11 Keys to Chanting Joyfully for Longer Times (Tosos!) Please Share

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First a special thank you: 

Thank you to all my readers through all these years. 

Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey of changing your karma and becoming absolutely happy in this wonderful SGI organization. 

Thank you for letting me know when my posts have touched your hearts and inspired you to keep on chanting every day...and to push on for that last 5 minutes one more time! 

Thank you for understanding that I am a normal person, a Buddha just like you. I'm imperfect. I'm human. And I'm a Buddha, who long ago, in 2009 to be exact, decided that I was going to change my life-long karma of sadness and depression by chanting two hours a day. And in the first hour of that determination I decided to take the rest of the world along with me, and started this blog - because of my deep love of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and wanting to introduce this practice to others. 

And over and over I have mentioned that I do not represent our beloved SGI organization, and that I speak for myself alone. My goal is to show actual proof through my own life that anything is possible.

Thank you my friends!

Thank you for sharing the extreme poison I turned into medicine when my son got sick...and three years later, when he died at the age of 22, you sent me cards and letters and emails, and I felt your daimoku. You have been my companions on this journey...and I treasure you. 

There have been almost 2,000,000 views since the blog began, and almost 2,000 posts. 

Two of the most popular posts have been "My Dear Readers, About My Ben" from July 5th of 2015, my message to you when I was so concerned that you would become discouraged when my sweet Ben died. 
And the next most popular post was My experience of August 24th, 2016, when I shared Ben and my writings and the book I published called "Our Forever Ben, One Mom's letters to her son in spirit and his poetic replies." 

Chantforhappiness.com readers are all over the world...in the US, in India, in the UK, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, the Ukraine and Africa...and more. My goal is to continue sharing my determinations, hearing about yours, and forging the path for Kosen Rufu in this world. 

THANK YOU for telling me this blog introduced you to chanting and got you connected to the SGI. Thank you for telling me this blog got you RECONNECTED to the SGI. Thank you for your support and love all these years. My love and support goes right back at you! You know you can always reach me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com, but if I don't respond immediately please email me again. 

I thought I'd share a sweet note I got from a reader, posted today, on a blog post she was reading from three years ago: 

"Dear Jamie, at this point, your post is over three years old. As I sit here on my sofa, crying over my broken heart, I want you to know that your message is still being heard by people that need it. Thank you for helping me feel that I'm not alone."  
Comment for the post "Healing a Broken Heart"

Today, 3/14/17, I chanted 8 hours of daimoku...to dig deeper...to change more karma...to continue to use my life as a brilliant beacon of hope. Here is a reprint of one of my most popular posts. Please feel free to share it, but put my Chantforhappiness.com and Jamie Lee Silver on anything you share, okay? Thanks! 

11 Tips for Chanting Joyfully 

for Longer Times:

From Chantforhappiness.com by Jamie Lee Silver - 

When I first began chanting in 1985, a leader told me our lives and 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 a Daimoku Toso (chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for an hour or longer). 

Note: No one ever HAS to chant a long toso. Please don't think you are not a "good" Buddhist if you don't want to, or can't chant for long periods of time. There is no prescription for chanting. We just do our best! I do tosos when I have huge challenges, or to join the SGI when we are having big movements. The longest toso I ever chanted was 12 hours before the 2010 Rock the Era events for the youth division. Four youth division joined my district in the following month!

As always, these are my insights. I'm an enthusiastic SGI member, but I don't represent the SGI in an official capacity in this blog. 

1. Give Yourself Some Credit! Go YOU! 
Realize that what you are about to do...chanting longer than usual ~ doing a Daimoku Toso has profound significance for your life. Give yourself credit for this worthy goal. 

2. Write your goal or goals. 
(Some of these goals may occur to you naturally as you're chanting) You may want to write yourself a fresh determination, also called PowerPrayer and connect your desire 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 ~ Your Happiness is IMPORTANT! 

