PowerPrayer to Call in A True-Love-Soulmate Relationship!

Hello! Julia and I were reviewing all the wonderful PowerPrayers we've written for you for the book, and we realized we had not yet written one of the most important ones - finding true love! 

So we chanted about this during the long holiday weekend, and both came up with PowerPrayers for our phone meeting yesterday. From there we melded the one you see below. 

You know, Julia and I live very far apart. She lives in Northern California and I'm here outside of Chicago. It is the power of Daimoku and the PowerPrayers we wrote for success before we started writing this book that are fueling us in creating our offering for you!

To get the full benefit of a PowerPrayer chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with full faith in yourself. We offer these words as a guideline and suggestion.

PowerPrayer to call in a 
True-Love-Soulmate Relationship

Gohonzon, (my life itself!) 

I am ready to raise my life condition in every way 
so that I naturally attract to myself 
the best romantic partner/soul-mate for me at this time.
With each Daimoku I am strengthening my magnetism 
becoming more and more of my true self, 
revealing more and more of my inner and outer beauty, 
strengthening each element of my soul 
so that I am becoming the very best version of me, 
and the person my soul mate is longing to meet.

In the Infinity of Love where I am
all is perfect, whole and complete

Deep at the center of my being is an infinite well of love. 
I now allow this love to flow to the surface. 
It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, 
my very being, and radiates out of me in all directions. 
It is returning to me right now, multiplied...

The one I am seeking is seeking me. 

Each Daimoku brings us closer, 
physically, and also on a subtle level, 
so that when we connect, everything is very natural between us.
We find that we are in rhythm together, 
on the same wavelength about many things, 
share a sense of adventure, meaning and humor 
that is very well matched. 
There is a strong and natural physical attraction
and we are very comfortable with one another in every way. 
Our longing for one another is equally balanced
and we enjoy our togetherness and time apart equally. 
We bring out the best in one another, 
and are perfectly endowed to help one another grow
in ways that challenge us without fear. 
Our very lives have created each of us to be that special someone 
for the other person. 
We both recognize it immediately!
Here are the qualities I strengthen in myself right now in preparation

(i.e. Unlimited self esteem, contentment, capacity to receive and give adoration. Complete your own list below)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And here are the qualities I desire in my soulmate:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!

I release this in joy now 
and I’m excited to see continual actual proof of this prayer in my life. 

From this moment forward 
each daimoku is a thank-you!

Become a Light of Hope and you will be Victorious!!!

YES! Congratulations Soka university Class of 2013!  

This post is derived largely from the 
June 14th World Tribune celebrating the graduation. 

Soka University, Los Angeles was founded by Daisaku Ikeda and opened in 2001. In 2013 Soka was named as one of the top 50 finest liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report. They also ranked Soka #1 in Faculty Resources, #2 in Foreign Support Factor ( with 42% of students coming from outside the U.S.), #2 in Ethnic Diversity and #8 in Best Value School. 

The June 14th World Tribune has wisdom for us all:

In his address to the class of 2013, Soku University of America President Dr. Habuki noted that the song "The Light of Hope," which Dr. Ikeda wrote and dedicated to SUA, speaks of his hopes and expectations for the school's graduates to become the "light of hope" wherever they go. How do they do this? 
The key, Dr. Habuki said, is to become a person who works for the sake of others. 


"When you center everything and base things only on yourself, it becomes much easier to give up, because you will only disappoint yourself." he said. "When your efforts are for the sake of other people and society, you become far more determined to succeed. Like those of you who are the first college graduate in your family, I am sure you worked harder because of your families. 
"After today, you will soon leave the campus where you lived for four years, and I know there will be many challenges ahead," he continued. "There will be occasions when you will feel defeated or stuck. During those times, always remember those who have supported and believed in you, and those waiting for you in society - your parents, your friends and the people of the world. Let this become the basis of your strength."

Dr. Habuki, President of Soka University. 

We can all take this message to heart. When we are chanting we can focus on fulfilling our dreams not just for ourselves, but also to be a beacon of hope for others. 

When I started this blog in 2009 I was determined to overcome my deep-seated and life-long sadness, not just for myself, but for my members, for my friends and for anyone who might be reading this blog. Every day I chanted to root the cause of this sadness and despair out of my life FOREVER. And now, I am just amazed at my life every single day. I am victorious. 
I have defeated my biggest internal demon  - I no longer suffer from depression and sadness! 

Having a strong determination for the sake of other people is one of the golden keys to happiness. Thank you for saying it so succinctly Dr. Habuki and good luck to all the Soka U graduates!!!!

