Column: Thoughts from Dr. Joe: A friend finds much needed peace in Buddhism
Lt. Anthony was fearless, competent and charismatic. After two combat tours in Vietnam, he could no longer balance the razor’s edge between insanity and insanity. So, in 1971, he fell.
Post-traumatic stress disorder left him angry, depressed and prone to violence. There was no way out. We became fast friends, yet I felt helpless. All I could do was listen.
One morning as we sat for breakfast, Lt. Anthony quoted Tennyson: “Hope, smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier’ …” He then said, “I’m going to a Buddhist meeting. It’s my last hope.”
I accompanied him to a gathering at the beach and sat on the periphery. I watched him grasping for hope and chanting, “Nam myoho renge kyo.”
Last week, I spoke with my friend Colleen Pathe, a devoted Buddhist. Colleen follows Nichiren Buddhism, which embodies the teaching of the 13th-century Japanese priest Nichiren. Its focus, based upon chanting, “Nam myoho renge kyo” and reciting the Lotus Sutra, contain the teachings of the Buddha, essential for salvation.
Colleen attempted to explain the intricacies of a religion steeped in history, tradition and ritual that was founded in India 2,500 years earlier. Buddha, the source also called Shakyamuni or Siddhartha, taught that we have within us the ability to transform suffering. We possess this power because we are inseparable from the fundamental laws of all life and the universe. The chant “Nam myoho renge kyo” is the manifestation of this belief. Chanting induces the pure and fundamental energy of the universe and honors the dignity and possibility of our lives.
“It affirms the law of cause and effect: For every action there is a reaction, and everything you do prompts something,” Colleen said.
Each week there is a faith practice study where Buddhists come together to embrace their collective belief, chant and read portions of the Lotus Sutra. Kathy Quant, a resident of La Cañada and a principal of this sect, encourages inquiries into Buddhism, which is unique as it is both a religion and philosophy. She offered her email address, kathyquant@hotmail.com, and phone number, (818) 241-8288, for anyone interested in learning more.
Back to my story about Lt. Anthony: His transformation was gentle; there were no sign posts, no sudden turns. The alchemy was so discreet that neither of us was cognizant of any beginning, middle or end. In his chanting, he embraced the Buddhist nature and pledged to build happiness for himself and others. One day, I noticed he was OK.
The last time I saw Lt. Anthony was at my mustering-out party. I introduced him to a friend of mine, Lt. Florinda White. They eventually married and moved to Alaska. He and Florinda had five children and as many grandchildren. Today, they live on the Kenai River, and each day as practicing Buddhists, they chant, “Nam myoho renge kyo.”
JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