Example of a goal/determination/PowerPrayer:

"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. Remember YOU are the Buddha! 
Do not beg favors from a 'higher power." You are the higher power. Remember, the Gohonzon cannot get down off the wall and do the Buddha's work in the world. YOU are the Gohonzon; it is inside your life. The Gohonzon is a reflection of the highest life condition that exists within your own life. So when you are chanting CLAIM what is yours! Tell your life what you want. And know that all real change comes from within. 
Chant to do your own Human Revolution.
When we change, our environment changes. 
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 root of that karma and pull it out of your life. 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. Just chant to change it! 

5. Put Your Phone AWAY or turn it off. Yes OFF! 

6. Keep Your Favorite Buddhist 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" by Daisaku Ikeda 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. Take care of your body 
You may want to get up and stretch at the end of every hour. Keep fruit or a snack at hand for an hourly break. Put your electronics away. You are dedicating this time. It takes energy not to dilute it, and it is so important to stay focused! 

10. After you chant, write in your journal.

11. Welcome Obstacles!
Bear in mind, some obstacles might arise after your toso. And just say 
"Hello obstacles! I was expecting you!" 
When you take on the mission to change 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! 

I am chanting for you to accomplish your goals and shine with happiness. But your prayers are the most important! 

I'd love to hear from those of you who have connected to the SGI through my blog! And send me your experiences. Every once in a while I will share an experience on the blog

I can be reached at chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

Wake Up to Joy! From Kate Randolph ~ Please share!

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Chantforhappiness.com and JamieLeeSilver.com, thanks! 

News from Our Kate  

Kate recently found out she has a brain tumor...and she's chanting three hours a day. 

Kate's 40 year anniversary of practicing is this August. She has reached many of her personal goals, producing and staring in many plays, creating a sought after arts program within the Los Angeles County school district, and having a wonderful relationship with her husband Hal, (who is a brilliant teacher)  and daughter Sarah, who recently graduated from Soka University of America.  

Kate's life condition is sky high and she has this wisdom for you. 

Kate says: "NOW is the time to wake up to joy. Now, more than ever, SGI members need to summon joy, forget complaining about anything, and wear a radiant smile on our faces. She says our smiles must radiate so brightly that light comes out of our fingertips and we glow as beacons so people can learn of the mystic law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo from us, and be moved to happiness just by being in our presence.
 She says we must have joy to show the possibilities of life...JOY is a REQUIREMENT, not an afterthought, and it comes from our determination to summon it from within our lives and express it in our smiles, the pep in our step, and our lives themselves. We can do this! We can do this for ourselves, and by doing this we change the world." 

Kate echoed something I've said for years,  "Our smile is a cause, not an effect." we can't sit around waiting for joy to come into our lives. We must be joyful, and invite more. That's how it works! 

She said: "Joy's the leading edge. Wake up and be joyful, smile at the person next to you in bed, smile at the person next to you at the store, in the elevator, and at other drivers. BE Kosen rufu in action!" 

"It's gotta be real, but you can also fake it till you make it. Put that smile on your face and and you will spark your happiness. Try to be sad with a huge grin. It doesn't work so well!

Kate said "We have to go deeper into our own lives, and into the Buddha we are every day. We've gotta do this NOW. This is it. This is our time. We're ALIVE! whether we are 17 or 95. Grab the moment for all it's got and say "I am creating the deepest value that's ever been created. NOW. Right this moment. There's no other moment. here's no other person. How are we influencing the person next to us...it is our SMILE...beaming with joy...Joy!"

She said: "Stop complaining. NOW. It must be replaced, even if it's phony at first. It may feel phony but it will cause a shift inside your life.  And we have to keep going deeper and deeper into joy. There can't be a place at which we stop. we need constant movement...constantly going deeper." 

President Ikeda says:

"The relationships we have with people are a direct reflection of our inner state of life. To extend and deepen our human relationships is to expand our state of life."

Daisaku Ikeda, from Ikedaquotes.org, under Relationships

_________________________________________________

GO Buddha GO! PowerPrayer to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Rock Your World! Change Your Karma!

