Valter Giraudo

SEEKING THE TRUTH

Translated by Valter Giraudo Corrected and supervised by Serenella Veronese

Edizioni Miele

This is devoted to all those people who, during their life, spend time searching for the truth and then themselves. Thanks to my Masters: Daisaku Ikeda, Josei Toda, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi e Nichiren Daishonin,eternal sources of awareness.

A dedication and a special thanks to my wife Laura - the woman that I love and that is my first fan - and my children Giorgia and Nicol, manifestations of universal love.

One special thanks for my dear friends Tony and Mauro, who incited me to make this extraordinary experience. Not the least of my brothers: Sergio - for having backed me on the path of Buddhism - and Andy - for having always supported me even in the most difficult moments. Thanks also to my parents, all their efforts and of having always believed in me. A big thank you for this wonderful occasion to editor Barbara Miele.

If one dreams alone it is only a dream that will vanish on waking. But if many dream together it will be the beginning of a new reality. Valter Giraudo

Dream

PROLOGUE In life there are many complex situations, and sometimes things do not go just the way we had hoped. Buddhism teaches that there is an internal cause, so we are in life to face a certain problem, but it explains that the difficulties help to grow and that we can transform any problem life presents to us. Happiness is the victory in the fight against the difficulties and sufferings. We are free to choose our path: Buddhism calls to take responsibility for their own lives and explains that this has an immediate and comprehensive also on our family, friends and society. As far as we feel crushed by circumstances or in perpetual conflict, thanks to Nammyoho-renge-kyo it is possible to influence positively.
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The key question for us human beings is to overcome the illusions of life and death that are the basis for all the other illusions and affect each other attitude, in relation to our concept of life and death we can live in harmony with the law of life or not, take genuine satisfaction even when we face any difficulty, including death, or be unable to escape from a spiral of fear and dissatisfaction. The Buddhism teaches that we should leave our small self and rely on our larger self. Usually, the Buddhism emphasizes the concept of impermanence. To base our life on the small self - that is chasing the changing and impermanent phenomena and remain imprisoned in the illusions and desires - is distressing, therefore, Buddhism teaches that we should win this egocentric tendency, without having to withdraw to live as hermits denying our living and giving up the role and position we have in society. Since receiving the essential nature of existence, the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin teaches us to live basing on our larger self, so that our actions accord with the eternal and immutable law that embraces and includes all the phenomena of our world characterized by impermanence. Living
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Difficulties make us strong; wisdom comes from problems; sorrows increase compassion for others; people who have suffered most may become happier.

basing upon the larger self means to break the attachment to the inferior ego and take up our lives, free from the influence of changing phenomena and supported by a strong independence and a living force that are only one living with the eternal and immutable Law. The aim of Buddhism is the Enlightenment, the awakening to the awareness of life as it is, knowing the way to grasp its true shape. Enlightenment: it seems at first sight a big word that seems to hover over the horizon of an ordinary person. Yet we imagine it as a natural tendency of life, all life, so ... for everyone! Buddhism is not an ideology, a doctrine of intellectual or moral tenets which dispenses prepackaged dogmas and truth it: is the greatest wisdom experienced of a human being expressed in a precise teaching, made available to everybody by the compassion of Nichiren Daishonin, because each one expresses his own potential and lives well both inside and outside of himself. In the book World of Gosho Ikeda said that Buddhism is a teaching that allows each individual, starting as he is, to manifest his own innate Buddha nature, and that only through this evolution of his individual life can find solutions to the more complex social problems. It is in relation to this centrality of the human being that Ikeda speaks of Buddhist humanism, another way of expressing the concept of practice of
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human revolution. The Buddhist humanism did root not in a particular system of beliefs, it states that every individual can realize his human revolution cultivating his inherent Buddha nature. The term Buddha nature refers to a heart awakened to the Mystic Law. (D. Ikeda World of Gosho, vol. 1, page 4 - Ed Esperia Italian Edition).

1- Meet again

I pry not to be free from danger, but be fearless in dealing with. I do not ask My pain is relieved, but I ask my heart to face it. I do not seek allies on the battlefield of life but I try to show my strength.

