Our RV Journey to see the Eclipse

This is exactly the way the sun looked during the total eclipse

Here's our "rig," an RV that we rented to drive 

to South Carolina to see the total eclipse. Everyone loved the dragon on the front. 

I've always wanted to see a total eclipse. I've heard about how the streetlights come on, everything goes quiet, the sky turns dark enough to see the stars, and everyone joins together in a special moment. 

But only IF there are no clouds obscuring the sun! 

About two weeks ago, I suggested to Ric that we rent an RV and go see the total eclipse. And Ric, being the smart man that he is, said "Yes," found an RV to rent, and a site to reserve where we could see the total eclipse. (That wasn't so easy!) He had to pay a premium for the site, and it was perfect! We drove for two days to get there. 

I chanted everyday for the last two weeks for clear skies. 

And....on the day of the eclipse, after driving for two days, we woke up with clouds. 

So what did I do? You know the answer. 

I went into the RV, and chanted! I chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the clouds to go away so we could see the eclipse. I chanted to my life, with all the power in my life. 

Suddenly the skies opened up and everyone in the campground ran for cover as it rained really hard.....and a few minutes later we had clear blue skies. We all breathed a sigh of relief, put on our eclipse glasses and enjoyed the show! 

Here are some of the pictures from our trip. We stayed at the Flamingo Lake RV resort in Jacksonville Florida, and Saluda River resort in South Carolina. 

 Nasa took this one

Our Neighbor in South Carolina.

Ric on our site in the morning, after all the maintenance he did every day. I could never have done this alone. RVs are fun...but it takes a technical mind, and some real strength to do the day-to-day. They are a challenge to drive, and expensive to rent. Ric did it all! And we laughed and had interesting discussions the whole way...(about 700 miles each way) 

I see this through the lens of the new life I've created...and benefit from all the daimoku I've chanted to change my karma. We had great sites, a great time, and a chance to focus on a wonderful event uniting the country and the world. 
I love my life! 

How do we Fight With The Heart of the Lion King?

I wanted to write to you all about how we are renting an RV and heading to South Carolina to see the total eclipse of the sun. It is so exciting! 
Then I got home and heard the latest news and did some studying and want to share this: 

The youth are studying "The Opening of the Eyes" so I picked up a copy to study along with them. 

From the Opening of the Eyes, chapter entitled
"Why the Votary Encounters Persecutions", page 121. 

By Daisaku Ikeda, 

"In my mind I can hear the Daishonin 
calling out vigorously to his followers: 
"If you are not going to fight now, when will you fight? 
My followers, stand up with courage! 
If you fight with the heart of the lion king, 
you will expiate all past offenses 
and transform your karma!
Let us lead to enlightenment even the icchantikas 
(persons of incorrigible disbelief), 
and help free humankind from fundamental darkness!
(illusion, xenophobia (fear of people from other countries)hatred, fear, prejudice and the forces that stop us from practicing, notes from me)
Let us establish the correct teaching for the peace of the land and construct a world where we can all live together happily and peacefully."

What does it take to "fight with the heart of a lion king?" Well, as I always mention, I am not employed by the SGI and don't speak for them, but I do practice this Buddhism as hard as I can to change my karma, and change the karma of the world. So I will tell you what this means to me. 

Fighting with the heart of a lion king means looking fearlessly at our own lives, making the deepest vow possible as votaries of the Lotus Sutra to change ourselves, change our karma, SEE ourselves, and chant to change all illusion, all self-slander, all doubt, all in the name of being happy, and in creating a happy world for ourselves and others. It means vowing to have victory in our lives, not just for ourselves, but for kosen-rufu - to show others what is possible.
And it means chanting for the youth. Chanting hard for the youth. In a few seconds, I'll be joining my district's toso to spend an hour chanting for the youth. They are our beacons of hope and they need our daimoku more than ever. They need our prayers more than ever...they are searching for this practice. NOW is the time! 

Let's all be fearless. Let's all join together and chant for the sake of our youth, for the sake of our country and for the sake of our beautiful world! 

