Showing posts with label introducing others to Buddhism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label introducing others to Buddhism. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Doing Shakubuku with our lives! Spreading Happiness


My dear friend and shakubuku Julia posted this on facebook this morning. When I saw it, I literally cried tears of joy. If you had seen her in August of 2010 before she started chanting you would cry tears of joy too. In this picture she is so full of life. She is overflowing with life. She has embraced Nichiren Buddhism in every possible way. She studies so deeply that I learn from her as often as she learns from me. She is my dear zenshishiki (friend in faith).

I want to relate to you some of her story and how she came to this faith through my life and her strong determination in her own life.

I first met Julia when I was living in San Francisco and my boys were little. She came to stay at our house with her husband Cliff, one of our oldest and dearest friends. She says she will never forget the moment she heard me chanting Daimoku. She could feel the almost primal energy of the chant. We bonded as friends and I attended her miraculous and spiritual Kripalu Yoga classes. She wasn't interested in chanting, but we became friends. Chanting is not a requirement of friendship for me, and I always chant about my friends. But I do, of course, share my experiences and talk about the benefits of my own practice.

I always chant for my life to be an example of the actual proof of this practice...that my life can speak for itself. And I chant for people who are looking for this practice (as I did for so many years) to cross my path.

In 2003 Julia went through an experience that left her depleted, lowered her immune system and left her with chronic illnesses that continued on for many years.

In August of 2010 I was in a transitional period of creating this new life for myself. After many years of chanting about my marriage I decided that it was actually time to move on...but not in the usual way. In this society you only hear "divorce" along with the word "painful". I made the determination that this would be an "Inspiring Divorce" and that each member of my family would be happier because of the divorce. I chanted like this and roared like a lion for the happiness of my husband and my two boys. When I saw Julia in August of 2010 we were successfully making the transition. I was still living in the family house, but we were separated, and we traveled together (me and Paul and our son Ben) to see Julia and Cliff when they were visiting Ohio (their home is in California).

Paul and I became better friends once the separation took effect, and Julia was really impressed with the tender and respectful way Paul and I we all interacted while going through this process. We were joking together and so happy to be seeing Cliff and Julia and have Ben with us (Cliff and Julia are honorary Aunt and Uncle and have known Ben since birth).

When I first saw Julia on this trip she was really suffering. She had physical problems that were really bothering her and her life was drained from her. She looked like a totally different person from the picture above. I suggested we take her to a doctor and that helped a bit. And I chanted for her. I didn't talk much about chanting at all. I let my life speak for itself. My LIFE shakubuku'd her.

One afternoon we were sitting in the park and she was still in pain. She began asking me questions about how Paul and I could possibly be so happy while going through this process...and eventually she started asking questions about chanting. She decided there and then in the park that she wanted to chant, and Ben and I chanted right there, in the park with her. She was really moved that Ben, a teenager, would just chant out in the open with no reservations.

From then on she couldn't get enough of this practice. She has an incredibly seeking mind. She was always an excellent, excellent human being. I loved her from the moment we met. She has a spark and intelligence and warmth that everyone is drawn to. She became a part of the "family" from the moment we met.

When she got back to Ukiah, California we spoke all the time. We got her connected to the wonderful members there (there are members almost everywhere), and she learned Gongyo. Her faith was so sincere and strong that she was actually given an incredible hand-carved Butsudan from her friends who are gifted wood workers. She brought all of her intelligence, thoughtfulness and spirituality to this practice. She dove right in! When I said "Do Gongyo twice a day" she did it. She studied Nichiren Daishonin's Gosho and Daisaku Ikeda's works all the time.

Over the past two and a half years she has become so much more happy in so many ways...mind, body and spirit. Her powers of musicianship have greatly increased. She conducts SGI meetings and introduces others to the practice.

And just look at this picture. It says it all. She is full of life and vitality. She is full of the benefits that practicing Nichiren Buddhism can bring when you fully devote yourself to this practice. Her benefits are too many to list, but include a new, wonderful relationship with family members, and increasing joy and health.

What joy this brings me. There is nothing, NOTHING better. Do shakubuku with all your heart/ Chant to be able to do shakubuku.  That's where it starts.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

How to REALLY USE THIS PRACTICE!

I received an email from a reader who is very unhappy. 

