“The Miracle Worker,” a 1962 film starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, contains some valuable lessons for all of us in these difficult times. This movie, which won numerous awards including two Oscars, tells the story of a, perhaps the, great breakthrough in the life of Helen Keller, and the extraordinary compassion, determination and insight of her teacher, Anne Sullivan.
As you may know, Helen Keller was completely blind and deaf from infancy, the result of a serious illness. Although she later proved to be remarkably intelligent, because there was no way to communicate with her, she grew up essentially feral; her parents, especially her mother, loved her and were hoping to avoid committing her to an institution, but they could find no way to reach her, and it was in desperation that they hired Anne Sullivan as Helen’s governess.
Without completely giving away the plot of the film, Ms. Sullivan succeeds in bringing out Helen’s capability because of two characteristics: her unyielding faith in Helen’s potential, and her unyielding endurance and perseverance. Perhaps because of having fought to overcome her own blindness, and thus believing in her own potential, Anne never lost faith in the human potential hidden in her completely animal-like and undisciplined charge. And perhaps because of the hardships she herself had endured throughout her own childhood, she refused to give up on Helen, no matter how badly the latter behaved or how discouraging things became.
We’re in difficult times these days, when people and institutions around us may seem to be behaving rather badly, and it’s hard to maintain trust and hope. The central teaching of Nichiren Buddhism, as practiced in the SGI, is that there is limitless potential in each and every human being, and that as long as we don’t give up in our efforts to bring out that potential from within our own lives and those around us, we can live victoriously no matter what the circumstances.
Please join us at an introductory meeting where you can learn more about this life-affirming philosophy. Meeting dates are: (1) Norman Murray Community and Senior Center, Veteran Way, Mission Viejo on Wednesdays, March 11 and April 8, 7 pm. For more information call 714-444-9580 and (2) Glenwood Recreation Center, 25422 Cedarbrook Drive (between Glenwood and Aliso Viejo Parkway) on Sundays, March 29 and April 26 at 11 am. For more information call 949-472-3810.
