Can't Decide What to Do? What Nichiren Daishonin Wrote About Clear Water and Firm Resolve
# Can't Decide What to Do? What Nichiren Daishonin Wrote About Clear Water and Firm Resolve
When every option feels risky
Move to a new city or stay near family? Start over or hold on to what you have? Take the leap, or wait for a safer moment? You've made lists of pros and cons. You've asked everyone you know. Every conversation pulls you a different way.
Days turn into weeks. The longer you wait, the heavier the decision feels, and the more you fear choosing wrong. Sometimes not deciding starts to feel like a decision in itself.
If you're stuck at a crossroads, the Daishonin offered two pieces of guidance that work together: get clear, then commit.
What does the Gosho say about making decisions?
Nichiren Daishonin wrote, "When water is clear, the moon is reflected… Our minds are like the water" (WND-1, 1079). Clarity comes from a settled mind, not from more anxious thinking. And once the way is clear, he urged: "You must simply make up your mind" (WND-1, 829). Wisdom and resolve belong together.
First, let the water clear
To the lay nun Nichigon, the Daishonin wrote:
> "When water is clear, the moon is reflected. When the wind blows, the trees shake. Our minds are like the water. Faith that is weak is like muddy water, while faith that is brave is like clear water." > — Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon, WND-1, 1079
When we agonise over a decision, the water gets churned up: fear of regret, others' opinions, worst-case scenarios. Nothing reflects clearly in muddy water.
Chanting settles the water. Many people find that, after chanting with a clear question in mind, they don't so much "get an answer" as notice what they already knew, once the noise has quieted.
Then, make up your mind
To a follower facing a decisive moment, the Daishonin wrote:
> "You must simply make up your mind. Look at the world this year as a mirror. The reason that you have survived until now when so many have died was so that you would meet with this affair. This is where you will cross the Uji River." > — Reply to Yasaburo, WND-1, 829
There comes a point where more thinking doesn't help. The Uji River was a famous crossing where battles were decided; you can't win standing on the bank.
No choice is risk-free. But a decision made from a clear mind and then committed to fully is far more likely to succeed than a "perfect" one made half-heartedly. Once you decide, put your whole life into making it the right decision.
One small step for tonight
Write your decision as one clear question. Then chant with that question in your heart for several days, without forcing an answer.
Notice which option you keep returning to when you feel calm, not anxious. Set yourself a date to decide.
When the date comes, decide, and commit. If the decision involves legal, financial or medical matters, get expert advice too.
The move he was terrified to make
After thirteen years in a stable career, Karan was unexpectedly laid off. For months, despite steady effort, he received no interview calls. A senior in faith encouraged him to widen his search beyond his home city. The thought of moving away from his family terrified him, and whenever he prayed about it, tears would come. Through continuous chanting, his fear gradually gave way to courage. Then, unexpectedly, a company owner called him about a role in another city, one he hadn't even applied for. It was his dream profile, with a fifty-one percent salary increase. He made the move, and life for his whole family opened up in new ways.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a big decision I'm unsure about?
First settle your mind, then commit. The Daishonin taught that "when water is clear, the moon is reflected" (WND-1, 1079), and that at decisive moments, "You must simply make up your mind" (WND-1, 829).
Can chanting tell me what to do?
Chanting won't hand you an answer, but it clears the mind so you can see more clearly what you truly want and what is wise.
What if I make the wrong choice?
Very few decisions are truly irreversible. Commit fully, learn as you go, and adjust if needed. Indecision often costs more than an imperfect choice.
What should I chant for when facing a big decision?
Chant for clarity, for the courage to choose, and for whichever path you take to become the right one through your efforts.
Which Gosho should I read when facing a big decision?
Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon (WND-1, 1079) and Reply to Yasaburo (WND-1, 827–830).
Sources
All passages are from The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I (WND-1):
- Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon, p. 1079 - Reply to Yasaburo, p. 829