PowerPrayers to Strengthen Your Practice and for Unlimited Self Esteem

Good morning. It's early on Sunday morning and I'm heading off downtown to the Tozo going on now.

At the Chicago Buddhist Center I will be chanting for all of you to achieve every single one of your goals and to grow in faith as you complete your million daimoku towards your goals. Please remember you are WORTHY and you are not asking anyone or anything to fulfill your prayers...you are TELLING your life the way it's going to be. "LIFE this is what I want!" and email me if you want to join the campaign or share your goals and pictures with me: chantforhappiness@gmail.com

ALSO ~ do you have any requests for powerprayers on a particular subject...ones that might help great numbers of people? I am about to submit my book soon! Email me! 

Here are two PowerPrayers from my upcoming book of PowerPrayers. The first is for strengthening your practice. The second is for unlimited self-esteem:

PowerPrayer to Establish a Strong Practice 

for Chanting My Way to Absolute Happiness! 

I will chant every morning and every evening 

no matter what. 

I will no longer allow anything to stop me! 

I am establishing the strongest practice imaginable 

and I am becoming so fully resourced in self esteem 

that I fully commit to myself:

I keep my promise 

to myself 

first and foremost 

with the understanding that 

I can only really love/help others 

when I myself have become strong and self-loving.

And it’s very natural for me now to share Nam-myoho-renge-kyo because my life is overflowing with benefits. 

The more I chant, the more I want to chant. 

I look forward to my time with myself 

dialoguing with my own life

and discovering who I really am. 

I feel the connection more deeply every time I chant. 

I see actual proof that my self esteem is rising:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Nothing can stop me from getting to discussion meetings 

and studying SGI periodicals and books. 

I am deepening my understanding of what I study with every Daimoku I chant. 

My eyes are opening.

My depth of understanding is growing! 

Study helps me to see the connection 

between my chanting 

and what I see happening in my life. 

What a privilege! 

PowerPrayer for Unlimited Self Esteem

As I am chanting, 

I am becoming a woman/man/person 

of unlimited self esteem. 

I open my heart to myself and my life. 

I am determined to really love my-self 

in a way I have never done before. 

I am determined to take 

the best and most tender care of myself 

and to learn to really want 

and manifest 

all the very best things my life has to offer me 

and this world has to offer. 

From this moment forward 

I am a person of unlimited self-esteem. 

I learn from my mistakes, 

I don’t dwell on them or in them. 

I understand that I am Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 

and I have unlimited power 

to focus on the things I do right. 

I spend more and more time 

in self-appreciation and gratitude.

And it feels wonderful.

These are the qualities I appreciate in myself:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These are the qualities I am strengthening in myself and my life as I chant:. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We Cannot become Someone Else...

My Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Card Design

Some of you wrote in asking for my shakubuku card design. 
It's very simple. 
It looks just like this:

Chant "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo"

(Nahm Meeyoho Raingay Keyo)

To be happier than you ever imagined possible!

ChantforHappiness.com

Your blog for daily encouragement

Jamie Lee Silver

Chanting Coach and Mentor

email: ChantforHappiness@gmail.com

SGI-USA.org

PowerPrayer for Doing Shakubuku ~ Introducing Others to this Practice

Our lives blossom when we introduce others to this practice. (Shakubuku)

Shakubuku is easy, not hard. There are so many people who are seeking the solution to their problems. There are so many who are suffering with no solution, but look at us... We know we can transform any poison into medicine. We are changing our karma right here, right now. I do shakubuku out of compassion for those who are still searching.

I looked for this practice for the first half of my life. I knew it HAD to exist. I kept finding practices that said my desires were the cause of my suffering...and that I somehow had to stop desire in my life and I kept looking. Somehow I KNEW that my desires weren't bad...that they were a part of me, a lovely, beautiful part of me. And I have been so grateful for the last 29 years to be able to chant and sing the story ~ CREATE the story of my life.

