Chanting for Happiness...How to Begin

This picture is the sunrise today in Panama, taken by my childhood friend Axel Koch

This post is great for newcomers, and may have some fresh tips for those already practicing.

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!

Here you will learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

First of all make a list of what you really want in life. Take a new look at your desires and write them down.  Dream big. What do you really want? What do you want for yourself? What do you want for others? What do you want for the world? Make a list. There is no such thing as a “bad” desire as long as you wish no harm on others. Many Buddhists began chanting with desires that later turned into other desires. Don’t worry about it. Chant for what is really in your heart. Be true to yourself. 

I suggest having some sort of journal to write in. Writing in a journal helps you become aware of your progress and benefits.

Choose a place to chant comfortably. You’ll want to sit in a comfortable chair. Where would you feel most at ease chanting out loud? It is helpful to have something on the wall to focus on. It's helpful to rest your eyes on something slightly above eye level. It can be anything. When I first started chanting in my little two room apartment in San Francisco, I sat on the mattress on the floor and gazed up at the moon in a poster of Mono Lake. Choose something soothing to rest your eyes on. I find it helpful to have a table nearby for my tea, and other things I like to have close when I chant. You may want to put a little table up as an altar, but you don’t need that to begin. 

Write the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo on a piece of paper (or use the card enclosed in this book). The words are pronounced as follows: 

Nahm, rhymes with Mom, 

meeyohoh, with three long vowels, 

rain gay, 

key oh. 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Nahm Meeyohoh Rain Gay Key Oh

Hold your hands with the palms facing in and touching each other in front of your heart. Sit with your back as straight as possible and say the words over and over and over again. 

You do not have to concentrate about what is in your mind at first. Just say the words. Breathe whenever you have to for as long as you like. See if you can chant for a few minutes, then a few minutes more. Chant for as long as you can!  

The rhythm should sound like a train moving, or horses running. There should be some energy to it. You can chant as fast or as slow as you wish. Speed of chanting is up to you. 

If you want to hear how it sounds you can go to the top left corner of this blog and chant with me. I begin slowly and speed up with more energy. 

See how it makes you feel. Can you chant for a little longer? Maybe even a little longer than that. Can you get to the point where you don’t have to think about the words, but can actually think about what you want? It may take a little time. Naturally you will begin to chant for what you want. You’ll see. 

When you are finished chanting you can write in your journal.

Start by writing an assessment of your life right now. What’s going well, what you’d like to improve on. Then write how you felt before chanting and after chanting. In your journal set a goal for how much you want to chant every day.  When I started, I could only chant five minutes a day in the morning and five minutes in the evening. I had a timer next to me and I’m sure there were times I stopped before I’d even reached five minutes! You will build up momentum! Commit to chant twice a day every day. Keep your goals in mind and you’ll remember your reasons for chanting! 

These words and this vibration go deep into the heart of your life itself. They summon forth your highest wisdom, vitality and sense of purpose. They also uproot the karma that is making you suffer, and give you the opportunity to change this karma forever. You will still have challenges and problems in life when you chant...but eventually you will see them as the opportunities they are. Problems are the FUEL you need to catapult your life into a life of happiness and joy. You have begun a journey to uncover the true happiness that exists in your shining Buddha life. Congratulations!
Also - make sure to search on Soka Gakkai followed by whatever country you live in. This site will help you to connect with people who will be happy to help you learn to chant, overcome your problems, and reveal your brilliant, wonderful self!  Fellow Soka Gakka members love to help each other. 
and go to IKEDAQUOTES.org to read Daisaku Ikeda's words. He is lighting the way for us all...and for YOU!

A Really Powerful Power Prayer

Last week I was feeling like I needed a boost from an old friend, Louise Hay. Have any of you read her wonderful books? Her masterpiece is a book called "You Can Heal Your Life." 

I picked it up and opened it to a random page and found her power prayer to affirm to your life 

"I release my resistance to change. 
I am willing to release my resistance to change." 

Louise Hay recommends saying that phrase out loud every morning while looking at yourself in the mirror. I took her advice. I said those words while looking at myself in the real mirror, then I said those words while looking into the mirror of my life ~ the Gohonzon. 

I chanted in earnest. I am READY! 

