Conspicuous and Inconspicuous Benefits ~ What we See, and What is Revealed Later

No Matter what ~ Don't give up. And don't waste your energy on worrying. When my sweet Mommy was alive she would tell me she was worrying and I'd say "Don't worry! Chant Instead!" and sometimes she would follow my advice, and immediately feel better.  

Even when we do not see the benefits we are chanting for appear right now, our fortune is accruing through chanting. Sensei once talked about each Gongyo being a sheet of paper on our desks. It builds slowly...but it does build. And sooner or later the inconspicuous benefits will reveal themselves in our lives...just when we need them most. Dont' take my word for it. Prove it to yourself. 

Here is a quote for your day:

"There are two kinds of benefit 
that derive from faith in the Gohonzon: 
conspicuous and inconspicuous. 
Conspicuous benefit is the obvious, 
visible benefit of being protected 
or being quickly able 
to surmount a problem when it arises, 
be it an illness 
or a conflict in a personal relationship. 
Inconspicuous benefit 
is good fortune accumulated slowly but steadily, 
like the growth of a tree 
or the rising of the tide, 
which results in the forging 
of a rich and expansive state of life. 
We might not discern any change from day to day, 
but as the years pass, 
it will be clear that we've become happy, 
that we've grown as individuals. "

Daisaku Ikeda

Overcome Bullying NOW!

Have you ever been bullied? 
Do you know anyone who is? 
Would you like to help them 
with this one simple realization and practice? 

Practical Buddhism is PRACTICAL. When we chant we solve our real world problems. No matter what the problem is, if we keep chanting we can change it. 

I HATE bullying. I have hated bullying ever since I was a young child and stepped in time and time again to stop bullying. And I also suffered from emotional and mental bullying. Because of asthma I was heavier than other girls, and sometimes it seemed like every boy at my High School just had to tell me how unacceptable I was. I KNEW there had to be a solution to this pain and it fueled my search for Buddhism.

Very early in my practice I learned I could stop bullying with one easy (yet difficult) technique. 
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the bully's happiness can STOP all kinds of bullying now. How can this be possible? 

First - a little background. As many of you know, Buddhist practice is based on each person awakening to the Mystic Law within them. The Mystic Law is the energy, the rhythm, the chord that runs through all of life, all sentient, all insentient beings, all rocks and all trees...all people. It is the law that binds us all together...and it has a name: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It means: "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration."

Anyone can gain benefit by intoning this name...Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Anyone can chant. No one has to convert to Buddhism, change their way of thinking, change what they eat, how they act, who they are. Not in this practice. All we have to do is chant. The best way to chant and see the proof of practical Buddhism is to chant twice a day, every day, to join with fellow practitioners in the Soka Gakkai, the group of lay believers who are NOT run by any priesthood, and who help and support each other, and to study the works of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda. 

(I write many posts about how to chant, and I can send you information about chanting if you email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. You can find out about the Soka Gakkai by clicking on the SGI portal to the right.) 

How do we get rid of bullies? Simple. We chant for their happiness. Truth. That is what we do. That is it. The secret formula. And at the beginning we don't even have to mean it. We just have to do it. And, because of the interconnectivity of all of life, what Buddhism calls "dependent origination", our prayers for people's happiness is also a prayer for our happiness. 

In my experience when we chant for people's happiness one of two things will happen: 

1. They will leave your environment...OR 
2. You and that person will become friends

This happens EVERY TIME. Don't take my word for it. You just have to experience it. 

You may ask "How can I chant for a person I don't even like?" You may also wonder "How can I chant for their happiness if I really don't desire their happiness?" 

These are valid questions. 

Here are the answers:

Even though these people seem totally separate from us, they are part of the web of life and we are all interconnected. The only reason they are bullies is that they are unhappy. Chanting for them changes US and changes THEM. We start out not wanting their happiness. That is fine. We can train ourselves to picture them with big smiles on their faces...huge smiles...and chant that way...day after day. Soon, we usually notice we actually do desire their happiness. We actually do. 

It doesn't matter if we have to fake it at the beginning. 
The result is the same. 

