Chapter 2

Chapter 2- The second opportunity

 The lady took a while to open the door. When she opened it she looked at my mother and said, "Morning! I do not want to buy Yakut today. I have some in my fridge. "

"That's ok! I have been here waiting for you since you were praying, because I would like to ask you about the prayer you were doing before, my mother said, ' I think it was the same prayer a friend of mine gave me long time ago." 

The lady showed surprise! Then, she smiled brightly and invited my mother to come in. 

 They sat in the sofa and she offered my mother a cup of coffee. 

HI

 'So, tell me about your friend and the chant you did', she asked my mother.

 My mother told her everything. She told her about her friend, the days she had chanted for my father to find a job , the benefit and the last day she chanted. 

 My mother also told her that her life now was not different from that time and that in fact it had become worse. 

 the lady listened to my mother carefully. 

 When my mother finished telling her the story the lady said, ' Yes they are exactly the same words you chanted and the same Buddhism your friend has practiced'. 

 ' I knew it!', my mother said enthusiastically. She was very excited! 

They talked for long time and the lady told my mother about her own experience of chanting and participating in SGI' s meetings. She also explained some Buddhist principles such as 'Cause and Effect', Transforming poison into medicine' and about the Gohonzon. 

 When the conversation was over they agreed to meet again and chant together.

Before my mother left the house the lady said, ' Can I ask you something?'

' Yes, please', said my mother. 

' Why did you stop chanting after you had the proof that Nam- myoho-rengue- Kyo worked?'

 ' I do not know', answered my mother. ' Maybe I did not believe that my daily chanting was the reason of finding the job and believed that what happened was quite a coincidence. My mother continued saying,' I confess that it was very hard to believe that a word could change my destiny.' 

 I understand, The lady said , I hope you can have more prayers answered and keep your practice forever this time. 

 My mother did not say anything and stared at the lady . Then she said good bye with a nice smile and left the house. 

 On her way to work to sell Yakut, my mother could not stop thinking about everything the lady had said to her. She was feeling very happy in meeting someone close to her house who chanted Nam-Myoho-rengue-Kyo and she was also excited to chant again .

 That was the second opportunity my mother was having to change her life! 

When my mother got home , after a long day of work going to door to door , she sat and chanted. 

I was 8 at the time and I thought it was a very strange prayer she was doing. 

 Later my mother told me that while she was chanting she felt a strong sense of joy and hope. She was determined to change our family's life.

 She could not wait for my father to get home! She was anxious to tell him what had happened that afternoon and what she had decided.