Benefits Abound!

When going through something like this...applying for a job and hoping to get it, it's important to remember all the benefits you have every day.

My benefits include: My health! After my surgery last year I am walking effortlessly wit a spring in my step and no pain!

...my wonderful Aaron...exceeding expectations as a Junior at the University of illinois...fulfilling his duties of being the President of the running club...he's running faster than ever (which really makes him happy!) and getting a 4.0 in his studies to boot. He's chanting and having a great social life too. He's taking advantage of ALL that college life has to offer!

...my wonderful Ben~! I just mentioned his name here at the Panera and a complete stranger said "You're Ben's mother? I know all about Ben!" and he started telling me how Ben is fast like lightning. THis happens all the time...mention his name around town and everyone knows who he is. In the meantime Ben's deciding on a prom date and planning his original songs for ther open mic later this week.

...so grateful to have discovered chanting and to be a disciple of President Ikeda's! I searched for this practice until I found it at the age of 25. What if I hadn't found it? I am so grateful to be able to chant and to be a part of this incredible organization.

...grateful for all the friends and love I have around me every day!

...grateful for my readers! I love it when you send me comments. I love that I have the honor of encouraging you and giving you hope.

Thank you!!!!

Before the NEXT interview! Chanting for Connection!

The excitement continues!

Today I am giving a mock presentation...the kind of presentation I would be giving on a daily basis to business leaders in the community about the college where I am interviewing.

I am chanting to connect deeply with the other Directors who will be my audience. I am chanting to be poised, articulate, warm and intelligent. I am chanting for them to REALLY want me to come to work for them. I am chanting for the best opportunity to do Kosen Rufu and move my life along. It is a job in education...a worthy endeavor helping people better their lives.

I produced the coolest looking presentation at the Apple store on my MacBook Air. I've been practicing and will practice more.

Now to chant again, then get ready to go!

From Daisaku Ikeda to you and me

"Seen from the perspective of faith and Buddhism,

everything has profound meaning.

There is no need whatsoever

for us to vacillate between elation and despair

at each turn of events.

There is no such thing

as a storm

that will continue blowing and wreaking havoc without end.

In the same way,

there is no hardship that will continue forever.

There are clear days and there are rainy days.

If we are swayed by our environment,

rejoicing one moment and despairing the next

amid ever-changing circumstances,

then we will not be able to accomplish

a true revolution

in our state of life.

The important thing is to always believe in the Mystic Law and to enter the powerful orbit of faith, practice and study. Entering this orbit--the orbit of human revolution and of changing our karma --is the way to construct a life of good fortune and happiness that will endure throughout eternity. No matter what happens, we will enjoy the unerring protection of the Gohonzon. Instead of drawing conclusions about the world of faith from a superficial viewpoint, we need to calmly discern the true reality and significance of things and keep pressing forward.

With the passage of time, it will definitely become clear that everything has unfolded in the best possible manner."

From The Hope Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 277, from his essay on the Gosho "A Warning Against Begrudging One's Fief."

Thriving, not just Surviving...!

Magical Moments:

Ben came home from his meet and we chanted really strongly together...chanting with Ben is like running with him...strong, fast, determined...you literally get warm...

After we chanted he suggested we listen to our favorite album of our dear friend Peppinos D'Agostino's music and started listening to that. The music from that particular album is magical. It is not our imagination...it is truly incredible in feeling, tone...passion...It captured a time in Peppino's life, and in our lives, when we were hanging out together all the time...Ben was two years old...Peppino was crazy about Ben and nicknamed him Benjamino (and we still call him that). We all saw each other every day. We lived blocks away from each other on one of the tallest hills in San Francisco...and the music on this album...well it was the soundtrack to our lives.

Music this beautiful just doesn't come along that often...and Ben and I played every song, and savored every note, and shared so much love and appreciation for the rich life we have shared together. Thriving, not surviving...

I know that these are my last few months with Ben before great changes occur...he goes to college...I move out...

Ben's creating some beautiful music himself...he's composed three complete songs with witty lyrics, and has 2 more almost done. He's performing at an open mic on Thursday...

I am about to go back to my Gohonzon right now and chant in complete appreciation...just as I was doing this morning when I did morning Gongyo and chanted in appreciation then... in praise of my own...precious...life.

Chanting for the the Best Job for Kosen Rufu!

What does it mean to chant for the best job for Kosen Rufu?