The first time I chanted for a bully's happiness was difficult for me too, at first. But I could see the connection. If she was happy, maybe she wouldn't be so mean to me all the time. (This was a person who worked in production department at the newspaper I sold advertising for) 
My results blew me away. 

I chanted for her happiness every day for a few weeks and she fell in love and moved away. 

I was thrilled! Since then I have used this technique every time I had someone in my life who was oppresing me or driving me crazy.  Each time they have either left my life, or we have become friends. 

My son changed a bully in third grade into a friend by chanting for him. 

My young member erased three bullies from her life by chanting for their happiness. All three of them moved away. Boom. Boom. Boom. At first she found it hard to chant for their happiness. but she did it. And now she has a story to tell. 

We are one with all of life. 

EVERYONE's unhappiness is our unhappiness. 

Everyone's Happiness is OUR Happiness! 

When you chant for a bully's happiness it WORKS!

Try it!

Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

It's the Holiday Season Here!

It has been a busy last few days! 

Here's a picture from the 5K race Aaron ran yesterday. He came in second - Aaron is on the right. The whole town of Downers Grove, Illinois turns out for this. Over 6,200 people walked or ran. The money for registration in the race is collected in the name of a great teacher who died too soon, and it's distributed to selected High School Seniors in the form of $1,000 scholarship checks for college. We have participated in this race since it began 10 years ago, and Aaron was a Bonfield scholarship recipient when he was a High School senior. 

In America the "Holiday Season" has officially begun. 

It is a time that starts around Thanksgiving and goes through the first of the year. For many of us the highlight is Christmas on December 25th. Even though it is a Christian holiday, many Americans celebrate culturally with Christmas trees, presents, and family get togethers. We also watch cherished Christmas movies and sing Christmas Carols. Many help the needy. It is a time of year that we can bear the cold, and twinkling lights are everywhere... wrapped around outdoor trees, and strung from buildings. 

I love being in the Midwest during this time of year. I lived in California for 15 years and returned home to the Midwest every Christmas season so we could experience a good snow...a warm fire...and that unmistakable holiday feeling. 

I am interested in holidays all over the world. Can you help me learn about your holidays?  Diwali recently happened and I wasn't prepared for it at all! I would love to celebrate alongside all my friends in the world, (YOU!) and I need some advance notice, some education about the holiday, and some holiday preparation. By the time Diwali came it was too late for me to find specialty stores and get lanterns! If you want to send me holiday traditions from your country I would love that! 

My address is 
Jamie Silver 
17W702 Butterfield #104, 
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. 

I love real mail and packages! I want to celebrate with you. Several years ago I became a celebrant so I could learn how to perform weddings, funerals and celebrations of all sorts. I believe it is important for us to take time to honor important moments! 

So I am writing this to say that I haven't written a blog post in two days because I've been so busy shopping, cooking and hanging out with my two boys, Aaron and Ben. Aaron is, as many of you know, in his second year of Medical School at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, about 20 minutes from me. Long time readers of this blog know that his choice of school is an example of real Buddhist FORTUNE in my life, and his. Of ALL the medical schools all over the country he chose the closest school to me, and it has been perfect for him. THAT is fortune. Money cannot buy that! 
As you can imagine, he's a busy guy, so when he is available I spring into action! Ben lives back at home for a while and we get to see each other more often. It's so great having him close! I have soooo much fortune in my life! So.....Aaron, Ben and I spent Wednesday at the Mall shopping for blue jeans for them. What else? So much fun! 

And yesterday was a holiday called Thanksgiving in America.  Thanksgiving is a time to cook traditional foods, turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and pies. Most people go into a bit of a sleepy stupor after the meal...happily! For some families watching American football is a tradition. Others may play games. And yesterday, Jewish families they got to celebrate Hannakuh and Thanksgiving at the same time. 

I have been smiling and laughing for two days straight! I am so grateful for this practice for keeping me in such a high life condition. Some people get sad around the holidays, whistfully thinking about holidays past when all their loved ones were alive. Keeping a high life-condition allows me to lovingly remember them, but still be happy. 