My view as I write this blog. What a benefit! 
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We chant for ourselves. 
We chant for others. 
We chant for this life and this world. 
We change our karma 
for the sake of changing the whole world's karma.  
We are the noble Bodhisattvas of the earth 
and Votaries of the Lotus Sutra.

We TELL our lives what we want - in our prayers - while chanting.  
We ARE Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

And....Sometimes it seems like it is taking FOREVER for a benefit to come or an obstacle to go away, doesn't it? Even though we KNOW the answer lies within us - inside our own karma, and in doing our human revolution, sometimes we just have to get mad at our own life and wake those Shoten Zenjin UP! (Shoten Zenjin = protective forces within all life)

In the February 2015 Living Buddhism Magazine
(published by the SGI-USA and available by calling 800-835-4558) one of my favorite Gosho passages appeared. In this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin has been persecuted by the government and is being taken away to Tatsunokuchi Beach to be beheaded. On the way, he sees a statue of Hachiman. 

Nichiren demands they stop at the statue. He looks at Hachiman and shouts: 

'Great Boddhisatva Hachiman, are you truly a god?...Now I, Nichiren, am the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in all of Japan, and am entirely without guilt...If I am executed tonight and go to the pure land of Eagle Peak, I will dare to report to Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, that the Sun Goddess and Great Boddhisatva Hachiman are the deities who have broken their oath to him. If you feel this will go hard with you, you had better do something about it right away!' (WND - 1, 766-67)

Nichiren yells at the Buddhist God and says "you better protect me RIGHT NOW because that is the pledge you made. If I die I will report you! Get to work!" Of course, after he yells at the statue, a huge orb comes out of the sky lighting up the faces of his would-be assassins, they all run scared, and he is saved from death. 

Nichiren's strong attitude when he addresses the statue shows us we can summon the forces within our life. We can all pray in front of our own Gohonzons with fury and with fire. 

PowerPrayer to MAKE IT HAPPEN!
These words represent some thoughts we can have in mind while chanting. Our minds will naturally fluctuate as we chant, and that is absolutely fine. I offer these PowerPrayers because they represent the moments I am most connected to my desire...and I offer them to help you. They are my unique contribution based on my Bodhisattva vow to use my life to inspire. 
By Jamie Lee Silver of ChantforHappiness.com

"Gohonzon! 
Shoten Zenjin! 
Life! 
SOME KIND OF WAY 
this________ HAS TO CHANGE NOW!!! 
My life has to move. 
I Don't know HOW to make it happen. 
And I don't have to know. 
I just know it HAS TO!!
Every Daimoku I chant is changing this karma now! 
It is time for me to see results in this area. 
NOW!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

We can all summon this fiery attitude at the crucial moment - we are ALL dignified votaries of the Lotus Sutra, we can all command the fundamental forces that are within our lives and represented on the Gohonzon.

When I first wrote this PowerPrayer last year, I was visiting my nephew in St. Petersburg Florida, certain that my life was unfolding JUST as it should. My beloved son Ben had died the summer before, and I was setting out to create my new life...mostly alone, but fortified by this practice and the power of my own life. Through chanting strongly, like THIS, I was able to happily move to this paradise. 
As I write this I am looking over the Gulf of Mexico, listening to the waves, and shortly I'll be swimming and walking on the beach. These prayers, this practice made it all happen. 

Last year I wrote this: "I am seeing the benefit come from the pain I've been through. Life is getting happier for me, and I have more to look forward to with each passing moment. I will have lots to share with you over the next coming months!" And it was true! By June 30th I was in St. Pete Beach! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

Look at the power of YOUR Life! 
You can have anything you wish. 
You have the power within YOU. 

Added bonus: Here's one way to explain the practice for others: 

What we Nichiren Buddhists do;
As practitioners of the Lotus Sutra, 
we chant the Mystic Law every single day. 
Intoning Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
(which means: I fuse my life with the Mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration) is a noble cause. 
It brings forth our greatest human potential, 
elevates our life condition, and the life condition and vibration of all of life. 
Our life undergoes a complete human revolution...and as our life changes...we change everything. We raise the vibration of the planet. 

