PowerPrayer to Transform Fear Into Power!

Now is our time! 
Now, if we succumb to the fear around us, 
if we are focused on our feelings of helplessness, 
if we give in to our reeling minds, 
we will truly suffer. 

It's so easy. I know it is. I know it is because I am a human Buddha just like you are...and I live in Florida, one of the COVID hotspots, while my son Aaron is in Arizona...the OTHER COVID hotspot! 

But even this virus is no match for the Buddha. 

I challenge all of us Buddhas, 
we who are chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 
must not give in to despair or fear. 
We must raise our Life Conditions 
Tap into our Buddha Nature ~  
By chanting for our LIFE CONDITIONS to RISE 
so we can be above the fear, 
above the noise, 
above all the NEWS! 
If we feel powerless right now, 
I understand it. 
Last week I had my moment of feeling powerless too. 

While I was chanting today (and yesterday!) 
I wrote a PowerPrayer for You: 

PowerPrayer Transform Fear into Power! 

Life! 
I hear you loud and clear! 
Now is my crucial moment. 
Now is our shared crucial moment! 
I join my voice with all my fellow Buddhas to 
DEMAND I rise above this fear. 

I AM THE BUDDHA. 
I ROAR. 
With every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
I change my karma 
I change my family's Karma
I change the karma of this world. 

Gohonzon, LIFE! 
Together we chant to alleviate this and every virus. 
We chant for infection rates to GO DOWN. 
We chant for our protection 
and the protection of all living things. 

My Daimoku is joined with all others right now
Resounding throughout the world.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! Roar! 

Life! With every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
I change fear to power
I change criticism to appreciation
I change cowering to action
I change fear to wisdom

With this renewed awareness of my much I ROCK, and How POWERFUL I am, I know that I am the Buddha. 
I feel my Buddha emerging 
more and more and more every day. 

I am determined that I will____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!

In love and light and determination!

Jamie 

Universal PowerPrayer for Great Benefit for All

Today is July 2nd, 2020 it is Five Years since Benjamin Lee Silver became one of my Shoten Zenjin. Over the years you have chanted with me and shared your lives with me. I am so grateful to each and every one of you. 

Sending my love to you

For today I publish the Universal PowerPrayer for your great benefit. 

I developed PowerPrayers to keep determinations in mind while chanting. I read them before chanting to help focus my thoughts and direct my prayers while chanting the name of the Mystic Law - Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is my adaptation of the universal PowerPrayer...the prayer for each person who is sitting in front of their Gohonzon to realize their dream of kosen rufu and happiness. 

Universal PowerPrayer for Happiness for ALL

Every Daimoku I chant

reaches every other person who is chanting

I deepen the power of my faith by 10,000x

so that all who are chanting can also deepen their faith, spread the word of this great teaching 

to those still suffering

become absolutely happy

and create a happy and peaceful world!

I chant that every single person who is chanting 

feels the full power 

sees the full power

experiences the full power

of this faith in their lives. 

I chant for all members to have faith

receive incredible 

benefits

and to know, within their DNA itself 

within every cell in their body

that this practice works!

I chant for all who are chanting. 

May my prayer increase the power of their prayer.
May everyone, and this entire planet see benefit!

Inspiring Victory of Dr. Aaron Michael Silver

Dr. Aaron Michael Silver, 

Chief Resident Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. 

One day, when he's not saving the world, Aaron will write his own story, but for now, as Aaron's proud Mom, I want to fill you in with my version! 

I've been practicing for 36 years. When I was pregnant with Aaron 30 years ago I did a million Daimoku for him. I chanted to impact his karma BEFORE he was physically born. I chanted for financial security, a beautiful home, the maturity to be a good mother, and for Aaron's karma to be changed BEFORE birth. I chanted for him to easily make friends, and to be happy, and to have a dream and pursue it. We read "On Attaining Buddhahood" to him in the womb. 

Aaron was amazing from the git-go...happy, engaged, and super active. He bounced off the walls and his father and I bounced right with him  ~ enjoying every moment of our high-energy child! He excelled at everything he did, from acting to baseball, to academics to running. He was elected to lead almost everything he did. He's a natural leader. 

He began chanting as soon as he could talk, and chanted along with me often as a child. His Eight-year-old experience was printed in the World Tribune. He brought his baseball team from the last place to the Championship through Daimoku. Through his wisdom, he took action to host his own extra practices for the team, and that was just what they needed!  