So everywhere I go I bring cards. I made them myself but you can usually buy them at the SGI Centers. I have the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the phonetic pronunciation. They also say: Chant these words and become happier than you ever imagined, and have my blog and the contact info for the Chicago Center are on them. I have cards with my own contact information on them too.

I hand people a card, even if I've just met them for a moment at a store, or in line somewhere. 

I say "I just have to let you know about this - Have you ever heard of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? This is truly amazing. When you chant these words and think about what you want you become happier than you ever imagined."

And if they are interested and want to know more I answer their questions. I usually say something about this being something they can do no matter what religion they are, and that they get to keep  - and chant for - their desires.
I usually mention a recent benefit too! 
Everyone says Thank You!
Almost NEVER does anyone respond negatively. 
And with each person I am planting a seed. It might not sprout now, but it might sprout when the NEXT person tells them, or when a family member starts chanting.  At any rate it it a great cause for YOUR life too!

It all starts with Daimoku.
I chant this PowerPrayer to meet the people who are seeking this practice.
There are Bodhisatvas out there who made the vow to return at this time to prove the power of this law, but they haven't found it yet. YOU can be the one who helps them live out their vow.

PowerPrayer for Shakubuku 

(to introduce others to this practice) 

When you are experiencing benefits and your life is glowing like the sun, you will naturally want to share your secret with other people. 

Simply put, Shakubuku means sharing Nichiren Buddhism with others. From the Japanese, it means “to clear away illusions that prevent one from recognizing the ultimate truth or reality.” This truth is that we are all Buddhas. Every time you share Nichiren Buddhism with others you are doing the work of the Buddha, in helping others to attain happiness by realizing that they are Buddhas, too. Each time, you bring people one important step closer to knowing who they are and their absolute happiness.

Life,

Bring me the people who are ready to hear about 

this practice.

Let me meet the people who want to practice right now!

Give me the courage to tell them about it

and the heart and wisdom to touch their lives.

Give me the confidence that 

every time I share Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

I am a planting a seed

and no seed is wasted.

Each seed is a profound cause

for my happiness

for their happiness

for Kosen Rufu.

PowerPrayer for Chanting for Loved Ones Having Troubles

I know that I am not alone in being concerned for those I love who are facing difficult times. I know there are many of you who are also chanting for your loved ones. These PowerPrayers are from my upcoming book The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting for your Absolute Happiness:

PowerPrayer for a Loved one having trouble

(male version, female version to follow)

I Surround                

(my child/husband/father/friend, etc)

with bright and healing energy.

I send Daimoku

deep into his life,

his DNA

and every cell in his body

I Protect him from all of his lower tendencies 

and help him to see his brilliant self.

Awaken his Buddha 

Awaken his hope!

Awaken his determination! 

Awaken his mind to his brilliant mission!

Surround him with powerful protection.

I'm determined that this problem will be the catalyst that will turn poison into medicine for  ________! 

My prayer alone will make this happen!!!

PowerPrayer for a Loved One Having Trouble

(female version)

I Surround                

(my daughter/mother/friend, etc)

with bright and healing energy.

I send Daimoku

deep into her life,

her DNA

and every cell in her body

I Protect her from all of his lower tendencies 

and help her to see his brilliant self.

Awaken her Buddha 

Awaken her hope!

Awaken her determination! 

Awaken her mind to his brilliant mission!

Surround her with powerful protection.

I'm determined that this problem will be the catalyst that will turn poison into medicine for__________! My prayer alone will make this happen!!!

Tips for Chanting a Million Daimoku! Join Us and WIN in your Life!

I'm receiving so many emails from those of you who are joining this WorldWide Million Daimoku Campaign! It is not too late to join! You can chant as much as you can every day. I am chanting at least 2 hours a day and my goal is to have chanted a million Daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) by the end of the year. That works out to be 2 hours a day for me. But you can join us no matter what. The important thing is to have a chart - you can make your own with 300 spaces (each equals an hour of chanting) and write your goals. You can end your campaign whenever you want. That's it! 

