I used to own a big old house that was cut up into five apartments. I rented out four apartments and lived in the remaining one. The rents I collected barely covered the bills. If someone neglected to pay their rent, I would have to pay the bills with what little money I could scrape together. One of my determinations was to never allow the utilities to be turned off. 

One of the renters was a guy named Mac. He was a big noisy guy who owned an old Chevy with a bad muffler. I hadn't seen Mac for a few months. He owed me four months rent. 

I was broke and had received warning that unless the bill was paid the next day, the electricity would be off. 

I did not know what to do, so I read "The Daily Guidance." It said: "If you chant with a determination to chant until your heart sings with joy, then your problems will melt like dew in the morning sun." 

I sat down to chant this way, but my first thought was "The only way my heart is going to sing with joy is if I overcome my difficulties. Not the other way around." But I was determined to chant until my heart sang with joy anyway. What else could I do? I didn't care if it took weeks, months, years, whatever. I was not going to stop until my heart sang with joy. 

After 45 minutes of chanting extremely concentrated Daimoku, I began chanting for the safety of my albino cat. I almost slapped myself. Why was I spacing out? I had serious Daimoku to chant. No time for frivolous stuff. 

Just then I heard a loud muffler. Sounded like Mac's Chevy. 

He would not show up unless he was going to pay the rent. My heart started singing with joy. 

Mac stomped up the steps. Banged on the door. 

When I opened the door, he pulled a wad of bills from his shirt pocket and said: "Sorry I am late getting this to you. Hey, I almost ran over that stupid cat of yours. I thought he was a white bag out in the street."
 
 
 

 To read this experience in Spanish, visit here.