Polishing Our Lives

'In the face of rejection,
you must learn to be courageous.
It is important to believe in yourself.
Be like the sun, which shines on serenely
even though not all the heavenly bodies reflect back its light
and even though some of its brilliance
seems to radiate only into empty space.
While those who reject your friendship
may sometimes fade out of your life,
the more you shine your light,
the more brilliant your life will become."
Daisaku IKEDA

Every day we polish our lives by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Every day we become more and more ourselves, turning the "charcoal" of our lives into brilliant diamonds by realizing our true worth and chanting to see our true selves. I recently shared with you that I am chanting to "discard the transient and reveal the true" in my life. Those of you who are students of Buddhism will recognize this phrase from the Gosho (Writings) of Nichiren Daishonin. And every day I feel my life moving in a positive direction. 

Nichiren Buddhism runs counter to the thought that we were all born with original sin. 
In this practice we were all born with original purity and goodness, and chant to see this goodness and experience it every day. We are all Buddhas (ones awakened to the power within). Every single one of us. And we all possess the power to tap into our Buddhahood by chanting every single day. 

A Power Prayer to tap into this power could be:

I am determined to experience my life as the true Buddha I am. I am determined to root the cause of my suffering right out of my life. I am determined to raise my life condition so that I see through the eyes of the Buddha every single moment. I now accomplish______________so I can deepen my faith and encourage others! (You fill in the blank)

We polish our inner lives using the mirror of our inner selves, the Gohonzon. For those of you unfamiliar with this term, the Gohonzon is the scroll that all Nichiren Buddhists face when we chant, if we are fortunate enough to have one. In some countries receiving a Gohonzon is difficult, in others it is easier. You cannot buy a Gohonzon. You receive it once you have a space for it and are learning and practicing Buddhism. 

The Gohonzon was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin, the true Buddha for our time. He "inscribed his life in Sumi" so that we cold all attain the highest life condition possible. Chanting while facing the Gohonzon in your altar at home is truly the most mystical of experiences. Having a home within a home is the best thing you can do for your life. 

I welcome your experiences about receiving your Gohonzons. Please send me any experiences I can share with the readers. Right now more than 12,000 people are reading this blog all around the world. Please take the opportunity to encourage them by sending your experiences and picture. 

I have been receiving many requests and questions from you. I love hearing from my friends all over the world. Thank you so much for passing this blog to others, and thank you for your kind words. 

Happiness Blossoms from Within

Chanting Nam-myoho-rnege-kyo absolutely produces results.
My life feels like these flowers...blossoming rainbows everywhere.  

When you chant you are saying the name of the law of cause and effect. You are speaking the name of the rhythm of the universe. It is a law. It is impartial. It has to work in your life. Sometimes it seems that you don't get what you're chanting for right away, I know this is true. And it can be easy to get discouraged and think "This isn't working, why am I still doing it? I think I'll just stop chanting for awhile and see what happens." 

But I want to tell you that if you persist, if you deepen your determination, if you continue to study the Gosho, encourage others, go to SGI meetings and tell others about this practice you will gain a happiness you've never experienced before. You will gain unshakable strength. As President Ikeda says "Strength is happiness." 

A Power Prayer for today:

I am determined to strengthen my life from within. 
I am determined to be strong in the face of any trial or wind.
I strengthen my life force and feel the power within my life. 
I bring forth all the amazing, accessible power that is my birthright. 
I AM Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and every day I feel stronger and stronger and more aware of the deep power within my life. 

We have the power to change anything in our lives

We DO hold the entire universe in our hands.

Yesterday I chanted 5 and a half hours. I heard from some of you that my post about chanting tozos appeared at just the right time. In the UK there was a snow day so my friend Morag did a tozo, and my friend Linda in Chicago did the same. 
It does help to know that we are all in this together doesn't it. We are never alone. We have all our SGI friends all over the world. 

Each of us is challenging ourselves to the best of our ability. 

Each of us is following Sensei (President Ikeda). 

Each of is is waking up daily to face our problems and roar like lions. 

Each of us is never giving up.

We are truly part of a wonderful organization. 

(If you are new to this blog or wondering what this is all about please send me an email at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer your questions.)

We base our lives on tapping into the law of cause and effect  - Nam Myoho Renge Kyo ~ by chanting those words. This chanting goes deep into our lives, and brings forth the power of the universe we all possess. We tap into our innate Buddhahood. Anyone can do this. We are not special  ~except for the fact that we have heard about this practice and chant everyday. 
It is accessible to ALL. 
We are all equal.
We don't have to memorize any rules or wear any robes. We don't eat a certain way or ascribe to anything. 
We recognize that the law of cause and effect operates within all of life and we take responsibility for changing our own karma and circumstances. 
We are all Buddhas. 
Even those who have never chanted are Buddhas. 