If you want to join the Campaign send me an email at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and you can send a picture of yourself and let me know your goals if you wish. I am chanting for all of you but YOU are the Buddha and your prayers are the ones that will generate the breakthrough for you! Dream big! And set goals you will achieve by November 18th too!

A reader wrote in and asked what to do about falling asleep while chanting.  She said she works all day and is really trying to chant two hours a day. My answer is this: I don't know your exact schedule or each of your lives, I can only say that Buddhism is common sense, and your body does need to sleep. Chant as much as you can, and chant to have the kind of life where you can easily chant as much as you wish. In the meantime DO get enough sleep, and take care of what's important. Just make every Daimoku count to help you create the life you want to be living. 

And do tons of shakubuku! It's easy!
Here's how:
I chant to meet the people who most want to practice. I chant to meet the seekers, and those who are ready to get the Gohonzon. I know the rules are different in every country for getting Gohonzon - so I can't say much about the rules in your area for that...but I can say that every person you encourage to chant will change YOUR karma, and theirs, and the world. So be fearless, people want to hear about this practice. 

Send me your questions and I will do my best to answer. 

Sending my love to all my fellow Million Daimoku friends! 

How to Stay Focused as Your Chant for Longer Times! Tips for Chanting A Million Daimoku!

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 for a goal with a set amount of time you chant per day...to do a Million Daimoku Campaign we call it. 

I know many of you have joined our Million Daimoku Campaign to chant a million Daimoku by the end of the year and realize VICTORY in our lives by November 18th. 

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.

How to joyfully chant for longer times.

1. Realize that what you are about to do...chanting longer than usual, for many days - 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. 

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

"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. 

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 to chant 2 hours a day between now and the end of the year and realize victory on November 18th. Thank you for sending the link chantforhappiness to everyone! 

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

Thank you SO much for sending me testimonials about the use of PowerPrayers in your practice. 

I am using these in my book proposal. 

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. 

Need A Job? Want to Change Jobs? Chant with this PowerPrayer in Mind~

The Beautiful White Lotus - Symbol of our Lives. 

The Lotus blossoms and seeds at the same time, signifying the law of cause and effect. The exact second that we make the cause - ANY cause - the effect is already there in our lives and will manifest. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the best cause we can make for our lives...along with doing shakubuku - introducing others to this practice. 

I have been enjoying our million Daimoku Campaign and chanting two hours a day. Yesterday a family member found an item of mine that had been lost for four years...my extra set of car keys with the remote opener attached. 

I opened the trunk of my car with one click for the first time in sooo long! 

I didn't have to unlock the car door with the key, lean down to the floor and hit the switch. I know, it might not seem like such a big thing to you, but it is delightful to me! I would have replaced the lost key years ago but that little gizmo costs about $130 and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much for something so small!

 And I know that's just the tip of the iceberg as far a benefits that are accruing with the determination to chant two hours a day. Yesterday I heard the perfect guidance (I shared it in yesterday's post) And I have overwhelming confidence and hope in all areas of my life. 

I have time to chant for everyone, and to really dig deep into my own karma. It's not too late to join the million Daimoku Campaign. Come along with us! See the previous posts to learn how and email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com! A million Daimoku is 300 hours - with goals!

Here is a PowerPrayer from our upcoming book for you. In reality, what is really necessary when chanting for a job is to chant for the best job for your life, and the best job for kosen-rufu! We've found the following PowerPrayers helpful too:

Confidence, Job Creation Power Prayer

All the Best is coming to me now. 

The best job of my life joyfully emerges right now. 

I now attract all that I need. 

All the right people, resources, connections and opportunities are flowing my way, at just the right time and I am ready for them! 

I have confidence in my own life

I am determined to keep my spirits up. 

I am determined to stop any negativity from coming into my mind. 

As I am chanting, everything is lining up so that I find work that uses all my talents, and pays well with benefits. 

