Kathy's Awesome Experience of Victory in finding a job!

Kathy is on the left, and Christine is on the right. Christine baked a cake for tonight's meeting and we're celebrating Kathy's Victory! See Below!

My name is Kathy Fisher.  On October 31^st I will celebrate 33 years of practicing this awesome Buddhism.  

Last year on April 15, 2011, I lost my job due to my company downsizing its work force by a third due to losses.  I have been in the insurance Commercial Property and Casualty field for the past 22 years and was an Underwriting Supervisor for the past 5 years working for an insurance carrier. I had the polished resume, references and experience.

Two months prior to losing my job I was asked to be a Soka Gakkai  (SGI) Vice Chapter Leader in the West Chapter, Chicago Zone, and Central Territory.  Prior to being promoted I was the District Leader of the Downers Grove District. 

I presently live with my 2 sons one of which is disabled.  

I continued to chant daimoko, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, with the resolve I would not suffer from the obstacle of being laid off and out of work.  In my new leadership role I assumed more responsibilities and became more focused on member care on the chapter level.  Members would call me for guidance and encouragement since I was home on a regular basis.   This was such an awesome benefit in my life.  Never had I been so accessible to the members. I also had the ability to chant even more than ever on a daily basis. A dream was to able to clean our Illinois Activity Center in Wood Dale, IL for the first time ever I had the benefit of living that dream.  

I have worked so hard all of my life since high school and was now in a situation where I had been middle management and was an older person looking for work.  I made a nice salary as well in my former position.  I never had an issue finding employment in my life.  There have been occasions where I would be off, but not for long stretches of time in my employment. 

I was determined nothing would be an obstacle.  I went on interviews for great positions only to hear someone else was chosen.  I also came to realize that I was facing age discrimination.  Many of my friends and family had experienced this discrimination and were forced into early retirement.  Another obstacle was the fact that I was middle management and was overqualified for some of the positions I was apply for.  To say the least this was very demoralizing and exhausting. I had to remain optimistic with a fighting attitude that I would not be defeated by this obstacle.  

See I was chanting for my retirement job not just any job.  I would have the whole package and nothing less.  I was going to have the job with all the bells and whistles.  Awesome benefits, would work in a thriving positive environment, be appreciated, and show powerful actual proof in my life by practicing this Buddhism.  Everything happens for a reason in our lives.  Firmly believing in this spurred me on in my practice.  I knew in my heart my prayers would be answered.

Months turned into a year and a year into 16 months.  I realized just what a crazy exhausting life I had up until now.  Working so very hard without taking time off had become my way of life.  I came to realize I was exactly where I needed to be for World Peace.  

I reaffirmed my vow to my mentor, President Ikeda that this would be a win in my life to overcome my obstacle.  “On Attaining Buddhahood In This Lifetime” written by President Ikeda became a deeper part of my life.  In Chapter 3, page 25 is a very profound quote I started applying to my life, “Indeed, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can be likened to a “wish-granting jewel.”  How can we develop the boundless state of life that enables us to bring forth whatever strength is necessary?  President Toda often used to say, “If you really want to achieve such a state of life, you have to fight with every ounce of your being for the Lotus Sutra, for kosen-rufu!”  President Toda also stressed the importance of living true to oneself.

During the May Contribution campaign I went and applied for a widow pension which was a benefit I did not know if I qualified for due to my son’s disability through Social Security.  This was 2 weeks prior to the end of the campaign.  I was qualified instantly and it was not linked to his benefits.  I was able to contribute 5 times the amount during this campaign, the most ever in my practice.  This was another dream come true.

On July 28^th I attended a meeting at our Illinois Activity Center for a Leader’s Meeting with Linda Johnson, SGI National Women’s Division Leader. For years I have chanted to meet her and dialogue.

After the meeting I was introduced to her.  I was living my dream.  She graciously thanked me for all my efforts for SGI.  I was able to share my obstacle with her and determined to her I would not be defeated by this obstacle and the discrimination I was experience. I would make the impossible possible in my life.  She told me to never give up and told me she would be chanting for my complete success.  What a benefit in my life!

I continued to chant and interview with the determination of a lion for kozen-rufu.  I knew in my heart I would win completely.  In all my years I have never been defeated by anything.  

Prayers are answered exactly when they are suppose to be and complete faith and continuous daimoku is the key to winning.  

