Expanding My Capacity

Enjoying my life! I went to an "Alien" party this weekend...see the antennae? I think I was just BORN to wear them!!!


Today begins a bold new journey of expanding my capacity. I am taking on two new campuses as part of my job responsibilities. Today I go to the campus in the northern part of the Chicago Area. I will be meeting my new team, and have various responsibilities and events I intend to fulfill with them. 


So this morning I greet my life in front of the Gohonzon and chant like this: 
ALL POSITIVITY !!! No complaints! 
Banish any negative thought in my head! I appreciate this opportunity to make new friends, expand my mission, be the Buddha, have an impact on these students, administrators and educator's lives! I will shine like the sun. Just like the the quote I put in my signature at the bottom of my emails 
"When One sun rises everything is illuminated" 
by Daisaku Ikeda. 


Today I am also thinking of the magnificent Gene Marie O'Connell. She was my chapter leader in the SGI when I was a "baby Buddhist" in San Francisco. I personally saw her rise from the ranks of nursing student to nursing administrator to CEO of the largest hospital in San Francisco...the one responsible for helping everyone in the city. She constantly asked herself "What would President Ikeda do in this situation?" Every day. She was, and still is, an inspiring example of what is possible when you are determined to manifest your own Buddhahood at every moment of every day. Thank you Gene!


That is how I set out today...with the sun in my heart...with Daisaku Ikeda at my side. 
I wish you all a magnificent, powerful, fulfilling day!!!

What is this Blog about? Happiness...Buddhahood!

Hi welcome to the blog chantforhappiness.com
If you're a returning reader welcome back, and if you're a new reader let me give you a taste of what this blog is all about.


This blog is all about revealing your own life as the life of the universe with all its power and majesty. It is, according to many, the truest form of Buddhism that exists. There are no intermediaries...no priests...no rules and no one telling anyone what to do. It is based on the deep desire for the happiness of all people, based on each individual taking responsibility for their own happiness.


The primary practice is the chanting of the words:

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

These words mean I devote my life (Nam) to the Mystic, unfathomable, (Myo) Law (Ho) of Cause and Effect (Renge, literally Lotus flower) Sutra, or teaching or vibration (kyo)


~~Again:  I devote my life to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration. It is the name of the rhythm of life itself...the same rhythm that turns the tides...moves the seasons...pulses in us and in every single thing at every moment of every single day. It is a literal calling forth of the name of the rhythm of life. You know how important it is to call something by its name. If you don't use its name it won't respond. Well this is the name of the law of life itself...the law of cause and effect. When you chant these words you tap into the power that is within you in a very profound way.


This morning I attended a meeting with my two new friends who just started chanting. They both told the rest of the group about the way their lives have been going since they started chanting...both of them talked about being in rhythm...naturally...and attracting just what they need at exactly the right moment. One is a healer/physician/surgeon. The other is a musician/songwriter/computer genius. It is so exciting seeing their lives expanding and growing...increasing in capacity...expanding to all that is possible. They loved attending this gathering of SGI Buddhists. When we practice together our benefits expand exponentially. Please give yourself the gift of attending SGI meetings and getting to know your new friends! Go to SGI-USA.org to find your local center, give them a call and get connected to someone by you!

Two More Comments! Thank you for Writing!

Yesterday morning I received these two notes from different people. I'm not sure what country the first note is from, but I really appreciate it:

"Thank you for such inspiration! It's when I need it most that you reach out unknowingly and help me. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. "

And this second note is from a new friend in Delhi:

"Its amazing how you encourage so many people across the globe by sharing ur daily experiences. 

I am tania from delhi practicing from last 5 years. Keep writing!! All the best in life. "

These emails make me so very happy. You know we all like to think that what we do makes a difference. And I think about you all the time, my blog readers. I wonder what I can say that will inspire you when you feel lost. 

I am so lucky. I have great friends in faith who can encourage me. I pick up the phone and call Kate in Los Angeles. I've written about her quite a bit in this blog. I also talk to my friends close by. 

We all need a touchstone...someone who will be able to give us that extra insight we need so that we will return to our altars and chant through our tears and determine, once again, to root our the cause of our suffering. 

According to Daisaku Ikeda and Nichiren Daishonin the cause of our suffering is the ignorance of not knowing we are Buddhas, of not accessing our power, of not demanding our happiness. So I remind you once more that happiness and Buddhahood are who you are. 

This practice is a process of revealing your own beautiful self! 

It is not easy but you must persevere for yourself, for those who love you and for all those unnamed people standing behind you waiting for YOU to BREAK THROUGH and open the door so that they can be free also. Do not hesitate. Be strong. Whenever you just don't "feel like chanting" please remember that that feeling comes from the inner part of you that doesn't want you to advance in life. Face it down and say "I will! I will advance! Inner darkness you can't stop me!" Be strong and remember that "A sword will be useless in the hands of a coward." Then return to your altar, your "home" and sit down and pour your heart into your determination to be an example, a shining light for other, that this practice works! Don't give up!

And you are not alone. If you haven't already reached out to your Sokka Gakkai family please do. You can find SGI centers in almost every big city. In these centers are people who are chanting to meet you and encourage you with their lives, and welcome you into their homes.  Give them a call! Make their day!

