Looking for Members in Nicaragua

If you are practicing in Nicaragua (or know someone practicing there) can you send me an email at chantforhappiness@gmail.com? We're looking to connect someone there. Thanks 

The Heart of The Lotus Sutra by Daisaku Ikeda

I am reading this new book published by the SGI and written by Daisaku Ikeda. Have you ever read a book that was so good you just want to highlight every single passage? The Heart of the Lotus Sutra explores our beloved Gongyo passages line by line in a way that is making them jump out at me in a new way...and I am gaining a new understanding and appreciation of the Lotus Sutra itself. 
With each sentence I feel like Daisaku Ikeda, Josei Toda, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Nichiren Daishonin are speaking directly to me...and to all of us. This book can be purchased through the SGI-USA.org portal on the right, and possibly at your local SGI Center. 

I have been thinking about the best way to help you gain an understanding along with me, but I really feel the best way would be for you to get the book, if possible, and read it along with me ~ sharing your thoughts and observations. 

Here are just a few of the ideas I'd like to share with you:

According to Daisaku Ikeda this book arose from Josei Toda's lectures on the Lotus Sutra. 
"These lectures arose from the vast state of life of President Toda, who had awakened to the essence of Buddhism while in prison...
..."President Toda began each series of lectures by emphasizing that the Lotus Sutra is expressed differently according to the age..."
"What do the different expressions of the manifold Lotus Sutra have in common? Ultimately, it is the teaching that everyone equally has the potential to attain Buddhahood...Nichiren Daishonin revealed the ultimate truth of the Lotus Sutra as nam-myoho-renge-kyo, enabling all human beings of the Latter Day to attain Buddhahood."

He also says that Toda made this bold declaration: 

"I want to banish the word 'misery' from this world and rid the world of poverty and sickness." and goes on to state: "The passionate cry of the spirit of my mentor, who stood up alone after the war (WWII), still resounds in my ears. This cry of the spirit is none other than the heart of the Lotus Sutra." 

President Ikeda addresses the question that often comes up in Buddhist meetings. What kind of benefit will I get by reciting words I don't understand? He writes:

"I imagine some may wonder how reciting sutra passages you cannot understand could bring about any benefit. Let me reassure you that there is definitely benefit from carrying out this practice. 
The Daishonin writes:

A baby does not know the difference between water and fire, and cannot distinguish medicine from poison. But when the baby sucks milk, its life is nourished and sustained. Although one may not be versed (in the various sutras)...if one listens to even one character of the Lotus Sutra, one cannot fail to attain Buddhahood. (WND-1, 513)"

As we are "chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we are speaking in the language of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Even though you may not understand what you are saying, your voice definitely reaches the Gohonzon, all Buddhist deities, and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas over the three existences (past, present and future ~JS) and in the ten directions. In response, the entire universe bathes you in the light of good fortune.
At the same time, of course, if you study the sutra with this practice as your basis and with a seeking spirit, you can as a matter of course deepen your confidence and strengthen your faith."

In a later passage, Daisaku Ikeda states:

"Nichiren's intent is for each person to shine as a celebrity of the Mystic law in their community and in society at large. By making dedicated efforts in faith, we are certain to develop such a reputation." 

There is so much more I'd like to write, but it is time to start my day. I have been enjoying every moment of my life. I love my new job. I love the people I work with. I am enjoying the new man in my life. Yesterday we went to the boat show in Chicago and I am allowing myself to believe that there will be wonderful days of Sunshine and boating in my future. Boating is one of those things I have always wanted to spend more time doing. It's another example of "Making the impossible possible!" Today I am going to a concert celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, and having my sons and some friends over to watch the 49er/Seattle Seahawks football game. (My son Aaron is a diehard fan of the 49ers...and he was born in San Francisco after all!) Ben is doing great. He's enjoying his new job and looking forward to some college courses coming up in a few weeks. My fortune is overflowing and I continually pray the same for you. 

Guest Blog for a Happy Marriage!

Here is a guest blog from a reader sharing her new realization and fresh determination to create a happy marriage: 

"I Just read your reply to 'Broken Heart' and had a little ponder to myself.  

