The Voice of the Roaring Lion Within! THe REAL Power of Dailmoku!!!

The biggest benefit chanting can give you is the opportunity every morning and evening to connect with your highest, best, most important and powerful self. 
I am sitting here right now in front of the Gohonzon chanting that no matter how cold it gets in Chicago, I will not let the feeling of despair that I often get in this weather overcome me....neither will I let the urge to eat everything in sight and inflate my body like a balloon happen! 


No way!


 I am saying this in my prayer! I am declaring to the universe within that that karma...the one I shared with my entire family...that is gone forever from my life through the POWER of my own DAIMOKU. The power of my own life determination and ichinen. 
THIS is the truest power of daimoku....the power of facing what it feels like and looking the negative function right in the eye and saying NOOOOOOOO. This negative function has no more power in my life!
Remember the scene  in the Lord of the Rings...from the Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandolph confronts the huge fire dragon (sorry, I forget his name) in the mines....and he screams "You shall not pass?" and the dragon falls into the pits (yes I know Gandolph does fall down there with him....but then he emerges even more powerful)....
Life is a struggle like this, against our own internal negative functions that seek to defeat us and bring us down. 


Today, even amidst this cold...depressing weather when I feel heavy and sad....I am saying NOOOOOO You shall not pass! I will still be my real self...my encouraging self....my happy self no matter what. I will not retreat into the world of finding food for comfort like my karma has been. I've lost 70 pounds and I'm going to keep it off. That story is done. 
I am sitting here in front of the Gohonzon chanting and telling my life how strong I have become....and how strong I must stay....for the sake of the members in my district....for the sake of my wonderful blog readers.....I have vowed victory in all areas of my life!!!!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! The Lion is Roaring!!!!!

How to begin...or refresh your practice!

Hello!

First of all make your list! Write out all the things you want to bring in to your life...and all the things you want to have LEAVE your life! And add the reasons why!

Then, twice a day...every morning and evening, find a special spot in your home where you feel comfortable. Sit comfortably and put your hands in front of your heart with palms touching...and chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo slowly - three times! Then chant for as long as you want over and over again! Breather whenever you want to! Chant for at least five minutes eacch time.

Then go through this blog and read the posts that inspire you...there are so many about the correct attitide to have, adn what to be thinking about when you chant and great inspiring results! Try that! GO for it!!!

Happy Jewish New Year!

From a very special person in my life...I send these blessings for a beautiful new beginning for you!
And remember, in Buddhism we have "Hon Nin Myo" the concept that life begins anew in each and every single minute. With Hon Nin Myo and wishes for every moment to be a new beginning for you!
All my love, Jamie


May this year be filled with Sweetness & Joy.

May you have the peace and joy that passes all human comprehension,

May you enjoy your apples and honey.

May you find it easy to give and receive.

May you know when to surrender, and do so with grace.

May you remember that some people's lives are parched dry... and be grateful for the abundance in yours.

May you find beauty in unexpected places. 

May you carry your loads with ease amid sweetness.

May you learn and teach well.

May you move with as much joy and ease as you can.

May your home be filled with fresh air and light.

May your tense and angry times be short-lived...

so that you come back quickly to your comfortable ole' self. 

May you be startled and delighted by new beginnings.

May you find your uniqueness.

May you play with friends.

and hear beautiful music.

May you come to the surface for air when you need it.

May you take exquisite care of yourself.

And may everything that hurts you also be a little funny.
Have a wonderful 5772!     

Such an inspiring Gosho! Tonight's Meeting is going to ROCK!!

Tonight we are studying "The Sutra of True Requital" the Gosho by Nichiren Daishonin!

From the essay by Daisaku Ikeda:

'In order to repay my debt of gratitude to my mother, I have vowed to enable all women to chant the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra" THis passage is the crux of "The Sutra of True Requittal," It articulates the primary inspiration for the Daishonin's vow to open the way for the enlightenment of all people.