Chanting helps us realize that power within us, or, as my son Aaron says, it allows us to live the "best possible versions of ourselves." 
I know many of you are having powerful experiences to share. Please write me and send a picture. We can all be inspired! 

Chanting for a Long Time Today ~ Tips on chanting Tozos

I am inspired. 

This weekend I attended the Freedom in Education Conference at the Sudbury School in Riverside Illinois. 

I met and learned from such noted scholars as Dr. Peter Gray, author of "Free to Learn" and Dr. Lou Marinoff, author of "The Inner Philosopher", a dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda. 


I highly recommend both of these books. 

So today, on this new moon day...a day for focusing on what we want to bring into our lives, I am going to chant abundant daimoku (Nam myoho renge kyo, over and over and over) ...because I can...because I want to. 

Some time ago a reader requested I share some ideas about chanting joyfully for longer periods of time. What follows is my response to the reader, along with a few revisions and suggestions:

As I've mentioned before, no one ever has to do a long tozo. (A tozo is chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for an hour or longer). It's not a requirement of any kind. But if you ever feel inspired to dig deeply into your karma and chant for several hours, here are some ideas that may make it easier for you: 

How to joyfully chant for longer times

1. Realize that what you are about to do...an extended chant...a tozo...has profound significance for your life. 

2. Write your goal or determination for the tozo. You can do this before you begin, or some time into your chanting. And connect your prayer, as always,  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. 

Tozos can be done for many reasons. Here in Chicago we are chanting every weekday from 9-5 for the violence to end. Two years ago this week we chanted 12 hours for the Japanese Tsunami Victims. 

Examples of determinations could be: 

"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!" 

or 

"I'm determined to use my life to impact _______________(you fill in the blank) in some positive and lasting way. I am determined to take the actions and meet the people, have the resources and the smarts to accomplish this great goal. I join my heart with President Ikeda's to accomplish my mission. 
I am determined to use all of my talents to accomplish this. I am determined to open the doors and take the actions that will propel me forward. 
I am determined to increase the power of my prayer by 10,000 to accomplish these goals. I am determined to expand my capacity for comprehension, and connection, and memory and resourcefulness so I can use my talents for Kosen Rufu." 

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

4. DEMAND your results! YOU are the Buddha! 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 depiction on the scroll is just 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 life. Tell them 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. 

6. Keep your favorite Buddhist 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 all the time. "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." 
(Daisaku Ikeda)

7. Invite others to join you in your tozo if you wish

8. Have pen and paper handy. You may 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 it will leave your brain and you can focus on what really matters.

9. Put your telephone away.

10. After the tozo write in your journal. What have you realized?

I am chanting for you to accomplish your goals and shine with happiness. I am chanting for you to connect with the SGI and President Ikeda and all your Soka Gakkai friends. I'd love to hear from those of you who have connected to the SGI through my blog. And, as always please write your victories to me so I can put them on the blog and your life can inspire others. 

Workplace Experience from a Reader

Hey Jamie-

As always you inspire me- you give me hope! 

Yesterday my CEO called a meeting for all employees 

and gave us the news that we are going to be laid off. 

We have this month of March to look for new opportunities. 

I got a jolt but immediately understood there is a reason 

and this will be the beginning of an absolutely new start!!! 

I am getting a chance to do abundant daimoku 
and make the causes my life needs.

What also unfolded yesterday was mystical. 

The young executive who reported to me 
was anti me right from the day I joined. 

We had rough rides. 

I took guidance and was told to chant a lot for her Buddhahood to emerge 

which was tough but never the less I did. 

It happened so naturally and effortlessly 
that she started having problems 

she could not deal with and 
I spoke to her about the practice. 

She started chanting. 

We changed the situation between us

 to the extent that she apologized to me 
for all the wrong things she spoke about me. 

The biggest benefit was when she agreed to attend the Discussion meeting this March! 

And yesterday we were told about the layoff 
which has her name too. 

I feel I joined the Company to help this young executive know the joys of the practice.

Thought to share this with you.

Best Reet

Thank you so much Reet. You've inspired us all. 

There is Always a Way

Oh the intelligence of nature...

the intelligence in all things. 

For today, just remember...

winter always turns into spring. 

And, there is always a way. 

And, the energy you put into your practice

comes back to you over and over, 

even if you don't see it today. 

All that chanting, all that persistence, all those prayers

are going deep within your life

to bloom and bloom and bloom. 

No Nam myoho renge kyo is EVER wasted, 

even if today, you can't see it. 

Above all, don't give up. 

Never give up.

Courage and Determination

"One who refuses to seek the advice of others 
will eventually be led to a path of ruin. 

A mentor helps you to perceive your own weaknesses 
and confront them with courage. 

The bond between mentor and protégé
enables us to stay true to our chosen path until the very end."

Daisaku Ikeda