When I first started practising, I was incandescent and could not understand why the whole world was not chanting.  My zealousness scared my husband and we had some major clashes and at one point he threatened to leave me.  I kept chanting, getting guidance, chanting for him and myself. At the point he threatened to leave, my practice was strong enough that I could say quite calmly ' you must do what makes you happy, if that does t not include me we can come to a fair arrangement over the business and the boys, but I will not give up this practice.' I think it shocked him how strong I had become, I did not fear being alone. (broke yes, but not alone). 

   

Six years passed and the Gohonzon is enshrined in the heart of our home, my husband sits at the computer while I 'drone'.  Things settled down and I am so grateful!  This week we had our first clash in ages; it started as a business/money row but once again he turned angry at my practice. (2 meetings in one week). Well, I muttered to myself for the day, went over and over the argument in my head with better more crushing responses, leading to my triumph....we had a polite and silent night, then the next day I chanted while driving and I had a light bulb moment, an epiphany. 

I wasn't practicing, I was cruising! 

I had stopped chanting for his happiness!  

I immediately turned off all my slandering nit picky criticisms of his character and started a list of all the great things that he is and when I got home I wrote them down and formed a prayer. I chanted for my Buddha nature to reach out and recognize his.  I really want a partner in faith, I really want him to chant, and most of all I realized, I want him to be happy. 

His purpose in my life is to to challenge my faith to make it stronger, I just needed reminding. 

After all, if I hadn't been so unhappy with my life and him, I would not have gone to the library and found 'The Buddha in your  Mirror.' in the first place...he brought me to the practice really! 

I mentioned this at the meeting last night and said I am chanting to reduce my fight/flight/defensive response to my husband's criticism of the practice.  The study was "Reply to Yasaburo", where Nichiren is giving pointers on how to conduct oneself in debate, and I think the key is to be better prepared with study. And in my case maybe some stock answers.  It's not as if my husband is a great orator; his standard reply to any religious belief is 'it's all bollocks' which is hardly a well thought out argument, not based on any experience and he dismisses all my proofs;  so I will be chanting to find the angle that hooks him, the right words to make him pause.  

Wouldn't it be great if he took the 'Amos challenge'!  (And took on practicing just to prove I am wasting my time. That's how Amos began chanting, and he's still chanting and inspiring people more than 40 years later) 

My husband is such a strong, energetic determined man.  I remember at the beginning I set myself a target of 10 years to get him to chant with me.  I better re-determine that and get a move on!

Anyway glad to get that off my chest, I feel I must be making some small progress for kosen rufu and my practice for this to happen this week.  

With love and respect,        

a reader of chantforhappiness.com"

Healing a Broken Heart

I received a comment from a woman with a broken heart. She's been chanting for five months and the man that she was in love with left her. I wish to address her here:

Dear Broken Hearted, 
Please do not give up. I can truly understand. The reason I began this blog was my broken heart. I was longing for a man who went away. Every morning I would wake up with his face in my mind...and I felt a constant physical ache in my belly....constant...real pain. It was hard to breathe sometimes. I felt like I was living in a nightmare...in the world of hunger. I could not get him out of my mind. 
Because of the suffering I went through then...and my fierce determination to change my life from the INSIDE so that I would never ever experience this intense pain again...this blog was born, and so was my incredibly beautiful life that I have now. 
The broken heart spurred me to chant 2 hours a day and sit in front of the Gohonzon chanting from the bottom of my soul to CHANGE MY KARMA FOREVER....to CHANGE WHATEVER WAS IN MY LIFE THAT ATTRACTED THIS HEARTACHE....to tear the ROOT of my suffering where men were concerned OUT of my life, AND to LOVE MYSELF SO MUCH....and most of all to USE my victory to prove the power of the Gohonzon (my own life), inspire others to rise from their own suffering and that this kind of pain would go away forever. Forever. 

I chanted to raise my life condition because I was in the world of hunger, or the world of hungry spirits. That is the closest world to hell as many of us know. In the world of hunger there is insatiable desire. I chanted with all my heart to raise my life condition and experience life as the Buddha I am. 

Of course I spent a lot of time chanting to get him back too...because I wanted him back, and believe that chanting sincerely for what you really want is the fuel that fires all your results in life. So I chanted to have him back...and I did get him back...for a time. But in my heart I knew that this relationship was just not meant to be...and gradually, over time, eventually moved on. 

I embraced my SGI district and chanted for each person every day. I chanted to change the heartache in my life for the sake of every woman who ever suffered in this way. 
I really know how you feel.

