Rock the Era

WOW is all I can say!
The future is in good hands!
Imagine hundred of young performers! Thousands all told.

There must have been almost 500 Taiko drummers alone.
The UIC Pavillion was rocking with sheer determination and energy.
And the Long Beach event was amazing too...
And the best thing is...it isn't over, it is just beginning. Each of these youths will continue to strengthen their faith and break through whatever they consider impossible!

And the weather...OMG it was perfect. As we left the pavillion the clouds were towering majestically - as if to say "Well done! Well Done!!!!

Setting the date for Surgery

That's right! This week, in the week of decisive victory I am setting the date for the hip replacement surgery that will restore my ability to walk without pain, to hike, to dance freely...I am setting the date and looking at the hopeful spirit my practice has given me.
Two years ago, when I was first told this diagnosis, I was not strong enough to face it...and I was hopeful that I could be the miraculous person who just overcame late stage arthritis by sheer will and exercise and prayer alone.
Two years later...with the pain ever-present...and after strengthening my life through daimoku...I am readying my life to go "under the knife"...a place I sure never wanted to be! But somehow, I am getting the courage to do this thing...and I am thinking about what could be on the other side. I am hopeful I will say "piece of cake! No problem!"
And I am grateful for Rock the Era...and how we are all able to focus on world peace through individual happiness.
Rock on.

More Rock the Era

http://www.globalshift.org/2010/06/28/35000-youth-rock-the-era/

Please check out this article! It's all about Rock the Era! There's probably an easier way to do this besides cutting and pasting but I don't know what it is!

It's worth reading and passing on

Twelve Hours of Chanting Daimoku later...

First of all I have to make it very clear that

NO ONE is EVER expected to chant 12 hours of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

However...every once in a while (maybe every 20 years or so) some of us find ourselves in very challenging times and CHOOSE to do a long tozo! And it's no coincidence that the Rock The Era events are coming this weekend...when huge causes are made (such as Rock the Era) huge challenges leading to huge breakthroughs are possible.

So there was a 12 hour tozo (continual chanting of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) held at the ILAC on Irving Park Rd. (Illinois Area Activity Center). A handful of us ~ those of us with REALLY big challenges chanted the whole 12 hours. Most of the people came and chanted an hour or two.

We all chanted for mild weather for the week and weekend. People will be driving and flying from all over to come to the UIC Pavillion. We chanted for their safety...
We chanted for every one involved to deepen their faith and have a life changing experience.
I chanted for everyone who wanted to attend to be able to attend.
And, of course, through 12 hours there was plenty of time to chant for my main goals:

1. For every member of my family to be happier
than they ever dreamed possible.
2. I fall in love with my own magnificent life!
3. I replace forever my complaining nature, and my inclination to feel sorry for myself with Appreciation and HOPE!
4. I kick anxiety, fear, insecurity, and desperation out of my life and replace them with security, composure and peace of mind.
5. To change in any way necessary for me to create the life I want ~ overflowing with abundance and love, friends and soul mate, great secure, meaningful employment, and a great place to live!
6. To be a magnetic, positive, prosperous speaker and writer for Kosen Rufu (world peace).
7. For my sons to really feel Sensei's spirit at the event this weekend...and ALL the youths there to feel it. For them to realize their true power.
8. I was born to dance in joy!

Well...

Here we are the week before the campaign...and I know that I am not alone out here. Facing the most...how shall I say it?...challenging time of my life. What will I decide? How will I go forward? Last week I chanted three hours a day from Monday through Friday...today there is a 12 hour tozo (chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) at ILAC center on Irving Park. Will I be able to complete it? I don't know, but I'm going to try.

ROCK THE ERA!!!!!

Chicago is showing amazing unity! We are all chanting for the success of the most historic gatherings of Buddhist youth in decades! Last Sunday 500 more youth signed up to come to our event this month!
There will be an event in Long Beach California, another in Philadelphia and our own here in Chicago.

On July 10th we will fill the UIC Pavillion with shining faces and performances. This is the opportunity for the youth of the SGI to gather from 12 states around for performances to ROCK THE ERA! The point of the gathering is for each of the youth to deepen their faith, have great breakthroughs in their lives and accept the baton of creating world peace from Daisaku Ikeda. This is an important year for the planet...I can feel it...we all can feel it...it is a turning point. This is a moment we will never forget.

I'm so excited that my incredible boys and several of their closest friends will attend Rock the Era.

This week I have been able to chant three hours a day towards the success of this event. I am chanting to focus my mind and my prayer like a laser...for every single youth who wants to attend to be able to make it...for the safety of all involved...and for every single one of us to get to a new level of faith and experience huge breakthroughs in all of our lives!

Great Guidance!

How could I NOT be experiencing such great obstacles? The obstacles themselves are the way that I will achieve all my dreams.
That's how it works according to the laws of life.

I made a great determination almost a year ago when I began this blog...I decided to chant two hours a day and accomplish all the karma changes that I had not yet achieved during my 25 years of practice.

A determination like that HAS to draw the challenges out of my life so I can prove the power of the law...and eradicate (root out!) the karmic tendencies that have me stuck in the areas I wish to get un-stuck!

So every time I feel sorry for myself I can change those thoughts (from ones of "why me" to ones of appreciation)...and know that my victory is assured, and KNOW that in THAT MOMENT I am changing my karma forever! I am making every possible cause for my happiness and the happiness of others...the district (Buddhist group) that meets at my house is flourishing...I am still chanting 2 hours a day...I am introducing people to this practice...my sons are chanting...and I am even chanting for the happiness and fulfillment of those it is hardest for me to summon compassion for...

With all these great causes...my life has to reach up and say NO WAY and say PROVE IT!

I remember one of my wise Japanese mentors said "when I get the biggest obstacles I am the MOST appreciative because I know the BIGGEST benefit and breakthrough is on its way to me!"

OK! Here I am back to the appreciative state of mind.

I WILL find a great job! I WILL be healthy! I WILL have love overflowing! I WILL be a speaker for Kosen Rufu! I WILL make a huge contribution to the happiness of others! I WILL live an inspiring life!