Boundless Joy From the law!

Right now I am experiencing the longest string of continual happiness I can ever remember in my life.  I have permanently changed my life state. 
I have heard of this happening to many other Buddhists. 


A dark level of unhappiness has permanently left my life. I have, indeed "raised my life condition". 
We talk about this phrase all the time, and what I am experiencing right now is the proof of this phrase. 


I'll describe it like this: 


When you have a problem or sadness it's as if it is in front of you like a wall. When you "raise your life condition" you elevate yourself so high above that wall, that you look down on it thinking "I can't believe that wall ever loomed so large in my life...look at how tiny it is now."


That deep level of sadness and despair that I have battled my whole life has just gone poof. I have even made it through the usual cycle where I feel it again....and no...I'm still happy. 


PERMANENT, FOUNDATIONAL CHANGE IN YOUR STATE OF LIFE IS POSSIBLE...if only you keep going and DON"T GIVE UP.  No. Matter. What. 


Here I am, once again, living in paradise, paying my own bills, having my own life. I see my boys often   and have a great time with them. Ben and Aaron have both spent the night here at different times this week. I have something fun to do every single night...and when I don't, I've been going to yoga and I'm going to start really working out again with a trainer. I'm about to get in the best shape I've ever been. 


And I am so content. Some of you remember the reason I began this blog...and my sad, broken heart. Well...there has been the opportunity for that sadness to resurface lately...and it hasn't. I just keep chanting to continue opening my life to the happiness and appreciation I feel in my heart. I am chanting in appreciation for my health, my mind...my self...and of course to make a tremendous contribution at work...for all doors to open...and for all my precious fellow members and friends and YOU! 


Everything is possible. 


It's a gorgeous summer day here in the Chicago Area...if your'e HERE, enjoy the day. 


And wherever you are....enjoy each moment...as the Daishonin says: "Suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy, and continue chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo no matter what happens. Then you will experience boundless joy from the law."


I am experiencing Boundless joy from the law~~~!!! And so can YOU!!!

Fireworks in Paradise

Let me again assure you that anything is possible. If I can sit here today writing you from my patio, at 11:00 at night, feeling totally safe and secure and happy....then there is NOTHING in your life you can't change.

This weekend was a full fourth of july weekend. I got to see my boys here at Versailles swimming...I went to a lovely art fair with a dear friend...I read a book...I chanted...I had my soon to be ex-husband over to swim...and all of us - the whole family...went to watch the fireworks together.

A HAPPY DIVORCE IS POSSIBLE. Not that I am trying to sell you or anyone else on the idea of divorce. no...I believe in HAPPINESS. I know that happiness is possible. I sit here in testament tp happiness.

All those years...I knew it wasn't the right time to split up the family...but I made the bold move to suggest my husband and I live as room mates (a year and a half ago) as we dated other people and prepared to split our lives. Meanwhile every day I could wake up with my son Ben...be there to drive him home from school...be there to remind him of certain things and feed him good food as often as I could...
And in that time I found this lovely place...I found a new job...I had my hip surgery. And now I look at my life and all I can do is chant with appreciation for how lovely it is!
My lifelong friend Eddie came by my apartment yesterday with a cool money tree plant...and he totally rearranged my bedroom so that it is cozy, sexy...and I can fit the chaise lounge I left behind in it.

I chant every morning and evening and want to shout from the rooftops....My VOW has come true. I have health, happiness...and a divorce that inspires everyone!!! My kids are happy...everyone is happy! I knew it could happen if I set my sights to is and chanted about it. I never listened to what anyone said about how it can't happen (and I don't keep those kinds of naysayers around me anyway) My friends are positive people who believe anything is possible...just like YOU my friends. Don't give up. Did deep in your prayer just like I did. Chant to change in anyway possible to make your dreams come true. I DID. And I am SOOOOO happy! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!!!

Human Revolution! Bring it on!