Immediately two major changes took place. Major changes. And I am STILL chanting every day to release my resistance to change, and everything is flowing beautifully. I really AM ready and powerful enough to change. This is a really powerful prayer! 

And the changes in my life, my dietary overhall and being laid off from my job are going to prove to be HUGE benefits in my life. 

I am making changes in my diet and focusing on what I CAN eat, not what I CAN'T. I have several smart and wonderfrul friends who have made these changes to their diets and feel healthy and vibrant and energized. They are guiding me along the way. Julia made a long list of foods from Trader Joe's for me. Thank you Julia! I already feel better physically. 

And I am SO optimistic about my present and my future in all ways. 

I will keep you posted, and once again I just want to let you know that when you chant every morning and evening and focus on the happiness of others there is no room to be sad. I have not had one moment of regret or sadness over having this job transition and I am protected in all ways. I chant in gratitude every moment and am more available than ever to help others. I continue to chant for all my fellow co-workers. I chant for them to have hope and happiness rising in their lives too. 

Please realize that your life is limitless and chant to bring forth ALL your power. DO not ask for favors when you chant. you are not asking anyone or anything to grant your wishes. No. You are drawing forth your own power. You can tell your life what you want. 

Every day I read President Ikeda's words in the World Tribune and Living Buddhism. I know he is speaking to me, just as he is speaking to you. I chant to have the same prayer for world peace as he does...and for my prayer to be as expansive as his...and for the power of my prayer to increase by 10,000 times. Your life is limitless. Prove it through your own determination and share your victories with me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Send pictures too! 

Chanting for Happiness for all!

Over the past few days I have received many messages from you.

Thank you~

We are all connected because we read this blog together. We are all connected because we access the power in our own lives by reciting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (the name of the rhythm of life itself and live our lives as Votaries of the Lotus Sutra.

Please join me in chanting for the Happiness and Victory of all who read this blog, of all who practice, and for the happiness of everyone in the world.

I look forward to sharing all your victories and pictures on this blog. Please send them to me! 

Last night's District Meeting was so inspiring. We are all joined together in love, all of us pioneering member of this great movement, proving the power of this practice with our lives. Young and old, rich and poor, well and sick, we are forging brilliantly ahead and lighting the way for everyone we touch. I hope you are going to your SGI meetings, being inspired and bringing your own light of hope to brighten the paths of your fellow travelers. 

President Ikeda's Message for November 18th, 2012

(Please feel free to forward to your fellow members. Just type chantforhappiness.com in the body of an email message and they will get this post)

SGI President Ikeda’s Message for Soka Gakkai Foundation Day, November 18, 2012

I would like to offer my congratulations to all my beloved SGI members around the world on the occasion of their festive gatherings celebrating the 82nd anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding. My wife and I here in Tokyo are thinking of you, envisioning your bright, smiling faces.

Thanks to your dedicated efforts during 2012—the Year of Developing a Youthful SGI—our organization has achieved even greater growth, entering an unprecedented age of kosen-rufu where capable young Bodhisattvas of the Earth are emerging in ever-increasing numbers all across the globe.

With the announcement of our theme for next year—the Year of Victory for a Youthful SGI—our SGI organizations everywhere are advancing powerfully toward 2013. The coming year will mark many significant milestones, including the 760th anniversary of the establishment of Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching (in 1253), the 85th anniversary of first and second Soka Gakkai presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda embracing faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (in 1928), as well as the 70-year anniversary of their arrest for refusing to compromise their beliefs (in 1943). Next year will also bring the long-awaited completion of our new Soka Gakkai Headquarters, currently under construction.

With a renewed pledge to repay our gratitude to our mentors, let’s strive wholeheartedly to show actual proof of our Buddhist practice by further developing our movement and achieving victory in all our endeavors, thereby solidly securing the foundations for a new eternally youthful SGI.

In September 1951, two months after the establishment of the young men’s division and young women’s division in Japan, Mr. Toda issued his “Guidelines for Youth,” which opens with the words, “A new age will be created by the passion and power of youth.”1 It was a call to all members, especially the youth, to achieve dynamic progress and development toward a new age.

