Art of Living experience

Have courage! Never be defeated!

Through putting SGI President Daisaku Ikeda’s guidance into practice, Tatiana Nogueira was able to achieve the impossible in her life

I am originally from Brazil, but I have been living in London since 2008.

In 1981, I was 8 years old when my mother met Nichiren Buddhism and started chanting. She never forced me to chant but she always said that this Buddhism would lead to a life-state of absolute happiness and I could transform the impossible into possible by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

So I began to chant, mainly because I saw how much stronger my mother had become. I was also inspired to see her working hard for kosen-rufu. She is still working hard inRio de Janeiro where she lives and last December she celebrated the thirty-secondanniversary of receiving Gohonzon.

In the beginning I chanted and went to the Buddhist meetings with my mother. Soon I began to take part in SGI activities for young children called the ‘2001 Group’ and the Fife and Drum Band for Girls. Through these activities, I learned many things about the Buddhist practice and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. We were encouraged to readThe Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution, which are a novelised account of the development of the organisation, to understand the mentor and disciple relationship. We also read SGI magazines and newspaper which included guidance from President Ikeda’s guidance and extracts from the writings of Nichiren Daisonin.

I remember that I loved reading everything that President Ikeda wrote because I felt encouraged and treasured. I could not wait for the weekly newspaper to arrive to see what he had written for me. It felt like that. I read each of President Ikeda’sguidance’s as if they were a personal letter sent to me. He also encouraged young people to read good books and following this guidance helped me to develop as individual. I now love reading and I am writing my first novel and fantasy book for children.

When I was 14 I had my first responsibility as a young women’s leader. I had the opportunity to support other young women.

In 1988, when I was 15, I became very sick with tuberculosis and the doctor told my mother I was dying. My mother said to me: ‘Honey, you know your situation is very serious. Let's change this negative situation together! You have to chant more to transform this poison into medicine.’  Then she shared the following extract fromNichiren Daishonin: ‘Believe in this Mandela with all your heart. Nam- myoho-renge- Kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?’  

That was my first opportunity to see how this Buddhist practice really worked. I had to see the proof at that very moment. I chanted with strong determination to become healthy and also to be able to work for kosen-rufu. I also wanted to establish a strong relationship with my mentor and, like him, live for people's happiness. I chanted a lotlying in bed and I believe that this enabled me to develop a strong life-force which, alongside the medical treatment I was receiving,  help my body to heal. When I could walk I taught two people how to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

A month and-a-half later I left hospital. I was fit enough to participate in an SGI youth festival, where I danced alongside more than 200 young women.

I started participating in as many activities I could and I shared this Buddhism with five people who went on to receive Gohonzon.

In 1993 President Ikeda came to Rio de Janeiro and I met him twice. First when he arrived at the cultural centre and second when he attended the festival where I played saxophone. On that day I made a vow to meet him again and be able to share my numerous victories.  

With the spirit of gratitude at having transformed many difficulties, I went to Japan on a youth division course in 2001. I met President Ikeda six times during this course andduring one of the meetings President Ikeda invited the young women from my group to take a picture with him. That was an unforgettable moment in my life. In the photo, I am standing behind his right shoulder. I said to him in my heart: ‘I will protect you with my victories in life!’ Afterwards he said to us: ‘You are so beautiful! Please never be defeated. Courage! Hope! Take care of your health and take care of your parents.’

Four years later, in 2005, I went to live in Portugal. I supported the SGI Portuguese organisation doing activities for children, who were also part of the discussion meetings. Once President Ikeda sent a letter telling us that he was aware and happy with our activities.

My mother also went to live in Portugal and we travelled together to many countries. I also had the great fortune to meet my husband Giose and we came to live in Londontogether to study English and be able to fulfil one of my goals to work in education.  

It was an incredible challenge as I could not speak English when we arrived. However, I never doubted the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and I knew that if my life was connected with President Ikeda’s life, I did not have to fear what was ahead of me.

