The Domino Effect

  One thing leads to another. There has to be a cause before there can be an effect. Intentions lead to actions which lead to results. Everything was caused by something else, like a cosmic domino effect. The strange thing is, good things can sometimes be created by bad. History is full of examples of something dark creating a shining light for the world. World War Two led to India becoming a free nation after 100 years under the thrall of British colonialism. The Civil War led to the freeing of the slaves in America. The list goes on and on.

 

  Think of the Buddhist legend of the demon Kishimojin and her 10 daughters. This Demon is usually seen as a protector but there is a story behind their benevolent behavior.

 

  According to the legend, Kishamojin was once an evil demon who kidnapped and ate babies. To make her see the error of her cruel ways, Shakyamuni Buddha kidnapped and hid her youngest child. She begged him to return her child. Shakyamuni pointed out to her that what she was feeling was how the parents of all the children she ate felt. Kishimojin realized the Buddha was right. She had a change of heart and so the Buddha returned her child to her. From then on, she and her 10 daughters have protected others instead of harming them. They just needed someone to show them the error of their ways.

 

  This story is designed to show two things: How evil actions affect those around us, not just directly but in a domino effect. It also shows how following the path of integrity can transform ourselves and our environment, creating a brighter future for ourselves and those around us. Another domino effect. In the story, something good comes from something bad. If Kishimojin hadn’t once been evil, her children would not have become protectors of Buddhists everywhere. The Buddha’s faith and goodness overcame the darkness in Kishimojin, thus creating a lasting good. A mother’s sin led to ten heroic daughters who make the world a better place.

 

  There is a Passamaquoddy Indian story of the Girl and the Chenoo. (A Chenoo is a huge, carnivorous ogre.)  The girl lived with her brothers. The brothers hunted each day but each night, the fruits of their labor mysteriously disappeared. The girl found giant footprints which belonged to a Cheeno. The brothers considered standing guard at night but feared that the Chenoo would eat them so they huddled in their camp at night, praying that the Cheno would not take their food, or worse, take them! But the sister had an idea. She waited for the Chenoo with food laid out for him. She greeted the surprised creature as a friend and spoke kindly to him. She fed the Chenoo and pitied his lonely life, scavenging for food. The Chenoo was touched by her compassion. The next day, the creature left firewood for them. From then on, the Chenoo became a friend and protector of the family, all due to an act of kindness that changed a feared monster into a friend. For generations the Chenoo would guard the family and future generations would call him “grandfather”. From this ohe act of kindness, generations benefited. A domino effect.

  

  Through the blackness, our inner fire produces a light that is victorious over the darkest parts of our nature. Not just for the people involved but for others involved. A domino effect! Have faith that goodness will win out  like the sun driving out the dark. Our faith will survive the darkness. By rebuking our worst selves, we transform our inner condition and our outer reality. This affects not only ourselves but those around us. A domino effect.

 

  If the Buddha nature manifests from within, the belief is that it will grant protection from without, allowing us to withstand the cold indifference of the darkness of the universe. In times of trial, our goal is to make the impossible possible and turn the darkness into light.