"In an early Buddhist scripture, Shakyamuni Buddha instructs: "Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son, so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings." It may be no exaggeration to say that motherly compassion is identical to the heart of the Buddha, which all living beings possess. A mother's compassion or love for her only child is directly linked to the concern or lovingkindness of the Buddha for all living beings. To experience a mother's love and compassion is to experience the heart of the Buddha. All of us are beneficiaries of the great spiritual blessings of motherly love and compassion."

"When the compassion of mothers everywhere illuminates all humanity, and when all humanity respects the wish for peace cherished by mothers everywhere, the very tenor of modern civilization will undergo a momentous change."

And that us what we call Kosen Rufu!

World Peace. 

Chanting one last hour before the meeting for all of your happiness!

More Great Results and coaching on how to chant effectively!

I'll tell you, when you're in the flow of things...you are in the FLOW of things. I sooo want all of you to experience this. And again, it comes from devoting your life to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!


This week was incredible. Besides being my birthday week and having flowers and gifts and love everywhere...it was also an accreditation visit at the college where I work. This is a big deal. The various departments in the school have been preparing for this for months. Mostly I was thinking that it doesn't effect me too much. I am the Director of Community and Alumni Outreach...my main purpose is to join the college with various organizations where our students can get real world experience doing health care related tasks for a few hours at a time. It's fun...I love bringing the students to senior fairs and public health departments. It gives them confidence. I take pictures of them and post them on the bulletin boards....I form partnerships with organizations so we can return again and again. And I didn't think the surveyors would care much about this. 


Not only did they care, but something totally unexpected came out of this. Remember I am the Buddha, right? So I've been pouring daimoku into this program since the day I started....for the program chairs' happiness, for us to work together happily, for the students happiness and success. And I thought the only thing that came out of these types of surveys was bad news, information of things we had to improve on, but no! What happened was my program ended up being written up as OUTSTANDING! The surveyors reported that on my campus Service Learning was overwhelmingly effective and popular among the students. I was given a personal commendation in the final report. I didn't even know this could happen! 


And one of the staff said to me that ripples of my happiness had affected the whole school!


HOW TO CHANT! 


Just focus on what you want. Chant what is in your heart!  


Think about what makes you most passionate. Chant to raise your life condition so that everything will come to you. Chant to realize, at every moment, how precious your life is!!! Chant to share President Ikeda's heart...like it is beating in your own heart. Then read his writings to find out why I would recommend such a thing to you! If you're not connected to the Soka Gakkai...chant to BE connected to the Soka Gakkai, and go to meetings in your area. It is lonely, and impossible to get the same benefits chanting alone. If you can't find the organization close to you...make one by introducing your friends. Be a brave pioneer! But get connected to the SGI somehow!
Chant to have many dear friends in faith and to find people who inspire you. Chant in appreciation for having challenges so you can PROVE this practice. Chant to be an example that this practice works....that you HAVE to have RESULTS so that you can inspire people. Then share your practice with others to the best of your ability. I chant that my members can't NOT share the practice because they are overflowing with benefits!  I carry Nam Myoho Renge Kyo cards with me and hand out cards all day long....
Just keep going...don't give up! Chant twice a day, morning and evening. Perfect your gongyo. All of this comes easily when you are in the rhythm of chanting twice daily. Believe me...it is a joy not a struggle!!! Let me know your results and your challenges! 
You can do it!!!

It's My Birthday! ~ Shine up that Altar of Yours!

And because I can chant the Daimoku of the title of the Lotus Sutra....I am happier than I've ever been in my whole life!


Yes, it's true!


I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo... with joy and conviction and a VOW to be Happy ~ Healthy ~ Smart ~ Sexy ~ Prosperous! All the good things I can think of! I chant to share the heart of my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda. You know  - when you chant this way you are already a winner! You can't lose!