Overcoming Problems Through Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

Hello!

Yesterday I went to the Tampa bay Region's Kosen-rufu Gongyo and it featured the film of Sensei where he says "Write! Keep Writing! Speak out! Keep speaking!" (paraphrased) and I thought "Yes!" That is Sensei speaking to me, and to all of us. 

This morning I was studying for the Sophia group study meeting on Thursday and I read this about overcoming challenges: 

From the August 2017 Living Buddhism, The New Human Revolution Volume 27, chapter 3, installments 9-12, page 53:

"We can't understand others' hardships if we haven't experiences suffering ourselves. If leaders who lack such empathy come to hold sway over society, it will be a great misfortune for its citizens. That's why I'm always encouraging the youth, our future leaders, to take on challenges and hardships..."

"Struggling with problems is essential to our growth as human beings. It forges our spirit and becomes a source of creativity for opening new ways forward. It is no exaggeration to say that our real abilities are born from our capacity to grapple with problems. Cultivating this capacity, therefore is vital to realizing our full potential as human beings."

Recently I received an email from someone who was looking for a job and considering turning their Gohonzon back in because they hadn't found one yet. And I suggested they go to speak with their senior leaders, because I thought that was the best course of action. Getting guidance can be one of the best things you ever do your yourself. Being open to guidance is being open to life...open to improvement. 

And in reflecting on this email I might think: "You are mistaking the point of this practice." YOU are the Gohonzon. Your power to overcome this suffering rests with you and you alone. Giving back the Gohonzon won't help. Only you can help your life by biting into this problem, not complaining and challenging your life to turn poison into medicine."

Early in my practice I had a terrible boss, and I spent a full hour every morning chanting fiercely and vowing to change this karma and never have a terrible boss again! The boss changed, I changed, and I left that job for a wonderful job I loved for almost 10 years. 

When my son Ben got sick in August of 2013, I never railed "What? My son is sick? Obviously this practice doesn't work!"
No, as documented in this blog, I chanted to overcome this source of suffering. I chanted for him to live a life that he was proud of...I chanted for his happiness, and that this challenge would bring poison into medicine, and create happiness for all. 

Over the next few years I fought valiantly with my practice...chanting two, three, four, five hours a day. Doing shakubuku, studying, having meetings every week at my house. 

And yes, the outcome wasn't what I was chanting for...and then again it was. Right now, I'm leading people who are grieving to happiness through my Grief Relief workshops and individual sessions. I connect people to their loved-ones-in-spirit, just as Ben and I are connected, through the written word.  Ben is helping me. Life is eternal. And he is free of sickness. And I am more grateful than ever for this practice. 

So when we have challenges, let's not erode our fortune by complaining. Let's say "YES! I get it! Another chance for me to challenge my life, build my compassion, and make myself a stronger, wiser fighter for kosen-rufu, my happiness, and the happiness of all!" Rooooaaaaaaarrrr like the lions we are! Go get "em!  

Lighting the Lamp of Hope from Florida

With Melanie Warner, Author of Defining Moments: Coping with the Loss of a Child

I've just returned from the Compassionate Friends Conference, where I met many other parents who've discovered new missions after the loss of a child. Compassionate Friends is an international organization dedicated to bringing grieving parents and siblings together to learn and be inspired. 

 With Alan Pedersen, Executive Director of Compassionate Friends, holding my book "Our Forever Ben, One Mom's Letters to her Son-in-Spirit and his Poetic Replies" 

                                  With Mitch Carmody who presented various kinds of after death                                                                communications (ADC)

With Jeralyn Glass, who plays crystal singing bowls

I keep moving forward, looking for more people to reach, more lives to touch. Every morning and every evening I center myself on chanting to reach the most people and to help them alleviate the deepest of grief by connection to their loved-ones-in spirit through the written word. I chant for kosen rufu, and I pass out Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards wherever I go. We are, all of us, making the human revolution we need to make to make this world a better place. 

Now, I'm following up on the leads to write articles and speak at conferences...and to keep doing my Grief to Relief work. I'm not sure where my journey will lead...but I keep chanting, keep studying, keep taking action...keep my eyes open to make a difference. 

