Chanting...Dependent Origination

This month's Living Buddhism Magazine (can be ordered through sgi-usa.com) is focused on a Buddhist concept called Dependent Origination. It means that all of life is dependent on all the rest of life...nothing exists in a vacuum and all work together at every moment. It is the reason that sometimes in life...everything is going great...and other times...everything seems to be hitting the skids.

When you chant and devote your life to your own, and everyone else's happiness (i.e. work for Kosen Rufu - as we Buddhists would put it) you become very aware of the workings of dependent origination.

This concept is at the root of this incredible week I've had...and why my coaching business is really taking off. (spiritualweightlosscoach.com) The fact that my son Ben's senior year dream of his whole team going to the state meet for Cross country is happening...well...that is also no coincidence because it is all tied together in the web of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo - dependent origination.

This is the true beauty of this practice...if you devote your life to your own desires...the happiness of others...and the study of Buddhist principles...your life can literally soar like the eagles. Anything that seems like a problem is so small and so dim...you see it from the air...but it doesn't penetrate your life...doesn't cause you to suffer as much as it might have in the past.

Devoting your life to your own desires is the reason I embraced this practice. I think in this society, because of our cultural Christian heritage, many people distrust or feel guilty for their own desires. It is ingrained in so many of us. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is a revolutionary practice because it is through chanting for your desires that you can obtain the greatest happiness..and bring happiness to all around you...even if you THINK your desires aren't so good...they are the core of who you are...and when you chant for them...

your desires will naturally transform into the desires that truly bring you the most happiness. This is the core of the practice for me...and why I am heading into my 26th year of chanting every day, twice a day with my desires in mind. Think about it...when you are happy...aren't those around you basking in your glow too? Don't you BRING happiness wherever you go...to your family...your kids...your parents...the grocery store...the bank...EVERYWHERE? Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo digs deep into the core of your life...releasing the beautiful universe inside for all to see and experience!!!

Cross Country is headed to state!

Another exciting day and it's not over yet!
Today Ben came in third in the regional Cross Country Meet and the whole team qualified to run in the state race! The Downers Grove North girls team also qualified and could take the state title!

What an amazing time for the legendary coach Kup's final season before retirement, and Ben's senior year. He looked so strong!

And tonight...well tonight I get to dress up as a cave woman and have a ball! I love my life!

Keeps getting better and better!

Here I am using my cool new macbook air from my comfortable warm chair in my favorite room...

And both of the people I am coaching are having the most incredible breakthroughs!

The person I'm doing life coaching with is realizing more and more about patterns she has that make her feel bad about her wonderfully productive life. She's appreciating herself more, and getting less down on herself. She is in the process of changing the insidious karma of being a perfectionist...being her own worst enemy. This kind of negative energy can totally keep a person stuck. It is karma that has run through her family...she believes her father's death was the result of this perfectionism...believing you've never done enough...and will never be good enough. With the use of me as her coach...and the chanting of heartfelt daimoku...she is going to change this karma! She is going to feel good and satisfied with every day...and reach each one of her life goals! THAT is the power of coaching!!!

The person I'm coaching for weight loss is just glowing. She is chanting to strengthen her life...and I can see her energy rising! She is so excited, and already feeling she has less of an appetite and is thinner after less than a week of coaching!!

And my personal life is so happy...my sons are good...my friends are amazing and a certain, special friend inspires me so much!

Moving Ahead

OMG! I am writing this from my brand new Macbook Air! It is such an amazingly thin little laptop. For many years I have watched the laptop business...waiting until the right one would come along for me...and it is HERE! This laptop is about as heavy as a spiral notebook, and so sleek and sexy. And my experiences in the Apple store have been so wonderful. Yesterday, when I was buying my new laptop (after quite a while spent pondering size and power level) I told my young salesperson I have a crush on Steve Jobs. "So do I!" was this very straight young man's reply! I am really looking forward to taking advantage of the one on one learning sessions I will be taking. I will learn to master this mac...the movie creation for my web site...the photos...everything. This is the perfect tool for me to really be able to reach and help people!

Right now I am working with two coaching clients. Actually I shouldn't even call it "working". It is so much fun and so productive for all of us. I learn from them and they are so receptive to my coaching. Coaching really comes from a collaboration between two people. I ask the questions that help each person determine exactly what the next steps are for them...of course they already KNOW...I just help draw that wisdom forth, and they know we will talk again tomorrow and they will get to share their successes and challenges with me again!

Being accountable to a coach opens the way for huge breakthroughs. In weight loss coaching I have specific meditations and assignments. In life coaching a structure exists, but the focus is on other goals the person has, not on weight loss. This is the work I was born to do. I know the people I was meant to attract are coming my way to be profoundly helped by working with me!!!!