Aaron and Ben are here this morning. Aaron is studying, and Ben will awaken shortly and I will make a special breakfast of French Toast. I dip thick bread into a mixture of eggs, vanilla and cinnamon, heat some real butter, brown it on both sides, and they eat it with maple syrup on top. 

Okay that's enough food for now. Thanks for writing me to wonder if I'm okay! 

You are all a treasure to me! Write me anytime at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and remember 
Winter ALWAYS turns to Spring! No matter what you are facing - it will pass and you will win...as long as you don't give up! Sending love ~

The Great Buddha Is Reading this Blog Right Now!

The great Buddha is now reading this blog - YOU!  

Did you read the long essay from Dr. Obo I posted a few days ago?  It suggested to think to yourself "The Great Buddha just drank her coffee"...or "The Great Buddha just wrote an email"...you get the picture ~  you are the Great Buddha as you are going about your day. 

You are the Great Buddha, we are all the Great Buddha. Try this if you want. And let me know what you think. 

It is simple after all. This practice just makes so much sense. We chant the name of the rhythm of life itself..."Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" (meaning "I fuse (devote) my life to the Mystic Law of Cause and Effect through sound vibration, or teaching) while we infuse our thoughts with our prayers for our lives and the lives of others...for the happiness of all living beings. 

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a law. It doesn't matter if we believe it will work or not. It is the law of cause and effect.

We ARE Buddhas; we are absolutely Buddhas...we are awakened ones to the law of the universe. We are the mocrocosm of the universe. We know this. But how do we live this? 

Sometimes it is hard for us to realize this truth. Our daily practice of chanting washes away our ignorance, and helps us to realize our true selves as Buddhas. It sounds simple, but we all know it is difficult to chant every single day, twice a day and to continue chanting, especially when some changes take a long time coming. That's why we have each other. That is why we practice in the SGI alongside our good friends in faith. (Click on the SGI portal to find a local meeting by you - there is never a cost to chant)

In America we have our study exam coming up. Studying is exactly what we need to "hone our saw" to get more benefits. Our understanding of this Buddhism helps us create real results when we chant. We call this Practical Buddhism because we see results in our lives. And the more we study, the more we see results. That's just the way it works!
I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the test, and study for it with others even if you've already taken it. 

Today the Great Buddha is watching it snow here in Chicago. We are having a deep freeze. A "cold front" as they call it. It is the Monday before our national holiday called Thanksgiving where most people eat Turkey and gather with their loved ones. I am hosting the holiday this year. 

Do you have some holiday traditions you would like to share? 

This year is a special ones for my Jewish friends. Hannakuh and Thanskgiving are coinciding. One of my friends is calling it Thanksgivingkah. I guess it's okay to be snowing this early, but I am really looking forward to be traveling in sunny and warm places this time of year in the future. 

During this week of Thanksgiving here are a few quotes to help light your way:

From Ikedaquotes.org, by Daisaku Ikeda:

None of us can exist in isolation. Our lives and existence are supported by others in seen and unseen ways, be it by parents, mentors or society at large. To be aware of these connections, to feel appreciation for them, and to strive to give something back to society in a spirit of gratitude is the proper way for human beings to live.

Those who always have a sense of appreciation and gratitude never reach an impasse in life.

People whose hearts are full of gratitude and appreciation are truly beautiful. A humble heart is the wellspring of great growth and development.

The ungrateful feel that it is below them to show any kind of appreciation. They are under the delusion that showing gratitude to others diminishes their own worth. But it is this sense of appreciation that elevates, enriches and expands the human spirit. A lack of gratitude is actually a sign of arrogance.

Have a great day. Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer you. Send your victories, your questions, anything you wish. 

4 Steps to Overcoming Unhappiness ~ and a PowerPrayer to Defeat Despair

This post is in answer to a question I got from a reader yesterday. 

She asked if I ever feel despair, and what do I do when I sink into that feeling?

And yes, even Buddhas (like you and I), who have been chanting for many years still get occasional moments of despair!  Every time I feel a moment of sadness I think of all of you, and my district members, and I make a new VOW to overcome my karma (and propensity toward depression) once and for all by ripping it out at the roots. This is Human Revolution...never giving up. I must pave the way for others, just as you are paving the way for others through every one of your fresh determinations.