When we are Disappointed - 3 Keys to Getting Back on Top

Surfers in Santa Cruz, California

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We all have disappointments from time to time. Sometimes we have expectations and we try very hard and BOOM - things just don't work out the way we want them to...and it can be really upsetting. 

Sometimes it feels like a wave is taking us under. But we have the greatest treasure. We know we are Buddhas. 

We are Buddhas who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. We have access to our deepest, most powerful selves (our Buddha Nature) by intoning these powerful words. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration (or Sutra)" activating this vibration changes our lives profoundly...even if we just experienced a set back.  

Daisaku Ikeda says: 

"Resolve to be the sun. 

This is the first thing you must do. 

As long as you are the sun, 

No matter what problem you may be facing now, 

The dawn will always break, 

Fine weather will always return, 

And spring will never fail to arrive." 

From Faith into Action, page 8

And when you have a disappointment there are three things important to keep in mind:

1. Don't give up. Really. DO NOT GIVE UP. Do not think: "I did not pass this exam, so there is no hope for me." or "If I didn't get that job, I won't be able to get any job." Please do not think that your life is not worth living. I promise. It IS. YOU are important. You are important. And life can turn on a dime. Tomorrow IS another day. It is. Reach out. Call a friend. Call a hotline. Do not give up my friend. 

2. Use this practice. It's yours! Chant. Even if it's hard. Even if you feel you're not really connecting. Even if you can only chant a short time. Do it. Morning and evening. Chant. Invite your friends to join you. It's okay to cry and chant. I've done that enough times! 

And tell people about the practice. This week I told every professional I talked to on the phone, and just about everyone I met. And read president Ikeda's guidance every day. 

3. Please do not beat yourself up. You are human. You are a Buddha, but you are also human. I like to look myself in the eye when I get down and tell myself some encouraging words. You can too. You can go to the mirror, look yourself in the eye and say "I love you. I have a lot to offer. I'm okay. I'm a BUDDHA! This will work out. I'm okay," or whatever message you like. When we look ourselves in the eye and speak positively to ourselves it makes a difference. Try it. Don't take my word for it. 

Daisaku Ikeda also says: 

"It is not a question of your environment, 

those around you, 

or what the organization or leaders may be like. 

To be swayed by such externals is pointless. 

It all comes down to one person: you. 

What matters is that you become a brilliant beacon, 

shining with joy and happiness, 

and live your life with confidence and courage. 

If you shine with radiant light, 

there can be no darkness in your life."

From Faith into Action, page 8

As always, I'm a fellow Buddha like you. I'm an enthusiastic SGI member, but I don't represent the SGI officially. I post this blog to encourage you through my own life. 

When It's Really Hard to Chant ~ Some Strategies

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Ok, we all know we need to chant every day - twice a day, to keep our life condition elevated and our motors powered up and moving. 

But what about the days when we sit down to chant and feel like we have a mountain of resistance in the way, and suddenly we have to pop up to do something...then we get distracted by Facebook (I promise this has never happened to me :) ) or we just can't sit still? 

This morning I knew I had the time...I knew I had the determination...and Ugh, it felt so hard. 

So I thought about all of you, and I wondered 

"How can I solve this today so I can tell the readers of Chantforhappiness.com something useful? How can I be an example?" 

So, I stood up and shook my hands out and danced around the room for awhile to get the energy flowing. I just let my hands shake, and breathed deeply to get the energy flowing. Then I made sure I had water and tea, and ... drumroll...I put the phone where I could not touch it, and I turned the ringer off. 

I opened my favorite quote book by Daisaku Ikeda and read: 

"What kinds of causes am I making right now?" "What actions am I taking?" The answers to these questions are what will determine our future ~ in this life and throughout the three existences. Herein lies the foundation of faith. True glory and victory in life lie in basing oneself on this fundamental principle. 

(10/25/96) From Faith Into Action page 89, by Daisaku Ikeda

Perfect!