I had not seen him for long time. I spent with tony the whole period of the socalled childhood, from the first grade until the end of the middle school. Then later,
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When I finished my studies, I returned to Venasca in Varaita Valley, my hometown, and I learned about Tony. It was said that Tony had some very unusual behaviour, which had become quite strange in his habits, almost to the point of madness! This rumor was confirmed to me by all the other fellows in the country which I had begun to attend again. They told me that since several months they
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toward the fifteen years I lost sight of him. At that time I did not mix with the people of my place. In fact, since I began lost affection for technical institute I lost the contact with Tony and all the friends of the little town. One can say that from then my life changed. Occasionally I used to meet my old friends, but I was a stranger to all the events of the old gang that continued his life away from my attention. It was when I attended the university that i broke off definitely any kind of relationship with them. In fact, that next time I moved to Milan and I had no more news about Tony and anyone else. So my life went on with other people, other friends and experiences. The ties that resisted with my hometown were kept alive for some time by some friend from the technical institute, and of course with my family, the only that I call every time I returned to my roots.

had not seen him around. More precisely, the day following the one on which he lost his job. Those who had gone to visit his home had found him sitting down to meditate and talk from the top of his stone, a huge boulder behind his house, on which he sat all the day and did not move it seemed from a long time. There were rumors that the radical change in his life, due to the sudden loss of job, had placed him in front of many doubts and questions. Right there, sitting on that rock, almost to dominate the horizon, he wanted to meditate and seek the truth about life. He wanted to find answers to all the questions that dominated his mind. Why? This simple word, of immeasurable power, is the secret of truth. Whenever it is pronounced, brings forth in us, rational beings, a mental movement of enormous entity. Its the keyword that drives us to search for the origin of everything. It is this spirit of ongoing research that allows us to realize our Human Revolution, our inner growth. Unfortunately, we are used to identify the good with anything that causes physical and / or mental pleasure and that does not infringe anothers being. On the contrary, we
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assimilate the evil everything that produces pain in every sense. This thought may seem reasonable, but it is not the absolute truth. Who can say, without a shadow of reasonable doubt, what is good and what is evil, what is right and what is wrong?! Then, frankly, if we seek only the truth with our mental capacities, this research will be limited. To go beyond our limits, we need a means: the spiritual search and then faith. When reason is pushed to the end, when the courage of question is exercised without savings, without stopping in front of any obstacle, here it is open an extraordinary space for the meeting with faith. One reason too confident, on ideological reason, becomes violent and totalitarian. A faith that makes no room for doubt, a believer who does not want to be the poor atheist who strives every day to start to believe, could make his faith a comfortable reassurance. So if faith and reason come together, accept the fight and the passion, so open to the individual growth and the discovery of truth. I was sure I knew that these concepts were the basis for all growth. I was also conscious of the importance of transmitting them to others, especially to Tony in this particular moment.
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So one day I decided to visit him in person, to see how he went through. Honestly I was particularly intrigued by all those rumors about him. I wanted to see what was really up to. And you know that the curiosity is very powerful: it moves also the mountains! When I appeared in front of him, I found him just sitting on a huge gray stone, one meter high, placed behind his house, opposite the grove. He seemed intent on an Indian guru meditation. Indeed, he looked away, as if his body was there on that rock, but his mind, his spirit, they were nowhere. He was so absorbed in himself, that he didnt realize my visit until I decided I had observed him enough, in silence and at a safe distance. Hello Tony! How long havent we seen! How are you? I asked going up to him. Tony jumped. I had obviously frightened him. He should more than just deep in thought. Who the hell is it?!? Exclaimed in a trembling voice Oooh, Valter, I have not heard you coming! Are you back at last? Where have you been all this time? Yes, I finished my studies, so now Im back home. I graduated in Milan. Now, Im here for a taste of well-earned rest before plunging into the world of work. Well well, so now well see you more frequently! Tony said, smiling. So how are you doing here? What are you doing? I asked to see a bit more of his life.
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Now nothing special, I worked in a factory but Im unemployed, so here I am! Well, two of us to be out of work... I said, trying to defuse. He looked at me and nodded his head and making joint smile. I heard you spend lot of time sitting there. But why? I asked curiously. I had not found another way, perhaps softer, to start that speech. I knew it was not the best way, but sometimes it is better to be direct. Oh, its nothing special. I like being outside and get some air and meditate. Tony said, looking angelic. Meditating? How long time you meditate? Why you have change? You always been an atheist without belief and without spiritual interests. You know... when you lose everything and you feel a failure, it is time to seek answers. And you think you find them there, perched on a big rock? Even the Buddha Shakyamuni sat and pondered long struggling an asceticism way to find his answers. As you are Buddhist you should know ... Sure, but I also know that asceticism is not helpful. Its important to seek the middle way. But you know what is the meaning as being ascetic? I know very well the meaning of the word asceticism! It derived from the word
