As much as we would like to keep a nice job that matches our 

strength, experiences, needs, wants and interests, it

is as hard as or even harder than finding an ideal soul mate. While we each have our own criteria we use while
choosing our jobs, employers have their own. Even if we have temporarily secured a job, the terms and conditions of
the position are ever-changing due to factors such as the business operation, the economic situation, and the
environment. There are too many variables to watch and control. Almost everybody has experienced endless
frustration in trying to land a steady, sound, promising and dignified job. For some, it is a tough task even to grab
any job at all. The ball, seemingly, is by no means in our hand.

The wounded economy has made keeping a stable and decent job even more challenging. The job market has been
affected the most, and has been drastically cut without mercy. The meager job positions available are far less than
enough to go around. Tens of thousands of workers are being laid off. The luckier ones still get to keep their jobs but
don’t know when it will be their turn to lose them. Facing this impact head on but helplessly and defensively, many
of us have started to realize how feeble and incompetent we are when our job karma is being played out.

Our bad karma in our jobs looks so abstract and overwhelming that we seem to have no control over it. The truth is,
we can treat it as a springboard to advancing in our jobs. The key is how earnestly we want to eradicate our bad job
karma, transcend it and bid it good-bye for good. We absolutely hold the power, the wisdom and the means to turn
this poison into medicine, because we practice Nichiren Buddhism.

A successful fishery exporter in Taiwan once shared his trial-and-error experience in exporting mackerel to Japan.
His first few shipments were total disasters. Each time, all the mackerel had died en route. Knowing that mackerel
were energetic and active, he had immediately increased their food supply, pumped more oxygen into the enlarged
fish tanks and filled the tanks with perfectly conditioned water in preparation for the next shipment, but the
improvements did not help much. Then, an experienced friend suggested that he put some catfish into the tanks with
the mackerel. “Catfish are the mortal rival to mackerel. Wouldn’t they eat up all my merchandise?” he wondered.

In fact, the presence of catfish placed the mackerel on high alert, forcing them to stay in constant motion in order to
quickly dart away from their predators when being attacked. Due to such life-threatening urgency, the mackerel
were able to manifest enough of their potential energy to stay strong. Thus, according to the fishery exporter, most
of the mackerel arrived safe and sound, except those few that were weak in body and mind, and lacking in fighting
spirit.

It was a military strategy in old times to deploy troops in such a way as to leave no room to maneuver and no route
for escape, so that the soldiers would fight desperately for their lives and eventually win the battle.

Don’t the above two examples demonstrate that a crisis can be our turning point to success? There’s no better time
than this moment to shake up and turn our bad job karma into good. If we are out of work, our job is to get ourselves
into high gear for a victorious strike back. We have all the time we need at our disposal. If we are constantly in fear
of losing our jobs or feeling unhappy and depressed by our unfit jobs, we can spur ourselves into working for future
promotion. Coping with it indomitably, we can use the frustration to strengthen our determination.
Buddhism teaches the law of simultaneity of cause and effect. But it is cause that triggers the birth of effect. Effect
can’t come about without cause being made first. In other words, cause must precede effect. The beauty of it is that
we can maneuver and reap the benefits we want by sowing the right seeds. In this case, we can and must make good
causes that generate the kind of good effect or good karma that we desire.

On May 21st, 2001, President Ikeda spoke about “The Force of People Awakened”. He shared Mr. Toda’s fervent
wish for the student division members:
“At the student division’s inaugural meeting, Mr. Toda said to the 500 bright young people assembled, ‘It is my
wish that half of you will become company directors and the other half will earn doctorates.’ These are well-known
words.”
In President Ikeda’s novel “The New Human Revolution” v. 1 p. 60, he thus encouraged Riki, the newly appointed
first Young Men’s Division District Chief in Hawaii:
“Riki, to gain trust in society, it is first important to succeed on your job. That is the foundation for everything. To
do so, you will naturally have to work twice as hard as those around you. You will also need to activate your
wisdom by consistently chanting daimoku…

When you make kosen-rufu your life’s objective and pray to excel at your work in order to show proof of that goal’s
validity, you will be opening the way for your own victory and good fortune.”
In both Presidents Toda’s and Ikeda’s minds, in order to spread Nichiren Buddhism far and wide, it is important that
we succeed in our jobs to strengthen our abilities for our goal. 