I've received some emails from those of you who are suffering, and frustrated. And the wisest words I can give to you are the same words our mentor Daisaku Ikeda repeats often: "Don't Give Up!" Whatever you are going through, GO THROUGH IT, and get to the other side. Don't eradicate your fortune by complaining. Replace "WHY ME?" With "Why Not?" and get moving, take action! Keep chanting, and realize you are chanting TO your life, not begging for favors from something outside yourself. YOU are the Buddha. YOU are the Buddha. We are all here to lead the world to happiness through our own actual proof. If you're not getting actual proof right now, demand it in your prayers. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion, what sickness can therefore be an obstacle? Chant, study the Gosho, en-courage others, chant every morning and evening! Do Not Give Up!!!

Poison Into Medicine! Karma Into Mission!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Chanting Daimoku 

is the foundation of the Daishonin's Buddhism. 

When we chant sonorous daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo)

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, For Today and Tomorrow, p. 182

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When faced with a life challenge we would NEVER have chosen for ourselves - what do we do? 

How can Practicing Buddhism help? 
What is the REAL power of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? How can it help in practical terms? 

We can turn POISON into Medicine and truly live meaningful lives. 

As you know, my beloved son Ben died July 2nd, 2015 from Schizophrenia which caused him to take his own life. 

Every day I am using Buddhism to fuel my life as I transform my personal tragedy into a personal triumph. Or, as we Buddhists say, "Turning Karma into Mission."

Now, I don't know why my karma included this experience of having my son die, but I don't have to know the reason. All I need is the determination to change it into mission. 

Along the way, I have joined a club I never wanted to be a member of - the club no one wants to be a member of, the Suicide Survivor's club. And, as anyone would expect, I am meeting people who are at various stages of the grieving journey. Guilt, sadness, peace...

Because of my practice, I am not tormented like I was right after it happened. At that time, I was wracked with thoughts of what I could have done differently. Even though I knew I'd done my best, I felt like I had failed at my most important mission in life...being a Mom. And I chanted about these thoughts...and I realized they were my own fundamental darkness. I'm a Buddhist! I know I can fight fundamental darkness with my prayer by facing it and saying NO! 

I chanted to alleviate this feeling of guilt and to turn my pain into something I could use to help others. And through chanting, I am free from these tormenting feelings. 

I continue to write to Ben and he writes back to me through my own hand. Life is eternal. This is natural. Have any of you tried this? I can teach you how. Let me know if you are interested. I'm now leading Grief Relief Workshops and doing individual sessions. 

I'm grateful for all I've been through, and all I'm going through right now. I feel a deep connection to Ben...and to all who are suffering. My son Ben answers my questions. He reassures me in all the things I am doing. And he encourages me daily. 

Because of my daily Buddhist practice, I'm protected. I'm safe, secure, learning about myself.

Today I'm heading to the Compassionate Friends Convention in Orlando (driving distance!) It's an organization to support people who've lost children. It ought to be very interesting. I'm going to explore ways I can further expand my mission to help people who are grieving.  

Thank YOU for your notes. Dear friends, we share the noblest of missions! WhatEVER you are facing - you can turn YOUR karma into mission! We are the votaries of the Lotus Sutra. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, reading the words of our mentor Daisaku Ikeda, joining together with our SGI friends, and introducing others to this victorious way of life...we can overcome any challenges! 

Victory for Sam! Taking Action!

Sam has been chanting for only two months and has had many obstacles. And NOW, through perseverance and Daimoku, Sam is about to be the first person from her family to enter college! She is on her way to fulfilling her dream of being a prosthetics professional.

When Sam starting chanting changes came swiftly - and they didn't look like they were good changes. She went through a break-up and lost her job. I told her these were benefits, and not to give up! And over time, they've shown that they were the steps her life had to take to get to the next level.  

And here she is! She took all the required tests...and she's starting college in a few weeks. 

