It is a Gorgeous Day Today! Chant for ANYTHING YOU WANT!!!

The view from my terrace.

It's just a wonderful day. I am filled with confidence and optimism. I had a great weekend with my family and with YOU, my readers. I answered a lot of emails and that makes me feel so good. I chanted with many members. Every moment of my life is a cause for good! And because I know that life is cause and effect, I know that my life is progressing just as it should. 

On Friday, and part of last week I was kind of worried about some impending bad health news. On Friday I heard pretty much what I expected. It wasn't great. It wasn't life threatening. It won't stop me from being productive and working. I just have to go through regular chiropractic and do some physical therapy. I will turn poison into medicine! My back has been in pain for a long time. Through these treatments I will greatly alleviate the pain.  And you know what? I am a Buddhist. I can ROAR like a LION and I will! 

"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is like the roar of a lion, what sickness can therefor be an obstacle?"

I have witnessed many people overcoming things that are so much worse. 

In a recent World Tribune there was an experience of a man diagnosed with MS. Through his determination he has gone many years with hardly any symptoms at all. I have seen my friend Julia go from a state of almost dying, to one of vibrant health in less than two years. She's working again, she's bringing forth her incredible talent as a musician and getting healthier  every single day!

Today is a gloriously beautiful day. Ben is still in town for one more week, and one of my shakubukus us coming over to chant tonight. What could be better? 

There's a common thread in your emails to me. It seems that many of you find it hard to believe that you can truly chant for anything that you want. You are censoring your desires and saying "No, I really should not have that desire." and I want to tell you again that all your desires are good. 

Even if you THINK what you want may be unobtainable or somehow not worthy of your Daimoku, and even if you feel guilty for having this desire, please realize that Earthly Desires are Enlightenment. Chanting for what YOUR REALLY WANT, and chanting to raise your life condition will lead you to the enlightened state where you will be able to see over your desires, and be free of suffering. 

Seriously, it worked for me. I chanted many years for a desire many would have said I should not have. But I did. And I chanted sincerely. I am a stronger and wiser person now...a better person for chanting for those desires. Do not doubt your heart. Do not doubt your prayer. 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is unlimited. 

Chant to overcome your DISBELIEF!!! 

Chant to overcome your DISBELIEF!!! 

You are unlimited! 

Rid yourself of guilt. 

Chant that you can have your desires fulfilled so that you can lead others to Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the Soka Gakkai! Chant to show actual proof of this practice and you can't go wrong!!!

The Parakeet Who Came to Stay

This little guy is causing quite a stir. 

I've shown you pictures from my patio. I face a pond and a clubhouse. There's a walkway that goes right past my patio. And now, people stop frequently and look at this little bird. He's not really "mine", but he has come to stay. He's not meant to live in the wild. But he does. He lives in the bushes to the right and left of my patio, and I feed him every day. He can't really fly. His wings are clipped. But just like the other wildlife that congregates outside my door, I wonder if the lovely sound of my Daimoku has attracted him. 

I'm sitting here on my patio after a full Sunday. Aaron, Ben, Paul and my sister and brother-in-law were here. It's probably the last time we'll be together before Ben goes back to Miami of Ohio for his Sophomore year. He's running again and hopes to run with the team. I'll keep you updated. He's been staying with me and it's been great chanting with him every day. 
Aaron was here telling us all about his first week of Medical School. He is so happy. I hope he stays happy even after classes start. 
I have been working on my book for you. Almost every moment I can hear the voices in my head telling me I can never do this, or that my writing is terrible...or other negative things. My evil twin is full of negativity but I am determined to win.

I have to win for all of the people who are still looking for the solution to their problems. So many people are seeking this practice. 
I want people seeking solutions to be able to walk into the bookstore, or search in Amazon and say "Hmmm...what is this? Maybe I should check this book out." Then something I've written will hit them, and they'll try chanting, and connect to the Soka Gakkai, and become happier than they ever dreamed possible!

How to teach Gongyo!

There is nothing, nothing, nothing that makes me happier than introducing people to this incredible key to happiness. I spent several hours today with the new friend I introduced last week. Today we chanted together this morning. This evening we spent some time learning gongyo. It's so easy to teach gongyo. All I do is start with the first part. I teach using a method I call echo gongyo.


