Are You A Bodhisattva? Let's Find Out...

1. To understand all is to fear all

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

Yes

No

2. From SGI President Daisaku Ikeda (World Tribune, Sep. 23, 2005, special pullout section, page II): “A position of authority doesn’t make a person important, and there’s no justification for looking down on people. Everyone is equal. This naturally means that men and women are equal. In a resounding declaration of gender equality, the Daishonin writes: ‘There should be no discrimination among those who propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law, be they men or women. Were they not Bodhisattvas of the Earth, they could not chant the Daimoku.’ “ Take a guess which title from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin this comes from:

On the Enlightenmen of Plants

Letter to Misawa

True Aspect of All Phenomena - Shoho Jisso Sho

Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life

The Opening of the Eyes

3. Your member has a personal dillema and he/she asks for your opinion or guidance.

Tell them to chant a lot, write a letter to President Ikeda that night, and make sure they call YOU when the problems been resolved. (You are pretty busy nowadays)

It's not a good night/day for you. Make an excuse but you promise yourself you'll chant 4-6 hours before you'll listen to them next time.

You are not WORTHY. Tell them there's this great leader that can definitely help them better than you can, and immediately provide them that leader's phone # or email address.

Ask them if they'd like to chant together first for a bit before so that you're both going to the Gohonzon with this problem before you talk about it. Follow up with that person as best as you can and until you have done your utmost to help that perso. By the way, have you checked on your own Faith, Practice and Study lately?

Sure, you've got time. Listen, take some mental notes, order another round of drinks for both of you, and maybe you'll BOTH forget what you talked about later during the week.

4. It's Friday night. You still have to study so you can make a presentation for tomorrow's monthly discussion meeting. A friend invites you to this great happening at a new bar/restaurant/party. You:

Call a member or leader and say you're not feeling well. Promise them to do it next time.

Call a member or leader and admit you're just not up to the task

You promise yourself that after the party, you'll stay up all night and continue studying

The subject material is pretty boring. Just blow the meeting off for tomorrow and go have a great time at the party/bar/restaurant with your good friend

Ask your friend if you both can go a little later as you need another couple of hours to study. If the friend is another member of your district, ask him/her if you can divvy up the subject matter, then you both can go to the party later and have something to talk about besides checking out the action.

Yes

No

5. You're a long way from home walking down an icy sidewalk. Another person on crutches and carrying a large shopping bag gets in front of you and is moving slow and taking up space. Would you:

Offer to carry their bag

Don't mind walking slower. Less likely to slip on the ice.

Cross to the other side of the street. Starting to freeze your rear-end off.

Say 'Excuse me!' in a loud voice, and if they don't move aside -- you don't know them and making sure there are no reliable witness -- push 'em out of the way.

Get closer and ask them if they've heard of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. However they react, they might pause enough and clear the path enough for to squeeze by so you get on your merry way once you've done inviting them to a meeting and offering them contact info.

6. Would you ever shave your head (for kosen-rufu)?

Only if my boyfriend/girlfriend likes it

You get that BIC razor near me, and you can consider your life expectancy shortened

If my favorite team won/lost the championship on a bet

Last place on my body I don't have a tattoo. Where's the shaving cream?

What's 'kosen-rufu' and does that mean i get a discount?

7. Your district or chapter is throwing a charity benefit for the UN Children’s Refugee Fund, but at the same time your favorite actor is doing a book-signing at a local mall. Which do you go to?

The book signing. (Fill in name of celebrity here) is sooo hot. Who's going to miss me anyway?

I'll kill two birds with one stone with the wisdom of a great leader. I'll send on money with another member (maybe pay for the keg...I mean help with refreshments ahead of time) whilst I go get that autograph. IF I have time, I can show up later with an excuse that I had to home-v someone earlier.

I wangle....er, invite all my friends, family, and co-workers to the charity benefit. Then my conscience is clear as I go to that book-signing.

I have to go to the charity benefit (rats). There'll be another time I can 'stalk', I mean get that autograph

8. **Do you think dogs or cats have emotions?**

I don't know. I might have been a cat or dog in a past lifetime

It's an animal. They can't feel as we humans do!

I'm crazy for animals. I know they feel emotions like my 'pooky' here. Oo wants some num nums, baby?

Yes

No

9. Which of these is closer to your personal philosophy?

Look out for Numero Uno - ME

Listen, take notes, and wait for the next opportunity to take advantage of the situation

Treat others as you would want to be treated - nice

10. Why should I waste my time worrying about the past when I can spend my time worrying about the future

Disagree

Agree

11. **I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state or local laws**

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

12. **ALL of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid, and disgusting parts of me**

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

Yes

No

13. A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

24. I honor my personality flaws for without them I would have no personality at all

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

Yes

No

25. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of good judgment

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

26. In some cultures, what I do would be considered 'normal'

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

27. My greatest powers are love and compassion

Nope. Procrastinating and dissembling

Sometimes love, sometimes compassion, a bit of both

Only kryptonite can stop me

Yes, definitely up there with top 5 virtues of myself

28. I can sense when people are lying

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

Yes

No

29. I have to do everything MY way

Vehemently Disagree

Disagree

Every now and then

Agree

My way or the highway

30. I take on the pain of others

Disagree

Somewhat disagree

Somewhat agree

Agree

Are You A Bodhisattva? Let's Find Out...

1. To understand all is to fear all

3. Your member has a personal dillema and he/she asks for your opinion or guidance.

4. It's Friday night. You still have to study so you can make a presentation for tomorrow's monthly discussion meeting. A friend invites you to this great happening at a new bar/restaurant/party. You:

5. You're a long way from home walking down an icy sidewalk. Another person on crutches and carrying a large shopping bag gets in front of you and is moving slow and taking up space. Would you:

6. Would you ever shave your head (for kosen-rufu)?

7. Your district or chapter is throwing a charity benefit for the UN Children’s Refugee Fund, but at the same time your favorite actor is doing a book-signing at a local mall. Which do you go to?

8. Do you think dogs or cats have emotions?

9. Which of these is closer to your personal philosophy?

10. Why should I waste my time worrying about the past when I can spend my time worrying about the future

11. I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state or local laws

12. ALL of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid, and disgusting parts of me

13. A good scapegoat is nearly as welcome as a solution to the problem

14. To have a successful relationship, I must learn to make it look like that I am giving as much as I am getting

15. The next time the universe knocks at my door, I will pretend I am NOT home

16. I get angry with injustice

17. I am learning that criticism is not nearly effective as sabotage

18. Only my lack of imagination saves me from immobilizing myself with imaginary fears

19. I am at one with my duality

20. This world seems foreign to me

21. I need not suffer in vain as I can still moan, whimper, and complain

22. As I learn to trust the universe, I find that I no longer need to carry a weapon (gun, knife, choice of concealed weaponry)

23. The 1st step is to say nice things about myself. The 2nd, to do nice things for myself. The third is to find someone to buy me nice things.

24. I honor my personality flaws for without them I would have no personality at all

25. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of good judgment

26. In some cultures, what I do would be considered 'normal'

27. My greatest powers are love and compassion

28. I can sense when people are lying

29. I have to do everything MY way

30. I take on the pain of others

8. **Do you think dogs or cats have emotions?**

11. **I honor and express all facets of my being, regardless of state or local laws**

12. **ALL of me is beautiful and valuable, even the ugly, stupid, and disgusting parts of me**

23. The 1^st step is to say nice things about myself. The 2^nd, to do nice things for myself. The third is to find someone to buy me nice things.