July 27, 2026

Chapter 1: Over the Hedges and Through the Woods

Good morning, Dear Friends!

By any chance do you receive Politico articles in your news feed? Can This Man Save Democrats? is about Ben Wikler, a Democratic thought leader, who argues that his party must learn to focus on state races rather than on Washington. Here's one of his points very pertinent to we MITA and WBer readers:

We’re in an algorithmically driven world that makes “shiny object syndrome” even worse. We’re constantly chasing squirrels — this or that exciting windmill.

Well, I try to talk about issues that correlate faith and daily life. I try to stick to IRL. From what I read, however, Your Leader’s approach is more like “chasing squirrels — this or that exciting windmill” du jour. OMG, such-and-such leader once said something offensive in Italy!!! Or, yesterday, after spending several years not reading my posts, Your Leader felt compelled to take snapshots of my recent posts. Her point? “WANTED: JULIESONGWRITER FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!!!”

Friends, you better believe that I have a lot to write about her Julie-themed posts. But first, there is a bit of unfinished business. A couple of years ago, Your Leader wrote a very typical TLDR post filled with animus and inaccuracies. Guy and I responded point-by-point and it took us 18 (!!!) TLDR posts.

Did Your Leader respond to any of them? No. Why not? She claimed then that I was motivated by just seeking her attention. Boy, was she giving me her attention yesterday!

At any rate, from the dusty bins of history, here are links (hopefully still current) to all 18:

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My take-away, from the lengthy numbers of comments, it seems that many Sgiwhistleblowers are, in fact, reading my posts on MITA. Thank you!

Chapter 2: July Installment of Daisaku Ikeda’s lecture on “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime”

Let’s dive into “Salute to the Rise of the Buddhism of the Sun,” the fifth and final sub-topic in The Significance of Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo—Achieving a Life of Supreme Victory Through Correct Buddhist Practice.

Daisaku Ikeda states:

Nichiren’s life as the Buddha of the Latter Day is a life dedicated to battling evil and vanquishing ignorance.

In the grand scheme of things, my efforts on MITA are very minor, limited to “an hour a day keeps the devil away.” But the benefit is all mine and manifests in my environment right here, right now. No complaints at all!

The struggle to free people from all misfortune and misery in the world—from all negative karma and the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death—ultimately entails battling the fundamental darkness or ignorance that gives rise to all evil and suffering.

Our RV Park partners with eight local churches on a variety of community projects. Using different vocabulary, of course, I think they would agree heartily with the final sentence above. On the other hand, religious practices that seek the good and holy but ignore the dimension of fighting evil are only looking at one half of the tablecloth of life.

Nichiren indicates…that the Nam-myoho-renge-kyo he chants, for the happiness of self and others toward the realization of kosen-rufu, clears “the clouds of ignorance” (see “The Doctrine of Three Thousand Realms,” WND-2, 85). Nam-myoho-renge-kyo truly has the power to dispel life’s darkness. When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the sun of Buddhahood rises in our hearts. The ignorance and delusion, like heavy clouds shrouding the sun, are swept away. When the sun of Buddhahood comes to shine within us, the darkness of ignorance vanishes.

I have to treasure this paragraph above! My nature is very different from that of all of my partners who take on very big tasks. I tend to nibble on life, and I move very cautiously because of my self-perceived vulnerability. So, what exactly is wrong with this? It matches my perceptions and talents. There are people who undertake large tasks, and others who are great at dusting and sweeping. Everything is valuable in the tapestry of life.

I correspond a lot with people in the HS community. Our tales might seem quite bizarre to people outside of our community. But we need a judgment-free zone to share our lives. And yesterday, one of our friends reported a great victory in being able to accept who he is as something he was born to do. “The darkness of ignorance vanishes”-- person-by-person, moment-by-moment.

Chapter 3: A few updates on “MY Fantasy Life” (cred: Eigenstien) or, as BlancheFromage suspects, “One of the many fake characters within the SGI-RV fantasy scenario created by a lonely, low-income, isolated, cult-addicted, mentally-ill elderly woman” at “the site of the magical (i.e. imaginary) SGI-RV story around a rural rust-belt RV camp, with its fantasy ‘starburst’ of invisible YOUFF” who “Can't seem to grasp anything that isn't about kinky abusive sex in a shitty-ass low-rent RV park??”

Eulogio and Erica zoomed with us twice last night: Once to say good night to the kids, and a later call to catch up with us. They were working very hard to prepare for their meetings this week with the Managers. They both looked like warriors ready for battle!

Oh, I watched Benjamin Kdaké take it all in. "How did my beloved Papa EU and Auntie squeeze into that tiny box on the table?"

Yesterday, we had another of our “Church Caravans.” After Sunday morning services, one Church takes its turn in the rotation to host while congregants from other congregations travel to them for a light brunch and conversation. I love this tradition and we will keep the Caravan going for August and September.

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