I am determined to be around people whom I appreciate and respect and who appreciate and respect me!

I am determined to show actual proof of the power of this practice through my own life!

In order to help crystalize your desires, write a list of your talents and goals below regarding your dream job:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Making a deadline galvanizes you prayer and helps it manifest ~

If the deadline passes, make a new one and keep chanting no matter what! 

My Do-date ___________________________________________________

Power Prayer to Reveal my True Self and create the Profession that uses ALL my talents:

Today, I am willing to discard everything that no longer serves me. 

I discard all doubt, negativity and any feelings of not being good enough or not knowing what I should do.

My mind is becoming crystal clear. 

I am determined to be full-filled in every possible way, and to utilize every single one of my skills

joy

and potentials. 

I am in an organization that is thriving with self-fulfilled individuals living their passion every day.  My professional environment reflects my true identity, my real, magnificent self, and is filled with appreciation and love. I am richly compensated.

I am DONE with the karma of being unappreciated. I permanently root that pattern out of my life.

I permanently wash doubt and negativity from my life. I don't care how many times it arises. Each time I feel doubt I will chant and chase it out of my brain like the fierce lioness I am. 

I can already feel the excitement of my new full-filled professional life!

Ghandi Taught...

"Gandhi taught people 
to live with lionlike courage, 
impressing upon them 
that they could not afford 
to leave things up to others, 
that they had to stand up 
for themselves 
and fight for justice. 
Ultimately, the only way forward is
by developing self-reliance, 
forging a stand-alone spirit. 
That is the only path to victory"

Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow, page 61

Chanting a Million Daimoku! And some Guidance Involving Addiction or Drug usage

A few days ago I issued a challenge to you to see if you'd want to chant a million Daimoku (300 hours) with me by the end of the year and many of you responded YES! And that means chanting 2 hours a day from now until them. 

But you know, if you don't want to chant two hours a day you can still join us - you can just end your campaign later than the end of the year. You can chant one hour, or as much as you can every day. The important thing is to have a chart with either 300 spaces (1 per hour) or 300 spaces divided up by 4 (1200 spaces total ~ each counts as 15 minutes) and then set your goals. 

It is only 99 days until November 18th right now. We all have goals that we want to accomplish by November 18th. 

And if you don't ~ now is the perfect time to set them! 

Make big goals. 

November 18th, as you may know is the anniversary of the day the Soka Gakkai was founded, and the day that Tsunesaburo Makiguchi died in prison at the age of 72 for refusing to give up his beliefs. AND it is the day the new World Headquarters of the Soka Gakkai will open, establishing a new age of Soka Gakkai Buddhism on the World's stage. I have huge goals towards this day ~ I hope you do too! 

So with that in mind I hope you'll consider joining us on our shared Million Daimoku Campaign. Just send me an email at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Ask me any questions you have about chanting a million Daimoku. And think about what deep seated karma you want to change. Make Your List!

And be prepared to encounter obstacles! I just started this two days ago and already I am pleased to report that I have SUMMONED some great obstacles! Yaaayyy! And I got some great guidance which I will share with you now. 

Someone I care about is having trouble with drugs, and, of course, I am very concerned. This morning I was up and out of the house by 7:30 am to go to the Chicago Buddhist Center to chant my two hours of Daimoku. Chanting with others always makes the time fly. 

At a break in the chanting I talked to my new wonderful women's region leader about the drug problem. She told me that she has a niece who had a very hard time with addictions, and the guidance she (my region leader) received was to chant to eradicate ANY and every bit of her OWN karma that was tied to addiction in any way, and that her prayer to eradicate this karma in HER own life would spread across her family line. Her niece is now in rehab and is embracing this practice. Chanting. Cool. OK I can do this. I will chant with renewed focus and use MY life and my determination to help others. I will root that tendency (to want to escape) out of my own life. 

Human Revolution at work, right?!