Even with my poor English I went to attend Buddhist meetings in Maida Vale. I was not able to understand what people were saying in the meetings but I still wanted to contribute in some way, so I made invitations and gifts for the next meeting.

I enrolled in an English school for European citizens, even though I am not European,and I finished my course four years later. I got a visa which allowed me to live and work in the UK for five years. So I started working part-time and I began a course in Creative Writing at Birkbeck University. 

In July in 2011 my period was late. At first, I thought I could be pregnant and bought a pregnancy test. But it was negative. Then I decided to wait for next month to see if my period would come. However, it did not.

In September, when my period had still not come, I began to feel strange symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, anxiety, tiredness and insomnia. I finally went to the doctors at the end of November. I had ablood test and, a few days later, the doctor told me that I was going through an early menopause. I was 38.  

Menopause is the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovariesand usually occurs in middle aged women in midlife. So, the doctor gave me the worst news – I could not have a baby.

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted children of my own, but my husband and I were waiting until I had finished university.

The doctor was lovely and she tried to encourage me to think about adoption or othertypes of fertility treatment. Then she asked me how I was feeling about this situation. I told her that I was a Buddhist and that I would chant to transform my situation. She was surprised with my answer and said she was happy with my positive attitude.

But actually I was in shock and called my partner Giose straight after I left the surgery. When I got home I chanted and cried and poured my heart out to the Gohonzon. Although many people decide not to have children, that was not what I wanted. I wanted to have a baby.  

The following days were so painful. I struggled to understand why this was happening to me. Many of President Ikeda words of encouragement came to my mind and I knew I could not be defeated.

I decided to send my blood test results to a doctor who was also an SGI member inBrazil. She confirmed that the result was right. However, she said: ‘Now as a SGI member, I believe you can change any negative situation in your life through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, even in this situation.’

I took her words into my heart and decided to chant a lot of daimoku every Sunday to transform poison into medicine once more! I invited many people to chant with me,especially members from my district. I am so fortunate to have all of these membersin my life. We are like a big family and we support each other.

In March, after three months of chanting, I went to see the doctor again and asked fora new blood test. Although there were a few positive alterations in my blood, she said the result was the same and I still could not have a baby.

I remembered the extract from Nichiren Daishonin’s writings which helped me in 1988 when I had tuberculosis: ‘Believe in this mandala with all your heart. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion.’

In May 2012 my period came for two days.  I told the doctor and she said it was normal. She also said that although I might have a period for one or two months the probability of pregnancy was very low, almost impossible.

In June I started to feel bad again with many symptoms that I had not felt before, however I thought that this was because of the menopause and at the same time I got flu. I bought some medicine for the flu and one them said that pregnant women must not take it, but I wasn’t pregnant so it wasn’t a problem.

However, I wished to check first and so I got a pregnancy test. I did the test four timesat different times of the day, and every single time there were two lines indicating thatI was pregnant

I took them all to the doctor. She was shocked and told me bluntly that if I was pregnant it would be a miracle. Then she did a blood test and asked me to wait for three days for the results before I started to celebrate properly because she was notconvinced that I was pregnant. That was the longest three days of my life!

When I went to see her, she said: ‘You’re pregnant. Congratulations!’ She still wanted me to have a scan, however, even though it was a little early for one, because she still couldn’t fully believe it and she wanted even more confirmation.

If I was pregnant it had to have happened in May around the time my period came for two days!

I went for the scan and the nurse told me to look at the screen. I saw my baby for the first time. I cannot explain what I felt. It was not only about the baby I was carrying. It was also about the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which I had proved once more with my life.

Now, more than ever, I believe in my ability to transform the impossible into possible, through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and participating in SGI activities.

Leonardo was a year old in January and he is our little lion. He is an amazing baby and so loved by everybody! I have so much gratitude to my husband and to the members from my district who came to chant with me on Sundays. And most of all to Daisaku Ikeda, my mentor, who always encourages me through his guidance, poems, books and speeches. I’d like to finish with a quotation from him that helps me everyday:

I am fervently praying and calling out to each of you: Never be defeated! Have courage! Have hope!