Happy Summer Solstice!

When you chant enough daimoku 

your life is shining like the sun. 

Are you feeling a little down? 

Are things not going your way as often as you would like? 

If you start chanting more daimoku more consistently your life will rise with the power of daimoku, you'll feel a glow and contentment, you'll be happier, people you want to have in your life will be drawn to you...

Try challenging yourself to chant more daimoku in the morning and the evening. You can make it fun by chanting with others. And you may experience the place I am in right now...the more I chant the more I WANT to chant. The time flies. It is effortless. I have so many things to chant for! I feel so connected. I chant with so much joy! 

Daimoku is FREE and a "happiness making machine." 

I've been chanting at least two hours a day for awhile. I'm focusing on writing the PowerPrayer book, and on YOU who read this blog. 

My deepest desire is to write words that inspire you, give you hope and make you want to get back in front of your Gohonzon and rededicate yourself to creating the life you really want. When you chant you TELL your life what you want.

My deepest desire is to encourage you to take Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda's words to heart and engrave them in your lives. 

My deepest desire is for you to be so happy that people naturally want to learn what you're doing and you can teach them to chant. 

My deepest desire is to always connect with Sensei (Daisaku Ikeda) and take the actions, chant the prayers, and write and say the words that he would say. 

Sensei's Daily Guidance for June 21 from For Today and Tomorrow reads:

"When you devote your life to achieving your goal,  
you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. 
In fact nothing can be accomplished 
if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, 
always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking. 
The key to achievement is to move forward resolutely along your chosen path."

PowerPrayer for Health

You can chant this for yourself or in someone else's name:

PowerPrayer for Health


I,                 , am bringing into my life 
everything I need 
for radiant energy and complete health. 
As I am chanting, 
everything I need, 
including the perfect mindset 
is speeding its way towards me. 
All of the best medicines, 
herbal treatments, 
practitioners, 
techniques 
are abundantly available in my life. 
I am healing at every moment.
I am growing more and more healthy every day! 

I love myself enough to realize 
that I deserve all of the best kinds of support. 
I no longer live in fear, disappointment and doubt. 
I am absolutely certain 
that I have the power to create my health. 

I have heard and internalized the voice of my my mentor who has stated repeatedly, 
"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the roar of the lion, what sickness can therefore be an obstacle?'

I know that true health 
lies in creating a life condition of challenge and victory. 

Every little setback I experience 
galvanizes in me more resolve 
to chant ever more resounding Daimoku 
and strengthen my practice. 

I transform each obstacle as it arises 
into more actual proof and encouragement 
with which I inspire others. 

My illness has become a source of victory 
and great intimacy and friendship 
with a multitude of people whose suffering 
I have shared, 
and for whom I have the deepest respect and empathy. 

I am a shining beacon of hope 
to anyone who has suffered because of failing health. 
Because I have embraced my illness for what it is, 
the opportunity to show actual proof through my life, 
I have already won!

How to Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

(Periodically I post this passage about chanting for the first time. If you're new to the practice we welcome you with open arms. If you're strengthening your own practice I congratulate you. And if you are forwarding the post to someone who wants to try chanting, that is awesome. This blog can be sent to anyone who speaks any language. Just click the translation button in the upper right)

Why chant? By chanting the name of the rhythm of life itself  we tap into our own powerful universe within, our own Buddhahood ~ our vast and powerful resource to create change within ourselves.  We can change any poison (suffering) into medicine (benefit), experience a state of absolute and unshakable happiness and help others to do the same. 

Here's how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

First of all make a list of what you really want in life. Take a fresh look at your desires and write them down.  Dream big. What do you really want? What do you want for yourself? What do you want for others? What do you want for the world? Make a list. Write it down and put the date on it. 

Many people began chanting with desires that later turned into other desires. So don't worry about your current desires. Chanting is progressive, both you and your desires will evolve. I know people who began a very rewarding practice chanting for things others might consider wrong or strange. One of my friends chanted for a month to prove to his wife that this practice doesn't work. More than 40 years later he is still practicing. In Nichiren Buddhism your desires ARE enlightenment. It is okay to desire whatever you desire, whether it's money, the happiness of someone else, a relationship, a job, or peace of mind and contentment. With continued practice you will see that your dreams for yourself actually become tied to the dreams of happiness for all. 

Chant for what is really in your heart. Be true to yourself. 

Click "Read more" below to see the rest of this post:


I suggest having some sort of journal to write in. Writing in a journal helps you become aware of your progress and benefits.