I am so appreciative of my brilliant Soka Gakkai Family. I am chanting and chanting for Shakubuku and for the happiness and strength of members worldwide. It is my greatest treasure to know YOU, and I love hearing from you. Please let me know if you're joining the Million Daimoku Campaign. Let's all change our karma together! 

Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

What's this Blog All About? How Does Chanting Work?

The following is a Passage from Julia Landis' and Jamie Lee Silver's upcoming book, The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness:

As Nichiren (SGI) Buddhists we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to summon up our fathomless wisdom while steering our life-craft in the direction of our innermost desires. We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over and over and over again. We call this chanting Daimoku 
(Die-MOH-Koo). Daimoku means title and the title of the Lotus Sutra is  Myoho-Renge-Kyo.  The founder of this practice, Nichiren Daishonin, added to Myoho-renge-kyo  the syllable Nam which means “I devote my life to.” 

So, a brief translation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is, 

“I devote my life to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration,” or, “I am one with the very rhythm of life.”

“Myoho-renge-kyo is the name of the ultimate mystic truth, and Nam-myo-ho-renge-kyo  is the name of the life state of Buddhas who embody and reveal this truth.” 
p.28 On Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

It actually becomes very natural over time to focus on a personal PowerPrayer while chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.  It is nothing more than putting your deepest fundamental wish into action. By chanting and focusing on our most cherished desire, we come to steer our lives with confidence in the direction of Buddhahood. Our lives become lives of immense creativity, wisdom and value, and most of all Love. For as we chant, rhythmically and powerfully, we exude into our environment a music that evokes our deepest, innermost  capacity and transforms any manner of poison (problem) into a medicine (benefit), and further, into a nectar (deep and absolute happiness). 

Love's Got to do with it

A PowerPrayer is infused with love. That's the source of its power. When we chant for what we really want it comes from a real love for ourselves. All love begins with self love. However, you don't have to come to this practice in a state of self-love. This practice will take you there. Chanting Daimoku will itself bring about this state in your life. As the well known writer in the personal growth movement, Louise Hay, has said at the age eighty-two, “self love is the most important thing of all.” When you love yourself, everything in your environment loves you back. Your environment is a reflection of your own state of life and connection to the source of all happiness. 

Sadly, in general, Human beings tend to project this source outside of themselves. In fact, we are most comfortable, it seems in today's spiritual culture, when we project both the source of our mystical power and, also, its recipient outside of our lives. (Everyone seems to be praying to a power outside of themselves for a person who isn't them!) A great majority of souls, and you, yourself, we imagine, have prayed with love in your heart for the happiness of someone else, invoking a power that you have come to believe is “higher” than your own life. It has become commonplace.

But how often have you prayed with immense love...
for your own life, 
for your own happiness, 
for your own well-being? 
And more importantly, how often have you prayed...
from your own life
to your own life 
for the very best things 
and experiences for you
in short, for your own happiness?

We have found that, as it has been written, if we intone our voice with Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can summon up great love, the kind of love that is required of us if we want to awaken to our true potential. And that is another name for Buddhas: Beings who have realized their infinitely positive wise and loving potentials.

It is our PowerPrayer that as you are reading, these words are activating within you the curiosity and courage it will take to sustain you on this journey. For the Lotus won't give its seed if one's hand is not open. It is our prayer that you open your hand in such a way that you open your mind, heart, and Life, as well. And you chant! 

Listen to the secret we whisper into your ear:

You are the Buddha of Infinite Potential. Yes, YOU are the Buddha. Your life story is one of awakening. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo you will be able to solve your problems and awaken to your own Buddhahood that has always been your birthright. 

The above passage is part of the preface to the book Julia and I have been writing for you. It is almost finished and is packed with PowerPrayers to strengthen your life and your practice. 
On this blog I have written many posts for people who are interested in chanting, and I invite your questions and comments. You may email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

For the Million Daimoku Campaign ~ An Update

Hello to all of you who are joining in to chant a million Daimoku between now and the end of the year. 
Just a note to say I miscalculated a bit. 