Then I sat down in front of my altar, wrote out a fresh determination for the day, and YES, my hour of daimoku sailed by. Sometimes it's easier than we think. 

I hope that helps. 

All my best to you!

PowerPrayer (strong determination) for Getting a Job

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Hello friends! I am having a blast here in the Sunshine state. Everything I have ever chanted for is coming true! As I sit here looking over the Gulf of Mexico I can see a cruise ship heading north to New Orleans. When I use my binoculars I can see every light on the ship, and feel like I'm there, hearing the music, dancing at the disco, having a great dinner. 

I'm really on a roll. As you know, I'm now offering a course to the first 10 readers who are fast enough to take me up on my offer to learn about "Popular YOU! Make New Best Friends Anytime, Anywhere." And I'm having so much making it happen. Have you ever felt like you were in the exactly right place at the right time? That's how I feel. I am surrounded by people of like mind, and every day is more perfect than the next. I love helping people breakthrough and now I can do it as a profession. Yayyy! 

I'm sure all my chanting and focus on Daimoku is what brought this all about. I have been chanting to use all my best skills and talents in a way that really helps people, makes me feel fulfilled, brings me and others joy. And I had to decide what I wanted to talk to people about - and what could be more fun than talking to people about making friends? What a blast! 

So, if you're wondering what you want to do, or looking for a job, you might want to chant the way I have been chanting. Here's a PowerPrayer for Finding Fulfilling Work for you

PowerPrayer for Getting a Job 

read this before chanting to help focus your mind

by Jamie Lee Silver chantforhappiness.com

LIFE! 

Now is the time for me to be fully fulfilled at work!

Now is the time for me to reach deep down, change my karma, and make it happen. 

Every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chant is changing my job karma now! 

Now is the time I make kosen-rufu happen, by being my best self and fulfilling my mission in life to___________________________________________

(You fill in the blank)

(And if you don't know what you want to do - you might want to focus your thoughts this way):

Life! I KNOW I can have a fulfilling career! With each daimoku I chant, I'm getting clearer and clearer about what I want to do. I vow to show actual proof through my life and inspire others to chant.
That's what it's all about!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!  

Now, get out there and take some action! 

3 Ways to Celebrate YOU and Your Friendships on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is February 14th in America. Many people have a love/hate relationship with this holiday because it's traditionally when you receive a token of love from someone who loves you...
But what if you're not in a relationship? Or, worse yet, what if you have a significant other who doesn't "believe" in Valentine's day, calls it a "Hallmark Holiday" and refuses to participate. There can be many ways to be disappointed or sad when Valentine's Day comes along. 

Not for me. Not anymore! 

Several years ago I embarked on the greatest love of all...cultivating my love for myself from within my own life.

I truly believe as Louise Hay states, that loving ourselves is the greatest journey we can take, and all love that surrounds us stems from love of ourselves. 

So now, when Valentine's Day comes around I follow my own traditions: 

3 Ways 

to Have a 

Fabulous Valentine's Day!

1. Spread the love! 
Make Valentine's Day about SHOWING your love...not about waiting for someone to give it to you. I've already spent a few hours writing and addressing cards to those I love..girlfriends...family members...even new business friends. Every day this week I've given gifts and surprises to people...bringing them joy, and ME joy! If you don't have a lot of friends, this is the perfect time to reach out to new potential friends. Be bold! 

2. Reach Out!
Call some friends you haven't talked to in a while. I set a dinner date with a dear friend, and I've called some friends I haven't spoken to recently. 

3. Love YourSelf!
Show YourSelf some love! You are special! Express your love to yourself. What can you give yourSELF? I'm going to get a massage, and continue to express my love to myself and others. I now am walking regularly, and swimming at least 20 lengths of the pool every day, and it feels great! 
On Valentine's Day I'm connecting with beloved friends and have fun things planned to honor my life and my friends. I'll be giving away some Valentines, too. 

Make it fun. Valentine's Day is about love. It's up to all of us to bring love, to feel love, to build love. 
I'm sending love to YOU right now ~*