Remember, I almost didn't shakubuku her. She was our server at a restaurant down the block. I thought, "Oh, she's way too pretty and lively to need this practice." And that's total bunk of course. No matter how pretty, how rich, how anything we are, we can all benefit from the mystic law, we ARE they mystic law. 

So don't hold back. Carry those Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards around and give them out! Just as I have changed Sam's life, she has changed mine. I have chanted a ton for her, and I love her so dearly. 
When we shakubuku someone they shakubuku us right back! The youth of our age are starving for Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! Don't hold back!

And giving my "Go From Grief to Relief" workshop last night was fascinating, fulfilling, poignant, touching. Each person connected with their loved one in spirit, and received a letter from them, through their own hand. It was amazing. And it's still sinking in. I'm reading their testimonials about how this workshop touched their lives, and I'm thinking "How can I do this again and again!" My prayer for each one of them was realized last night, and will keep revealing itself in their lives. 

This morning I took time to let the emotion of last night wash over me. I took it easy. I looked at pictures of my boy and I basked in appreciation that he came to me, and we shared those 22 years together. 
Poison into medicine. 
Regret into appreciation. 
There it is. 

Here's our message:
Keep chanting and taking action!

Action! GO for it. 
Go Buddha Go! 
Never give up

Note to readers: I was just going through some comments on the blog, and there were several questions and requests for guidance. If you want guidance please go to your local leaders, It will be much better for you. If you have questions please email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com
Thanks!

Going From Grief to Relief!

Here's a picture of me and my son Ben. Many of you know him, or chanted for him when he was sick, and when he became eternal on July 2nd, 2015, when he was 22.  

Ever since I got back from Ben's Memorial Mile in June,  I've been preparing for tonight's talk at First Unity Spiritual Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. Go From Grief to Relief. Chanting three hours a day for everyone who attends to have some kind of permanent relief!  

It will be my first talk in my new city. 

It's amazing how fast a year flies. This time last year I was here in Florida finishing my book "Our Forever Ben, One Mom's Letters to her Son-in-Spirit and his poetic replies." (Available on Amazon).  It was difficult to write the book because I had to overcome all the thoughts of not being good enough. One day I thought I could write the book, the next day I was sure I could never write it....but I kept chanting and kept writing to Ben and somehow gave birth to this book. Right now it's helping people with grief all over the world. 

Being a Buddhist isn't easy, is it? We HAVE to turn poison into medicine. But when you think about it, isn't that what we want to do anyway? Take anything bad and make it great? We have that power when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with all our hearts. Then, as my son Aaron says, when we've really chanted and taken action, we know we are at our best. We know we are doing the best we can do. And that feels good. 

I've been hearing from you to post more often so I'm going to do my best to more frequently. 
Just don't give up. 
Get guidance from your local leaders. Study. Chant. Take action. Do shakubuku. That's the formula for happiness. And chant for kosen-rufu! 

Tonight I will teach people to write letters to their loved ones, and have their loved ones write back to them through their own hand (or imagining that their loved ones are writing back to them). This is something I developed. It's not part of Buddhism, but the belief that life is eternal fits.
It's not necessary that you believe this is possible, or you do it to be a Buddhist. This is my gift, and talent to teach.    

Whatever you are doing, wherever you are, no matter how dark it seems ~ DO Not Give UP! 
Sending love, Jamie
Jamie@jamieleesilver.com 

Every Day is New Year's Day!

Every single day we get the chance to remake our determinations...review how far we've come, and make a fresh step towards our dreams. Our term "Hon-nin-myo" means "from this moment forth." The past does not matter. What matters is this moment. 
Our failures...the things we regret...none of this matters at this very moment. What matters is our determination. 
My friend in faith Amos used to say: 
"How many times do you get to make a new determination? How many times do you get to not live up to that determination, and to remake it the next day? An infinite amount of times! Just keep making that determination every day, chanting about it, and not giving up! That's where your power lies!" 
WE are the Buddha. We embody Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It is our life...and everything else. Nothing is NOT Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Our sincere prayer to raise our life conditions, strengthen our lives, shakubuku others, work for kosen-rufu and be the absolute proof that this practice works bring US happiness, and makes the world a better place. 