Together, we chanted for the BEST Schools for his life. He got his Omamori Gohonzon when he headed off to the University of Illinois as a PreMed major. In Loyola Medical School (his first choice school) he got his large Gohonzon.

During his first year of Medical School tragedy struck when his best friend, his brother Ben, began losing his mind to Schizophrenia. The next two and a half years were truly terrifying as we did everything, and chanted countless hours of Daimoku to help Ben stay alive. 

Five years ago this Thursday, July 2nd, Ben became eternal. Throughout this challenge, Aaron studied, worked hard, took on leadership in Medical School, and graduated Summa Cum Laud. He won the "Hardship" Award for extraordinary hardship during medical school, then headed out to Phoenix for Residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. 

Today, while serving as SGI YMD District Leader, he challenges himself to chant an hour a day. 

He is Chief Resident at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix where the rise of COVID is slamming his hospital. He is chanting that the staff does not get sick. Please join me in chanting for his staff! And in chanting for this virus to go away! I am so proud of this Buddha! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PowerPrayer for Going From Victim to Victor!

This PowerPrayer ~ Fresh Determination
has been inspired by the Gosho Study from the August of 2013 Living Buddhism "The Three Obstacles and Four Devils" written in November 1277 to the youngest Ikegami brother, Munenega, after his brother had been disowned by his father for his faith in Nichiren Buddhism. 
It is a writing I use to refresh my faith over and over. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

President Ikeda's lecture from the August 2013 

Living Buddhism on this Gosho includes these words: 

"Though we speak of the "three obstacles and four devils" appearing, no one wishes to have to face adversity. 
That is surely a natural human reaction. 
But Nichiren says that 
the appearance of the three obstacles and four devils 
is a source of JOY. 
How could that be? 
It doesn't seem possible. 
But it is, in fact, 
by overcoming the steep hills and inclines of obstacles 
we can forge our lives 
and ascend the summit of Buddhahood, 
where we can savor the sublime vista of 
eternity, happiness, true self and purity."

He goes on to say:

"We need to "own" them (our obstacles) as something we ourselves have summoned up...we are in charge, we are the protagonists...the struggle against the three obstacles and four devils is indeed a great joy."

President Ikeda goes on to say:
"As Nichiren Daishonin writes: "When a tiger roars, gales blow; when a dragon intones, clouds gather" (The Workings of Brahma and Shakra," WND-1, 799) When we adopt this attitude ~ "I summoned this storm!" ~ our hearts will be filled with the bright sense of hope and purpose." (All quotes from the 2013 August Living Buddhism, pages 21, 22) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~According to Daisaku Ikeda, we summon the exact set of obstacles we need to springboard our lives to the next level of practice and happiness. 
We will be better off for them.  
We summoned these storms. 

Realizing this takes our lives from Victim to Victory! This simple change in perspective brings incredible power to our Daimoku. When we are chanting we can address our lives and roar like the lions (Buddhas!) we are. What follows is a PowerPrayer I offer you to reclaim your life and move from Victim to Victor. As always, I offer you my writings from my heart, not as an official SGI representative, although I love the organization and encourage everyone to participate - if you are not yet a member please use this link to connect: sgi-usa.org 

PowerPrayer  ~ Fresh Determination

For Moving 

From Victim to VICTOR 

You may want to read this before chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and let the words and gently flow in and out of your mind while chanting. It's a focusing tool ~ that's what a PowerPrayer - A Fresh Determination...

by Jamie Lee Silver from Chantforhappiness.com. 

LIFE !! 
I get it! 
I SUMMONED THIS STORM and I can VANQUISH IT! 
I summoned this storm and I will WIN over it !
I am a Buddha - 
I feel Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout my whole body - 
in every cell. I will prove the power of the Gohonzon, the Power of my own life right here, right now! My own sufferings will turn into my happiness and I inspire others and create kosen-rufu through my own life. 

