Yes! We must Plant the seeds of courage.
Courage is so important.
Without courage we are just alive,
but not
living...with all the full force of our being.
With courage we strive.
With courage we move.
With courage we inspire others just by who we are.
Courage and strength are essential to our happiness,
and to kosen-rufu.
How do we "get" courage?
We are so fortunate, you know. As daily practitioners of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, we strengthen our lives and add to our bank of courage every time we chant. Over time we build a reservoir of courage by chanting every single day. I think it takes courage to chant...to sit in front of the mirror of our inner lives, and tune ourselves through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo every morning and evening.
And we have the added benefit of being able to connect with our fellow practitioners to gain strength and courage when we feel lacking. Last night we had a small meeting and we talked about how wonderful it is to not have any priesthood telling us what to do. We all learn from each other. One moment I am teaching and inspiring people, the next moment a fellow member is teaching and inspiring me.
I learn from all of you, too!
Thank you for your notes of thanks. Thank you for sending your inspiring experiences. Thank you for emailing me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. And thank you for sharing these posts with your friends. We had 22,500 hits last month! I appreciate YOU!
Introduction:
I've been chanting for just over 2 years.
I rarely watch tele. So most evenings I chant for an hour at least each evening and when in Sydney went to a meeting once a week. I love reading, so I read the goshos, experiences, blogs etc in my spare time.
I heard at a meeting an experience where the guy was deadlocked. He wanted to be in a musical production and after auditions he was not successful. His guidance from a senior was:
"How often do you tell yourself your a Buddha?"
He continued to chant, support his group in their endeavors and tell himself every time negativity arose that he is Buddha. He got a call 2 months later that they had decided they need him for the show. Despite being well into rehearsing. He started with them and toured all over Europe.
That experience was really magical so I try to remember everyday I'm Buddha.
Mostly I try to remember that every challenge is teaching me something. So I must try and improve myself and my wisdom then benefit will come. This is not a wish granting machine. I have to keep working on my human revolution.
I determined this year to really work on slander and gossip. To never say a bad thing about anyone be it a celebrity I don't know, my boss, a difficult colleague. I must see the potential Buddha in everyone. When some one speaks to me, to be really present and truly listen to them.
I need to keep looking at myself honestly as that's how I can change and the benefits will come.
War and peace but these are the things that drive me. Creating kosen Rufu in my corner of the world. A ripple 10 meters wide starts with a single stone upon the water. Small things can create big effects.
Plus I have fallen in love with Nichiren! I love his writings I find his compassion and strength inspiring.
Experience:
Although I've had numerous experiences this is one recent one.
At the start of the year I was made redundant. I chanted to be able to move from Sydney to a beautiful place in the Southern Highlands, 1 hour from Sydney. It's a stunning place of beautiful horse studs, cafes and art galleries. Close enough to still see friends from the city.
Everyone told me it would be hard to find a role similar in pay etc as Sydney and just a reasonable size business to work in would be difficult.
I applied for a role and after been given a 2nd interview and a long lengthy procedure I was unsuccessful they couldn't afford me.
I started doing temp work in Sydney.
However, 1 month into the temp role I was offered a permanent role in sydney, new car, good salary. I thought my southern highlands dream wouldn't come through.
8 months on I for some unknown reason decided to look on the Internet for roles again. The moment I logged into the job site there was a job. Sales manager for an international health food company. Amazing company that had just got distribution with Harrods & amp; Selfridges in the UK and distributors throughout Asia.
How could I interview? Without having to have sick days etc... They called immediately and asked me to come the next Tuesday. I walked into my managers office to ask for an annual leave day but before I could speak he said that the new telemarketers were working their first Saturday, would I come in Saturday and support them, if I did I could have a day off during the week instead. I suggested I do this for a few weeks and he was so pleased. This gave me time off during the week for 2 nd interviews etc.
I was offered the role and after some negotiation I took it. It wasn't the salary of Sydney but great growth potential.
I had 3 weeks to find somewhere to live. No rentals about being Christmas. I chanted one evening to find the right place and also quickly so I didn't need to spend my holidays house hunting.
After I chanted that evening I thought maybe I'll look for share accommodation ~ a good option till I get my own place. There was a great house share with the local yoga teacher. Beautiful large home, gardens, beautifully furnished with little Buddha statues. With the rent reduction I'm no less off financially. Instead of a 1 bedroom flat in Sydney I'm in a 5 bedroom home, two living areas and a kitchen the size of my last living room :)
The work place is great, young, funky, vibrant and I've fitted in quickly.
My housemate has offered her yoga studio to me for my own Buddhist meetings free of charge and is advertising the group in her studio.
Through this Buddhism I came off anxiety medication in 7 months. I didn't even realise I'd stopped taking them. I have had so many sychroncities which have made life flow easier and worked out for the best. My faith has waivered at times but the more proof the more I now know that through the tough times hang on. Something will change at the right time.
I had tried many different things in the past but nothing works quite like Nichiren Buddhism.
Bridgit / Sydney