Choose a place to chant comfortably. You’ll want to sit in a comfortable chair. 

Where would you feel most at ease chanting out loud? 

Before you receive your own Gohonzon (scroll that was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin that signifies our highest life condition possible) It is helpful to have something on the wall to focus on.  Rest your eyes on something slightly above eye level. It can be anything. 

When I first started chanting in my little two room apartment in San Francisco, I sat on the mattress on the floor and gazed up at the moon in a poster of Mono Lake. I think that's better than staring at a blank wall.  

Choose something soothing to rest your eyes on. 

I have a table nearby for my tea, and other things I like to have close when I chant. You may want to put a low table up as an altar, with fruit and candles and incense, but you don’t need that to begin. 

Write the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 
on a piece of paper. 

The words are pronounced as follows: 

Nahm, rhymes with Mom, 
meeyohoh, with three long vowels, 
rain gay, 
key oh. 
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 
Nahm Meeyohoh Rain Gay Key Oh
(Phonetic spelling) 

Hold your hands with the palms facing in and touching each other in front of your heart. Sit with your back as straight as possible (but be comfortable, as I already stated - this practice is not about formalities) and say Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over and over and over again. 

You do not have to concentrate on anything at first. Just say the words. Breathe whenever you have to for as long as you like. See if you can chant for a few minutes, then a few minutes more. Chant for as long as you can!  

The rhythm should sound like a train moving, or horses running. There should be some energy to it. You can chant as fast or as slow as you wish. Speed of chanting is up to you. 
If you want to hear how it sounds you can go to the top right corner of this blog and chant with me. I begin slowly and speed up with more energy. 

See how it makes you feel. 

Can you get to the point where you don’t have to think about the words, but can actually think about what you want? It may take a little time. Naturally you will begin to chant for what is in your heart. 

Many religions and forms of practice do not encourage people to have their OWN desires. Most of us grew up in cultures where religions never talked of our own Happiness...but this practice is different. Please mull this over. Your desires are YOU. Your desires are inspired from the depths of your life, they are as beautiful and wonderful as you are. 

When you are finished chanting you can write in your journal, if you'd like.

Start by writing an assessment of your life right now. What’s going well, what you’d like to improve on... Then write how you felt before chanting and after chanting. In your journal set a goal for how much you want to chant every day.  When I started, I could only chant five minutes a day in the morning and five minutes in the evening. That was enough. I had a timer next to me and I’m sure there were times I stopped before I’d even reached five minutes! You will build up momentum! 

Commit to chant twice a day every day. Establishing a twice a day rhythm to your chanting is important. It gets the wheels of your life moving. 

Keep your goals in mind and you’ll remember your reasons for chanting! 

These words and this vibration go deep into the heart of your life itself. They summon forth your highest wisdom, vitality and sense of purpose. They also uproot the karma that is making you suffer, and give you the opportunity to change this karma forever. 

When you chant you are entering into a dialogue with your life itself. You are not chanting to any god or asking for favors. Instead, you are connecting with the rhythm of the universe itself. 

As Nichiren Daishonin says in the famous writing (Gosho) "On Attaining Buddhahood" :

"If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured since time beginning and to attain without fail unsurpassed enlightenment in this lifetime, you must perceive the mystic truth that is originally inherent in all living beings. This truth is Myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting Myoho-renge-kyo will therefore enable you to grasp the mystic truth innate in all life...It is called the mystic truth because it explains the mutually inclusive relationship of life and all phenomena. 
"Life at each moment encompasses the body and mind and the self and environment of all sentient beings in the ten worlds, as well as all insentient beings in the three thousand realms, including plants, sky and earth, and even the most minute particles of dust. Life at each moment permeates the universe and is revealed in all phenomena. One awakened to this principle himself embodies this relationship. However, even though you chant and believe in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the mystic law but some inferior teaching."
From Lectures on Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime by Daisaku Ikeda, 2007  

In other words, when you chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo you are accessing the mystic law which has always been within your life. 

You will still have challenges and problems in life when you chant...but eventually you will see them as the opportunities they are. Problems are the FUEL you need to catapult your life into a life of happiness and joy. You have begun a journey to uncover the true happiness that exists in your shining Buddha life. Congratulations!

It is crucial to a successful Nichiren Buddhist practice to join the family of fellow practitioners, your fellow Soka Gakkai (SGI) members. There are many ways to locate the Soka Gakkai practitioners in your area. You can click on the SGI-USA portal to the right. 