This week was a blast for me. I did a ton of networking...meeting new people...doing shakubuku. My prayers come true every day. I chant to change myself...and see the truth at every moment....and to enjoy my life! 

"Hon-nin-myo" is a profound part of the teachings of this practice. Every moment begins anew. Our past brought us to where we are but does not determine the future. 

I just passed a milestone, as I mentioned. I passed the second anniversary of the "death" of my son Ben. I put "death" in quotes because I don't like the word. BEN didn't die. His body died. But he is very much alive in spirit. He and I converse every day, or whenever I want to talk with him, he's there, ready to talk with me. 

This Tuesday will be the first "From Grief to Relief" workshop I've given. I hope to do many more because I know I have something to teach that can bring people comfort. The workshop will be very interactive. 
Everyone will share about the main person they are grieving. And everyone will process the pain, the guilt, the sadness using EFT techniques, and then we'll move on to the writing section. It will be so much fun. We'll also chant for each person as I introduce the Buddhist concepts that allow me to be open to the eternity of life. 

I'm preparing for this the same way I prepare for every Buddhist meeting...by chanting for each person. Each person will experience permanent change. They'll leave with tools to use. And, they will have the opportunity to choose to work with me one-on-one at a later date if they desire. 

New Year's Day. This week I began a new exercise routine, a new visualization exercise, and I started doing Dahn yoga again at home. This week was my New Year's Eve. Any day can be New Year's Ever for us. ANY DAY. It doesn't have to be a milestone. All it takes is a fresh determination! Do you want to start something anew? Go for it. Happy New Years. Every single day! 

Faith Equals Daily Life!

Faith Equals Daily Life is a term we hear often in this practice. This week a reader emailed me to ask what this means to me. 

For those of you new to this blog, I'm a 32 year practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, and I live my life to rid the world of suffering. I'm a proud member of the SGI, but I do not speak for them. I blog from my heart to yours. 

Faith equals daily life means: 
chant about everything! 
Chant about everything. YOU are the Buddha. YOU tell your life what you want by praying to your life every single day. 
Each day I take all my cares, worries, hopes for my life, and for the happiness of all around me, and I chant every day...FOR every day. I pray. 

As Daisaku Ikeda writes: 


"Prayer is an attempt to merge the inner workings of our life with the rhythm of the universe. When we pray in such a way, all the workings of the universe will function to protect us and the endless cycle of painful reality will be transformed into a cycle of victory and happiness. Prayer is the key to open the door to unleash that infinite human potential within our lives."
Daisaku Ikeda, Ikedaquotes.org

I begin every morning with at least an hour of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Every once in a while I have to rush out of the house without chanting an hour. But I make sure to connect in my daimoku, no matter how long I have to chant. 
Today I chanted to be in rhythm all day long, and to feel connected to that rhythm. I chanted to meet key people for my future, and to use this day to further my work of kosen-rufu in action. 

It was a joyous day! I spent most of it at a large, gorgeous retirement community connecting deeply with the staff, and exploring the ways my workshops can help their residents, their staff, and help them with marketing. It was a blast.  

Faith equals daily life means that every single day is a reflection of your faith and determination. Faith equals daily life means our faith is not shut off in some little box that we only take out every once in a while. No, our faith IS each day...our determination for each day...our live, Well-Lived...every single day. Chant about it all. Chant to connect life to life. Realize that, as Daisaku Ikeda says: YOU are the protagonist in the great play of your life. Enjoy it!!

Having our Daimoku be Stronger Than Our Fears

I know it's been a long, ling time since I last wrote. During this time I produced Ben's Memorial Mile in Chicago,  and moved from a furnished studio to a large unfurnished one-bedroom here in St. Pete Beach. 

I am so grateful that my son Aaron was here to help. He helped me decide on this beautiful place right here overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and brought me to all kinds of places to buy the things I needed...a bed...table and chairs...a couch. It was great to have him here. 

Now he's back in Phoenix doing all sorts of YMD activities and I'm her on my Lanai watching the storm roll in. 