Last night's District Meeting Rocked! There were 17 people in Jamie's Sweet Apartment, and two incredible experiences. The first was from Heather, who had experienced a real downturn lately. She'd quit her job because it wasn't paying the rent, so she couldn't afford her car insurance and lost her license....and on and on. I went over to her house and we moved her beautiful Butsudan (altar)(it was my Mom's) and cleaned it all up and made it bright and shiny and we talked about the way you treat your altar is the same as the respect you have for your own life. If you keep it bright and clean and have offerings of fresh fruit....your life will sparkle! Heather ended up getting a job she is over the moon about! It's at a wonderful place and she has all kinds of benefits she never even chanted for....along with working with people she genuinely respect and who treat her well!!! Yaaaayyy!!! 
And Ted also got a job he is thrilled about. He's a relatively new member (so is Heather) and he'd been struggling to find a job he liked. We kept encouraging him to chant chant chant chant! And NOT give up!!! He finally got a job interview at a hotel and  - get this - they have a Gohonzon room in the hotel and he is working with Buddhists! They are giving him a lot of responsibility and he is thrilled. The day before his interview he chanted for 6 hours with his partner Mark! Sometimes THAT is what it takes!!!


So on this day, my birthday...take a look at your own altar. Make sure it is against a very sturdy wall...not under a window...not in a corner. Make sure there is NOTHING hanging over it. Dust it lovingly. Get the residue of candles off of it (I used to use a hot hairdryer to do this - now I burn candles with glass around them), put fresh fruit, and water in the morning, and if you want you ca put some fresh greens, or bamboo, or a plant. I have the beautiful roses given to me by a very special man in my life on my altar today. Aaaaaahhhh life is good! Clean up your altar area and you clean up your life. Make it sparkle and your life will sparkle too!!!!

Ohhhh I feel so good

And I want you all to feel soooo great too!


 My life is incredible, and it starts anew every single morning and every evening when I sit in front of my Gohonzon and chant with an open heart. I pour out every one of my desires...and I start with the desire to really, every single minute, realize how incredible I AM and how incredible my life force is....and how much I love my life and love myself...and how every Nam Myoho Renge Kyo I chant goes to further realize my own magnificence. It is so refreshing to see the diamond brilliance of my life...to see and feel the power of the Buddha within me. 
And the results of this prayer...and the VOW to be winning in every single area of my life....well I am sparkling more brilliantly in every area every moment. 
My life is sparkly and brilliant and wonderful. I am totally fulfilled....totally seeing and feeling...and letting in all the love...all the happiness that surrounds me in ways I have longed for my entire life. I feel cherished and happy and beautiful and  whole. And I long for all people...all women...to know this feeling!  Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...have I ever changed some karma. My  cup is overflowing and there is more and more flowing my way every moment. YES universe! That's what I'm talking about. 
And my professional life is an absolute blast. After a rough start in my new job...where I really turned around a tough situation...I am so happy that work never feels like working. I am shining and glowing and producing incredible results while enjoying every single minute of every day...making new friends....creating value for everyone around me. I even got national recognition on the weekly call I'm part of every Friday.  Some of the recognition was unexpected...a nice public thank you from an associate in another city...so very cool. And last week I participated in a training and won the $100 gift card to a cool restaurant. The week before that I received an incredible opal set in gold as part of a cool thing I was doing with my students. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...my life is full of unexpected surprises! 
I have wonderful health....great friends....better friends than I've ever had...wonderful, loving friends with many shared interests. I am riding high. And I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW that it is because of this wonderful practice. I KNOW I have designed it all, and create it all with every Daimoku I chant.  
AND I KNOW this all is possible for you too. Whatever your challenges, whatever your goals and dreams and visions....if I CAN DO IT...SO CAN YOU! I am not extraordinary. I am determined to be happy, and willing to put in the time in front of my Gohonzon with my heart in my hands and my life in my hands. I chant for my Human Revolution, and to lift every suffering being up with me. I chant to do my Human Revolution so the entire world can rid itself of suffering, of war, of hate, of despair. Through my happiness I am healing the world. THAT is my determination. 
And if I can be happy so can you. No matter what your karma is you can change it. No matter how badly you are suffering now....I promise you, you can change it into a beautiful overflowing garden just as I have. Remember when I started this blog two years ago? I was suffering from heartache, and life-ache and deepest, darkest despair. And I committed to chant two hours a day for my own happiness and to take anyone who wanted to read my blog on this journey with me...and look at me now. May my words and determination inspire you to chant every single morning and evening...to never give up on your dreams....to join with your mentor and my mentor Daisaku Ikeda...and to achieve the kind of happiness that will have you pinching yourself in joy!!!! 
You can do it! Own your suffering! Call it your mission! Recognize your karma. Embrace it...chant to change it. Every morning and evening and don't give up! 
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!!!!!!
I love you !!!
Jamie

