A Successful Event

Today I hosted a Health Fair at the Retirement Community where I work.

And tonight, in a few minutes, I will be hosting a Buddhist Meeting at my house.

I chanted my hour and a half this morning with so much energy!

I realized my goals for the two events today were similar...I chanted for everyone involved in the fair today to benefit from being there...for all the attendees and exhibitors to have a positive experience.

And I chanted for all who come to the meeting to leave invigorated in their Buddhist practice and ready to take on whatever problems they are facing head on...and challenge them...and overcome them with their practice. Not just overcome them...but produce a sparkling benefit where the problem used to be! We call this "turning poison into medicine."

I know that no problems are more powerful than chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Chanting unleashes the power of the universe you already possess!!! You just have to do it! And help others to the best of your ability, and learn about why it works. Then...YOU ARE THE BUDDHA! You always were the Buddha anyway. But NOW you get to experience it! Go YOU!

Surprise Benefits

You know, sometimes benefits come when you least expect them...and you may even fight against them. I experienced that yesterday.
I have a really busy week, today I ran a huge event at my retirement home and tonight I have a Buddhist meeting in Downers Grove Illinois - all are welcome!

Yesterday my husband came home and said he wanted to buy a car...had it all picked out and everything...he'd done his shopping. He asked me to go with him to buy it and I just felt so pushed to my limits!
"Why now?" I asked..."I'm too busy...tomorrow is my huge event!! Noooo."

But he convinced me and I headed out with him. It turns out he'd found a great deal on a car that has On Star, it plays my ipod over the speakers, it has XM radio, and the seats actually raise up so I can see over the steering wheel. It really is perfect. In the end I am very happy and this really is a benefit, but mannnn, I was kicking and screaming!

Sometimes, when you're chanting a lot, you just have to trust and go with the flow and not kick and scream so much!

The Oneness of Mentor and Disciple

This is another term we use in the practice of this Buddhism.

"The oneness of Mentor and Disciple"

Now, I don't know about you, I love the term "mentor", but I'm not so crazy about the term "disciple".
What could be a better word for disciple? I haven't thought of one yet. Maybe you will. Let me know...

I really want to explain the concept to you because it is actually very, very cool.
I've mentioned Daisaku Ikeda several times on this blog. He is the President of the Soka Gakkai, the worldwide organization dedicated to education, peace and culture. He is dedicating his life to Kosen Rufu (a world that honors and respects the dignity of life - a world without war and prejudice ~ a peaceful world). And when I say dedicating his life, I really mean that. He works every single moment toward this goal. He has written more than 200 books, lofty tomes, not light reading. He has met with world leaders everywhere...He has received over 250 honorary doctorates from universities around the world. He has founded Soka grade schools, high schools and universities. We have our own Soka University in Alisa Viejo California...built from the ground up ~ dedicated to the education of World Citizens...its goal is to produce people of the highest caliber who want to make a positive difference in the world.
And the way I personally think of Daisaku Ikeda is like this:
he is like a motor spinning faster than I can imagine. When I connect my ichinen, my intention, my prayer, to his energy...I can move that much faster.
This morning as I was leading the daimoku (chanting of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) in the Illinois Area Activity Center in Woodale (on Irving Park Rd.) I asked for Daisaku Ikeda to come and join me in my prayers...I chanted that he be with us the whole time I was chanting...and that each person chanting with me experience a closer connection to their own life than ever before...that they connect so powerfully to who they really are...that they experience a huge breakthrough from this half hour of chanting. I was chanting for President Ikeda's energy to be right there in the room with us. I know I was glowing...I know we were all chanting very strongly...I know it was what we like to call "FIGHTING DAIMOKU!" when you're chanting so strongly that the energy of it all just makes you sweat!!!! Man.....it is so worth doing! You can do it alone or with others...it is so much fun with others!
I hope everyone reading this gets to experience this feeling.
When you chant this way you KNOW, deep in your bones, and with every fiber of your being that no matter what you are facing - you will win!!!!! And then you see the results of it in your life. No kidding! Woohoo!