In this guidance, President Ikeda points out how we can open the way for our victory and good fortune:

1. Make kosen-rufu our life’s objective. 

2. Pray to excel at work to show the validity of kosen-rufu. 
3. Activate our wisdom by consistently chanting daimoku. 
4. Work twice as hard as those around us. 

Based on this guidance, here are some possible causes that we may consider to embark upon. Our goal is to become
people who are free of job crises and who enjoy going to work every day to contribute as well as to receive.

Cause No. 1: Set a master goal that contributes to achieving kosen rufu.
During our everyday chanting is the perfect time to seek wisdom and ponder the specific details of our career goals.
We become what we think about.
What do we desire to achieve in life? What do we expect from our jobs? How much money will we be happy
making? What effort do we have to put forth to earn it? We incorporate our desires and dreams and the
corresponding responsibilities into our goals. The ultimate purpose for those goals is to pave the way for our mission
of spreading Nichiren Buddhism: to accumulate fortune, to create actual proof, to strengthen our abilities and to gain
trust in the society.

Our goals also include developing ourselves in order to advance no matter what our duty is at work. Everyone starts
at the bottom on the way up. No job is too small, no position is too low and no field is too insignificant. One may
distinguish oneself in any trade. Opportunities exist everywhere. The plan is a lifelong one, not just for now. We
have to think like entrepreneurs, not employees; like value-creators, not labor-providers. Because of the simultaneity
of cause and effect, our quality thinking is the perfect cause with which to nourish our lives.
Do we already know all there is to know about our jobs? Can we fill the demands of our jobs? Are there better ways
to do what we are currently doing? We want to train and educate ourselves so that we are highly skilled and badly
needed and appreciated. We want to become people who can’t be replaced or who the employers will let go only
when they have to shut down the entire operation.

All companies are constantly on the lookout for capable leaders on every level. We would like to polish and develop
ourselves to the extent that we are obviously over-qualified for our position. If it is so obvious, they will see it and
make the appropriate position adjustments to let the companies benefit from our ability. We want to become people
who are constantly approached by recruiters with better and better job offers, even if we already have good jobs.
We desire our abilities to allow us to be recession-proof, withstand the stormy economy and never have to drift
along in the currents among the multitudes. Knowing that we excel in our field, we enjoy going to work, setting a
great example and inspiring others.
Are such goals too optimistic and ambitious to reach? Not at all. Our chanting of daimoku is like the roar of the lion
and our practice like the mighty sword. With them, we will succeed dauntlessly in every endeavor for the execution
and completion of our plan.

Cause No. 2: Chant abundant daimoku, praying to excel at work.

The best cause we can make to crack down on our bad job karma is to chant hours and hours, as much as possible,
everyday. As practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism, we all know that with chanting, we can activate wisdom,
accumulate fortune, elevate our life condition, expand our capacity and obtain protection and opportunities from the
Buddhist Gods. The Buddhist gods (shoten zenjin) manifest themselves as ordinary 
people who come to our aid at the right time in the right place. 

Through chanting, we are also able to communicate compassionately with other people’s Buddhahood, including
those we associate with at work. The benefits of our massive and steadfast chanting, accompanied with our
penetrating prayer, move us toward our goals.
“Gohonzon, I have realized that only under such a dire job market situation can I show true and convincing actual
proof by, against all odds, finding a job that fits me well. I am determined to land one no matter what. This is the
perfect opportunity to forge myself into someone capable of fulfilling my mission. I am very excited about it!

“Gohonzon, I am chanting to activate my wisdom to enable myself to see a clear picture of how to change my job
karma. I am chanting so that my life force is so strong that I can staunchly complete a grand task of human
revolution. Gohonzon, I am taking every action that I can possibly take to prove how deathly serious I am about
creating good karma in my career. I know my destiny is in my own hands.
“Gohonzon, every day, just as I am using my whole being to send daimoku out to the whole universe, I am sending
my resume out to the world. Through every channel of cyberspace and to every corner of the universe, they will
definitely reach my friends and previous co-workers who know my abilities. Those acquaintances will watch for job
openings for me and recommend me to their companies. My prayer will also make my resume stand out in the eyes
and minds of companies that need my service and can benefit from my work.