Welcome to the new Era for Kosen Rufu. Some of you made your goals for November 18th, others are still chanting for the ourcome you desire. 
As Sensei says, the important thing is to keep chanting. 

There are several steps I recommend for when you are battling to WIN over your own despair ~
1. Chant
2. Call someone who encourages you 
and read Sensei's writings.
3. Make a fresh determination and a new vow
4. Chant again and win! 

I will pass along some wise words from my dear friend Kate who overcame her lifelong depression: 

She says that when you are making huge causes for Kosen Rufu it is natural to get obstacles in the form of emotions, and that once again your karma has shown itself to you anew so that you can once again determine to root it out forever. 

She also said at the core of our suffering is the fact that many aspects of our environment reflect our own deep seated feelings of self doubt and of not being good enough...but our preseverance will change this. 

She said our environment does not yet truly reflect the amazing and wonderfully shining, worthy people we are. And she attributes that to our deep seated doubts somewhere in our lives. (karma, of course). 

We have been suffering over some of the same things for our entire lives, haven't we?  She said 
Human Revolution is HARD 
because you have to break the ties 
to your own unhappiness. 
Those grooves are familiar, and hard to break. 

The following is a PowerPrayer...some powerful words to keep in mind from time to time while you are chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...a suggested attitude to WIN!

Out of Kate's wise words I wrote this 

PowerPrayer to Defeat Despair:

Every day I love and appreciate myself more and more. 
I see myself for the noble, brilliant Buddha I am! 
I DEMAND that all my circumstances in life 
appreciate me!  
I DEMAND that my environment 
reflect who I really am, 
not my fears or doubts of who I am. 
I DEMAND that I have the courage 
to do Human Revolution 
and to FOREVER break 
those ties to my own unhappiness. 
I am determined to stop making causes 
that bring me pain! 
I am determined to make causes 
that bring me happiness! 
Not just for me, but for everyone!
I MUST succeed 
LIFE 
No matter what! 
I choose to be happy!
I choose happiness now!  

True Happiness in Life!

What makes us truly happy? 
What is Absolute Happiness? 

I just got off the phone from an almost three hour conversation with a person I've known for many years. She is coming tonight to the meeting at my house and wants to start practicing. It is amazing how well Daimoku works. I have been chanting for shakubuku, and to meet the people who are seeking this practice. Now I will be introducing two people in one week. And truly...nothing makes me happier. 

Seeing a person embrace this practice and start the dialogue with their own life (by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) that will lead to inner transformation  ~ and outer results, is the most exciting thing in the whole world. And now she will have this tool of practicing Buddhism to pass along to the people in her life who need it! 

There are many ways of happiness in this world, but giving someone the key to their own happiness is indescribably delicious! 

True Happiness is knowing that NO MATTER WHAT trials we face, with our practice we can overcome ANYTHING! 
I feel such inner happiness...inner peace...confidence...contentment...excitement...real, true unshakable happiness. 

I will keep chanting "Bring me the people seeking this practice who want to learn, and are ready to practice. I want to end suffering on this planet. Kosen-rufu is possible! I am Kosen-rufu in action" - and so are you, my wonderful friends in faith!!! 

Victory! Actual Proof!

Mike Menard got his Gohonzon last night 

at the Chicago Buddhist Center

What a victory! Daimoku WORKS! All of us have been focusing on having breakthroughs for November 18th, right? I have been chanting for youth division...for ALL young people to wake up to the infinite potential in their lives, for them to regain hope and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...and to be able to mentor at least one youth by Novemebr 18th. Over this past weekend I just chanted all day. I felt great and strong and my life condition was high, so I felt I already achieved a victory inside my life, but I also wanted the actual proof of my prayers so that I could inspire you!  

Well, on Sunday, shortly after a super storm roared through the Chicago area (there were four members here with me chanting at the time ~ and they helped me bring in the patio furniture so it would not come crashing through the patio doors! Such protection! Thank you my friends!) I got a call from Mike Menard, the young man in the center of this picture. He told me Kris Saunders, on the left, our Greater Chicago YMD Region leader, had given him my number. Mike said he'd been practicing for two months, had just moved to Downers Grove and was ready to get his Gohonzon! How awesome! 