Youth are our greatest hope and treasure. This is the time for youthful Bodhisattvas of the Earth, awakened to their mission, to stand up, one after another, and broadly expand our movement. In the same spirit as my mentor, I now call out to you with the highest hopes: Bring forth the youthful power of the SGI to illuminate the hearts and minds of people around the world and usher in a new age that shines with infinite brilliance!

1 Translated from Japanese. Josei Toda, Toda Josei Zenshu (The Collected Writings of Josei Toda), (Tokyo: Seikyo Shimbunsha, 1981), vol. 1, p. 58.The great vow of Nichiren Daishonin is kosen-rufu—in other words, world peace. The Daishonin writes: “If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquillity throughout the four quarters of the land, should you not?” (WND-1, 24). He also says: “From the time that I was born until today, I have never known a moment’s ease; I have thought only of propagating the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo]” (WND-1, 965).

Mr. Makiguchi, Mr. Toda, and I, and all of the dedicated members who have struggled alongside us past and present, including each one of you, have practiced in exact accord with this spirit of the Daishonin, blazing trails where none before existed and building the grand stage for kosen-rufu. Please never forget this indisputable fact.

When we consider that the great path of worldwide kosen-rufu will continue infinitely into the distant future, this present time is the pioneering age of our movement. As such, each and every one of you without exception has an important role to play as a model for our members of future generations.

I hope you will all create outstanding records of triumphant achievement in your respective places of mission. Always win where you are right now, not some place or some time in the future. Achieving one solid victory after another in your life as good citizens of your communities is the sure and certain way to advance kosen-rufu, carry out your human revolution, and attain enlightenment in this lifetime.

Let’s make the sun of time without beginning rise brilliantly in our lives each day, sending forth and spreading the great light of hope to illuminate our communities, societies, and the future. United in the spirit of “many in body, one in mind,” let’s show people the world over the nobility and strength of those who stand up to transform the karma of humankind.

Let us now stride forth with joy and energy toward 2013—the Year of Victory for a Youthful SGI—and further toward the triumphant centennial of the Soka Gakkai in 2030. Let us do so with vibrant daimoku and boundless courage, with youthful hearts and youthful vitality, and in the most wonderful harmony.

My wife and I continue to chant earnestly that all of you, our most dear and precious members around the world, will lead long, healthy, fulfilling lives and that your families will prosper and triumph through all.

Best wishes!

Daisaku Ikeda November 18, 2012

Power Prayers Create Happiness for ALL!

Today is going to be a great day! I'm about to start the day chanting for the success of our SGI District meeting here tonight. And I'll spend my day finishing up business and doing my best to encourage others during the last days on my job. I'm full of appreciation, and want to share this determination/vision with you.

On Sunday Morning, right as I was sitting down to chant I had this prayer and determination flow through me to you and the world. 
As I was chanting I could see the eyes of all the people who are suffering, all the longing, all the need for hope. I was chanting into their eyes with this prayer: 

I am chanting to

Be in touch with you, my readers, my members, my friends and family and all I touch directly or touch through my blog or writings. 

I chant to say exactly what you need to hear  - in a way that inspires you to discover the great power in your life, experience unsurpassed happiness, and share your happiness with others through your own words and through forwarding the chantforhappiness.com url to others all over the world. (There is a translation button in the top left corner of this blog - it can be translated with one click into any language) From these actions more and more people release their sufferings, change their lives and inspire those around them. 

I value a world where no human ever has the compulsion, wish or action to hurt another soul...where we all aim for everyone's happiness  ~  because a sincere wish for the happiness of ALL is what is in everyone's hearts. 

Happiness for all! 

I aim to be a living example that happiness is possible and that life can be fun and wonderful and exciting! I live to show that a wish for happiness for all is a wish for happiness itself, expressed in everything, through everything and with everything. 

Through all of our chanting, actions and words, human impulses change.

We are all joined together ~
Me and all my fellow travelers, 
be they Buddhists who chant, 
people who pray, 
or people who just wish for a better future - 
where there is no suffering, 
no hunger, 
no physical pain inflicted on any one or any thing of any kind. 

What would a world like this look like? 

The Heart of Compassion rising in the land!

Kosen Rufu. 

This goal is possible through each of us becoming happy. This is Human Revolution. When we each have the courage, the conviction, and take the action through chanting to purify our lives and to do our own human revolution we are changing life for all. It is the law of the universe. When we each change inside...we change EVERYTHING.