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asceticism (from the greek askesis, exercise from askeo or I practice.). Asceticism is the spiritual doctrine that preaches detachment from world events, from the passions and instincts through the practice of isolation, meditation, prayer and fasting. Through asceticism the man leaves the superfluous to concentrate on his own interiority and spirituality. Good. Then you will know that Shakyamuni has abandoned that route because it led to nothing. Then he lit up and preached the middle way. I said with a resolute tone. It depends on your point of view He reaffirmed. Certainly! However, we shall see better and finally Ill explain a little more. Ill come back with a little more time to discuss the issue. Okay, okay. Its anytime. So I am here. He said in a tone almost absent. I did not think he of the most interested in the speech, almost as if hes the only choice was possible choice was his. And surely it is the best. To break that moment of embarrassment, I tried to change the subject. And what are you doing tonight? Come to the same old bar and then lets do something? I dont know... said while poking her hand into the pocket of his trousers. He pulled out a packet of handkerchiefs, took out one and blew gently. Well see... he said after finishing what
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seemed a delicate operation on his face. Come on, I went on a purpose to warn you that tonight I make my debut in society. I said ironically. There will be all our friends, you can not miss! Maybe Ill see you there He said as I pulled the car keys from my jeans pocket. Okay, okay, its OK I said Let me go now, see you tonight. The meeting is at 09:00 p.m. Bye. Bye He replied, raising his hand in greeting See you. That evening I arrived in time at the established bar, our usual old bar, the only one in the country, of course. It seemed that I had never gone away from my town: the bar was always the same, no changes had occurred in all those years. Maybe it was refreshed with paint, but nothing more. They were all waiting for me, even some old friends that I had not reviewed yet. After several minutes spent to greet each other and evoke some old image of our memory, I realized that Tony had not arrived yet. I sand to the others, but no one seemed surprised, indeed, they would be surprised otherwise. Definitely he wont come. Hes become a bit strange and unsocial, since he lost his job. He probably wants to become an Indian guru! These and others were the considerations
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about him and his behaviour. Its a problem of mentality, unfortunately ... In fact, if an ascetic in India is considered the highest expression of man in his eternal quest for immortality, in the West is seen as a misfit who, with his presence undermines and challenges the foundations of social life with all its inherent needs, habits and conventions. And the comments of my old friends confirmed this western view. I tried in vain to make them understand that there are other realities, other thoughts, other philosophies and other ways of living. I was labeled as the usual feel-good Buddhist! I was so convinced about the idea that it was useless to go even further and that Tony didnt start up, I decided to enjoy myself with the others without worring. It was a quiet evening, a Friday night unpretentious, like many others spent in the rediscovery of my little town and my friends of the post. The next day I was together with a friend of mine, an old school mate, one of those with whom I was more in touch during his university. He had called me because, he heard of my coming back and wanted to organize a dinner or something with all the other school friends, had an appointment at the bar in the center of Saluzzo, the legendary meeting place of that period, the meeting point when we were students. So I met with my friends, those whose need
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was not great welcome ceremonies as they were all people who for same reason I had never disappeared from, although I had lived for years in another city. Soon I was involved in several conversations, and with glass of beer in my hand I began to talk about degrees obtained by this and that stages to do and people perpetually mired in lagging behind in higher education. It was in the midst of that beautiful discussion that I remembered Tony, sitting on the stone in front of his beautiful grove behind the house, with the blank vacant stare. I noticed my overall performance in those thoughts when Laura gave me a nudge on the arm, criticizing me for not having answered your question so serious. That same evening we met right at Lauras: we decided to the well-known dinner at her house. Later, as established, we all went to see Paul playing in a small remote club out of town, or al least they friends described it. For me it was indifferent as I came several kilometers from outside the city and that I went all over such on out of way place since when I used the public transport every morning, the famous morning bus that took us provincial students to the high school in the center of Saluzzo. We spent all the night to listen to Paul and his other cronies playing, all crazy about their jazz, blues and various stuff, and then to discuss how alienating playing music like that in a city like ours.
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Was then I decided that night would be over soon. In fact, at about half past one I went home frustrated that company. Soon I was already on the way home, in the green fields familiar to me that seemed drowning in the fog that crushed to the ground under the heavy rain.

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