We need to do 2 hours a day between now and then to reach a million. 

We can do it! 

Join us by sending an email to chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

Let's all change that stuck karma once and for all! 

Make your list and let's chant together! 

Experience in Faith to Start Your Weekend!

From a reader from India who now lives in the US:

I started this practice in 2005. I moved to the US from India in 2003 all alone. As per indian tradition I got married in 2004. My marriage was not successful; we had lots of hardship during my marriage. 

I left the house so many times but always came back due to lack of courage and I was always scared what people would think. But somehow I got connected to my friend who had moved to the US. She introduced me to this wonderful practice. 

At first I chanted alone and not much. Whenever I would feel lonely, I always chanted (as my family as in India). I never wanted to tell them what I was going through. One day I got into big fight with my Ex and the next day I chanted - if this relationship is not going to work then I should know right away. 

No wonder, within 1 month I was out of that house. Not sure where that courage came from but I was really happy that I made that decision. Since then my faith is stronger and stronger day by day and I have never looked back. 

I used to chant for hours and received benefits beyond my imagination. A few years later I was chanting for a partner who would accept me with my chanting. I am married now and my partner fully supports my practice.  

I even have my own chanting room in my home (Beyond my imagination). I have two wonderful kids. I always chanted for a Harmonious family. My husband is so understanding and kind hearted that at one time in my life it seemed impossible. 

I have succeeded in my professional life as well. I will share that experience later. 

At the end all I can say this practice is my soul. 

Nothing is impossible - Keep chanting. 

Join Us as We Chant A Million Daimoku by the end of the Year

This is a momentous year for the SGI. On November 18th the new world headquarters will be completed in Tokyo. Many of us have big goals that we intend to complete by that time. You can set goals to achieve by then as well. 

Yesterday I decided that I was facing a lot of challenges, and that NOW was a great time to begin a Daimoku Campaign. I thought about having it end by November 18th, but that would mean chanting three hours a day, and I just can't commit to that at this point. So I decided to aim my Daimoku chart for the end of the year - or sooner, and chant at least an hour and a half a day. Would you like to join me? 

If you begin with us now, you will have chanted a million daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) by the end of the year. You can download a free daimoku chart, buy one at your local SGI center for about a dollar or make your own. One million Daimoku equals 300 hours. I'm not sure who first figured that out, but it's the formula everyone uses. To reach that total by the end of the year we each have to chant an hour and a half ~ are you up for the challenge?

Already many of you have emailed and said "YES~! I'm IN!" and some of you have also sent your goals for the campaign. 

How do you launch a Daimoku Campaign? 

First, DECIDE to do it. Find a way to track. I like the Daimoku chart I got at the SGI Center because it has little circles to fill in for every 15 minutes I chant. 
(It has 4 circles for every hour so 4 x 300 hours means there are 1200 little circles)
I always write in the date after I fill in the circles so I don't lose track. It makes chanting even more fun, I think, because every day you have a goal and track it. And on the chart, or on the back of the chart you write all your goals. 

I remember chanting a million daimoku towards the birth of my first child. I wasn't even pregnant before I started the chart. I chanted for the maturity to be a good mother, I chanted for a house to raise my child, to have a great relationship with my husband, for the child to be healthy, to have a safe delivery, and a good income to take care of everything. I found a job where I earned sales commissions that went up and up and up, and only worked three days a week. We bought a beautiful house on the top of a hill in San Francisco and I started having SGI meetings. And I poured Daimoku into the child that was coming to me. I chanted that this child's karma would be totally affected by all my daimoku and that this child would not have to suffer from all the things I did as a child. I chanted so hard for this child, and every one of my goals came true. 

Will all your goals manifest with one Daimoku Chart? That I can't tell you. But I can tell you you'll be a lot closer to them for having made a strong determination and completed it. And if you still have things you want to accomplish - well then, you start another million daimoku campaign! I have done many in my life and I feel the effects of them every day. 