We arranged for him to receive it downtown at the Commemorative Gongyo the evening of the 18th. 

Mike has a fascinating story. We will tell it all in detail soon. But for right now I will tell you he has been homeless for many years, and was introduced to the practice by a friend in Binghamton New York. From the moment he began chanting he felt the power of his infinite potential. He has been chanting every day to stabilize his life. He feels the power of Daimoku and is eager to study and learn! Tonight we enshine his Gohonzon, and tomorrow he and his brother will be attending the Downers Grove District meeting at my house. We are embracing him and are totally dedicated to him achieving his life-long dreams, learning about this practice, and using his life experience to inspire others! He has an incredibly seeking mind and feels he has come home. I remember the feeling. I remember the feeling. And I still feel it as strongly, even after almost 30 years of practicing! 

Wherever you are in achieving your goals for November 18th, whatever you do, do not give up! Honor your life, praise your life, realize you the the Buddha, you are the infinite potential of life itself and keep chanting no matter what. 

Please keep emailing me your challenges, your successes and your questions at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. I will never share anything you send me without your written permission. 

Don't Give Up! Don't Get Discouraged! PowerPrayer for Praising Your Life!

November 18 is almost here!

I know many of us have goals towards November 18th and may not have achieved them yet. Please do not get down on yourself. Do not call yourself names, or think that you are a failure because you haven't achieved them yet. Forge on ahead! 
You are a precious Boddisattva of the Earth! Your life makes a huge difference! 

Praise Your Life! 

PowerPrayer for Praising My Life

I praise my life. 

I praise my life...

I praise my life!

I feel its absolute perfection at every moment. 

I chant to experience the glowing life-condition of the Buddha that I am. 

I can now appreciate my life 

and everything that arises 

just as it is 

with all my heart. 

I even accept and appreciate 

obstacles 

because I now understand them 

Obstacles are vehicles

for greater and greater victory! 

And, I know that I will have victory over every single one of them. 

I praise my life all the more because of those victories. 

I am a living example of what it means to praise one's life. 

I inspire countless others to do the same. 

We Can Turn Every Problem Into A Benefit

We are all alchemists who turn everything into gold. 

Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 

we turn every poison into medicine 

and infuse our world with love. 

No matter what our stuggles may be...no matter the pain...no matter the obstacles...WE have the power to transform them and create medicine for our lives, and for the rest of the world. 

This is the formula for kosen-rufu, (world peace) Each one of us is an incredible participant in each and every moment. 

How do we take a poison in your life and turn it into medicine? 

Realize that it is our mission to change our problems to benefits. Our problems EXIST just to strengthen our muscle of faith. If this obstacle is in our life we MUST overcome it. I remember growing up as a young overweight girl and thinking "I must have a mission to lose this weight and help others to do the same - otherwise I would not have this problem." We can all elevate our problems into our mission. 

Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and having the intense desire to change our karma, we change our circumstances so that we can show actual proof of this practice and help others stop suffering. 

Whatever we are facing, whether it's 

illness, money challenges, relationship problems, job challenges, anxiety, depression, worrying about others, safety issues, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, shyness, and anything else...

Whatever we are facing we can transform it through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. 

We just have to decide that we will do it. 

We must make a fierce determination, like we are climbing up a rock wall, that NO MATTER WHAT, we will get to the top. 

And then follow the 5 keys to a successful practice:

1. Chant every day twice a day, and as much Daimoku as we like. 

2. Keep your determinations fresh, and make sure they express our desire to show actual proof so we can help others.

3. Go to our Soka Gakkai meetings to practice with our fellow travelers and deepen our understanding and compassion. 

4. Help others to the best of our ability.

5. Study the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda.

Daisaku Ikeda says in Faith into Action on page 140:

"Life has the capacity like flames reaching toward heaven, to transform suffering and pain into the energy needed for value-creation, into light that illuminates darkness. Like wind traversing vast spaces unhindered, life has the power to uproot and overturn all obstacles and difficulties. Like clear flowing water, it can wash away all stains and impurities. And finally, life, like the great earth that sustains all vegetation, impartially protects all people with its compassionate, nurturing force."