Shoten Zenjin (protective forces of the universe within all life) 
Back me up! 
Support this votary of the Lotus Sutra in these ways:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I vow to PROVE the POWER of the MYSTIC LAW 
through my own victories - 
so I can encourage everyone that 
the IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE!
I will NOW raise my life condition to a level I have never before experienced. 
I see through the eyes of the Buddha, 
I feel with the heart of the Buddha
I AM the Buddha! 
The universe exists within ME! 
I am CLAIMING power over my own life. 
No more complaining for me! 
No More "Woe is me!" 
NO! 
Starting today ~ with this Daimoku ~ 
I bring forth all the wisdom I need
                             to know what I need to do - 
All the courage I need ~ 
                             as I boldly take the right action 
All the perfect timing I need ~ 
                             to accomplish what I want
And the People and Resources I need ~ 
                             ALL appear right now! 
I am a powerful being waging a powerful war against the fundamental darkness inherent in all of life and I will WIN. 
Starting today 
I will win in:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more information about 
SGI Buddhism please go to SGI-USA.org

Write me your victories at Chantforhappiness@gmail.com!

PowerPrayer for Actual Proof Now!

From Daisaku Ikeda: 

"Though we may seem to be chanting alone, 
we are not. 
As we chant, 
untold billions of heavenly deities 
are facing the Gohonzon with us. 
In this way, 
the protective forces of the universe assemble en masse (altogether)
and work to safeguard each one of you, 
manifesting in your environment 
and the actions of the people near you, 
the actions of your friends and fellow members." 

~Daisaku Ikeda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the quote I was referring to at our last meeting. I LOVE this quote! 

PowerPrayer to SEE ACTUAL PROOF! 
While in front of the Gohonzon tell your life as you chant: 

LIFE show me this practice works. 
BUDDHAS get busy! I demand results now! 
Every nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chant makes a difference. 
With this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I am CHANGING my life now! WIth This Daimoku
With this Daimoku I am changing my karma. 
Now! Let me see results in _____________________
And reach this goal____________________________
and feel this way_____________________________
Gohonzon, blow me away with actual proof so that all around me will wan to know how I did it. 
And I can tell them Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
and invite them to a meeting!
Let me encounter the people who are searching for this practice, searching for happiness now! 

__________________________________________________


I am grateful to you my friends. Grateful for every single one of you. You touch my heart. You inspire me. And we are getting to know one another in person at our meetings. 
Every morning when I face the Gohonzon and chant, my first prayer is for the untold billions of deities within my life, body, and spirit to wake up and greet the untold billion deities on the Gohonzon.

And I chant for all who are seeking peace to find this blog, find this practice, and, if we are meant to work together, to find me through my website TapforHappiness.com. All for Kosen Rufu! I chant to have victory in my business and have my life inspire people that they can end their suffering and experience true joy. 

Just like any true professional in the SGI, I strive to make President Ikeda proud of me as his successor, by my professionalism, passion, and results.  

And knowing that untold billions of heavenly deities are with me as I chant my two hours every day. Well, it just boosts my spirit, my daimoku, my hope, and determination. I am the Buddha. And so are you! 

No matter what you are facing, Daimoku will get you through. Please remember that I can't give individual guidance via email. Please go to your local senior in faith for guidance. That is the beauty of the Soka Gakkai. 

Have a great weekend! 

10 tips for Chanting Joyfully for Longer Times !

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10 Tips for Chanting Joyfully 

for Longer Times:

From Chantforhappiness.com by Jamie Lee Silver - 

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 show actual proof right now! And to have my daimoku spread theoughout the whole world to bring health and eradicate this virus! I will 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. 
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. Here's a selection:  

"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." 

7. Invite others to chant with you, even though they may be far away. You can text when you begin and end. 

8. Have pen and paper handy. 
You'll want to write down those brilliant ideas that come into your mind while you're chanting. 

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.

Above all - Don't give up! You CAN change your problems into benefits. You ARE the Buddha! Collectively we are raising the vibration of the entire world. 

I'd love to hear from those of you who have connected to the SGI through my blog. And send me your experiences, and I may share it on this blog! 

I can be reached at chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

Power-Full Encouragement from Kate Randolph for Right Now!

The one and only Kate Randolph

Hello friends, 

Now is a good time to refresh ourselves with Kate's incredible spirit. Please enjoy her words and experience them as a fresh wave of determination toward your Happiness! 

From Kate: 

"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. 

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.

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." 

"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 (6 feet away!) 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 you will spark your happiness. Try to be sad with a huge grin. It doesn't work so well!

"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. 

There's no other person. 

How we are influencing the person next to us...it is our SMILE...beaming with joy...Joy!"

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." 

~Kate Randolph 

And, if we want to continue Kate's marvelous legacy, let's all be joyful right now! Beaming JOY from our fingertips!

Thank you Kate!