Lately I've been focusing on seeing the truth in my life...seeing who I am...my beauty...my flaws...and the tendencies that serve, and don't serve me. I'm looking for a job and getting read to restart my career as a Life-Cycle Celebrant. And, in the meantime, my phone and my computer are acting up. Yikes!

I've been challenging myself to chant three hours in a row at least once a week. This Saturday I accomplished that goal.  

Many of you write to me and tell me you're looking for a job, and ask me how to chant. I can share my experiences with you but I can't tell you how to chant. Please see your local leaders for encouragement. :) 
But I can tell you how I am chanting to break through. 

My determination is to use my favorite talents...all of them...to make the biggest difference I can...to do kosen-rufu in every possible way and to touch as many people with my positive energy and make the money I need to make. Somehow, with my prayers to the Gohonzon, all this will come to pass. I'm chanting every morning and evening, reading the Gosho every day, shakubukuing everyone I meet, handing out Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards and encouraging others. 

I am chanting to have my daimoku overcome my fear. Just like you. And I'm chanting for youth! I've overcome so much since I began this blog. Now it's time for another breakthrough. Cheers to you!

What Does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Mean, and Why do We Chant it?

What does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo mean, 

and why do we chant it? 

By Jamie Lee Silver of ChantforHappiness.com - 

(You can subscribe by putting your email in the box to the right. 

Translate button is at the top right.)

The literal translation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is:

"I fuse my life 

with the Mystic Law of cause and effect 

through sound vibration (or sutra)." 

It is the title of the Lotus Sutra, 

the historical Buddha's highest teaching 

that declares  

ALL people possess the Buddha Nature...

all people ARE Buddhas...

and we can access  

our own Buddhahood ~ our inherent wisdom, determination, power to take the best action for our lives while benefiting others, sense of vitality, ability to make a difference, find fulfillment and happiness, and the strength to turn 

EVERY POISON INTO MEDICINE 

~by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. 

That's it. We don't need to change our diets, memorize lists of paths, change our lifestyles, shave our heads, wear robes, or "purify our desires." This form of Buddhism is radically different than most forms you may have encountered. SGI (Soka Gakkai Buddhism is accessible to ALL. 

AND the most important aspect of our prayer is to do our own human revolution...to master our lives...and write the beautiful script of our own lives. We chant for "Kosen-Rufu," a world of respect for all life, and for all who are suffering to be happy. Through our own happiness, we create happiness for all. We can all win in life together. 

When we chant, we harness the energy that is our birthright. And we chant twice a day, every single day, to get and keep our lives in rhythm. 

When we are in rhythm we are in the right place at the right time... to find out about and get the job...or to meet the man of our dreams...or to protect our child from danger. When we are in rhythm, life isn't so much of a struggle as it is a joy...we see the beauty in everything and we feel our lives overflowing with appreciation. 


In fact, we view obstacles themselves as benefits, as strange as that may sound....because obstacles make us chant more, and when we chant more we draw even higher life conditions and deeper satisfaction into our lives. 

What can we chant FOR? 
Anything. Make sure to write your list, and rewrite it when you achieve those goals.

We chant for others, we chant for our planet, our countries, and ourselves. 
We can chant for whatever our desire may be...even if it might not be the "right" desire for us. In the act of chanting, we will change our karma and our desires themselves will naturally begin to shift. We will open our lives to the deeper wisdom within...the deeper yearning, the REAL desires that we have forgotten or given up on. We will grow. We will prosper and we will blossom. 

We will gain the wisdom of the right action to take - because ACTION springs from wisdom. 

The challenge is...we need to DO it. We have to chant to bring all this rhythm and harmony out. And that's why we practice together as an organization, the SGI, The Soka Gakkai, our fellowship of friends who support each other, chant for each other, and create a new Soka family for each practitioner. We are so fortunate. 