We can activate this life force inside you at any time and transform any suffering into gold for your life. 

We can absolutely do this. 

We are all doing it together. 

I look forward to hearing your victories. Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

If you've used some of the power prayers, or they have strengthened your faith, please send me an email and you may be included in my next book. 

Also, remember the translation button on the top right. Anyone can access this blog at the touch of a button. 

4 Tips for Starting a Gratitude Journal for Absolute Happiness

 

Studies are showing that summoning and expressing feelings of Gratitude leads to Happiness. Gratitude is a MUSCLE we can all exercise. We exercise the muscle of faith by chanting, and we exercise the muscle of Gratitude by focusing on it! I have a challenge for you. Start a gratitude journal and share with others on this blog how it feels and how it has changed your life. 
And express gratitude more and more each day. Who can you express gratitude to today? 

3 Tips for Starting a Gratitude Journal 

Tip #1 ~ 
Fill your heart with gratitude while you are chanting. Chant to see how great your life is! 

Tip #2 ~

Start a "Rampage of Appreciation Journal" 

for everything in your life. 

Take a journal or spiral notebook 
and put headings on the top: 

Your body ~ 
Write a list of all you appreciate, and usually take for granted...everything from the five senses to whatever you can think of...go slowly, throughout your whole body starting from the top and write what you appreciate:

Sample journal entry:
I appreciate that I can see colors, I appreciate that I can see 3D, I appreciate that I can remember, that I can sing, that I can laugh. 

Little details add up. We are wonderous in so many ways. Gratitude draws more thing to be grateful for! And keep going ~ you get the picture. See if you can fill a whole page. 

Your Family ~ what do you appreciate? What could you appreciate?

Your friends ~ what do you appreciate in the past and the present about your friends. 

Your Beloved ~ if you don't have a beloved at the moment fill this page with things you have loved about past loves in your life...only the positive things.

Your practice and the SGI ~ What brings you joy? Our daily practice, our living mentor, the Gosho, our SGI friends, meetings, laughter, songs...

Your Work/Career ~ what do you appreciate, what can you appreciate? 

Your home: you get the idea

Our wonderful planet:

Your Country: 

Your possessions: 
Car...clothes...furniture...this is a RAMPAGE of appreciation!

Other Categories? What would you add? 

Tip #3
Write in this Gratitude Journal Frequently. One friend said he began a gratitude journal last year and has had the best year of his life. If you focus on the good - well, it focuses back to you! 

Tip # 4
Express this gratitude every day! Who can you express gratitude to today? Email me your stories to share!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today as I sat down to chant, and go into dialogue with my own life, I thought "What do I want to chant for?" and gratitude came flooding into my thoughts...

I am full of Gratitude that I live an absolutely fearless life ~

Because I chant ~

I am confident that I will always have everything I need. I am not worried or afraid of anything. I do not live in fear of anything. I know the resources for ALL I need are within my own life, within my own Daimoku. I am the Mystic Law...and so are YOU!
I am not worried about whether or not my dreams will come true - as long as I keep steadily advancing, I know that everything I dream will be possible.
I am grateful for having time to chant!
I am grateful that now it is time to search for a job and I have the strength and confidence to proceed with a smile on my face and a hopeful outlook. I will find a job in business development that I really enjoy and where I can make kosen-rufu happen.
I am grateful for my health, and that I look so much younger and healthier than I did ten years ago...aaaahhh the youthening power of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (and eating well, exercising and drinking LOTS of water!)
I am grateful that my son is so much better. He's driving and getting his life in order. He is smiling and moving forward. I have enjoyed our wonderful time together this fall, walking in the arboretum on the sunny days we've shared.
I am grateful for this practice, and for my friends in faith. I always know where to turn when I am seeking encouragement.
I am grateful to YOU, my readers, who send me encouragment, appreciation, insights, questions, experiences and guestblogs. Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com.  My next book will be all experiences! Please keep your journals if you can, and write brilliant persectives on your victories. The world awaits your words of wisdom. Let me share them for you with the 35,000 readers of this blog.
I am also grateful for YOU for sending links to this blog and sharing it with others. I write it from my heart to share what I have learned with others, and to connect us all together.
I am grateful for Kate, and my co-leaders and all the members of my district and the SGI
I am grateful for my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda. 
Enjoy and have a great day ~ Jamie 

PowerPrayer for Unleashing the Power of Our Own Lives

We all limit ourselves at times, 
or limit the vision of what we can achieve. 