Great Benefits - Practice for Oneself and Others

Practitioners of this Buddhism live by several outstanding ideals. One o them is "Practice for Oneself and Others"

Our lives are the most filled with benefits when we are chanting and encouraging each other...in fact...it is essential to our own happiness to be also working toward the happiness of others.

Here are some recent highlights and benefits surrounding my life and Daimoku Campaign:

Birthday week! Such a great week! I got two really unexpected surprises on my birthday that touched my heart!

One is the start of a whole new friendship that will bring me great joy!

The other was a magnificent arrangement of flowers...from someone so dear in my heart...the most beautiful flowers I have ever received...with sunflowers that look as striking right now as they did four days ago.

And I'm not the only one with great things happening. Every week I've been getting together with three friends to chant. Tonight we met again. These great friends are having benefits all over the place.

Jenny's about to go to a nine week Bikram Yoga teacher training...and is also buying a new condo "in heaven" on the 14th floor really close to where I live...she also had some realizations that have made a huge difference in her life.

Mary's about to go on a Wisdom course single's cruise and she's lost 8 pounds and looks better than ever!

Melissa has such cool benefits in the works that will be shared at a later time.

And me...well...my Mom had to have a procedure done today to help stabilize her heart rhythm and she's in great shape. I chanted my daimoku for her this morning and she truly had angels around her for the whole procedure...angels in the form of incredible nurses and Doctors at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. Tomorrow Ben goes to Homecoming, I go to Bikram Yoga for the first time and my friend Eddie Lee comes into town!
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

Birthday notes

This morning I chanted an hour and a half with determination for this year in my life. I thought of a year from now...an important birthday...and where I want to be then...and how many people I want to have chanting along with me in Downers District!

I had a great birthday...with so much love in my life...
so many wonderful friends...and such great family...only my Mommy fell and hit her head and I spent the afternoon with her in the ER. They kept her overnight, but I was there for the crucial time...when they were trying to put in IV in. I have to demand a paramedic for her and her tiny little veins. Then I have to chant while he puts it in...they've blown so many of her veins...but all was well...
Then my sister came for the evening and I was off to see Jersey Boys. I know, I know...I'm probably the last person in the world to see this play. It was all they said it was and more. What a wonderful show.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

New Responsibilities!

Hello!
Wonderful Weekend! Wonderful day!
Today I took on the reponsibility of supporting a district of the SGI.
I will be hosting meetings every Wednesday night in Downers Grove Illinois. They will be filled with the excitement of tapping into our own inner strength. Each one of us will leave feeling excited and ready to take on new challenges. We'll chant, we'll study, we'll make new friends. Each meeting begins at 7 and lasts until 8:30.

You know...problems don't stop when you start chanting...but you develop an unshakable spirit...knowing you have all the power of the Universe right in your hand...no problem can possibly defeat you.
If you're anywhere near Downers and want to attend just send me a comment.
By the way...I moved my exercise bike up into my living room and believe it or not you barely even notice it...and I'm biking away. I'm not giving up...I'm not giving up!!!

Prayer in Buddhism

Prayer in this practice is very different than most forms of prayer.
While we are chanting we are busy focusing our thoughts like a laser beam cutting through our karma.
We are not "asking" anyone for anything...
We are instead making a vow or a determination
to accomplish something.
That's so different, isn't it?
We are chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
and at the same time vowing to win in whatever endeavor we desire.

Daisaku Ikeda says it best:

When your determination changes,
everything else will begin to move
in the direction you desire.
The moment you resolve to be victorious,
every nerve and fiber in your being
will immediately orient itself
toward your success.
On the other hand, if you think
"This is never going to work out,"
then at that instant
every cell in your being
will be deflated and give up the fight,
and then,
everything really WILL move
in the direction of failure.

For Today and Tomorrow
Daily Encoragement
for September 20th
Daisaku Ikeda