far beyond passing, no members. It is time to fight!

……….

June 1, 1972

Tonight as I sit in candlelight I do it not because I like to write by candlelight but rather I have no electricity.

I want to put down on paper what I have in my heart tonight so I will begin by giving my determination for August Tozon. Everyday I will chant 14,300 diamoku so I can chant 1 million diamoku by August tozon. 1 million diamoku from June 2 to August 10. I must really change my family situation. My father is still having poor fortune. He makes some money but does not know how to spend it. I myself want to really help him catch up his bills and bookwork.

But to do so I must get a full time job. For other prime reasons I withdrew from school and am now looking for a full time job. I don’t know if that was a mistake, but I am confident with the Gohonzon it will turn out to be a great benefit. The reason I am resolved to chant so many diamoku is so I can really understand my mission and meet President Ikeda in August. I also want to really develop mercy for other human beings and become a confident leader for Kosenrufu.

As a member of Nichiren Shoshu Academy I also resolve to study Buddhism at a deeper level for 20 minutes a day.
……………

May 9, 1972 Tuesday 

“It is not an easy task being a true pioneer. It is a constant struggle against yourself, always pushing a step further, when you feel you can not go anymore. Life is constant struggle, but it is so beautiful, because with great struggle comes great growth.

President Ikeda states:

‘On the road to World Peace many problems may occur.
However, through Hendoku Iyaku we must continue our
boundless advance, never stopping for anything.’

………..

May 23, 1972-Tuesday at North America Joint Headquarters Building in Santa Monica, California.

“Last night Jim Jay, Lee Pederson and I returned the key from the Min-on Warehouse #1 and we saw a few people gathered around a person upstairs, so we just went up there and a lady said, “Excuse me” (wanting to prevent our access), but we just kept walking. For two hours Mr. Fukushima Youth Division Chief (from Japan) gave everyone personal guidance from Gongyo to marriage.

…He said, ‘I’d rather you not be seen, but be like the axle on a car. It’s the dirtiest, darkest job, but it is the driving force of the car. You know the drive shaft can’t be seen. You be the same.’

‘In your twenties you should wear working clothes, later in your 40’s and 50’s you will have plenty of time to wear other dressy clothes…

‘He said, ‘It takes a different foundation to build a trailer house or a one story house. You can have a girlfriend or such and be happy for a year maybe even three years, but we are building a foundation like the Empire State Building. We are building happiness for forty and fifty years and happiness for eternity. That’s why the 20’s are so important.”

Phil Toy and I got our house which we had been chanting for. The house we got is going to be great for meetings. It is really a wreck now, but it can be fixed up so nice…When I think about how I would have reacted to such a house two years, ago, I can really laugh at myself. I January 27, 1972

Record: Second American Revolution; II Volume

January 21, 1972

“President Ikeda has stated in his preface to Human Revolution;

“A great revolution of character in just a single man will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and further enable a change in the destiny of all mankind.” October 12, 1965-

I am very excited to start my diary for the year of Sho-Hondo 1972. 1971 in passing was a year with many significant events which had great impact on my life. Last May 12 we had a Min-on in the Hollywood Bow. which filled it; on July 23-25th we had our Seattle Convention, on September 12, 1971 the 700th Anniversary of the Tasonokuchi Persecution we opened our new Los Angeles No. 1 Community Center, and on January 1, 1972 we welcomed the New Year of Sho-Hondo. Most significant, however was not the events, but the struggle leading to each one of the events. 1971 was a year of turmoil in the world and at times in my own life. In June or May our family separated. My mother and brother left for Mammoth Lakes in Central California. I am sure there was and is a benefit in that episode. My father and I have realized many things about life because of such an experience. I realized that sooner or later castles built on sand do wash away.
…..

In December, I took the Freshman Study Exam for the Nichiren Shoshu Study Academy.

…..
New Year’s Gongyo at Myohoji Temple. It was really strange. It was unbelievably cold everywhere with snow capped mountains everywhere in Southern California and cold winds, whew. But, so strangely when Jim Jay, Rich Rode and I arrived at Myohoji Temple there was unmistakably a warm breeze blowing at the Temple. That was definitely President Ikeda’s Ichinen, the same thing happened in Eliott Bay in Seattle during President Ikeda’s fireworks during the Seattle Convention, such a warm breeze during chilly night air.”

“Tonight, we just ended our World Tribune campaign and we reached our goal of 85. Last5 Sunday we ended our campaign for the entrance examination to the Nichiren Shoshu Study Academy. Our district got twenty people out for the exam. One of my members, Bill Myers took the exam and achieved a score of 98.

Today, I visited my member Ron Uota in the hospital. Ron was paralyzed from an accident 3 years ago, but last Thursday night before the study exam he had a car accident which totaled out his car, and almost himself also. I tried to reach him for several days, but with no luck. I thought he had gone home and not left word. It was not until Tuesday that I discovered from his landlord and then parents that he was in very serious condition from an automobile accident. I was a little bit freaked out on how to handle the situation. So I called Shibucho Guy McCloskey and he said to chant diamoku, so that’s all I could do. In the next three days his condition went from poor to stable to fair in Intensive Care Unit to a regular hospital room today. I visited him today and what a strange situation. Everyone was very down, but Dan Castle and I were in good spirits and I am sure we encouraged Ron to get better. His parents are Nembutsu and were in very depressed condition. Such encouragement as that pity is not needed, it only hurts harms people trying to recover. Soshibucho Gary Curtis is going to come out and see him Sunday.

Tuesday, Sogohonbucho gave a Seminar at Valley State College (now California State University at Northridge CSUN—I have a picture of me talking with then Masayasu Sadanaga-now George M. Williams, the General Director of SGI-USA). I introduced Mike Pimenthal one of Chico’s members to him. Then Lance Stromsei got guidance on his works since he could only come to meetings on Saturdays and Sundays. The guidance Sogohonbucho gave was to everyone right around him. He hit me with his Ichinen, so powerful. He related his experience when he worked as a janitor from 12 to 8 in the morning and was a student at UCLA and had meetings in starting Nichiren Shoshu of America. He said when you are studying you should preview and review your lessons. After class you should go directly to a study spot in the library which is marked with your name and study for an hour or so. Every day you should not fail to do that. He said that when you are stupid like me that’s the only way to really pass. You can’t study late at night because that usually falls through.’

After the seminar we walked with Sogohonbucho to his car. The feeling I got was really indescribable, but it was fresh like after a rainfall, and the sun comes out and everything smells so fresh. It just seemed like everything was okay.”

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