Showing posts with label nirvana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nirvana. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2012

Words of Encouragement from Daisaku Ikeda

Daisaku Ikeda's writings in "My Dear Friends in America, Collected U.S. Addresses 1990-96" is a book full of essays that appeared in the World Tribune during those years. Those were interesting times for the Doka Gakkai in America. After the excommunication of the SGI by the priesthood the SGI had the wonderful opportunity to reexamine the ground of beliefs and practices that made it so unique...and PROUD to be excommunicated and free. These quotes are from the essay "Pioneer the Ultimate Frontier of Life and Death" pages 156-7. 
     
"In the 'Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings" Nichiren Daishonin states: "Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo dispel the darkness of birth and death and cause the fire of nirvana's wisdom to burn before their eyes....We burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom before our eyes" this passage explains the principle of "the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana" and "earthly desires are enlightenment."
..."It is not true that because we practice faith in the mystic law our lives will be free of worries. And of course, it is certain that we will eventually die. Nevertheless, through our mind of faith, we can illuminate our lives with the brilliant light of wisdom and the flame of happiness shining forth from the depths of our lives. 
"For this reason, no matter what happens, as long as you embrace faith you will never be deadlocked; you have nothing to fear.  Turning everything into a source of energy to advance still further, you can continue vigorously climbing the hill of growth and hope in life. By challenging your circumstances with composure in this fashion, you can perfectly establish a vast and eternally unshakable inner state as if you were kings and queens of life." 
Writing about Nanjo Tokimitsu's father, Nichiren Daishonin writes: "When he was alive,  he was a Buddha in life, and now he is a Buddha in death. He is a Buddha in both life and death" (Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 456) This also applies to the great seniors in faith whom you yourselves have known. In life, great good fortune, and in death, great satisfaction - in fact, a single person can enact an infinitely respectable drama of life and death in this world. I hope that you will continue making tenacious efforts based ont he three pillars of faith, practice and study, all the while cherishing lofty prode in being philosophers who embrace the great Buddhist law. Those who do will realize unparalleled victory and will lead lives of unparalleled happiness."

And my friends, I hope you have a great week - starting with these words by Daisaku Ikeda. Our desires...even the pain we experience from those desires...are exactly what we need establish a state of absolute happiness in our lives! Happy Monday Morning! 




Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cruise success!

What an unbelievable time I had!

Every single moment of this cruise was like living in the land of tranquil light.

Every morning before I started my day I chanted strongly and was absolutely connected to the power in my life. I chanted to enjoy every moment and connect with the right people and savor EVERYTHING!

Every evening, before I headed out to the evening activities I connected again in the same powerful way.

And there was not a moment of loneliness, not a moment of frustration or despair! There was some drama when the tour I signed up for was cancelled...and there was confusion for an hour and a half. I really wanted to swim with the stingrays at the Cayman Islands! Finally, a wonderful couple and I figured a new strategy and had the most beautiful day holding and kissing (really!) the stingrays in the cove. Did you know there is a career called "Stingray wrangler"? Don't you just love that! Did you know that the stingrays are the puppies of the sea? They told me that if they don't go out to the sand bar to visit the rays for a few days because of inclement weather the rays are SOOOO excited to see them when they finally return! It's not for the food...they are affectionate creatures!

I'll try to post a picture.

I started my new job yesterday and chanted a mind blowing two hours before going in today. More about that later. Keep chanting. Keep living a life of ultimate victory. All of my dreams are coming true....all of YOURS can too!!!!