You can also do a search on Soka Gakkai followed by whatever country you live in. Then call the center closest to your home and ask to be connected to the nearest district. 

The correct form of this practice cannot be done alone. It must be done within the orbit of faith. Joining with fellow travelers is essential. Other Soka Gakkai members will be happy to help you learn to chant, overcome your problems, and reveal your brilliant, wonderful self!  
and go to IKEDAQUOTES.org to read Daisaku Ikeda's words. He is lighting the way for us all...and for YOU!
Websites that might be helpful include SGI-USA.org and SGI.org. They contain information that is very useful. 
You may want to scroll through the titles of other posts on this blog as well. 

Let me know if I can help you. Email me with questions at chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

The Buddha's Birthday - Celebrate by Realizing YOU are the Buddha and Praising Your Life

The message of the original Buddha is simple. 
We are all Buddhas. 
We are ALL connected to the all. 
We are ALL expressions of the universe, 
and we all have access right within our reach by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, or the name of the rhythm that exists within everything. Everything. (For notes on why I chose this picture see below)

Daisaku Ikeda puts it succinctly, as always:

"The air around us is filled with radio waves of various frequencies. While these are invisible, a television set can collect them and turn them into visible images. The practice of chanting daimoku to the Gohonzon aligns the rhythm of our own lives with the world of Buddhahood in the universe. It "tunes" our lives, so to speak, so that we can manifest the power of Buddhahood in our very beings." Faith in Action page 118. 

"The Daishonin taught us that through gongyo and chanting daimoku we can reach an elevated state in which, while engaged in our daily lives, we travel throughout the entire universe. When you worship the Gohonzon, the door to your microcosm is opened to the entire universe, the macrocosm, and you experience a great, boundless joy as if you were looking out over the entire cosmos. You feel great satisfaction and joy, a great wisdom, as if you held the entire universe in your palm." Faith in Action page 118-119

We DO hold the universe in the palm of our hand through chanting. 

The picture I posted here is very intriguing. I have never put a picture of the Buddha on chantforhappiness before. Nichiren Buddhists do not keep statues of the Buddha, because those statues came into use when people began thinking of the Buddha as a god. And that is not the intent of the Buddha. He never wanted people to worship him. He was enlightened to the fact that he was the universe, and so is everyone else. Yet, some pray TO him, confusing his original intent. But this picture I thought was pretty cool. It shows how we keep the negative forces at bay by engaging in our daily practice. It shows the bubble of shoten zenjin who protect practitioners of the mystic law. 

Today when I was chanting about you and composing my message for you, I was chanting to PRAISE MY LIFE. I am the Buddha...just like YOU. My power prayer for you is simple today. Chant to praise your life. What a great prayer...and as you're chanting think of all your reasons to be grateful. Your time of chanting will fly, and you may chant more than ever. See how much joy you can muster with every syllable. 

Mother Poem by Daisaku Ikeda

In honor of Soka Mother's Day I post this picture of my own sweet Mommy and her beloved boys, Aaron, Ben and Tyler. 
Below is the poem Daisaku Ikeda wrote about his own mother. I first read this on a plaque at FNCC in 2010 and it still moves me to grateful tears.   

Mother 

By Daisaku Ikeda

Mother, what a wondrous, nourishing power you have!
Were it not for you in this world,
People would lose the earth to return to,
And wander for all eternity.

Mother, our mother.
Persevering through the storm,
You offered prayers in sadness.

I pray you will stay in good health until the day
When all your wishes are fulfilled,
And, as though endowed with wings,
you take flight toward the heavens.

Mother, with your ideas and wisdom,
I hope you will perform a melody of peace on the earth,
Where people look forward to the arrival of spring.
Thus, you will become the mother of the Century of Humanity

How to Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

(Periodically I post this passage about chanting for the first time. If you're new to the practice we welcome you with open arms. If you're strengthening your own practice I congratulate you. And if you are forwarding the post to someone who wants to try chanting, that is awesome. This blog can be sent to anyone who speaks any language. See the translation button in the upper right?)


Here you will learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

First of all make a list of what you really want in life. Take a fresh look at your desires and write them down.  Dream big. What do you really want? What do you want for yourself? What do you want for others? What do you want for the world? Make a list. Write it down and put the date on it. 

Many people began chanting with desires that later turned into other desires. So don't worry about your current desires. Chanting is progressive, both you and your desires will evolve. I know people who began a very rewarding practice chanting for things others might consider wrong or strange. One of my friends chanted for a month to prove to his wife that this practice doesn't work. More than 40 years later he is still practicing. In Nichiren Buddhism your desires ARE enlightenment. It is okay to desire whatever you desire, whether it's money, the happiness of someone else, a relationship, a job, or peace of mind and contentment. With continued practice you will see that your dreams for yourself actually become tied to the dreams of happiness for all. 