Our lives are so deeply and infinitely powerful. 

This is a PowerPrayer from "The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting for Your Absolute Happiness", to help us to focus our chanting to achieve even more than we ever thought possible ~ 

PowerPrayer for 

Unleashing the power of the Gohonzon

(Your Life Itself)

Note: Not for the Faint of Heart!

I now unleash the unlimited power of the Gohonzon 

in my life

and I un-limit the Gohonzon 

by chanting for what is truly best for me.

I am determined to increase my levels of strength and fortitude 

to be equal to the full force of the activated

Gohonzon, my life itself.

As I chant, the positive energy within my life 

continues to overpower my fear and negativity.

Each day I am moving closer and closer to my goal

on behalf of myself 

and of all others.

Our Power-Full VOW as Boddhisattvas of the Earth

In The New Human Revolution, Daisaku Ikeda's lifetime record of the Soka Gakkai's history, he writes about the vow of the Boddhisatva of the Earth...(each one of us). This passage is from volume 24, chapter 2. 

"The essential characteristic of a Boddhisatva is his or her vow. The vow of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth is to propogate the Lotus Sutra. That's why wholeheartedly chanting to realize our vow of bringing happiness to all around us is important. Strictly speaking, chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo without the vow is not the prayer of the Boddhisatva of the Earth." 

The Bodhisattva vow brims with the Buddha's life force, enabling one to triumph over devilish functions. 

Shini'ichi (Daisaku Ikeda's pen name in the novel) wanted every single member to experience great benefits. He wanted them to overcome all forms of suffering such as illness and poverty, and become happy. The vow to achieve kosen-rufu is the key to fulfilling such prayers. 

We all have various problems and sufferings. Our dedication to kosen-rufu is crucial to surmounting them. For example, if someone suffering from illness vows to overcome that illness to gain the strength and life-force to freely take action for kosen-rufu, and demonstrate the power of their Buddhist practice to others, the vow will bring forth immense strength to overcome that illness. 
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of course results in benefits. But when the prayer "I want to overcome my illness" is infused with a deep sense of mission, we experience a fundamental transformation within our lives, within our state of being and that vow triggers a powerful momentum to change our karma.  When we chant in earnest based on a vow to achieve kosen-rufu the life state of the Boddhisattvas of the Earth manifests itself within us, the life state of Nichiren Daishonin begins to pulse within us, and we are able to manifest our innate Buddhahood,  This is a revolution of our state of life, and it makes possible a dramatic transformation of our karma. 

In addition, when we chant and strive to promote Buddhism and succeed in our struggles for the sake of kosen-rufu, we are already manifesting the the life state of the Boddhisatvas of the Earth. Through practicing this way, each individual is able to overcome and solve his or her personal problems. 

When the bright sun of the life state of the Boddhisatvas of the Earth rises within, the darkness of sufferings is dispelled, and one is able to walk boldly and bravely along the path to happiness." 

From The New Human Revolution, Volume 24, Chapter 2 by Daisaku Ikeda 

11 Powerful Tips for Chanting Joy-full Tozos!

When I first began chanting a leader told me our lives and our karma can be compared to a glass with dirt at the bottom. The dirt represents the karma that exists inside our lives. She said when you start to chant you stir up that dirt and see it swirling around...and if you want to really dig deep and clear it out, you might want to chant a Daimoku Tozo (chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for an hour or longer) and to set a goal with specific time targets to chant per day...to do a Million Daimoku Campaign we call it. 

Recently we started a Million Daimoku Campaign to chant a million Daimoku to realize VICTORY in our lives by setting Daimoku goals and keeping track of 300 hours of Daimoku to reach one million. Send me an email at chantforhappiness if you want to join us!

