"What are the ingredients for happiness?
This is one of life's fundamental questions.
The most crucial determinant for happiness
is our inner state of life.
Those with an expansive
inner state of being
are happy.
They live out their days with an open and confident spirit.
People with a strong state of life are happy. They are not defeated by suffering and can calmly enjoy life as it unfolds.
Those with a profound state of life are happy. Savoring the deep significance of life, they are able to create a record of meaningful and enduring value.
People with a pure state of life are happy. They are always spreading refreshing joy to those around them.
There are countless individuals who are blessed with wealth, social status, and other material advantages, but are unhappy. And such external circumstances are changeable and impermanent; no one knows how long they will last.
But when you have established an unshakable inner state of happiness, no one can destroy it. Nothing can violate it. Creating this great life state is the aim of your Buddhist practice. The important thing is to never stray from the Gohonzon, to never stop advancing in faith.
In the course of life, you are bound to face all kinds of difficulties. At times, you may become stuck. That is when you need to strengthen your faith and chant daimoku in earnest. Difficult as it might be, once you surmount the steep mountain of your karma, a new horizon will open wide before you. Buddhist practice is the repetition of this process. Eventually, you will reach a state of absolute happiness that will never be destroyed.
Develop deep, strongly rooted faith. As long as a sapling has strong roots and receives enough sunshine and water, it will grow into a tall, sturdy tree, even if it is buffeted by the elements. The same is true of our Buddhist practice and our lives.
I hope that all of you will be courageous individuals who cheerfully spread the great light of happiness throughout this troubled world, your lives serving as personal proof of the true greatness of Nichiren Buddhism. "
From the February 2015 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai's monthly study journal, as quoted in the May 2015 Living Buddhism.
I know it is hard to believe, but this is actually a practice where you can chant for anything you desire.
I still get emails asking if it's okay to chant for marriage, or money, or anything...and the answer is a resounding YES!
Chant for whatever you want.
Earthly desires are enlightenment.
Many of us know people who didn't chant for the most lofty goals when they first started chanting, but over time, through following their hearts, their goals turned more and more towards their happiness, and the happiness of others.
But you have to start somewhere, and that somewhere is exactly where you are now.
Please know that you are a noble child of the Buddha...in fact...YOU ARE THE BUDDHA and you deserve to chant for your desires. How can you believe in the power of the mystic law (chanting Nam myoho renge kyo) in your life if you do not see actual proof for yourself?
Chant to have the kind of benefit that will make you see the power of this law. you need to encourage yourself! Chant for anything. When you encourage yourself you can definitely encourage others.
Start with your own life and go from there. Your prayers will eventually turn to the happiness of others, and the best way to help others become happy is to become happy FIRST, then show by your example what is possible.
That is why we chant to show actual proof of the law in our lives. When we show actual proof in our lives and do our own Human Revolution, constantly improving ourselves, others will see our results and be inspired.
As I've said many times, there are people who decided to practice, people I deeply love, who decided to practice just by seeing the changes I made in my life. And my constant prayer has been to show actual vibrant proof of the power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo so that others can be inspired to tap into that same power and become happy themselves.
You can do it. Chant for anything. Money, cars, job, friendship...anything.
Chant to show actual proof so you can inspire others.
When I chanted for my house I chanted for a house to show actual proof, and for a place where I could have meetings. When I chanted for a car I chanted for a car to drive members to meetings.
When you connect your prayer to the greater good it is that much more powerful.
Chant for your desires. You deserve them, and the world deserves your happiness. Your happiness is contagious, important and worthwhile. And you have the ultimate key to making it happen...Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Go, you Buddha YOU.