Chant for what is really in your heart. Be true to yourself. 

Click "Read more" below to see the rest of this post:

What Can Your Chanting Accomplish in Your Life?

What can you accomplish through chanting? 

The power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 

is bigger than your biggest problem. 

"There are many elements involved in a prayer being answered, but the important thing is to keep praying until it is. By continuing to pray, you can reflect on yourself with unflinching honesty and begin to move your life in a positive direction on the path of earnest, steady effort. Even if your prayer doesn't produce concrete results immediately, your continual prayer will at some time manifest in a form greater than you had ever hoped." 
~ President Ikeda  (From Faith in Action page 152)

What are some examples of actual proof I've accomplished through chanting? 

Click "Read More" below to see the rest of this post

Encouraging Ourselves When We are Down

 It's in the 20's here in Chicago. It's sunny, 

windy and cold...

and April first! 

Here are a few strategies for when you are down:

1. Chant lots of daimoku. That's always where I start. Then I use the following resources:

2. Call a friend in faith for encouragement. I have a pretty long list of relationships that I have cultivated. Over the years it has been my goal to establish deep rooted friendships with many of my fellow practitioners. I find people who inspire me and chant to develop friendships with them. Your friends in faith are your greatest treasure. If you don't have any you can chant with a goal to establish friends in faith. If you reach out to your leaders they will help you. 

3. Go to the Gosho. I always keep the Gosho close. I have it all marked up with my favorite quotes.  I open to any page and start reading. I also go to my favorites. 

In "The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon" you find the quote: 

"A woman who devotes herself to the Gohonzon invites happiness in this life, and in the next, the Gohonzon will be with her and protect her always. Like a Lantern in the dark, like a strong, supporting arm on a treacherous path, the Gohonzon will protect you, Lady Nichingyo, wherever you go. 

"Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself, The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. " 

And from "The One Essential Phrase": 

"Fire can be produced by a stone taken from the bottom of a river, and a candle can light up a place that has been dark for billions of years. If even the most ordinary things of this world are such wonders, then how much more wondrous is the power of the mystic law?"

4. Read President Ikeda's Guidance. You can find it on the web under Ikedaquotes.org, or through the link on the right side of this blog. 

5. Go back and chant again with renewed faith in the power of your own life. 

6. Drink more water, get fresh air and exercise!  

Chanting for Complete Victory in a Major Decision

Isn't this a cool picture? It's from my friend and Buddhist practitioner Julia, whom I talk about frequently. I think this picture of a head of cauliflower she found in Northern California shows the progression of our lives moving through karma eternally. At the base, the karma is really think and as we gently turn the wheel of our lives from one day to the next, summoning strength through our Daimoku, the karma gets smaller and smaller as our lives spin ever upwards. There is no end to the spinning spiral, although all of us have experienced the lightening, and sometimes total alleviation of karma that used to cause us suffering.  This picture captures it perfectly. Thanks Julia! 

Chanting for Seven Hours on a Full Moon Monday

Whenever I mention a long tozo I have to make it clear that, as a Buddhist you will never be required, or asked to do a long tozo (chanting session). At some point you may decide to chant for a long time, but it will only be because YOU want to do it. When yesterday began, I didn't even realize that I would be chanting for that long a period. 

As many of you know, I have been in the wonderful position of determining my next career path. I was "laid off, made redundant, downsized" right before Christmas. But I wasn't discouraged or downtrodden. The company I was working for downsized 900 people in one day and decided to "teach out" (close once the students graduated) the campuses I represented. With all the causes I make every day, I just KNEW this event was the door to a wonderful new opportunity for me. 

So, I have been networking and am in discussions about a particular job. And I've been chanting abundant Daimoku to make sure that this is the right job for me. Yesterday I woke up early and just began chanting. After three hours I took a break to get ready for my appointment, then I chanted another hour. I had a great meeting with the prospective employer. When I came home "I just felt like chanting" (Thank you Forest Gump ~ remember the running scene?) And I chanted effortlessly for another three hours. I figured, I was that close ~ why not take it all the way. 

I chanted for confidence, and for the job to fit all of the criteria I had already written down. I looked at many of my power prayers from the last two months, and I just poured my heart into my life. I chanted for my District and for YOU, the readers of my blog. I chanted for shakubuku. Lately I've met a lot of people who are interested in receiving their Gohonzons. There is no coincidence about that. I am always chanting to meet people who are ready to hear about this practice. 