“Gohonzon, I know the job market has shrunk considerably. However, as long as it has not been totally
extinguished, I am determined to work twice as hard and make myself qualify for a share of it. I am so confident
because I uphold this faith and practice it earnestly, because I am nourished by the encouragement and support of
my fellow SGI members and my family and friends, and because my mission requires my victory to be a vanguard
on the long path that lies in front of me. Gohonzon, Watch me! Though it is very difficult, I am making it happen!”

Cause No. 3: Activate and exercise our wisdom through chanting.

It is recommended that we keep a note pad and a pen besides us to write down the wisdom emerging from our
chanting. Hours of focused chanting every day will produce wisdom that rewrites our destiny hereafter, when put
into action.
We need to show interest in, enjoy and appreciate our job no matter how lousy we think the job is. Since we engage
at least one third of each day in the job, we must find a way to make the job our servant instead of our tyrant.
Without changing the reality of our unfulfilling job, we can turn around and let the same job work for us. We don’t
allow the job to drain our energy. We command it to nourish our strength in preparation for our further
advancement.

To do so, we first have to put aside all our feelings of dislike or hate of our job. Then, by compassionately not taking
for granted what we are already getting from it, it won’t be difficult to feel the appreciation. It is usually the case
that as human beings, we would make every effort to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. Complaint erases fortune and
creates negative effect, while appreciation accrues blessing. Therefore, it is quite clear that our efforts should be
focused strictly on not complaint but on appreciation.

Isn’t it true that most jobs support our living, holidays and health insurance? What other benefits do they provide? Is
the environment clean and comfortable? Do our colleagues open a course of human revolution for us to learn, to
polish our skills, and to become better human beings? Are we generously given access, time, help and freedom to
learn the finer points, insights and secrets of the trade? Isn’t this the perfect setup from which to master our trade,
pushing us to climb the next rung of the career ladder?
If we could objectively put ourselves in our employers’ shoes, we wouldn’t need much wisdom to realize what we
could do to be cherished and promoted. Our company can afford to treat us generously only when it thrives and
prospers. The cause we have to make for our own sake is to help it, to the best of our ability, succeed against the
tough competition. Every employee’s effort counts. But there’s no limitation to how we can make good causes.
What’s the maximum extent to which we can offer and contribute? How can we incorporate our strengths to make
our work generate more value than ever, without increasing cost? What is our niche that will let us stand out from
the common practice in the field? How can we observe our job with a new eye and detect the clues to revamp it or
give it a new twist? Abundant daimoku will trigger the light bulb in our brain to shine brightly. The rest is the story
of the wonderful work of wisdom.

Simply by setting our minds on those goals, we have registered eloquently in our lives all the extra good causes of
thoughts and their simultaneous effects. When we obtain results, which we definitely will, they will stand out on our
resume. By putting forth such efforts, we may have at the same time benefited others due to the side effects of our
great good causes. But it is guaranteed that 100 percent of the effect or fortune, original and genuine, will flow into
our very own lives.
Let’s use a female receptionist as an example to practice how we can add essence and aroma to her job description.

She has to be serious about her job and be willing to perform it at her best, as an art. She then chants to manifest her
Buddha nature at work. The benefits of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the Lotus Sutra, will purify her six sense
organs. Her voice is one of her major means to conduct her job, and that voice does the Buddha’s work. She is being
given countless opportunities each day to use her voice to greet every caller! The callers won’t see her facial
expression, but they will definitely feel her Bodhisattva compassion through her voice.

She is usually the first contact for every colleague and visitor who comes to the office. Facing them, she can apply
the Buddhist teaching and bow to their Buddhahood, show them her respect and treat everyone as the most
important person on earth. She can also carry a high life condition with her to inject compassion and happiness into
the lives of people she comes in contact with. Can she thus turn her reception hall into a Buddha Land and lift those
people to a higher life state? You bet!