She told me she doesn't chant every day or go to meetings, but something inside her made her write to me. I offer these words to her, and to you. I have always said that practicing Buddhism is not easy. It requires courage. It not only requires courage but it helps to BUILD courage and a strong sense of self. When you practice as I've outlined here you will be strong. You can take on ANYTHING. You will be happy. It takes perseverance, but I am here to tell you that you can achieve whatever you want. You can be happier than you ever imagined possible. But it takes work! And your life and happiness is WORTH IT!

There are 5 KEY aspects to a correct practice of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

And when we are activating them ALL we are all HAPPIER in every possible way. Until you have activated these actions in your life you will never really know your own full power...you will be able to ROAR LIKE A LION. You will have power in your won precious life! 

1. It is important to be in the ORBIT OF FAITH! Attending SGI meetings is crucial. We really can't practice adequately alone. We all act as mirrors for each other. Our meetings serve to deepen our ties to each other and our ties to the world. If there is something you don't like about your meetings, chant to change them! How you feel about your Buddhist meetings is really a reflection of your own karma...life tendencies. If you "look down" on all the people at the meetings, you also "look down" on people everywhere. Have patience with yourself. See if you can summon the Ichinen (will put into action) to make a difference. Many of us have struggled with this at some time. I love being a leader because I infuse each meeting with energy. I chant at least an hour for the success of each meeting...I chant for every member to have a deep and meaningful experience at every meeting - refreshed in faith, more determined, happier!

2. Help others! Encouraging others in their faith is crucial. And telling others about chanting is crucial too...even just giving them a Nam Myoho Renge card. I give out cards every single day. I have to. I feel I have discovered the key to absolute happiness and it fills me with joy to pass it on to others. I went to the doctor yesterday and the two lovely nurses may come to a meeting soon. I always give cards to people who help me in stores. They are always happy to get them. I love makeup and perfume and love to spend time trying new things. Last night I got a call from someone who I gave a card to TWO years ago at Sephora (a makeup store). She said she now works in the makeup department of another of my favorite stores and she told someone about me, and they had one of my cards too. Tonight she is coming to my study meeting!

3. Chant every morning and evening. You decide how long you will chant. I know that the more effort I put into my daily practice, the harder I work to stay focused, the MORE I connect with the Gohonzon (which is my life itself) the easier the rest of my life goes. I chant a minimum of an hour in my "laboratory of my life" every day. When I began this blog I was chanting a minimum of two hours a day. I often find I chant more when I have a lot of challenges, and the more I chant the more I WANT TO chant. Try it!

4. Study with the intention of deepening your faith.  In Nichiren Buddhism FAITH IS A VERB. It is the power you muster while you are chanting to activate the power of your prayer. Studying is like working the muscle of faith. It will help you produce results. It will strengthen your faith. Studying the Gosho by Nichiren Daishonin, and the words of our mentor, Daisaku Ikeda will help you become happier and healthier and stronger in every way!

5. MAKE A STRONG DETERMINATION. Write it down. Really, writing it down is powerful! What do you want? What do you really want? How do you want to feel? What do you want to make happen? Who do you want to BE? Avoid the tendency to blame your environment. Blaming the people, things, jobs etc. is not useful. Instead, accept that your karma is your karma and vow to change it! That is where your power lies! Not in complaint!


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Why I do Shakubuku! (Introduce others to this practice)



Here I am with my dear, dear friend Julia on Mt Tamalpais 

Almost two years ago Julia and I spent time together after a break of about 7 years or so. We first met many, many years ago when I lived in San Francisco and my boys were little. She says she will never forget the first time she heard me chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. She and her husband Cliff were downstairs...and she was just amazed at the effect the sound had on her. 


But she wasn't ready to practice for almost twenty years! 


When I saw her again my life shakubukued her. (That's a great word we use to describe introducing someone to the practice and the SGI) I was experiencing very difficult circumstances but I was so poised, and my life condition was so high...she felt compelled to learn to chant!
Julia asked me and Ben (my son) to chant with her.

At the time she was so sick. It's hard to even think of her that way. Now she is such a vibrant Buddha! She is introducing others to this practice and healing ALL areas of her life. And we take turns encouraging each other! It is amazing. You shakubuku someone and they shakubuku you right back !


Two posts today! Make sure to scroll down to see the one from this morning!