I would like to share with you today a quote from the writings of Nichiren Daishonin that has helped me a lot in the difficult times of my life. This quote is from the Gosho (a collection of letters that Nichiren Daishonin sent to his disciples):
"...It is like the example of the Ganges River. Hungry spirits see the waters of the river as fire, human beings see them as water, and heavenly beings see them as amrita. The waters are the same in all cases, but each type of being sees them differently, according to the effects of its karma."
Letter to Hôren (p. 517 https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/wnd-1/Content/62)
How can one person experience the same circumstances as suffering, another as an exhilarating challenge, and yet another as a way to help and encourage those around them? The "ten states" principle answers this question.
(Of course this picture does not represent the Ganges River. It's the Burgundy Channel in my town : Montbard, a peacefull channel...)