First I explain that the characters above the words represent beats.
There are a few exceptions,
Shari of shari-hotsu is fast, even though it has two beats above it.


I also talk about how each vowel and each consonant always have the same pronunciation: y is always ye, g is always guh etc.


Then we start what I call Echo Gongo.


The pace is not speedy, but is also not as slow as when we do "Slow Gongyo". Since it's echo gongyo we can go a little faster. Anyone who has ever taught using the "slow gongyo" method (where both teacher and student slowly recite together) knows how torturous it can be, both for the teacher and the learner. It is harder for the student to learn correctly and very difficult for the teacher to stay awake!


Teaching gongyo using "Echo gongyo" is fun. 
It's like learning music.
And it's easier to learn it perfectly the FIRST TIME. Relearning incorrect gongyo is mighty difficult, and perfect gongyo is so much fun to do!!!


Here's how I teach Echo Gongyo - and this can be done one-on one or in a group:


I slowly recite a line while moving my finger under each syllable.


Then the person I am teaching recites the same line along with me.
When we finish the page we do the whole page together.


We do the next page the same way.


When we finish the section we do the whole section all the way through together.
It is amazing how fast people can learn using this method!


If someone is having a particularly hard time in a section, I recommend they circle it or make a note they will understand...just like learning music!  


I do the second section at another time. Learning each section at a time is a good way to do this. It is so much easier than it looks. Using echo gongyo really helps people feel gongyo and enjoy doing it from the very beginning!


I will be making a video for you of echo gongyo.


Do you have any questions?

I love, love, love this Quote from Sensei! Enjoy!

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.

If You're Struggling ...

Please remember what Nichiren Daishonin says:


"Winter Always Turns to Spring"


And sometimes the saying "It's always darkest before the dawn" is all too true. 


You WILL break through. You WILL be happy. You will probably remember this time as the time you REALLY changed your life. Problems and challenges are FUEL for your growth and happiness. But sometimes it does not feel that way, does it? 


I know!


Believe in the power of your own prayer. 


Believe in the power in your own Life! 


And keep chanting! DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!


Chant for the type of benefit that will strengthen your faith. 


Chant to strengthen your faith and your life!!!!


Keep chanting!


Keep introducing others to the practice and telling people about Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! It doesn't matter if they decide to start chanting today. I have many friends who started chanting after I'd known them for 20 years! When you tell people about the practice you are planting a seed in their lives, and changing your OWN karma. 


I carry Nam Myoho Renge Kyo cards with me everywhere I go.  And I give them to people who help me in stores, and people I encounter casually. I just say "This is the secret to happiness and bringing out your highest potential. You can chant for anything you want."


Have a great day!!

From Daisaku Ikeda to all of us

"Seen from the perspective of faith and Buddhism,

everything has profound meaning.

There is no need whatsoever

for us to vacillate between elation and despair

at each turn of events.

There is no such thing

as a storm

that will continue blowing and wreaking havoc without end.

In the same way,

there is no hardship that will continue forever.

There are clear days and there are rainy days.

If we are swayed by our environment,

rejoicing one moment and despairing the next

amid ever-changing circumstances,

then we will not be able to accomplish

a true revolution

in our state of life.

The important thing is to always believe in the Mystic Law and to enter the powerful orbit of faith, practice and study. Entering this orbit--the orbit of human revolution and of changing our karma --is the way to construct a life of good fortune and happiness that will endure throughout eternity. No matter what happens, we will enjoy the unerring protection of the Gohonzon. Instead of drawing conclusions about the world of faith from a superficial viewpoint, we need to calmly discern the true reality and significance of things and keep pressing forward.

With the passage of time, it will definitely become clear that everything has unfolded in the best possible manner."

From The Hope Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 277, from his essay on the Gosho "A Warning Against Begrudging One's Fief."

Great Quote from Daisaku Ikeda

“People who love

with the most all-consuming fervor

are those

who live life

to the fullest,

regardless

of how long

the physical existence lasts.

To invest

one’s heart and soul

in caring for others,

to burn with passionate love for humanity,

is what Buddhists call

the Boddhisatva Way.”

I believe

this kind of perfect life

constitutes the way

to optimal health

and true longevity.”

Daisaku Ikeda