So this morning I am clear-headed. I've already chanted 2 hours and will get right back to chanting after I post this. Join me if you'd like. 
I just arranged a Gohonzon Conferral. Nothing makes me happier than helping people get a start with this practice and then helping them achieve their goals and defeat their fundamental darkness and live lives of glorious victory

Questions anyone? 

Chant for Happiness. How it works...How to start

Why do so many people chant? What does it mean and what does it bring you? And how do you start? This blog post answers these questions. This blog post is meant for readers as a refresher, and also for you to forward to your friends or post on facebook. 

Why Chant?

The words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo are the name of the rhythm of life itself...your life...and the name of the rhythm of the entire universe. Literally they mean Devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration or sutra" Chanting these words is a tool to unlock our highest potential and reveal our lives as the brilliant shining life force we ARE. These words tap into that source. This is a practical practice. Chant for what you want. Chanting strengthens your life force and allows you to remain undaunted in any circumstance. Take a look through previous blog posts to see experiences of others, and more tips on effective chanting. 

What do you think about? 

When you chant you FOCUS on what you want. You do not clear your brain. You engage it. The goal of chanting is very individual because your own goals are uniquely YOURS. Happiness is the core. happiness that comes from within. The goal of chanting is universal also, because when you become happy, your happiness helps the world become a better place. This is a universal law due to the connected web of all of life. Through your own happiness the world can become happy. 

You are not chanting TO anything or asking for any favors. YOU are the Buddha. You are chanting to summon the power of your life itself. Only by experiencing chanting can you grasp the meaning of this passage.  

How to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

First of all make a list of what you really want in life. Take a new look at your desires and write them down.  Dream big. What do you really want? What do you want for yourself? What do you want for others? What do you want for the world? Make a list. There is no such thing as a “bad” desire as long as you wish no harm on others. Many Buddhists began chanting with desires that later turned into other desires. Don’t worry about it. Chant for what is really in your heart. Be true to yourself. 

I suggest having some sort of journal to write in. Writing in a journal helps you become aware of your progress and benefits.

Choose a place to chant comfortably. You’ll want to sit in a comfortable chair. Where would you feel most at ease chanting out loud? It is helpful to have something on the wall to focus on. It's helpful to rest your eyes on something slightly above eye level. It can be anything. When I first started chanting in my little two room apartment in San Francisco, I sat on the mattress on the floor and gazed up at the moon in a poster of Mono Lake. Choose something soothing to rest your eyes on. I find it helpful to have a table nearby for my tea, and other things I like to have close when I chant. You may want to put a little table up as an altar, but you don’t need that to begin. 

Write the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo on a piece of paper (or use the card enclosed in this book). The words are pronounced as follows: 

Nahm, rhymes with Mom, 

meeyohoh, with three long vowels, 

rain gay, 

key oh. 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Nahm Meeyohoh Rain Gay Key Oh

Hold your hands with the palms facing in and touching each other in front of your heart. Sit with your back as straight as possible and say the words over and over and over again. 

You do not have to concentrate about what is in your mind at first. Just say the words. Breathe whenever you have to for as long as you like. See if you can chant for a few minutes, then a few minutes more. Chant for as long as you can!  

The rhythm should sound like a train moving, or horses running. There should be some energy to it. You can chant as fast or as slow as you wish. Speed of chanting is up to you. 

If you want to hear how it sounds you can go to the top left corner of this blog and chant with me. I begin slowly and speed up with more energy. 

See how it makes you feel. Can you chant for a little longer? Maybe even a little longer than that. Can you get to the point where you don’t have to think about the words, but can actually think about what you want? It may take a little time. Naturally you will begin to chant for what you want. You’ll see. 

When you are finished chanting you can write in your journal.

Start by writing an assessment of your life right now. What’s going well, what you’d like to improve on. Then write how you felt before chanting and after chanting. In your journal set a goal for how much you want to chant every day.  When I started, I could only chant five minutes a day in the morning and five minutes in the evening. I had a timer next to me and I’m sure there were times I stopped before I’d even reached five minutes! You will build up momentum! Commit to chant twice a day every day. Keep your goals in mind and you’ll remember your reasons for chanting! 