A reader requested I share some ideas about chanting joyfully, and with concentration - especially since so many of you are challenging yourselves to chant for longer periods of time. Thank you for asking.

Please do not copy and paste the 11 Powerful Tips. Please share by sending the chantforhappiness.com url or using the share buttons at the bottom of the post. Thank you! Jamie

11 Powerful tips:
How to Joyfully Chant for Longer Times.
Tozo Power! 

1. Realize that what you are about to do...chanting longer than usual ~ doing a Daimoku Tozo ("Tozo" is usually used for chanting perionds of one hour or longer)  - and accomplishing a million Daimoku...has profound significance for your life. Give yourself credit for this worthy goal, and set a chanting time goal for yourself for each day. 

2. Write your goal or goals. (Some of these goals may occur to you naturally as you're chanting) Write yourself a Power Prayer connected to the greater good...to the real difference you want to make in the world. 

Remember that you are a precious votary of the Lotus Sutra and when you break through, the energy is forever changed. You are paving the way for others to break through ~ Your Happiness is IMPORTANT! 

So address that in your goals and in your chanting For example: 

"I am determined to have the most beautiful, loving relationship so that I can totally inspire other people that great relationships are possible ...I can show actual proof with my life, and be able to introduce others to this practice!" 

President Ikeda's guidance says you can chant to have 10,000 times more power in your prayer. So I usually dedicate some time to chanting to increase the power of my daimoku by 10,000 times! 

3. Have your favorite drinks close by...tea...water...soft drinks...whatever you like. 

4. DEMAND your results! YOU are the Buddha! Do not beg favors from a 'higher power." Remember the Gohonzon cannot get down off the scroll and do the Buddha's work in the world. YOU actually are the Gohonzon; it is inside your life. The scroll is a reflection of the highest life condition that exists within your own life. So when you are chanting CLAIM what is yours! Yes, the Gohonzon consists of the functions in the universe that are in our lives. Tell your life what you want. And know that all real change comes from within.

5. All change comes from within. Take responsibility for your life...not blame. Realize whatever you are going through, whatever is causing you to chant...it's your karma..not your FAULT. Chant to reach the very core of that karma and change it forever. THEN your life circumstances and environment will change to reflect it. You don't have to figure out the deeper cause, don't worry about getting it right. Chanting is experiential, not an intellectual exercise.  

6. Keep your favorite study material close by...whatever touches your heart when you read it. And if you find yourself losing focus open it up to any page you want. I have "For Today and Tomorrow" next to me right now. I just opened it for you right now...I read "When we chant sonorous daimoku, the sun rises in our hearts. We are filled with power. Compassion wells forth. Our lives are lit with joy. Our wisdom shines. All Buddhas and Buddhist deities throughout the universe go to work on our behalf. Life becomes exhilarating." Read your passage and get right back to chanting!!!

7. Invite others to chant with you!

8. Have pen and paper handy. You'll want to write down those brilliant ideas that come into your mind while you're chanting. You'll also want to write down some of those pesky thoughts and reminders that keep coming back...things like "remember to buy dog food." Just write it down and eject it from your brain so you can focus on what really matters.

9. Put your telephone away. Tell people you are busy. 

10. After you chant write in your journal. Write to me too. I love to hear your successes and your challenges. I will only share your victories with your permission! Write me at Chantforhappiness.@gmail.com. 

11. Expect some obstacles to arise after your tozo. And just say "Hello obstacles! I was expecting you!" When you take on the mission to chnge your karma for yourself and others you can compare it to turning your speedboat to HIGH. The faster you go, the more resistance you feel. 

Above all - Don't give up! You CAN change your problems into benefits. You ARE the Buddha! 

Thank you SOOOO much for spreading the words about this campaign.  Thank you for sending the link chantforhappiness to everyone! 

I am chanting for you to accomplish your goals and shine with happiness. 

If you are using the PowerPrayers please let me know how they are working for you! Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

I'd love to hear from those of you who have connected to the SGI through my blog!
I am sharing your stories with Daisaku Ikeda, Sensei.