Happiness Based on Your Own True Self!

I found this encouraging guidance from my mentor Kate, and would like to share it with you. 


This applies to whatever you are currently facing - no matter what your struggle:




Every single one of us - every single one, is standing at a door and 100,000 people are behind us waiting for us to open that door. 


We need to choose to open the door and move forward. 


One person moving forward moves the entire web of life forward. 


We want our true happiness to be built on stronger shores than just what is in our hearts and my minds. We want our happiness to be built on the core of our lives in the deepest core...our life force itself - the law of cause and effect deep in our lives. Our true...unshakable identity. 
We have seen the transience of our minds, our hearts and our emotions. We don't want to build our happiness on that. 
Following our hearts means following our instincts. We don't want our happiness to be built on moment-to-moment instincts. We want to build it on our real true selves. 


We must chant to have the kind of unshakable happiness that is based on who we really are inside. We must chant to build a SOLID, UNSHAKABLE SELF...We can chant to be the Buddha of absolute freedom. 


These are power prayers for sure!


I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! 

You are the Universe...You are the Buddha...and so are we all!

This month's Living Buddhism Magazine is as amazing as always! 
 Please make sure you have your copy. Instructions for getting your subscription is at the bottom of this post. 


One of the most exciting aspects of chanting is the steady realization of how everything that is NOT BUDDHA about you is all illusion. 


When you chant to reveal - every day - the beautiful crystal clear and pure self inside,  then your life begins to shine more brightly. 


When your inner self shines more brightly your outer environment changes to reflect it. 


We call this the process of "Doing Human Revolution". There are many times when I didn't know what to chant...so I just focused my prayer on "doing my human revolution and raising my life condition." When you chant with this in mind your life will move forward...even if you don't know what to chant about. 


I know it must sound confusing. On the one hand I am always advising you to be as specific as possible in your prayer, and to write and rewrite your determinations. On the other hand I tell you that you can chant a general prayer like "raise my life condition." And truthfully, there is a place for both of these kinds of prayers. Sometimes we just don't know what we want. In the early years of my practice I chanted hours and hours to know what my mission in life was...why was I born...what am I here to do." Well, as you can tell, I did get the answer to my prayer! My life is moving forward in so many amazing ways! 
I hope yours is too!


To get your own publications:


Living Buddhism is published in America and available by calling 800-835-4558 or going to SGI-USA.org and subscribing on line. It is a beautiful monthly magazine filled with experiences and study material that will touch your heart and add fire to your prayers. The bi-monthly World Tribune comes along with your subscription. It is an essential part of practice to study these wonderful publications. I highly recommend them! 

Determination for Financial Fortune

A reader wrote in yesterday asking for me to give her examples of determinations for building financial fortune. 


Do you have one to share? 


If you have one that works for you please send me an email or post it in comments so I can share it with the readers of this blog!


My vision/determination for my life:


I am a sought after author and public speaker. Everywhere I go people tell me how my many books, talks, videos and personal emails have helped them to connect with their own lives through chanting, and generate unlimited happiness and good fortune in their lives, and in the lives of their family and friends. I generate enough income to live anywhere I wish, travel anywhere I wish, and always feel financially secure. I am honored to donate 10% of every dollar I make to the incredible Soka Gakkai organization, fostering a culture of Peace, Culture and Education for the entire world. 

Determination for Health!

My dear friend Julia  has been chanting for two years on August 9th. 


We have known each other for 20 years. When we saw each other two years ago she was inspired by the person I had become through this practice and decided to begin a thorough practice of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Teo years ago Julia was very ill. Although she is a young woman, her health had been failing for many years. She had not given up all hope of wellness, but she was clearly getting worse not better. 


She has vigorously embraced this practice! She is continually inspiring me! Now she is doing her life's work of helping people through telephone counseling, she is walking again, running again and beginning to become the picture of absolute health! 


Here is the determination she gave me yesterday towards creating a healthy life:


'I am determined that to create everlasting health in my body, mind and spirit. I am profoundly and irresistibly attracting any resources that will help me to become healthy. Every resource I need comes to me now....books, medicines, herbs, practices, websites, people, information flows to me now for my highest health and healing. 
I live in a state of radiant health. Everything in my environment is coming together and conspiring to make me WELL!
I have profound strength and wisdom to make the changes necessary to bring about complete health.'


Words are powerful! What are your determinations? Do you have any you'd like to share with the other blog readers? Are there any areas of determination you'd like me to address? 


Remember Determinations erase and replace complaints! Wherever you feel a sadness and need for change in your life - Make a new determination! Write it down! Chant about it! 

Make a POWERFUL Determination!

Make a new determination
Make a fresh determination
Make a bold determination!


What  does this mean?


Making a determination sets your course. It's like a compass. It can move your life. It is a powerful tool. It is a cry of the heart. Once you make a determination your life begins to move in the direction you have set! 