These words and this vibration go deep into the heart of your life itself. They summon forth your highest wisdom, vitality and sense of purpose. They also uproot the karma that is making you suffer, and give you the opportunity to change this karma forever. You will still have challenges and problems in life when you chant...but eventually you will see them as the opportunities they are. Problems are the FUEL you need to catapult your life into a life of happiness and joy. You have begun a journey to uncover the true happiness that exists in your shining Buddha life. Congratulations!
Also - make sure to search on Soka Gakkai followed by whatever country you live in. This site will help you to connect with people who will be happy to help you learn to chant, overcome your problems, and reveal your brilliant, wonderful self!  Fellow Soka Gakka members love to help each other. 
and go to IKEDAQUOTES.org to read Daisaku Ikeda's words. He is lighting the way for us all...and for YOU!

Chanting with a wide open heart

Chanting three hours today

Join me! 

I'm chanting to inspire each of you in the use of this fabulous life-changing tool we have found... the tool of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...the name of the rhythm of life itself. When we chant these words and focus on what we want to create, we make the impossible possible! 

That is what chanting is for. 

Making the impossible possible. 

If it was easy we wouldn't have to chant at all. 

But our challenges FUEL our growth!!! And we can take the bull by the horns and change anything we wish. 

I'm chanting for you to find the strength and determination to take each one of your challenges and use your own life force through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to convert every poison into medecine! 

 I'm chanting for each of you to be so incredibly happy and inspired and that all your dreams are coming true! You are so happy that you have to tell everyone about this amazing practice! 

I'm chanting for my life to be a shining example that a life lived and dedicated to the happiness of everyone is a life that is fun and happy. 

I'm chanting for a world that is safe, free of hunger and pain, and filled with the light of love, and light and warmth. 

I'm chanting for everyone who works for my company to be happy and secure. And I chant for me to use my talents the best that I possibly can for Kosen Rufu with people who inspire me in an environment I love! 

A Great After-Election Poem from Daisaku Ikeda

Daisaku Ikeda did not just write this poem, but I think today is a great day to share it with you!

The Indestructable Power of the People - A March of Joy and Tenacious Effort!" ( Excerpt)

The people
O, the people!
How great and noble
The indestructible mountain range
Of capable people!

Therein lies
The power to overturn
the unscrupulous,
The power to laugh dismissively
At the arrogant.

The united hearts of the people
Are like the sun.
Nothing is stronger
Than the people.
The people are a great wave~
No, a raging breaker.

For the colossus
Of the people arisen.
The ultimate power of destiny
That will determine the future
Of the Century of Humanity
Lies in the people.

Beside the people~
A human alliance
Of monumental scale~
All authoritarian forces
Pale into insignificance.

The people, who are fearless!
The people, who crush and destroy evil!

Those who sincerely value the people
Are wise and praiseworthy,
Those who vigorously take action,
Are filled with joy and courage,
Their faces shining brightly with victory.
Their lives are that of genuine humanity.
Upholding as they do
A lofty mission
Like the heavenly emissaries,
Commanded by all humankind.

Always uniting together as one,
The stout hearts of those capable individuals
Grow ever stronger
And shine ever brighter,
Creating a history of honor and triumph.

In such people
And in the realm in which they are active~
Together profoundly significant~
Stretches a vast open road of glory
That transcends all changes and transitions.

In tumultuous times,
Where each day
Is marked by ceaseless change,
We are serene
And undeterred.

We are always
Staunch allies of the people
We are determined to warmly welcome
With supreme compassion
Those who have been driven to despair
by the crass folly of those in power.
And
We have the power of friends
United in a shared purpose~
A power that can restore smiles
To the grim, frozen lips
Of many people
And make them gentle friends.

We wish to dedicate this precious life
To bestowing on all
Without exception
The crown of happiness ~
Happiness that shimmers
WIth the tranquil light of glory.

(May 2001)
Daisaku Ikeda

What Makes this practice so special? How to Chant

Hello! This blog can be translated using the button at the top left) 

This is a posting for newcomers and a refresher for anyone.

(Current members are welcome to send the link to this blog chantforhappiness.com to someone you're introducing or encouraging) 

There's a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday the 27th at the Chicago Buddhist Center sponsored by the LGBT group and all are welcome - free parking! 1455 S. Wabash 6:30-8:30

What are some of the key things to know about chanting?

• HAPPINESS is the goal of this practice. You get to KEEP and USE your desires! Most forms of Buddhism teach that the cause of suffering is attachment to desires, and if you eradicate attachment to desires you can become happy. Not so with Practical Buddhism. Instead, your desires ARE enlightenment. The more desires you have, the better. Your desires lead you to chant. Chanting changes your karma and brings about true and lasting happiness - based both on achieving those desires, and based on the inner changes (human revolution) that result from chanting. Over time your desires will evolve and if you don’t know what your desires are, you can chant to uncover them.

