My Experience during Lockdown

2020 will remain a memorable year for a long time to come for entire human kind due to the famous or rather
infamous Corona virus. Each one of us are fighting in their own way to handle this situation in a better and
positive way. Like all others, days are more hectic with work from home and household daily chores. But,
together with my family, I tried to hold a positive outlook towards the entire situation from the beginning. I am
very thankful to all those who were directly or indirectly enabling us all to stay safe in lockdown – specially
grocery and medical service delivery people and also doctors, nurses, policemen and army men who are playing
a major role in quarantining and safeguarding everyone. In the Gosho passage “On Rebuking Slander of the Law
and Eradicating Sins”, when Nichiren was kept in Izu exile, the Daishonin highly commended his brave female
disciples who in spite of challenging circumstances, sent life-sustaining offerings to him in his place of exile,
where securing food was difficult” Daishonin said to the female disciples: “You are even firmer and more
dedicated in your faith than I myself”. All these servicemen are acting as those female disciples in our lives right
now and I have immense gratitude for them.

However, things got tougher when 3 weeks back my mother fell sick suddenly with fever and severe diarrhoea.
We tried for her recovery through home remedies for a week as it was not advisable to step out during lockdown.
However, when her condition deteriorated, we tried booking an online appointment in a big hospital. However,
the appointment was cancelled last minute saying that the doctor has to check her personally to diagnose her
problem. However, we could not get any in-person appointment in any of the big hospitals due to corona
pandemic. Finally, we contacted my father’s regular diabetes doctor. This doctor owns a small hospital which is
just 4 - 5 kms away from our house. He immediately asked us to visit him. There was no public transport.
However, fortunately, I started driving car last year – which no one in my family supported initially – but helped
in this situation. One of the tyres in my car was on the verge of getting punctured – and puncture shops were
also closed. However, still I managed to take my mother to hospital along with my sister. Mother was admitted
immediately due to extreme low BP and fever and next day she was diagnosed with Typhoid.

Initially I was very upset about the sudden turn of events in my house, but again in the same Gosho passage (On
Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins)
, the Daishonin states: “Each obstacle and difficulty we encounter forges the “iron” that is our lives, driving out
the flaws of our past offences. In this way, we are tempered into a magnificent “sword”
that nothing can destroy. This passage encouraged me and I decided to take charge of the situation as calmly
as possible. My fellow BSG friends also chanted for my mother and sister. My mom stayed in the hospital for 7
days along with my sister. It was a small hospital. So, it had no other patients and hence least chances of corona
infection. So, this was the first protection we received from the Gohonzon. Later we got to know that no other
hospitals are admitting people. This was a senior citizen hospital – so they admitted my mother on special
condition – the second protection. The doctors and nurses diagnosed my mother’s health issues promptly on
time and gave her a very good treatment – and I am happy to report that my mother is already doing very good
with her health despite the fact that Typhoid takes very long time to recover – third protection. On the day of
her discharge, half of the roads were barricaded by the police. So, while taking a long detour, I found a puncture
shop that was open and he found a screw in my tyre and fixed it – fourth protection. So, I am really thankful to
the nature and gohonzon and my fellow BSG members for all the protection my family received, to emerge
victorious with my mother’s health in this difficult situation.

Thank You!