So how do you do it?


It starts with your desire. Some of my best determinations come when I am in front of the Gohonzon chanting. That's why I always have pen and paper handy.


What's the difference between a goal and a determination?


Goals are usually short and set in time. "I will lose 20 pounds by my birthday." Sound familiar? "I will get straight "A"s this year. Get the idea?


A determination goes deeper. Here are a few examples of mine.


"I vow to create VICTORY in every aspect of my life! 


Some of you know I lost 70 pounds. 
Here was my determination: 


For my Body: I am determined to be healthier, happier, and more fit than I have ever been. I'm determined to find the right practitioners and who will guide me in my path to vibrant health! I feel better and better every single day! I am determined to know which food choices contribute to my overall good health, and to use this knowledge to the best of my ability! 


And when I knew it was time to move on from my marriage I determined to have the kind of divorce that was so positive and uplifting that people would be inspired to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. And two of my friends who saw us going through the divorce process were so inspired they began chanting and have since changed their lives in amazing ways. One of them had her mother receive the Gohonzon just last night! 


I have a vow for my love life too: 
"I VOW to create Victory in every aspect of my life! I will have the kind of love relationship that brings us both absolute joy! It will grow every day and we will spend our time together delighting in each other's happiness and having fun exploring this wonderful world! Both of us have passion and drive and We will appreciate each other in ways I have never experienced in a relationship, and our love and appreciation will grow and deepen through the years.


I have determinations for many areas of my life. I believe this is very important for creating the life of my dreams and being happier than I ever thought possible! And all of this is possible for you! That's why I write this blog!!!


You can make a strong determination in every area of your life. And while you are chanting, you can focus on expressing these determinations to your life!


It's the right time to move your life! It's the right time to dig deep! Please share your determinations with me, and share your successes. I am actively gathering material for the book I am writing for you and everyone you wish to inspire. Wouldn't you love to have YOUR story in it? Join me! 

Response to A Question

Hello!

Question:


"I have been chanting for about a year and a half but my life doesn't seem to have improved. It even seems worse. Please tell me what I can do."


Answer:


Examine your practice! Focus on the basics!


Prescriptions for a Powerful Practice!


Here are a few questions for you to consider~ all of these things contribute to having a powerful practice. When you have a POWERFUL PRACTICE you are able to raise your life condition high enough to overcome your challenges and get the engine of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo running in your life and be happy! 


1. Do you have a Gohonzon (altar) in your home? 
2. Do you go to SGI meetings regularly? (SGI websites can connect you to your local group of friendly people!)
3. Have you made a personal connection with SGI members who inspire you?
4. Do you study and read President Ikeda's writings and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin? 
5. Do you chant twice a day, every day? 
6. Do you have an attitude of gratitude - are you able to focus on the positive in your life? 
7. Are you introducing others to the practice to the best of your ability? 
8. Do you have fresh determinations about the changes you want to make in your life? 
9. When you are chanting are you focusing your mind? Are you VOWING to achieve victory in all aspect of your life? 


You are so much more powerful than you realize!


If you are doing all of these things your life will become unstoppable! Your challenges will disappear one after the other...new challenges will arise but you won't be afraid of them. 


If you are chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and wish to change your life you must be the one to pick your life up from the floor- make a fresh determination and ROAR like a lion when you chant. Tell your life exactly what you want. Write your determination for your life. Send it to me. I will chant for you too, but it is YOUR determination that will create your results. 


You can do it!

Make your determination! 


Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Chant to raise your life condition! 


Write me again! 

An Honored Birthday ~ and New Beginnings

Today would have been my sweet Mommy's 81st birthday. 
I know that sounds old to many of you...but to some I'm sure it doesn't. You know I spent many years working in a nursing home. I once heard a 99 year old man call an 83 year old woman a "youngster"

It really seems fitting that I began the day by chanting two hours of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with six of the members in my district. It felt so good!  We all have many challenges and much to chant about. That is our benefit. ALL of us are strengthening our life conditions and turning poison into benefit. 


We have also been celebrating the fact that it has been a full year since my teenage friend Shazara "went missing" from her home in the depths of despair and ended up on my doorstep...a complete stranger... but not for long. I invited her in and invited her to chant. One she started, she didn't want to stop. Today she is a very different young lady...she has solved her lifetime problem of being bullied, she is filled with life and enthusiasm and determined to help other teenagers end their pain like she did. This year will be her senior year in High School. I can't wait to see what she will accomplish! 


And it also was just perfect, that on Mom's birthday, Ben and I helped Aaron move into his new rental house close to the Loyola Medical School Campus. He starts Med school on the 30th of August. 
Wow! He has planned for this for so many years. 
He has chanted so much to prepare his life!


I am inspired! And my Mom...she is thrilled and proud! 

Born in San Francisco, a 49er fan for life!

Aaron's shared rental house

Great Colors!