If you have questions, or if you want to let me know you are joining us please email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. You can even send your picture and your determinations. Maybe I will share some of them on this site (never without your permission, of course!). And I look forward to sharing all our successes!

We've Summoned our Obstacles ~ Let's Overcome them TOGETHER! I'm starting a new Million Daimoku Campaign ~ Want to Join Me?

I am so grateful for yesterday's Gosho study. Even though I have been practicing for almost 30 years, I still need refreshers in faith too. 

We are all Buddhas and we are all learning together in our precious SGI. 

I have had a lot of obstacles of all kinds over the last few weeks. Yesterday I studied the August Gosho with an open heart and one thing just sprang out at me. I have always known that the three devils and the four obstacles arise as evidence that we are practicing correctly. Now I realize I have summoned them.

They are natural functions (fundamental darkness ~ not actual devils) that arise as a reaction to our positive actions for Kosen Rufu (World Peace). Obstacles HAVE to arise from our lives so we can clear this fundamental darkness away and reveal our own Buddhahood. 

The Gosho is called "The Three Obstacles and Four Devils" and was written in November of 1277 to the youngest Ikegami Munenega after his brother had been disowned by his father for his faith in Nichiren Buddhism. 

President Ikeda says these things about obstacles:

Though we speak of the "three obstacles and four devils" appearing, no one wishes to have to face adversity. 
That is surely a natural human reaction. 
But Nichiren says that 
the appearance of the three obstacles and four devils 
is a source of JOY. 
How could that be? It doesn't seem possible. 
But it is, in fact, 
by overcoming the steep hills and inclines of obstacles 
we can forge our lives 
and ascend the summit of Buddhahood, 
where we can savor the sublime vista of 
eternity, happiness, true self and purity."

He goes on to say:

"We need to "own" them as something we ourselves have summoned up...we are in charge, we are the protagonists...the struggle against the three obstacles and four devils is indeed a great joy."

President Ikeda goes on to say:
"As Nichiren Daishonin writes: "When a tiger roars, gales blow; when a dragon intones, clouds gather" (The Workings of Brahma and Shakra," WND-1, 799) When we adopt this attitude ~ "I summoned this storm!" ~ our hearts will be filled with the bright sense of hope and purpose." (All quotes from the August Living Buddhism, pages 21, 22) 

OKAY! I summoned my obstacles and problems. I get it! 
Now I am redetermining to vanquish them and starting a new Million Daimoku Chart. You can download a Daimoku Chart for yourself at 
http://daimokucharts.org/

I am starting today. I am determined to chant a million Daimoku by the end of 2013, and I have many goals to fulfill by November 18th ~the day we open the new castle for Kosen Rufu in Tokyo - The SGI World Headquarters. There are 300 hours in a Million Daimoku Campaign. 
That averages to chanting 1 1/2 hours a day to finish One Million Daimoku by the end of the year, and three hours a day to finish by November 18th. I don't know if I can commit to three hours a day, but I will definitely finish by the end of the year or sooner.  

I am making a long list of what I plan on overcoming and I can share a couple of highlights with you:

I am determined to live a courageous life and overcome fear in any of its forms. 

I am determined to live my absolute best life each and every day...to chant strong daimoku and never be defeated - not even for a single moment.

I am determined to have a signed publishing agreement for The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness. 

I'm chanting that every single one of you who reads this blog will gain a new understanding, new fire, new conviction in the power of your own life and chant your way to ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS, and share this blog and the SGI with everyone who is suffering and seeking solutions! 

I am determined that the youth in the world and in my district lead lives brimming with hope and enthusiasm! I'm chanting for millions of youth to join the SGI to create lives of hope and happiness and lead us all to Kosen Rufu!

I'm chanting for the health and happiness of all my family members. 

Please join me! Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and let me know that we are joining together to WIN!!!