And, as always, I consider it an honor for you to be taking a moment to read my blog. My goal is to inspire you to become the happiest person ever!...brimming with life and enthusiasm...and when challenges hit you, just as they hit me, we forge together, along with President Ikeda to achieve VICTORY in our lives. February is the month of Victory! Let's do it together! 

Please continue to write! It warms my heart!

And also, please pass along the url chantforhappiness.com to anyone and everyone. Please share in my vision for people searching the internet to discover the happiness they seek!

Daisaku Ikeda's incredible guidance on changing your karma and attaining Buddhahood and happiness

It is so easy to blame our environment for our unhappiness and discontent. But as President Ikeda says in "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime"
"Grumbling and complaining are the principle gateways leading to general doubt and disbelief. Even if we know that such behavior is wrong, we may find ourselves doing it in spite of ourselves. Should grumbling and complaining become habitual it will act as a constant brake on our growth and cause us to forget about advancing and improving ourselves. When that happens, we effectively close off our own potential, falling into the path of seeking the law outside of us." 


Grumbling and complaining takes many forms. For me, it tends to manifest as depression and hopelessness. 


This morning, in front of the Gohonzon I vowed one more time to change the karma at the root of my suffering. I don't have to know the details of this karma...I just have to chant to defeat it, and not let it defeat me. 


Please remember that whatever is going on in your world is YOUR OPPORTUNITY to grow. 
The things you think of as problems that come at you from the environment can be fuel for your growth, fuel for your determination to reveal your own Buddhahood and create your own happiness. It is up to you though, to determine this for your own life...


Putting the fault on your environment is easy. But not helpful! You are a Buddha. Dig deeper. Get to the root source of your suffering. You do not have to figure it out. Just chant to change it. 


President Ikeda also says:


"Because our practice of faith is aimed at attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime, it is absolutely essential that we have a solidly focussed mind or attitude when chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It is like trying to shoot an arrow: without a clear target, we will not draw the bow with any real energy or determination. In the same way, our prayers can only be realized when we replace vague yearnings with concrete determinations and confident daimoku to definitely accomplish what we hope to achieve."

More Thoughts on Happiness & Enlightenment

I've been thinking a lot about the nature of Happiness....real Happiness. Not the fleeting happiness that comes from achieving a desire. Now, I am ALL FOR achieving your desires and getting what you want...for all of us.
But I'm a realist as well as an optimist.
Life isn't about waving a magic wand...and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is not a magic wand. it is much deeper than that...when you chant  consistently you will attain a state of happiness that is long lasting NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
Here is one of my favorite quotes about Happiness:

Happiness
by Daisaku Ikeda

The purpose of life is to attain happiness.
Happiness is something you have to feel inside.
It is something you have to build for yourself.
It is something that lives within you.
That is why the state of your inner realm, your life,
is so crucial to your being happy.
Happiness is not in some far off place.
Happiness exists within your own life.
It is within a single thought in your mind.
You, yourself are the most precious of all.
You have no need to be envious of anyone
or to long for things far away.
Faith and one's single minded desire
to achieve Kosen Rufu (world peace)
are what makes this self of yours shine its brightest
and develop its highest potential;
they are what fill you with good fortune,
satisfaction and eternal joy.
This is the essence of true happiness,
A palace exists within your own life.
When you open that palace
you can be happy wherever you are.

What is Real Happiness? Please respond!

Hello!
As you know I am writing a book about chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 
I am interested in knowing what Happiness means to you. 


We all know that the momentary gain of something we desire can bring momentary happiness...but we all also know that there is a deeper, richer happiness that we practitioners of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism possess. 


I am interested to know how you describe Happiness.


For me, it is knowing that no matter what happens I can draw the strength I need from my life to overcome any suffering. I also recognize - more and more - that the cause of my unhappiness or happiness exists within a single thought in my head. Sometimes my thoughts seem to be attacking me...other times they are calm and quiet, and I experience true peace of mind. Happiness for me seems to be knowing when those voices come (you know what I mean, the ones that say "why did you do that? You should have _______" fill in the blank. They are the voices that don't respect my Buddha Nature. 


In the last week I had a few days of not being able to sleep because I made a decision and immediately had negative functions arise in my thoughts...just yelling at me. Finally, after enough sleep and calm chanting I was able to back those voices down and say "enough - you voices are not real! What is real is my true self." and I began again to chant to PRAISE MY LIFE!!! It seems that suffering comes, in part from the feelings I get when I am not praising my life. 


Chanting to PRAISE YOUR LIFE is a deep, deep, prayer. It truly is the type of prayer that alleviates ALL suffering!


Please let me know your results and your thoughts!! 

New York!

Bright Lights Big City! New York was a blast last weekend. I still can't believe I went.  I made wonderful new friends...the picture here is of the Soul Sisters! I really wish I'd taken more pictures of all my new friends! All of us have such important dreams and missions to fulfill. Our books are changing the world! I passed out my new card to everyone. Welcome if you're one of my new friends! Please read some of the posts at the left of the blog. And I'll be posting more for newcomers!