My complete victory manifested today on August 15, 2012.  I start my new job on August 27, 2012.  I will have fantastic benefits, hours, and very positive work environment.  I will have the opportunity to take on underwriting responsibilities.  Here is another surprise I have always wanted to truly learn the underwriting aspect of the insurance world.  Another dream has come true.  I never once suffered financially during this entire experience.  

Please never give up, resolve to show actual proof, embrace your SGI family, enjoy and appreciate every obstacle and benefit alike in your life.  You are the Buddha and more powerful than you realize.  A very special thank you to my family, friends, and SGI family you are all simply the best!

Good Morning!

I hope you greet the day with a smile on your face and determination in your heart! 

When you win in the morning you win in life! 

I know some of you are not reading this in the morning, but I hope you take this to heart for your next morning!

I hope every morning - to the best of your ability - that you have a chanting goal! 

I chant every morning for an hour. Of course there are some exceptions. Yesterday I was out of the house by 5:30, so I only did gongyo, and chanted more at night. 

This is a practice for our entire lives. Each day we do the best that we can. 

And we need to be aware that every morning we are focusing the energy of our lives through our prayers  !

Sometimes I plan ahead for what I'll be chanting about. Sometimes I don't. Today I have an outside Health Fair that my students are attending. We have a table and they will be doing health education and screenings. And it looks like rain! So I chanted for this to be meaningful for them no matter what the weather. I chanted for two family members. 

And most of all I chanted to bring the power forth from within my life...to channel my energy for good and to make a difference with my life this very day. 

There's a Buddhist District Meeting tonight at my house! Rock on - I chanted for everyone who is here  tonight to have a breakthrough in their lives. 

I know you each have your own wonderful prayers. I do not share my prayers with you in order to tell you what to do. I share these prayers in order to inspire YOU to pray with all of your heart and all of your love and all of your passion!!!

Great day

Paul and I  had a fun day driving Ben back to college. We laughed and laughed. Even though I'm sad to have him gone again...I'm also happy. He is so excited about his year. He feels healthy and hopefully he will be able to run with the team. 

These clouds greeted us upon our arrival back in the Chicago area...

See what I mean? See how easily happiness can come again? 
Don't give up! Keep going! Keep chanting!

I haven't been getting many comments lately...is everyone on vacation? 

Have fun! Enjoy! 

Sometimes Even Buddhas are Sad

You know, even Buddhas have emotions. Buddhas are human beings awakened to the eternity of life, but they are HUMANS as well. 

This is an interesting time for me. I know it's not quite fall yet. The leaves aren't turning, but there is a certain slant to the sun, and today we drive Ben back to college. So it really feels like fall. Fall always reminds me of all the other falls I've ever had....all the times I would bring my boys to their first day of grade school and take pictures of them with their friends and their new teachers and cry all the way home at the sweetness of my life and the inevitable passage of time. If only they could stay in grade school for the rest of their lives, always saying "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

I was always such a happy Mom. I wasn't one of those Moms who are constantly on the phone or somewhere else, even when they are with their kids. Oh no. I savored every moment. I tried to memorize the precious time we had together. When we went to the park I would chase them and we would laugh and laugh and laugh. Ahhh those precious moments with those laughing little faces! 

So here I am, much older. My body is experiencing changes and I find myself sad some of the time. I'm missing someone I loved and who isn't in my life anymore, (I can relate to all of you who write me about this subject) I'm missing my Mom and going through a a time of poignancy and self-reflection. 
Yesterday I decided that I wasn't going to resist these feelings any more. I am not going to get mad at myself for feeling sad, like somehow I should be above sadness. How can I be above sadness? I am still a human! So I am re-embracing the Gosho quote I adored from my earliest days of practice:

"Suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy...and continue chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo no matter what happens." From Happiness in this Life by Nichiren Daishonin

And when I am sad and feel like crying, as long as I'm not at work (which is going very well), I might just let myself cry, and not feel like I'm somehow defeated. Tears can be sweet. They can be a release. I may as well enjoy them. As Daisaku Ikeda says, and I have to paraphrase (because I have to get going to drive Ben back and forth to Miami of Ohio in Oxford Ohio today with Paul)

"There is no darkness that has ever come to stay...there is no wind that keeps blowing forever". 

So I am in a blowing wind. And it will pass. And I continue to chant and to introduce others and feel immense joy when they have benefits. Someone I introduced a while ago just chanted for the first time with her partner and step daughter yesterday...all the seeds of my heartfelt efforts are springing up all over the planet. Great joy awaits me. And in this moment...I can just be. 