We are in this life together...sharing our challenges and our successes. If you are not yet connected to the SGI please go to sgi-usa.com and find your local members. You will be so glad you did. 
If you live in or around St. Pete Beach Florida you can connect with me through chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some Powerful Quotes from Daisaku Ikeda:

THIS moment, this instant, is important, 
not some unknown time in the future. 
Today, this very day is what matters. 
You must put your whole being 
into the time that exists now. 
For future victory rests in the present moment.

BUDDHISM holds that 
everything is in a constant state of flux. 
Thus, the question is 
whether we are to accept change passively 
and be swept away by it, 
or whether we are to take the lead 
and create positive changes on our own initiative. 
While conservatism and self-protection
might be likened to winter, night and death, 
the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize 
the ideals evokes the images of spring,
morning and birth.

Do gongyo and chant daimoku with a fresh spirit. 
And, filled with renewed vitality, 

build a history of accumulating fresh benefit.

All quotes from Ikedaquotes.org

Apartment Finding Victory!

Here's the View from my apartment!

Hello from rainy Chicago. It's green. It's beautiful. But the rain has to stop by Ben's Memorial Mile on Saturday. Check it out at Bensmemorialmile.com. So exciting. Costume mile! Children's activities, fast runners, slower runners, and walkers...all raising money for schizophrenia research and suicide prevention, in the name of my sweet son. 

Continuing from the last blog post...
Here's how I got those walls to turn into little pebbles at my feet. In the last blog I wrote about getting guidance, and chanting to change myself in ways that felt unchangeable. This prayer lead me to breaking through. 

For the past few weeks, apartment hunting has been my full time job. The owner of my apartment wants to move back in after June. The housing market is incredibly hot where I live in Florida. It's been tough! Many apartments were rented already when I called...and what was available was, for the most part, not so great. Every day I woke up to scale this mountain, and every day I was frustrated!

I had a deadline. I had to find my new place before I left for Ben's Memorial Mile on the 13th. It felt impossible. But I'm a Buddha, just like YOU are! We practice to make the impossible happen. We have the ultimate tool for changing our lives - Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

So, I got guidance, started chanting three hours a day...and deepening my prayer. What does this mean? I told the Gohonzon...my life...that I had the courage to see what I didn't have the courage to see before...to change my basic life tendencies that are holding me back.

And on Monday...(the day before I was to leave for Chicago) I finished my three hours of chanting and the phone rang. It was my friend Mikaela. She told me she'd been outside her apartment (not far from where I live) and a couple came by on their bikes. They told her they live in the building I live in. (It's an historic building right on the beach). They said they live on the first floor and have been trying to sell a one bedroom apartment on the fourth floor.

Boom. I knew exactly what would happen. I knew their fourth floor apartment was going to be mine! I contacted them. They showed me their gorgeous place, but weren't sure they wanted to rent it. I connected them with the person I'm renting from now, so he could give me a glowing reference...and I chanted another three hours the next morning.  

And...

We signed the lease agreement half an hour before I left for the airport for Ben's Memorial Mile. The apartment is so beautiful! All updated...bigger than where I live, and unfurnished so I will have a fun project when I get back. The view is just like mine...overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. I took off for Chicago relieved...happy...victorious! 

Whatever your walls are...you can break through them too. You can seek guidance from your seniors in faith. You can grow in ways you can't even imagine. 

Never give up hope!

How to Break Through Those Walls!

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Have you ever felt like you were stopped at every turn? That, somehow there were thick walls between you and everything you want? Have you ever been making positive causes, chanting, and still the walls getting higher and higher? 

I have felt walled in lately - and I am in the process of breaking through - I know it. I know there's a bright expanse on the other side of these walls! 

Here's how I am turning these walls into tiny little pebbles that I will just step over. 

This week I made a call to one of my treasured friends in faith, and she had some wise words for me. 

She said that when she was experiencing walls, she learned that there was something deep in her life, and in her character...at the very depths of her human revolution that needed to change. She asked me some questions and I could clearly see the action I needed to take, and the Daimoku I needed to chant. 
I went to the Gohonzon and chanted to learn what I needed to change. Some things came to mind...my tendency to get defensive in the face of criticism, and the need to develop the skill of understanding the other person's point of view and not letting my emotions overrun my brain. In front of the Gohonzon I chanted with all my heart to have the courage to see my shortcomings...and the courage to change them. 