I am chanting for the job that brings out the best of my life...that allows me to reach as many people as possible and to inspire them with my life. I want to be able to inform people of the power of the mystic law (called "doing shakubuku") in appropriate situations freely. In other words I want to Let My Light Shine!

Daisaku Ikeda states:

"An expert archer can accurately hit a target with a single arrow. I hope that all of you become masters of faith and masters of life who will realize complete fulfillment of all your desires. I also pray that you will be leaders of unshakable conviction who proudly open up a new stage of hope for Kosen Rufu and the world."

On Monday Morning I'll be giving a demonstration presentation as part of the process of attaining this new job.

When I was first informed that they wanted me to present I immediately thought, "Oh, no! I don't know enough about just what they are offering..."

Then I chanted about this presentation for some time, and realized that my nifty new Macbook Air has a program called keynote (similar to Powerpoint) and I set up a one-on-one training to learn how to use it yesterday.

Before I went to the Apple Store I spent some time designing the presentation on Keynote, and had a template picked out, and a lot of the wording. I didn't know how to get pictures into it or how to "animate" it.

I met with a young man in the Apple store and we had an absolute blast creating the most exciting presentation. I added a feature called "sparkle" so each of the lines comes across the page like a moving sparkler. I put in pictures I'd taken of health fairs and nurses...and I chose my colors and design. At the end I'm going to have someone give a mock testimonial about how much they love working with the organization I am representing. It's brilliant. I'm so excited about it. And I slept very well last night, thank you.

Yesterday was also a banner day because Peppino D'Agostino was in town and we all went to see him. How wonderful it is to have a dear friend who produces such wonderful music! And Ben is going to play at an open mic on Thursday. He has three original songs and another two he's almost done creating. They are all funny and heartwarming...just like him!

I'm about to start chanting in appreciation today...and to continue to do my human revolution and elevate my life condition. I am also chanting for the state of the world, for the protective forces to arise more strongly then ever, for the protection o f my family and for my own health and security. I also chant for everyone on my picture board by my altar, and for everyone who reads this blog. Even if I don't know you, I'm sending you Daimoku!

Before the Interview - focused chanting

When you chant - be SPECIFIC.

Chant for EXACTLY what you want!

If you don't know what you want...chant to know what you want.

Make a vow to be happy, and to help others be happy.

THAT is the vow of the Buddha that you are!

Yesterday, before the second interview (this one was by phone)

I chanted strong daimoku (Nam Myoho Renge Ky).

I chanted to connect life-to-life with the interviewer.

I chanted to connect my energy with Daisaku Ikeda's and to wholeheartedly live every moment for the sake of world peace. I chanted about the potential for this job to be the conduit for world peace.

I chanted to connect with my life source and vowed to win in every aspect of my life.

I chanted to be composed, not flippant or too quick to talk. I chanted to THINK before responding.

I also chanted in appreciation for my wonderful life, my health, my boys, my drive.

I also looked up the interviewer on Linkedin and learned a bit about him, including that we had both gotten our undergraduate degrees in the same state. That turned out to be the first thing he mentioned when he called.

During the interview I was calm, I was composed, and I also let my enthusiasm for the job come out.

I think it went very well.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...the next phase of my life is about to begin!

I'll keep you posted!

Almost there!

OK, so today I had my second interview for this cool job.

If I get it, it will be my highest base salary to date. There is not as much potential for upping the earnings as in a real sales job, but a steady income is just what I am looking for these days as I prepare to move out of the house and live on my own.

What I'm most impressed about it the real power of the Gohonzon...meaning the power of my own conviction in faith. I VOWED to find the perfect job for my life ... in education...for my future. And I vowed to do it by the 27th of this month...and, I have to say, that even though I VOWED to achieve it...there was a small part of me that doubted t was possible, and I chanted to overcome that doubt!

And look where I am right now.

I know it's not a "done deal". but I have a feeling I will be reporting a full victory to you very soon.

Chant for whatever it is you want.

Chant with conviction.

Chant with energy and appreciation.

Chant as if you ALREADY have received what you want.

Don't overthink your life...just chant...and chant to be Daisaku Ikeda's best disciple and to raise your life condition and to do your own human revolution...and tell people about this practice. There is no way you can fail.

I didn't say it was easy did I? No.

I said it was hard.

But you WILL have the life of your dreams.

I think it's worth the work...the inside work...the tears...the facing of your own demons. It is worth it all.

What do you think?