Sending you love and light and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Chanting for Yourself and OTHERS!

Happy Monday Morning! 

... another week to make a difference in your life and the lives of others by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Today I want to encourage you to chant for others. 

ESPECIALLY if you have many challenges in your own life - please chant for others. 

The Soka Gakkai is a network (a Family!) of people who are chanting for each other and sharing and spreading the lifeblood of faith. If you are not yet connected to the Soka Gakkai I recommend you call the center nearest you and ask them who practices in your area and meet your new friends. (You can find your local center by visiting sgi-usa.org, or doing a search on Soka Gakkai International).

Why do we chant for others? Well, because we ARE others. We are ourselves, but we are also part of all of life. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo exists in everything. Chanting for others builds our muscle of compassion and helps us to develop deeper relationships. Chanting for others is a cause for our lives, and a cause for other's lives. Together we advance in joy and friendship! 

In the essay "A Renaissance of Spirit Based on Friendship" from My Dear Friends in America, Daisaku Ikeda writes 

"Nichiren Daishonin says "JOY means delight shared by oneself and others.
Joy us not simply your personal egotistical happiness, nor is it making others happy at the expense of your own happiness. You and others delighting together, you and others becoming happy together ~ this is the mystic law and the wonderous thing about our realm of kosen-rufu.
...Each of you developing wisdom, making joyful progress with open and generous hearts and spreading waves of joy into society and the world ~ this is the Daishonin's Buddhism. 
Faith means infinite hope, and infinite hope resides in the SGI. So long as your faith is sincere, infinite glory, boundless good fortune and endless victory will unfold before you. You will never find yourself at a dead end." 

I'm about to sit down in front of my own Gohonzon (and how grateful I am that many of you are receiving yours - there IS a difference when you have your own Gohonzon, isn't there? Write and tell me about it and I will share it on the blog)
And I'm going to chant for my friend whose brother recently died, for another friend's 96 year old Mum who is in a Dublin hospital,  for all of the members and guests in my district and for all of YOU readers, whom I've not yet met, but love with all my heart. 

Whatever pain or challenges you are experiencing...try dedicating some daimoku to others and see how good it makes you feel! 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!
Happy Monday!

Thanks for sharing!

Look what a reader just wrote me!!!



ANOTHER great post, thanks -- just shared it on my FB! The 10 Worlds concept reminds me of Abraham Maslow's pyramid and how marvelous it is that Buddhism was waaay ahead of "modern" concepts, again! on Getting rid of fear...a study of the TEN WORLDS

Did you know you could go to the bottom of any post that you like on chantforhappiness.com and post it on Facebook? 

Thank you so much! You all ROCK!! 

Getting rid of fear...a study of the TEN WORLDS

A reader sent me an email asking how to get rid of fear, and how to stop being insulted by her friends.

I know many of you have probably overcome some of these things in your own life. Feel free to write me or post a comment and I will share your insights with the other readers

Here's my answer, based on raising our LIFE CONDITION and knowing about the ten worlds:

Ultimately, I think fear and being injured by what people say are all symptoms of the same thing - a low life condition.

What is the term LIFE CONDITION?

It all goes back to the concept of the ten worlds. Here are the ten world from the lowest to the highest:

The Ten Worlds are: 

the world of hell; 

the world of hungry spirits (also called hunger); 

the world of animals (animality); 

the world of asuras (anger); 

the world of human beings (humanity or tranquillity); 

the world of heavenly beings (heaven or rapture); 

the world of voice-hearers (learning); 

the world of cause-awakened ones (realization); 

the world of bodhisattvas; 

and the world of Buddhas (Buddhahood).

These worlds are worlds that each of us experiences every single day. 

Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism explains that each one of these worlds possesses each of the other ten worlds. 

Meaning....that the world of Hunger also possesses the world of Buddhahood. 

What does this mean? It means that there is an enlightened state of the world of Hunger...such as hunger for helping others. There is an enlightened state of Anger...such as righteous anger to make the world a better place. Take a look at these definitions with the thought in mind that YOU can raise your life condition to the highest state of Buddhahood. In fact, raising our life condition is the main reason we practice. When we are in the highest life condition nothing anyone says can bother us...in fact, those people are not even usually IN our lives. Our lives have become so strong and magnetic to good, that only people of high life conditions are around us. In a higher life condition we have NO FEAR. 

You can chant every single day to raise your life condition. This is a very powerful prayer. Chant to experience life as the BUDDHA YOU ARE!