• The words you chant are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Translated as:  “I devote myself (or fuse my life)to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration.”  It is the same as chanting the name of the law of cause and effect itself...or the name of the rhythm of life. I like to picture an electrical plug attaching to the universe.  With this powerful vibration you are able to reach deep into the core of your own life, where you are one with everything, and bring forth all you desire. 

• There are no rules to follow

• No dietary restrictions
• No lifestyle rules ~ all are welcome
• No dues
• No dress code

• You don’t have to give up anything you’re already doing. You don’t have to convert to Buddhism to chant. If you like meditating, great! Keep meditating. If you like going to church keep going to church. Think of it as meditation...only with tangible results and goals! Your goals! Your results!

• You don’t have to believe that chanting works. Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo generates the vibration of the law of cause and effect...the rhythm of life itself.  It is a law of life. It doesn’t have a personality. It is not a god. It does not care if you believe in it! One of my mentors in faith, Amos Snell began chanting to prove to his wife that she was wasting her time chanting. He chanted to PROVE IT DIDN’T work. More than forty years later he is still chanting and introducing people. Eventually you will believe that chanting works, because you will see so many results in your life, but you have to experience it for yourself!

• There is no clergy. The SGI (Soka Gakkai International) is an organization of lay people. We work together for the sake of each person’s happiness. 

• There is no guilt. There is only the law of cause and effect.  

• You don’t quiet the mind while chanting. No! You engage it. You command the results you want for your life. You focus your prayers like a laser on what you desire.

• You can turn EVERY problem into a benefit. When you chant consistently you realize that your challenges and problems actually fuel your benefits. You welcome new challenges, chant to turn poison into medicine and watch as new benefits flow into your life. 

• The most important benefits are what happens inside your life. No, you will not cease to have problems, but you will greet them with appreciation and dispense with them with quickly. Your inner core will strengthen. You can chant for a great job and fulfilling relationships, love and health and a sense of purpose. You tap into the wisdom to know that you are on the right path...no matter what comes into your life, you can use it as a springboard to become even happier...no matter how dire the circumstances. 

• This practice is FUN! It’s filled with happy people becoming even happier. It’s not somber! It’s a practice for the age we live in now! many people are seeking real, concrete solutions to their problems. Chanting works

 How to Chant

 The words are pronounced as follows: 

Nahm, rhymes with Mom, 

meeyohoh, with three long vowels, 

rain gay, 

key oh. 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Nahm Meeyohoh Rain Gay Key Oh

Hold your hands with the palms facing in and touching each other in front of your heart. Sit with your back as straight as possible and say the words over and over and over again. 

 Focus on saying the words. Breathe whenever you have to~ for as long as you like. See if you can chant for a few minutes, then a few minutes more. Chant for as long as you can!  

The rhythm should sound like a train moving, or horses running. There should be some energy to it. You can chant as fast or as slow as you wish. Speed of chanting is up to you. 

If you want to hear how it sounds you can go to the top left corner of the blog chantforhappiness.com and chant with me. I begin slowly and speed up with more energy. 

When you’re finished chanting I suggest writing in your journal.

Start by writing an assessment of your life right now. What’s going well, what you’d like to improve on. Then write how you felt before chanting and after chanting. In your journal set a goal for how much you want to chant every day.  When I started, I could only chant five minutes a day in the morning and five minutes in the evening. I had a timer next to me and I’m sure there were times I stopped before I’d even reached five minutes! You will build up momentum! Commit to chant twice a day every day. Keep your goals in mind and you’ll remember your reasons for chanting! 

These words and this vibration go deep into the heart of your life itself. They summon forth your highest wisdom, vitality and sense of purpose. They also uproot the karma that is making you suffer, and give you the opportunity to change this karma forever. You will still have challenges and problems in life when you chant...but eventually you will see them as the opportunities they are. Problems are the FUEL you need to catapult your life into a life of happiness and joy. You have begun a journey to uncover the true happiness that exists in your shining life. Congratulations!

Go to the Soka Gakkai website of whatever country you live in. SGI-USA.org is America's site. 

The SGI site will help you to connect with people who will be happy to help you learn to chant, overcome your problems, and reveal your brilliant, wonderful self!  Fellow Soka Gakka members love to help each other. 

and go to IKEDAQUOTES.org to read Daisaku Ikeda's words. He is lighting the way for us all...and for YOU!