By being uplifting in order to fulfill her job duties beautifully, will she feel the same joy herself? Will the
environment and the universe respond to her in kind? Of course! What she puts out is what she receives. And you
never know, somewhere, someone might be so impressed by her performance that they might feel inclined to
promote her!
However, even with such wisdom in our pursuit for excellence, it would still be a great challenge to revolutionize
our routine work and habitual thinking if we don’t work on our inner transformation first. As practitioners of
Nichiren Buddhism, we surely have the advantages and means to accomplish this cause that will pave the way for
the ultimate fulfillment of our goal.

Cause No. 4: Embark on our project of human revolution.

It seems that we can’t escape from doing human revolution if we want to reroute the course of our unhappy lives.
Every aspect of our lives calls for our human revolution. If we don’t ever face it head on, how can we expect to
grow something different out of the same old seed that’s deeply rooted in the earth of our lives?
Our fundamental life tendency affects how we perform in our profession. Our attitude in applying our abilities
accounts for our achievement at work. Do we constantly move from one job to another? Is it because of our lack of
ability, efficiency or persistence? Are we dwelling in comfortable routines, making do with whatever we get and
falling into the trap of inertia? Do we indulge ourselves in excessive free will, thereby sabotaging ourselves? Do we
make excuses and evade our responsibility? If we see something that needs to be done but isn’t in our job
description, do we tend to think: “This is not my department. That is too much for me to do.”? Are we being
complacent, confining ourselves in a narrow, outdated paradigm without having an open mind and the motivation to
change and to grow?

Are we loners who are over-sensitive, negative, picky, pitiful and angry? Or are we bull-headed, domineering,
arrogant, vindictive, stubborn, defensive and intimidating? Can we work harmoniously with others as a team? Are
we accessible and reliable, suitable to be entrusted with sensitive assignments? Are we constructive, positive,
enthusiastic, energetic and eager to learn and to contribute? Are we strong and humble enough to take suggestions or
criticism and to reflect and improve? Is our presence at work a pleasant asset to our colleagues and the company?
It is not a bad idea to ask or even beg our family and friends to help us identify our shortcomings and help push us to
change. If necessary, pay someone or hire a professional to oversee the execution of this project. Our character is
our fate, because it directs us on how to make causes. By transforming ourselves, we change what we receive from
our surroundings without changing the reality of it. The completion of our human revolution will enable us to
greatly increase our abilities and our performance and to become happy people who enjoy everything we do and
embrace everyone we meet.

A Women Division member, in whose life devilish functions ran rampant, struggled in every aspect of her life of 48
years. As a consequence of unrelenting childhood abuse, she became very toxic, attracting confrontations and abuse
everywhere. As a flight attendant her work was a nightmare. Colleagues harassed and abused her on every trip. Even
strangers treated her meanly, not to mention her family. She was always furious and self-pitying. In 21 years of
chanting, she saw little improvement. Unknown to her, her attitude while chanting was fearful and negating, wishing
for relief but still believing she deserved to be punished. Her interaction with society never failed to bring forth the
Pavlovian dynamic, reinforcing her negativity towards herself, which the toxic environment happily responded to. It
was a vicious, vicious circle.
All the guidance from leaders all over the world failed to give more than temporary relief. When others didn’t abuse
her, she abused herself. She would stop eating completely and turn to alcohol and cigarettes. Her frustration with
herself only increased.

It was not until she fully awakened to the significance of human revolution and resolutely worked on it did her life
take a dramatic, sharp turn. Nine months after she started her inner transformation, she is now enjoying the
excitement of being totally embraced, complimented and greeted by everyone, (including colleagues who had
abused her every time they flew together) as if she were a long lost sister. They even constantly share their problems
with her and let her introduce them to Nichiren Buddhism. A colleague based in Los Angeles just received
Gohonzon two months ago.

Her sister in Iceland, to whom she hadn’t spoken in years, called her out of the blue and announced that she and her
Icelandic husband were waking up every morning at six to kneel on the floor, face east and chant. Her sister wanted
to be connected to the SGI-Iceland.
Her life has changed totally, and her environment reflects it. In an email to me she marveled, “I cannot believe that I
have lived my entire life in utter hell when within my grasp there existed true happiness.” In her own words, she
“became happy in spite of herself.”

With all the preparations, now we are ready to make:

Cause No. 5: Take actions upon actions.