Remember that the purpose of our practice is HUMAN REVOLUTION. That means changing our lives, fortifying our lives with the vibration of chanting nam Myoho Renge Kyo. When we chant we go up the life condition ladder to the world of Buddhahood. 

What is Buddhahood? 

It is living life with endless energy and vitality, where one greets each problem with appreciation and uses every challenge to deepen understanding and experience life with appreciation and compassion and a deep desire to help others. Buddhahood is a state of knowing your mission in life and advancing confidently along the chosen path of your dreams...having absolute faith in the power of your prayers, and a burning desire to use your life as an example so that you can inspire those around you to attain a state of absolute happiness along with you! In this state you have no FEAR! No one can INSULT you! You are a Buddha. We are in a constant state of revealing our Buddhahood!

Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Neither the pure land nor hell exists outside oneself; both lie only within one’s own heart. Awakened to this, one is called a Buddha; deluded about it, one is called an ordinary person."

What does this mean for us?  In one moment we may experience the misery characterized by the world of hell, in that same moment, through Buddhist practice, we can begin transforming our lives so that we can savor the deep, inexhaustible joy of the world of Buddhahood.

The World of Hell

Hell is a state of life in which one feels that living itself is suffering and that whatever one sees or encounters causes more suffering. In the world of hell we are controlled by destructive impulses. Violence and war are tangible expressions of the world of hell. It's a state where one is so unhappy that he doesn't care who he hurts. It is a world completely lacking in HOPE. When one begins to chant...and hope starts to dawn and one lift their life to a higher state. 

The World of Hunger

The world of hungry spirits, or hunger, is characterized by suffering over overwhelming unfulfilled desires. The world of hunger is a condition in which our mind and body burn with constant intense craving. Sound familiar? Each of us has a world we return to most frequently...a world where we "live". This is my world... constant unfulfilled desire and also a lack of hope. I am grateful to have been born into the world of HUNGER. If it weren't for this, I would not be practicing Buddhism! When I chant I raise myself out of this state. 

As I say over and over in this blog: desire in itself is neither good nor bad. Without a sense of hunger we would starve to death. Desires and wants lead us to self-improvement. In the world of hunger in hell, however, we are unable to use desires creatively. We become slaves to them and suffer as a result. When we raise our life condition we can experience the world of Buddhahood in Hunger and long for a world of happiness for others! 

The World of Animals (Animality)

From the SGI study guide of 2012:

The world of animals, or animality, is characterized by motivation based on immediate gain or loss rather than on reason or logic. Nichiren Daishonin says, “Foolishness is [the world] of animals” (“The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind,” WND-1, 358). When in the state of animality, one acts based on instinct or impulse, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil.

Nichiren also writes, “It is the nature of beasts to threaten the weak and fear the strong” (“Letter from Sado,” WND-1, 302). In the world of animality, people lack reason and conscience, seeing life as a struggle for survival in which they are willing to harm others to protect themselves. Unable to look beyond the immediate, they cannot plan for the future. Such a state of ignorance ultimately leads to suffering and self-destruction.

When one raises one's life condition the world of animality can also be elevated: animals can be wonderful beings, displaying loyalty and selflessness and exhilaration. Many animals live in a world of appreciation and love! 

The World of Asuras/Anger

I've always thought of this world as the world in which one HAS to be in control of everyone and everything. And because, of course, this is impossible, a person in the world of anger is always expressing anger at someone or somebody. I also see it as the world of blame. I find it very tedious to be with people in the world of anger. They have a hard time taking responsibility for anything. This world brings to mind an ex-friend of mine who could not drive two blocks without being angry at every other driver on the road and expressing extreme contempt for them. This is not the world I gravitate to. But many people live in this world! 

The study guide for 2012 says:

People in this world compare themselves to others constantly.

When they see themselves as superior to others, they become consumed with arrogance and contempt. If, on the other hand, they encounter a person who seems clearly their superior, they become obsequious and given over to flattery.

On the surface, those in this world may appear well-intentioned and civil, even humble. Inwardly, however, they harbor jealousy or resentment toward those they sense as better than them. This conflict between outward appearance and behavior and inner feelings and orientation makes those in the world of asuras prone to hypocrisy and an abiding sense of contention or predisposition toward conflict arising from self-centered ambition.