Last night my fabulous Buddhist District took the Entrance Examination. I am so proud of my new young Buddhists. They all studied...presented material...and took the test. Study is integral to this practice...each one of them...and all our district members are getting happier each day.

Today I have already chanted more than three hours...I am determined to break through to a deeper level of happiness than I have ever experienced. Onward and upward!!!!

New Website DONE!

OK! I did it! I designed a website for my business called spiritualweightlosscoach.com !!! Take a look at it and see what you think. I'm open to feedback. I think all of this modern technology is just a miracle that keeps getting better every single day! I love the idea of being able to reach people all over the world. I love the fact that I was able to create this website entirely on my own. Each picture is like a little miracle. "I did it! I did it!" I kept telling my son Ben.

I have my first weight loss client, and we'll start tomorrow with the "before pictures" and get into the program. I'm in the process of designing the rest of the materials...videos...mp3s...books. I'll post my book as an ebook on the site as well. I think I need to get one of those new macbook laptops that are so thin and so powerful...I think I need one tomorrow!

Big storms are coming in to the Chicago Area and I hope they don't blow all the leaves off my beautiful trees. It is a feast for the eyes everywhere you look right now. Today was warm and I walked for about an hour and a half.

On Wednesday night we have a Buddhist exam for our meeting. Study is very important in this practice...it helps us to get more benefits and see the inside of our lives.

ADVANCING!

These are exciting times. I just designed a website! Tomorrow I'll change the url, then I'll let you know what it is. It's so exciting, embarking on this new endeavor. I am using the spiritual weight loss tools I used to help others to lose weight.

I'm a Spiritual Weight Loss Coach! If I can do it, anyone can!

And I know I can help anyone who is ready, and will listen to me, to lose weight too!

My web site has been entirely written while chanting daimoku and holding a pen. The ideas have just been flowing forth. I will be adding to it, but it's ready to go right now...and I did it myself, with help from Intuit. They were great! I wholeheartedly endorse them!

Great Day for the Silver Boys

Ben ran in a meet for the first time in five weeks and came in second. He's been trying to fix an injured right foot...back and forth to the Podiatry office! He felt good today and helped get his team to regionals for cross country.
Aaron is the president of the running club at the University of Illinois and he set a personal record by 30 seconds today and his club came in first in regionals!

It was a rainy cloudy morning, but the sun has come out revealing a beautiful fall day. Lovely!

This week at our Buddhist meeting we'll be taking an elementary Buddhist exam. Study is very important in Buddhism...the more you study the stronger your faith. When you study you see your whole life as a sequence of perfect events leading to your happiness...set backs reveal themselves as benefits and it all comes together when you deepen your faith as you chant!

I have a job interview this week for a place I think I'd really like to work...and all sorts of things in the works. And I feel happier than ever.
Woohoo!

Changing relationship karma!

Wow, hasn't it been a wonderful fall?
It has been so marvelous to be free and in the Arboretum... and walking in the leaves. I'm strengthening my body and preparing my life for what's next.
I have changed some major karma. Here it is, many moons from having lost 70 pounds...and not only am I keeping it off...I am also reshaping my body through pilates. I am still amazed when I try on clothes. Yesterday I tried on a small, sexy dress at Von Maur and could not believe it fit. It was so thrilling that I took a picture! (OMG I love my smartphone) I don't have to buy every single thing just because it fits or looks good. You know ~ when you're heavy that's pretty much what you do...now I am leading a different life thanks to chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! This karma is changed! Check!
NOW I want to help others to lose weight. I always felt that losing the weight was part of my mission in life. Now that I've done it I want to help others to do it too! I concentrated on spiritual weight loss...and the physical came after that. I didn't analyze all the reasons I ate...I already KNEW them! I just focused my daimoku and chanted and meditated. If I can do it I can teach anyone to do it...but they have to be ready and willing to do what I say!!!
What's next? Relationship karma! I really feel my Mom, and my incredible healing friend Julia, working on this with me. I know my Mom was sad in her chosen relationship...and didn't have daimoku to change that core of sadness in her life...I know many people who have had unhappy mothers too...and I know it is MY KARMA TO CHANGE...for the sake of my children...for the sake of their children...for the sake of everyone who wants to be happy in love! I am determined to be in the happiest state of loving another person...someone who truly sees who I am, practices Buddhism with me, and together we glow and grow and laugh and travel and love! He's healthy, he's optimistic and he loves to have fun. I know this is possible for me. I know he's out there...probably looking for me! I have so much to look forward to!

Feeling the effects!

My son and I are really feeling the effects of our chanting.

Yesterday he told me that there were always people at his High School that he "kind of" fit in with...but there was some sort of barrier...either in his head or imagined...he still felt like an outsider with these people.
NOW he says that all those people have become real friends...and his "group" has expanded exponentially.

I replied that I know exactly what he was talking about...only when I was his age it was my weight that was a barrier between me and others and now that barrier is gone!