Now, we can organize the notes we take down during our chanting, and put the action items that will move us
steadily ahead toward our goals in the order of their importance.

By diligently carrying out faith, practice and study, the three pillars of Nichiren Buddhism, we have learned to set
our mind to bringing our strength into full play despite our status and position. We are able to polish our lives to
become active, optimistic and happy, and thus shine and attract positive energy and opportunities. 

The Buddhist teaching of indefinitely progressing can also forge us into people whose lives brim over with dignity,
charisma and achievement.
To enhance our ability for advancement, we research the nature, the content and the technique of our line of
business, read books and study our specialty and ask the opinions and experiences of seniors and experts in the field.

An SGI-USA Young Men’s Division member embarked on a new career with a pay cut. He had to go through a
two-year trial or training period. Challenging his lazy nature and fear of hard work, he took a very painstaking
process to slowly but steadily build up his experience and clientele. At the same time, he became friendly with a
senior in the office and constantly sought his advice.

After two years, just before his graduation from the training program, the senior asked him to become his partner.
He was planning to retire in a couple of years and asked this young man to take over a book of clients that would
take anyone decades to build. This young man’s training from our Buddhist practice won him the trust of the senior,
and also had enabled him to change his financial situation. (For details, please see Experience by David Tempest,
World Tribune 12/22/2000)
It is also important that we follow a good work ethic and abide by regulations and the job schedule, even if no one is
watching us. In fact, we really can’t afford not to watch ourselves, because every move creates new causes in our
lives. A good cause produces good effects; a bad cause, bad effects; no cause, no effects. Let’s check it out:

“The Buddha taught that one, from the very moment of one’s birth, is accompanied by two messengers, Same Birth
and Same Name, who are sent by heaven and who follow one as closely as one’s own shadow, never parting from
one even for an instant. These two take turns ascending to heaven to report one’s offenses and good deeds, both
great and small, without overlooking the slightest detail.”
-- The Gods Same Birth and Same Name, Nichiren Daishonin, WND p 316
Our everyday actions train us to qualify for opportunities and enable us to grab them when they knock. As we grow,
it will come naturally that our position and income be promoted and increased. Since we are now so solidly
competent, if one offer can’t match our quality, there are plenty of other places that can and will embrace and
cherish us. Just as we strive hard to succeed, every business is also putting out a long-range antenna to detect,
discover and recruit people who can contribute the most to helping it succeed.

The 21st century is the age of evolution, of non-stop improvement and advancement of the cutting edge. Things are
ever newer day by day. People move at lightening speed to advance so that they can rise above the crowd. We can’t
preserve, stop or hold back time. The only thing we can do is to also move rapidly to at least keep up with the world.
Otherwise, when times get rough, we will be washed away by the competition.

Yes, we are tired after eight-hour’s battle at work; the battle against stress and pressure. After work, we deserve a
break, watching TV or hanging out and having fun with friends. While relaxing regularly, let’s listen to what
Nichiren Daishonin has to say: “You survived because you still have both good fortune and rewards.” He also warns
us: “When one comes to the end of one’s good fortune, no strategy whatsoever avails. When one’s karmic rewards
are exhausted, even one’s retainers no longer follow one.” (WND, p 1000)
Besides spending eight hours on work and eight on sleep, we still have another eight at our disposal, but no more
than that. Do we casually and unmindfully let them slip away without a trace? Or do we scrupulously manage them
to add more good fortune to the savings account of our lives that we are consuming day after day? Of course it
depends on what the meaning, value and purpose of our lives are. Everyone’s priorities vary.

The secrets and shortcuts to success have long become public knowledge: work diligently, wisely and persistently.
Luckily, as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism, we hold the key to the gate on the path to claiming victory and
fortune. This practice saves us from stumbling around, as long as we practice it earnestly and correctly.

We can foresee the trouble and hassles we have to go through in order to carry out this complicated plan of changing
our job karma. For some, it might be such a pain-in-the-neck that it is not what they would enjoy pursuing.
However, there’s only one other option left for our lives: to endure and suffer the misery of being ensnared by the
web of our job karma, with no escape in sight. Either way, there’s a considerable degree of pain and energy
involved. It is such a tough decision to make. But we know how to chant about it to find our best answer, don’t we?