Incredible Guidance ~ Try this!

I have been following this incredible Guidance. Check it out.

Chanting to become a man/woman 

of UNLIMITED SELF EXTEEM

Whatever it is that you are suffering from...whatever it is, it has a common root and this way of prayer will have a deep impact!!

...You can analyze your situation all you want. You have to get to the bottom of why "I don't believe in the greatness of my life". You have to grab it by the roots and yank it out of your life. 

You must chant to AWAKEN TO YOUR OWN GREATNESS!

Chant to appreciate and value your own life!

Your mission as a Buddhist is TO BECOME HAPPY! NOT TO MASTER SUFFERING!!!

We all have negative and positive voices in our heads... one says "Who are you kidding?" and the other says "You can do it!." Which voice will you listen to? Which will you tell to just go away? It's your choice! You HAVE to fight not to give in to your negativity. It is the ULTIMATE win you MUST HAVE! This is not about being a writer, artist, actor, etc. It's about becoming the person you always wanted to become, a person who values and appreciates his/her life at EACH MOMENT! A person who revels in being who they are! 

I am living proof that this is possible. I am enjoying every single moment of my life and appreciating myself every second of every day. I am producing excellent results at work...and loving it! I am so happy in every aspect of my social life....especially those aspects that have challenged me so completely for my entire life. I have just seen my two Buddha boys go off to college, and YES, I do feel the sadness of the changes of time...the passage of a phase of my life. My little Ben is never going to come running across the field with his arms outstretched and jump into my waiting arms...but I have a life so rich and exciting that I am feeling the loss, I'm present to this moment of poignancy, but I am not laid low for very long before I spring into the excitement of my next exciting encounter.  The guidance I am sharing this evening is part of the reason I am flourishing. 

THE OBSTACLES YOU FACE ARE THE ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYER!

Those feelings of self-doubt, those feelings of "I am a failure"....or "I am NEVER going to change this"...THOSE are the feelings you have to address and fight head on! YOUR TALENT IS NOT BEING QUESTIONED....it's about how you feel about yourself! THAT is the karma! You have to value your own life! You have to appreciate it!




Unless you conquer those feelings you will not break through to the happiness that is YOUR BIRTHRIGHT ! You deserve to be happy! Chanting to REALIZE THE MAGNIFICENCE OF YOUR LIFE WILL HELP YOU TO SEE IT!




It has nothing to do with someone else validating you! Follow your heart! Chant to feel your own magnificence! THAT is what will move mountains in your life.
Chant to Do your human revolution!




You need to follow your heart, truly treasure your life. When Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon, he was already chanting daimoku, and out of the greatness of his life welling forth in the realization that he had tapped into the key to happiness itself, he inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon for all humanity, so that every single person could attain enlightenment, relieve their suffering, and be HAPPY! When you sit in front of the Gohonzon you have to have the most reverence for your life. The Gohonzon is the universe within you. It is the beautiful life state you can call forth by chanting in front of it. If you chant for at least two weeks to really be a man/woman of unlimited self esteem and to REALLY, TRULY appreciate your life, including your flaws, your accomplishments, your defeats, your losses, your victories, all you have created, and truly APPRECIATE YOUR TALENT AS________________ for at least two weeks then EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE.




Forget about all the garbage in the past. Put it away! From today on really chant to be a man/woman of unlimited self esteem!

This is part one, but a very good start! Make your determination and chant NOW!!!