This is the reason I am living in this world. 

Today we have a really exciting Buddhist meeting here at my apartment. We will be "full to the rafters". Many members who haven't been able to attend in a while will be here. People are coming to tell their stories of Victory. All will be inspired. 

I am studying the World Tribune and President Ikeda's words every day. This month's Gosho is so perfect "A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering." It has always been one of my favorites. 

President Ikeda writes: "People who have polished their lives through practicing Nichiren Buddhism come to brim with a rich and abundant power, which enables them to apprehend reality just as it is, bring forth wisdom and creativity, surmount difficulties, and savor good fortune and benefit."

YES! 

Facing Life Without Fear and with FORTUNE and gratitude

O, I have so much to write today. I could write to you all day. Maybe I will. For now, I will post this for you. 

Yes, I was, in fact, laid off yesterday. But I was so filled with power-full Daimoku and that I was actually able to continue encouraging others along the way. 
Because of this practice of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and bringing forth the power of the entire universe in my life ~ I have so much fortune in my life. 

What is Fortune? 

Fortune is what you build in your life by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo day in and day out. Money can't buy fortune, but fortune is essential to happiness. Fortune is being able to be laid off and greeting it with a smile. It is knowing that I am protected in every possible way. I will not suffer financially, I will still have insurance, I will not lack for anything. I have the resources and the connections to take being laid off and turn it into a sparkling experience that will inspire you and everyone around me. I feel as if I have been launched on a big adventure...not a huge tragedy. Fortune in the state of mind to not be discouraged sad or afraid. 
Fortune is what money can't buy, but Daimoku (chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) brings! 

Yesterday morning I went into my place of work knowing 900 people were going to be laid off all across the country. I had a feeling my position would be one of them...
I distributed pictures I'd taken of our students out in the field practicing their health care work, and I put some on the bulletin board.
I saw my manager, the Campus President, in the hall and she said "Got a second?" 

And I knew. 

We went into her office and she told me everyone who does what I do has had their job eliminated and I just laughed and said "Thank goodness I chanted three hours yesterday and an hour this morning!". She knows about my Buddhist practice, and has a statue of the Buddha on her desk. She is such a lovely woman. I have loved working for her. I spent the rest of the time asking some questions, finding out about my generous severance package, and expressing gratitude about how much I've enjoyed working for her and how I will continue to be chanting for her and everyone in the company and at the campus. She has such a beautiful heart and she has put everything into making this campus a success. She told me she was talking to her husband this morning and reflecting about the people she had to let go today. She said she knew I was going to end up encouraging her, not draining her, when she laid me off. Of course! I am a Buddha! I give life, I don't take it. And I do it from the heart, it just flows from me. It is great joy for me to speak words that soothe the soul of others, and infuse joy and hopefulness. 

When I got back to my desk there was an email reminding me that that this day, this exact day, 11/12, is the anniversary of the day my sweet Mommy died in 2009. For those of you who have been reading the blog since then you'll remember. Others can go back and read the postings about this time if you would like. I chanted her home, we all chanted her home, and we held a life celebration that inspired every one. My sweet Mommy was a loving, loving wonderful soul. Somehow the fact that I was laid off on this day encourages me even more. It is like she is saying "Go Jamie go! Don't worry about a thing! This lay off will be a wonderful opening for your life. Wonderful things await you!" 

And then Julia my dear friend, and Morag my new friend through this blog in the UK, sent me the Gosho quote for today from the Daily Wisdom gosho quotes book. Check it out.

This letter (Gosho) was written to Shijo Kingo from Daisaku Ikeda. You know, Nichiren Daishonin was born in 1222 in Japan, right? So that was Samurai times. Shijo Kingo is the modern day equivalent of today's person living in the world and practicing Buddhism. He was in service to his lord Ueno. From his lord he had his lands, his job, his livelihood.  At one point Lord Ueno told Shijo Kingo he had to stop practicing Buddhism, and Nichiren Daishonin sent many encouraging letters to Kingo. Kingo did not stop practicing, and in the end, he was able to save his lord's life and be totally victorious in all ways. 