Hello! Here I am living in paradise! I am in such a state of bliss and relief in my clean, gorgeous, newly renovated apartment....sitting on my patio, looking out over the pond and birds and trees and sky...thinking of where I lived before this...it was a cool house with lots of wood....but the trees were so close and so big that you couldn't really see the sky, or the sun. Now I have both...and wall to wall carpeting. I lived with cold hardwood for so many years. Not for me. Give me soft, light, warm carpet!!!


Only guess what? I still have more human revolution to do! I still have karma! I still have emotions. Sheesh! But I have really changed the depth of my suffering, I will tell you that. I am generally happy all the time! I have done so much human revolution!


And I am determined to keep going. Some small things have come up...some old issues from my childhood, and some old fears. And you know what? I'm going to sit here in front of my Gohonzon and chant from the bottom of my heart to make the internal change necessary to ensure my COMPLETE and TOTAL victory and happiness! I have such a mission! I must be able to create my life as the Buddha of absolute freedom....with the ability to do all I wish without fear stopping me. 


I am chanting to RAISE MY LIFE CONDITION and DO MY HUMAN REVOLUTION!!!
That is the only way to make real and lasting karmic change. 


And I am chanting for all of you!


Whatever you are facing ~ remember to STUDY, CHANT, GO TO MEETINGS and CHANT FOR OTHERS TOO!!!! Then you will have all you desire! Go YOU!

My New View! Look! Actual Proof Right Here!

Here is the view from my new apartment's PATIO! Yes, you heard me correctly ~ PATIO!!!
I have been longing for a patio for so long! Here is the pond I look out on~it has a family or two of ducks, a visiting egret, fish, and at least one huge frog that greeted me one evening when I was walking in! And my apartment is so clean and so sweet...it's just perfect for me. And the best part of all...my life is no longer on HOLD. I knew that I was going to transition to a new life....and here it IS!!!
Every day I am chanting in appreciation and living in an Apartment Community called (Get this~) Versailles. 
I have successfully made the move from a marriage that was unhappy to a life that is bringing happiness to the whole family. My boys are happy and love their new resort with a pool, hot tub and work out room, and Paul, my soon-to-be ex-husband is also happy. The boys are here a lot, and Paul's been over a few times to hang at the pool or have dinner here. How is it possible to be happily making this change?
 It all comes from Daimoku, Daimoku, Daimoku, and taking continual action for Kosen Rufu and for my own happiness. 
I chanted to make the type of internal change that would cause a change on the outside. All real change comes from within. I know it's a cliche, but it is also true. We are microcosms of the universe...and have access to all the power within our own life (i.e. the life of the UNIVERSE!)
I was terrified of living on my own...but here I am...just fine! And soooo happy. Will I be here forever? Who knows, who cares...this is such a nice new step! 
Believe in your right to be happy. Believe in your bright and creative life. KNOW that the universe is yours to command...chant with conviction and appreciation and LOVE YOUR LIFE!!! I Love YOU!

Don't give up!!!!

I've gotten several comments from people experiencing hardship...and I have to tell you right now that you MUST NOT GIVE UP!!!! 


Chant through the tears...chant through the disbelief...chant through the anger 


and you can experience what I am experiencing in my life right now...I am seeing how it has all come together....All the changes...all the prayers I have been chanting have come to pass. Do not give up!!! Do not give up. 


This week was incredibly exciting...with my Dad in town I had plans every single day and night and enjoyed EVERY moment...I loved each moment at work....I loved each moment at play. I made a million (almost) new friends at networking events. I inspired people...I laughed...I looked my best...I cheered myself up when I got tired....I am living the life of my dreams. Right now. This very minute. You can too if you DON"T GIVE UP!! 


Remember that  your challenges, hardships, sadness are like logs on the fire....they ARE THE FUEL YOU NEED to get ride of your old karma and live the life that you want. Use them to chant as if your life depended on it! It DOES!!!