As James Hermann in Chicago once said: "We don't chant so we can say "That's just the way I am." We chant to CHANGE  what we see needs to be changed! 

So, for the past few days, I've been chanting three hours a day and I am on the verge of a huge breakthrough! I know this because three of my good friends are coming to the meeting on Tuesday when I will be giving my experience.
I also uncovered something important about my finances and made two new dear friends. Treasures of the heart! 

It's not complete yet, but I'll tell you all about it when it's done! 

Today I fly off for Ben's Memorial Mile! It will be Saturday the 17th of June at Downers Grove North Illinois High School's outdoor track at 5:00. Join us if you can! Here's the link: Bensmemorialmile.com. 

This week I'll see my whole family and around 500 wonderful friends in Downers Grove. Hope for the Day, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Your Story Counseling and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will all have booths. There are children's events and a costume mile, great music, laughter, cheers and fun. Al Carius, the coach of the century will be speaking. 

It's hard to believe it has been almost two years since my precious boy became eternal! 

I can hardly breathe I'm so excited! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

Inspiring Shakubuku Story!

Sam!

Here's a story to inspire YOU!

Doing shakubuku is my greatest joy. There is NOTHING that makes me happier. And I, along with all of you, have been chanting to introduce our youth to this life-affirming, practical practice. When I was at FNCC (SGI's Florida Nature Culture Center) they said: "The youth will teach us how to shakubuku the youth." And I thought, "How wise." Here's Sam's story:

A few weeks ago I planned some time with a new friend who lives in my building. We went swimming, and she came upstairs and learned to chant with me, then we walked down the street for dinner. We had a great time with our beautiful and vivacious server. I thought to myself "This young woman is so beautiful and warm and energetic. She exudes happiness...maybe she doesn't need the Gohonzon." But, of course, at the end of the meal I told her about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I didn't have a NMRK card with me so I wrote the words out on one of my business cards, and told her chanting was a means to tap into our highest life potential.

When she heard this she said "Boy do I need this! My Mom's in the hospital crying in pain and the doctors can't help her and I'm her main caretaker, all alone!" So I said, "When do you get off work? Want to come over and chant with me tonight?" And she said "Yes!" 

At 11:30pm, Sam came over and we chanted and talked until 1:00am. She came over the next night too! Sam told me her life story. She's a resilient young woman who has had many challenges, and has a great dream to be a prosthetics practitioner. She believes anyone with a prosthetic has a story, and she wants to help them. 

For various reasons, she wasn't able to finish High School, and wanted to take her High School equivalency exam, but the thought of taking that exam filled her with fear. She told me "I'm going to schedule that exam and use chanting to help me pass it!" Less than a week after beginning to chant, she passed the GED and got her High School Diploma! When she took the exam her usual anxiety was gone, and she could just feel the right answers throughout the test. What a great accomplishment! 

Also, her Mom was released from the Hospital two days after Sam came over to chant with me, and has now had surgery to help her. Sam and I continue to chant for her Mom. 

And right after she began chanting she lost her job. I, of course, said "Congratulations!" and knew she'd get a better one right away. (She already has) 

I had to go to Chicago for Ben's Memorial Mile prep, so I encouraged her to go to the Buddhist meeting without me, and she went. That night I was out to dinner in Chicago with my wonderful son Aaron, and my "wusband" (ex-husband) Paul, feeling emotional about our family being three, not four...happy to be with them, but missing my Ben (who died almost two years ago now). In the middle of dinner Sam called and told me she'd applied to get her Gohonzon! I thought "My family is growing! Look at all the benefits I have!" 

On Sunday, Sam received her Gohonzon and we enshrined it for her. Her bright smile and life condition is going to help lead more and more youth to chant. She's telling everyone about her new practice! Kosen Rufu in action. That's what it's all about. Sam is now applying to college...working on fulfilling her dream. 

Each of us makes a difference! Don't hold back! Tell everyone about this practice with all the love in your heart! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!