If you can sit in front of your Gohonzon and chant resonant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for exactly what you desire...you will win. Don't worry if your desire is "correct"...ALL your desires are correct. They are yours. Chant from the bottom of your heart. USE THIS PAIN TO FUEL YOUR BEAUTIFUL FUTURE!
Here I am now...I have my own sweet, beautiful little apartment in a gorgeous area with a pond, a pool and a health club. I have a miraculous new job where I am able to really have an impact. I have many friends, and a really happy life. 

And my happiness doesn't depend on anyone or anything. My focus is on doing my own human revolution, knowing that any real change happens within my life and is reflected on the outside in everything and everyone. 

That is the real key in life. Follow President Ikeda's Guidance. Chant for those you love...and those you don't love...and you WILL free yourself  from this pain. 
I promise. If I can do it so can you!

All my best, 

Jamie

Daily Guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

Daily guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

WHEN we dwell in the world of the Mystic Law, 
the sun of hope continually rises in our hearts 
and we experience a new dawning of life at each moment. Kosen-rufu is an activity for the purpose 
of building a glorious land 
where shines the sun of eternal peace. 
It is a battle to rid the world of misery and unhappiness, 
and call forth the dawn of happiness and security.

OUR daily life is a constant struggle 
to break through deadlocks. 
Yet, no matter what may happen to us, 
there is no need to become pessimistic. 
Viewed from a more profound perspective, 
every problem is a test of our faith; 
it provides us with an opportunity, 
and a turning point, 
to increase our happiness 
and further advance towards attaining Buddhahood.

A mirror that is tarnished or dirty will not reflect anything. 
It must be polished. 
Chanting daimoku with faith in the Gohonzon 
is the act whereby we polish the mirror of our life. 
The Daishonin established the Gohonzon 
solely so that people could polish their lives and
powerfully manifest the Gohonzon existing within.

WINNING is not a matter of form or appearances. 
It has nothing to do with vanity. 
Nor is it a matter of simply navigating one's way
smoothly through an organization 
that has already been created.
Victory in life 
ultimately hinges on whether one has truly strived,
whether one has truly advanced.

A struggle means making strenuous, 
painstaking efforts behind the scenes, 
always being the first to take action on all fronts, 
always thinking ahead 
and being well prepared in advance, 
in order to open a sure path to victory.

Daisaku Ikeda

1 Main Difference between Nichiren Buddhism and the "Law of Attraction"

This is my personal opinion about how our practice compares with the Law of Attraction. I have not heard of any official stance on this by the SGI, this is just my personal observation based on practicing for the last 28 years. Jamie Lee Silver, Chantforhappiness.com 

I am very familiar with the law of attraction. I have read The Secret and studied the Law of Attractionand I DO believe that what we focus on is very important. But that's not ALL their is...

One Main Difference:  

The Law of Attraction says we need to focus on the positive, and what we want to bring into our lives. Yes...but...the Secret is missing any recognition of karma, and a consistent practice to elevate each person's vibration. Every day, by chanting, we elevating our life-condition. We intone the rhythm of the name of the universe itself, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, meaning: I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration.

Let's face it, some things are easier to change than others, right? For some things you can just focus on, watch how others are accomplishing them and just make the change and make it happen. Other things, well...they could take years; they are more embedded karma, but they CAN be changed with this practice. 

Without the tool to tap into the source vibration itself and elevate our life condition, some of the things we want to change may never change. This is why we chant. And we receive actual proof every day that this practice works! 

We know that changing our karma is not easy. That's why we chant twice a day - every day! We fight to change our karma. We know that we must not just change our own karma and become happy for ourselves ~ but we also are in the daily process of helping others achieve happiness too, and spreading the word of the mystic law. If the law of attraction by itself really worked for all people, wouldn't everyone who focuses on what they want already have achieved their goals? 

As we know, Karma is the sum total of all our past deeds of every lifetime we have ever lived. Karma is not our FAULT, we are not bad people for having karma. We all have karma. SGI Buddhism tells us we don't have to spend lifetime after lifetime paying our karmic debt. We can change it right here, right now by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and challenging ourselves in faith, practice and study. 

What does this mean? It means that we get out of chanting what we put into it. The Gohonzon is a mirror of our lives. It is the vast sonic mirror that reflects the highest potential life condition, the life condition of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha who was predicted to be born in the Latter Day of the Law and teach us all the correct Buddhist practice for our time. After studying and researching for years, Nichiren realized that the title of Shakyamumi's highest teaching, the Lotus Sutra, was the correct practice and he began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the 1200s in Japan. He inscribed the Gohonzon to enable people to bring out the highest state of life within each person. 