Let my results inspire you:
If I could rise out of my deep, deep depression, (the one I brought into this world)....you can accomplish your own happiness. If I could lose 70 pounds you could make your wildest  dreams come true (that was an impossible dream for me and I DID it!) If I could end a marriage happily and create a happy situation for my whole family and live in paradise...you can do ANYTHING. 


CHANT AS IF YOU ARE PULLING THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FROM BEHIND YOU TO IN FRONT OF YOU. PULL YOUR HAPPINESS RIGHT THROUGH YOUR BODY! YOU ARE THAT POWERFUL. VOW to your life.  COMMAND YOUR LIFE. MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN!!!


I Love you, 
Jamie
p.s. Think of me tomorrow night...on a boat in Lake Michigan enjoying the company of a wonderful man and all his friends....truly living the life I was born to live! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo !!!! Join me in chanting for great weather!! Thank you!

About a Broken Heart

Dear readers, 
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 and has gone away. I wish to address her here:
Dear Broken Hearted, 
Please do not give up. I can truly understand. The reason I began this blog almost two years ago 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 of hell. 
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....AND to LOVE MYSELF SO MUCH....that this kind of pain would go away forever. 
Of course I spent a lot of time chanting to get him back too...because I 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 gradually, over time, found other prayers that became more important to me. 
I embraced my 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 two years later, almost out of a marriage that was long over...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 on the lives of young people. I have so many friends, and even a new boyfriend who loves to make me happy, not sad. And my happiness doesn't depend on him or anything else. 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. 

Danielle's Description of the Practice

What follows is from Danielle Canaris in Cloverdale California. SHe is my beloved shakubuku who helped me raise my two amazing Buddha Boys. 

Danielle is an inspiration herself...and has now, after many years come to practice. 

She brings all her wisdom, all her determination, all her love to this practice. 

After not even a year, she presents us all with this awesome piece. Enjoy!

The workings of the universe are an expression of a single principle or Law, expressed as Nam-myho-renge-kyo.

Chanting Nam-myho-renge-kyo enables all people to understand this law in there own lives and come into rhythm with it.  By putting your life in harmony with this law, you can unlock your hidden potential and achieve harmony with the universe.

Nam-myho-renge-kyo literally means;

Nam- Devotion

Myoho- Mystic Law

Renge- Lotus Flower, represents the simultineity of cause and effect.

Kyo- Sound Vibration

The invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, was established by Nichiren Daishonin on April 28,1253.  After studying  widely among the the Buddhist sutras, Nichiren concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception, has the potential to attain Buddhahood!

The three fundamentals of Nichiren Buddhism are faith, practice, and study: Faith is based on experience.  It begins as an expectation that something will happen.  If we are willing to try the practice and anticipate some result, we will then develop our faith brick by brick as examples of actual proof accrue.

Practice:  To develop faith, we must take action.  We strengthen our wisdom and vital life force by actualizing our Buddha hood each day in a very concrete way.  Practice consists of two parts; practice for ourselves, and practice for others.  We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo each morning and evening along with reciting Gongyo (two chapters of the Lotus Sutra).  Practice for others is taking compassionate action to help give people the means to make fundamental improvements in their lives.  President Ikeda describes Gongyo as a ceremony in which we bring the primordial sun of Buddha hood to rise brightly in the vast skies of our lives each day!  When chanting Nam-myho-renge-kyo, we are tapping into the underlying pulse of life and it's limitless potential.

Study; We study to gain deeper understanding.  Nichiren Daishonin instructed followers in the correct way to practice.  His writings give  people valuable insight into how this practice will benefit their lives.

The Gohonzon, which was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin  on October 12, 1279 is the focal point of our practice.  In the center are the characters Nam-myho-renge-kyo.  It reflects Nichiren's life state of Buddha hood, and is the link between the Buddha state within our lives and the environment.

The Soka Gakkai International was founded in 1930.  It has expanded to 192 countries and territories.  The SGI seeks to promote peace, culture, and education.  The practice of Nichiren Buddhism exists for the happiness of each individual and the fostering of world peace.