From the Gosho (honorific writing by Nichiren Daishonin)
A Warning Against Begrudging One's Fief
Written July 1277

"Even if your fief (lands, goods) should be confiscated or you yourself driven out, 
you must think that it is due to the workings of the ten demon daughters, 
and wholeheartedly entrust yourself to them. 

Had I not been exiled, but remained in Kamakura, I would certainly have been killed in the battle. In like manner, since remaining in your lord's service will likely be to your detriment, this may be the design of Shakyamuni Buddha."

The meaning is very clear. And I do feel so fortunate. I will be chanting up a storm. On Sunday, before I chanted for three hours, a fresh new determination for the happiness of all beings flowed through my heart and pen onto paper. I will share it with you all. And as I was chanting I felt like I was looking into the eyes of every being that is suffering in every way and vowing to change our world...change the source of suffering itself...change the urge to inflict pain on anyone and purge this planet of unhappiness. That is Kosen Rufu. That is what is in my heart. We can all accomplish this through doing our own human revolution and becoming happy ourselves. 

If this post of this blog moves you please share it with others. You can post it on facebook using the buttons below, or you can send emails with the url chantforhappiness.com in the body of the email. 

It is a beautiful, cold and sunny day here in the Chicago area. I am chanting for you to be victorious and overflowing with happiness. I am chanting for you to be the kind of person who is so happy, that others naturally want to know what is the source of your enthusiasm, your hopefulness, your smile! And then you can tell them they have the same source, and that by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo they can tap into it to! And this blog and the SGI, Soka Gakkai, and their own determination can help them be happy too. 

Hello Obstacles!

I post the flower here as a symbol of the unfolding of Buddhahood within all of our lives. When we chant consistently our lives unfold peacefully and beautifully and happily. I am so grateful for receiving the gift of these flowers...they are beautiful and strong and sending me their own kind of encouragement right now. 

On "Obstacles":

What do Buddhists mean when they use the word "obstacles"? We mean the same thing other people say when they use the word "problems". And we use this word for a reason. 

If you are a true practicing Buddhist you have no problems. Problems are stagnant things that hang around forever. Problems are something people learn to live with and accept. Problems tend to linger...when people feel powerless to change them. 

But "obstacles" are totally different.

Obstacles come to strengthen our lives and make us happier. 

As practicing Buddhists we KNOW our lives are on a positive trajectory. We KNOW that if we persevere in our practice, and continue studying, helping others learn to chant, that all our obstacles will clear away. 

Obstacles are the logs on the fire that serve to STRENGTHEN our lives! We burn them with our fierce Daimoku. How can we be afraid of them? We should actually be grateful for them. I remember the first time a leader suggested that I have gratitude for my obstacle. I had to chant about her suggestion. I had to chant myself into a state of appreciation for my obstacle. Of course that helped to clear it away. 

At this moment I am facing a huge obstacle. Woohoo! That means a huge benefit is right around the corner. Isn't it wonderful to live life with this attitude? I share my life with you so you can claim victory for yourself in the face of obstacles. 

Instead of looking at the challenges in your life as "problems" please take another view. Realize that obstacles are there for your own development and USE your practice to knock them down one after another. And you will emerge with a strong and undaunted life force that will inspire others and bring you the kind of happiness you truly want...the kind of happiness that comes from within. 

Say to your life: 


Hello Obstacle and Hello Benefit.


They are one and the same.
Especially if you have the right attitude and a strong practice.
We practice daily so that when a big obstacle hits us we are strong, strong, strong.

I had a friend in Japan who had chanted for more than 40 years.

He said "When I get a big problem I am so happy! I know that there will be a big benefit from this problem!"

And he really has the right idea.

Today, Monday morning, I am facing some meetings which will determine my future at the company where I work. All the employees are facing uncertainty today. I wrote a few days ago that layoffs and closings have been announced, but no specifics have come out so far. No Problem! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

I am so grateful I chanted for three hours on Sunday. I am not scared, and I will keep smiling. I will encourage my fellow co-workers as much as I can. I was chanting for their happiness...and for their peace of mind. I am a walking Buddha in the world, just like all of us Soka Gakkai members. Everywhere I go I represent Daisaku Ikeda. My goal is to make him proud and do the right thing at all times. Especially in times of great change! My goal is also to encourage people everywhere with every fibre of my being. 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!