Even though the Gohonzon, the scroll we face when we chant, is our object of worship, we are not praying TO it. Since the Gohonzon is depicting our highest life condition, it is actually within all of us. We chant to bring forth the wisdom, the energy, the Buddhahood we ALREADY possess. 

When we chant we are chanting to our own life, our own essence, our own Buddha nature. We don't chant to Buddha! We chant to our own highest selves...deeper than our subconscious minds...the part of us that is connected to the whole universe. It is, of course, impossible to explain and must be experienced. If you are reading this blog and haven't experienced chanting...well, the only way to experience it is to DO it! Join us! Come to an SGI meeting. They are happening all over the world.  

When I first began, I chanted 5 minutes every morning and 5 minutes every evening, and I went to SGI meetings to learn more.  I had a "seeking spirit" and felt I was onto something. 28 year later I am still "onto something" and live my life to help others tap into the power within themselves. When we live this way life is an incredible joy...and all our problems FUEL our happiness! To find a meeting in your area, click the SGI Portal on the right. 

6 Actions and A PowerPrayer to Reveal Your Buddhahood and Appreciate YourSELF

Your words DO have great power. 

Make sure when you speak to yourself 

that you use kind and loving words. 

Often we are hardest on our own selves, right? 

It is up to each one of us to reinforce what is RIGHT with us. Changing our focus to the positive is at the core of revealing our own Buddha Nature. 

Of course, as we all know, the law of cause and effect operates in our lives all the time. If we focus our daimoku on what we are doing right, chant to make positive causes, and to reveal our Buddha Nature, we will see positive effects in our lives. 

So, my ideas for changing a negatively focused life to a positively focused one follow:

1. Before you get out of bed in the morning think of at least 10 things you are grateful for. They can be anything from health to friendships to ANYTHING. What are you grateful for? I advised my sweet Mommy to do this when she was feeling depressed, and she said it entirely lifted her depression. This is one of those things that sounds like a good idea, but really, if you try it, it does make a difference. 

2. When you chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo every morning and evening, start with a feeling of gratitude. SUMMON gratitude. Work your spiritual muscle. Think of what you are grateful for, and make your own life, and your own self be part of that prayer. We are all so fortunate to have heard of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.  We are all fortunate to be practicing, to have a Gohonzon, and to be a part of the Soka Gakkai organization with our mentor Daisaku Ikeda and countless sincere members worldwide.  Bring forth that feeling of appreciation when you chant. 

3. Chant to reveal your Buddha nature. Chant to believe in the goodness within yourself. Chant to shine your life from within. 

4. When you focus on your life being the actual proof that this practice works you will see benefit. When you focus on being an example, and having your life and actions inspire others to begin chanting, you will see benefit flowing in all directions into your life. Chant to do shakubuku and help others become happy, and you will experience greater joy than ever before. 

5. Realize that you ARE the Buddha. You are the walking, talking embodiment of someone who is awakened to the law of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. This realization alone is a great cause for your happiness. Chant to see yourself as a Buddha and to feel yourself as the true Buddha you are. 

6. I chant to see the world through Daisaku Ikeda's eyes and to share his heart for Kosen Rufu. Sometimes when I chant I imagine him sitting here with me, and that our prayers for the happiness of all people are joined. 

Power Prayer for revealing 
our Buddha Nature and Appreciating OurSelves

"I chant to reveal the pure, sparkling Diamond
 of resilience, strength, wisdom and heart
 that lies within me. 
I chant to be more and more aware 
of my Buddhahood every single day. 
I chant that every cause I make, 
at every single moment of every single day 
leads me to see more and more of my Buddha nature. 
I chant that my Buddha Nature emerge 
and flow from my life touching everyone I see. 
I chant that I see my life 
as the brilliant sparkling Diamond that it is. 
I chant that throughout the day 
I say only nice words to myself and others. 
I chant to praise myself with my every thought. 
I chant to believe in my own goodness 
and to see it revealed in my actions. 
I pray to realize my life as the Buddha I am.
I chant that those around me are inspired to begin chanting, 
just by seeing my happiness flow. 
I chant to meet the people who are looking for this law, 
and to be able to help them practice"

As always, feel free to write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com