The World of Human Beings (or Humanity)

The world of human beings, or humanity, is a condition of composure and tranquillity. Nichiren Daishonin says, “Calmness is [the world] of human beings” (“The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind,” WND- 1, 358).

One aspect of the world of humanity is the quality of reason that enables us to distinguish right from wrong and to make decisions based on that distinction. In this condition, a person also has a fair degree of self-control.

To remain in this state of humanity requires effort. In a world rampant with negative influences, it is not easy to continue to live in a truly human manner. This is why we chant. This is an aspect of 'raising our life condition"  based on consistent effort to improve oneself. Moving up from the lower four of the Ten Worlds, the world of human beings is the first in which improving one’s condition becomes a possibility.

Furthermore, those in the world of humanity, while vulnerable to negative influences, are also capable of exerting themselves in Buddhist practice and advancing to the four noble worlds.

The World of Heavenly Beings (Heaven)

In Buddhist philosophy, the world of heavenly beings, or heaven, refers to a condition of life in which one experiences the joy of having one’s desires fulfilled. 

But the joy associated with the world of heaven is not lasting; it eventually weakens and disappears. The world of heaven, therefore, is not the condition of genuine happiness that Buddhism aims to achieve.

From the Six Paths to the Four Noble Paths

The six worlds discussed above, together referred to as the six paths, describe states of life easily influenced by external circumstances. Those who remain in them cannot enjoy true freedom or independence. We chant to raise our life condition to the higher worlds described below.

The aim of Buddhist practice is to transcend these six paths and build a self-determined happiness that is uncontrolled by the environment. The conditions of life a person develops through Buddhist practice are known as the four noble worlds, the worlds of voice-hearers (learning), cause-awakened ones (realization), bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

The World of Voice-Hearers and Cause-Awakened Ones - also known as the world of LEARNING

 People in these states are inquisitive, intellectual and creative. The world of learning is one where the learner is striving for understanding and acquiring the world of Budhahood. 

The World of Bodhisattvas

Bodhisattvas are beings who relentlessly exert themselves to gain the enlightenment of a Buddha for themselves and for others! Boddhisatvas realize that the state of Buddhahood is within them, and chant for the attainment of that state...and they long to share that state with others! Here one has compassion for others and feels loving kindness. 

The World of Buddhahood

YOU are a Buddha. You intellectually know this if you chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. The challenge of us ALL is to realize it with our lives, not with our minds. This is what I mean by chanting to elevate our LIFE CONDITION! The more we EXPERIENCE life as a BUDDHA, the happier we are, and the less likelihood there is that anyone or anything can sway us from our happiness. Here, HAPPINESS comes from within. It is the state of our lives regardless of our circumstances!  We are enlightened to the power of chanting the name of the Mystic Law! 

From the 2012 SGI study guide:

Nichiren Daishonin appeared in the Latter Day of the Law, the age in which Shakyamuni’s teachings had been predicted to fall into decline and become ineffective in leading people to enlightenment. To save all people in the Latter Day from suffering, Nichiren manifested the world of Buddhahood in his own life as proof that an ordinary human being can do so. Because he established the way by which all people can attain Buddha- hood, he is respected as the true Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.

The world of Buddhahood is a life condition rich in noble virtue and good fortune. It emerges when individuals awaken to the reality that the source and foundation of their very lives is the Mystic Law. A Buddha is someone who opens this state of life within and thus embodies unsurpassed compassion and wisdom. And, fueled by that compassion and wisdom, a Buddha works constantly to enable all people to manifest the same world of Buddhahood.

It is not easy to realize this state every day. This is why Nichiren Daishonin enshrined the Gohonzon for us all!  He did this to provide a means for all to bring forth Buddhahood in their own lives.

The world of Buddhahood, the state that Nichiren manifested, is the law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. When we believe in the Gohonzon (the power of our own lives) and  chant for our own happiness and that of others, we can tap the world of Buddhahood inherent within us and embody it in our lives.

The Lotus Sutra reveals that all people are Buddhas; we human beings can believe in that teaching precisely because our lives fundamentally possess the world of Buddhahood.

Based on Nichiren’s statement above, Nichikan, the great scholar of Nichiren Buddhism, writes, “A heart that strongly believes

Buddhist texts, including Nichiren’s writings, often liken the world of Buddhahood to a lion king. Like the lion king, those who have activated their Buddhahood neither fear nor are daunted by anything or anyone. It is a condition of courage, genuine peace, absolute happiness and enlightenment.

Chant to experience this and your fear will disappear. 

You can do it!