Encouragement for you!

The real thrill about being a Practical Buddhist and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo every day is this:

Even when I don't get what I want...I get what I want. When I keep chanting, and keep focused...what I want is always on its way. The challenge is to not let my own doubt and negativity overshadow things.

Right now I am chanting with appreciation for my life, for being able to chant and for knowing, that NO MATTER WHAT I will be victorious is all areas of my life. I base my life on reading Daisaku Ikeda's writings, encouraging my fellow members and the readers of my blog. My entire life is tied to helping others be happy, and living as an example that NO MATTER WHAT, I will win in all aspects of my life.

Has everything "finished" in my life? No! And it never will! Am I enjoying the process along the way? YES! When you base your life on the mystic law it is possible to even enjoy your own sadness...because you see it for what it is...fuel for the fire of your Daimoku (chanting).

And because you can always turn poison into medicine...NOTHING will ever stop you.

I had a friend in Japan who always used to say "I love it when I get BIG PROBLEMS! Because I know that a BIG BENEFIT is on its way!"

He is so right! As long as you keep chanting, keep reading President Ikeda's guidance, and keep encouraging people...you can't lose.

And if you are at the beginning stage of chanting...just face the Gohonzon and pray about what you want. You deserve to be happy. Don't ever listen to the people who tell you that you don't deserve to be happy....you know you deserve happiness and you have ALWAYS known this. Tap into your life force of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Be fearless. Make your glorious life overflow with benefits!

The (im) Possible Dream

Yesterday I saw Man of La Mancha, one of my favorite musicals.  This song "The Impossible Dream" perfectly describes the quest we are all on. Don Quixote was alone. 
We have each other and our mentor Daisaku Ikeda. How wonderful!
I tried to copy a link from Youtube onto this post. Please go to Youtube and type in "The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha" Enjoy!

The Impossible Dream

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ... 

This is my quest, to follow that star ... 
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ... 
To fight for the right, without question or pause ... 
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ... 

And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest, 
That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm, 
when I'm laid to my rest ... 
And the world will be better for this: 
That one man, scorned and covered with scars, 
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, 
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

This captures our chanting quest for bettering our lives...for kosen rufu...for our willingness to "march into hell for a heavenly cause" as we confront our own inner darkness, overcome it and march on for the sake of our lives, for the sake of our loved ones, for the sake of the world. 

We all have such noble missions! I salute you on your quest this Monday Morning!!!

You Knew I had to Show you!

Aaron in his white coat. 

The ceremony today was meaningful and moving. After every first-year medical student got their white coats they all stood, along with every doctor in the house and recite the Hippocratic Oath. 

It was beautiful...and Aaron really looks like a doctor, doesn't he?! 

Paging Dr. Silver, Paging Dr. Silver!

Filled With Gratitude!

Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Rocks! 

It's Family Weekend! 

Here we are with our new friends at the reception last night. You know how life just seems to come together sometimes, right? We discovered an amazing coincidence last night. Aaron (far right), just started his first year of Medical school really close to me in Maywood. And on the far left is his new friend Christina, with her Mom, Kathy Ratto. Christina and her family live in Arcadia California in the LA area. 

We were having a spirited conversation last night about all things LA and San Francisco and the Medical Profession (Kathy and her husband are both doctors) and we suddenly realized that Christina lives in my same lovely apartment community and we're all going to the White Coat Ceremony at Loyola in the morning, followed by the party at Versailles (my apartment community) in the afternoon! 

I'm looking forward to getting to know them both better, and it will be great for Christina to know she has a new "Mom"and friend just doors away! Don't you just love making new friends? I do! Lately I am making new friends all the time...new friends I plan to have in my life for a long, long time! 

Seriously, this medical school is amazing. It is a school with heart. It is a Jesuit university and the people I have met are filled with love for our students. That is their constant message to us...that they will love our sons and daughters and help them in any way possible. And I believe them. I see it and I feel it. 

I am so grateful to be on this journey with Aaron!

There is so much to appreciate isn't there? My goal every single day is to live life to the fullest and touch as many lives as I positively can. Every morning I start the day with a solid hour of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...connecting with the universe of power inside me and every other person anywhere! 

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know I am constantly chanting to expand my capacity. While I am chanting I am telling my life to expand my capacity for love, expand my capacity for fun, expand my capacity to help people, expand my capacity to reach people, expand my capacity to spread love, light, and hope to all who are suffering? My prayers are being answered! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! 

And thank you all for helping! Every time you respond to one of my posts and every time you forward a post by email or share it on facebook, YOU make a positive cause for your own happiness too! Together we make such a difference in the world! Thank you!!!

This has been an amazing week.  I've had the opportunity to be at the bedside of a dear friend who is new to chanting. His name is Kevin Haddle and he's a loving, wonderful soul. This week he had to have surgery for a bowel obstruction. So painful. Now he is recovering from the surgery, but still in pain. Please chant for Kevin! 

As you know we had six guests at the meeting on Wednesday night and more and more people keep learning about this practice, trying it and changing their lives for the better! 
Expanding my capacity - expanding ALL of our capacity  - that's what it's all about! 

Have a great Saturday!!!

Everything is a Benefit!

That's Right! 

Everything is a benefit when you're in rhythm, chanting twice a day with all your heart, introducing others to the practice, studying President Ikeda's writings and the Gosho and going to SGI meetings! 

One of the members in my district has introduced three people to the practice in the last few months. A few days ago her nanny quit and of course, it was very upsetting. It reminded me of the time when I caught my nanny stealing from us and we had to fire her. It was awful! Emotionally wrenching etc. Then the most beautiful, wonderful woman came into our lives to nurture our children. Danielle has been like family ever since then! She taught me so much about compassionate child rearing. I learned so much from this delightful earth-mother who makes her own play-doh and knows exactly how to help children make great art! She teaches children to "use your words" and shows them incredible respect...even when they are having an emotional moment...or two! And she called me on my birthday two years ago and said "Jamie, I want to start chanting and I want to hold Buddhist meetings in Cloverdale California!" She is doing just that! And a few weeks ago her MOTHER received her Gohonzon and is chanting too! 

Losing my nanny was upsetting, but I knew something better was coming! At the time I was a district leader, teaching people to chant, following President Ikeda's guidance, hosting meetings in my house...the whole nine yards (as we say in America). 

It's never too late to get into the rhythm of faith! It's never too late to go to your first SGI meeting, or go back to the center. Last night we had six visitors and a surprise guest after the meeting. Why? Because we are all glowing with faith and happiness. We are all unstoppable and so are you!!! 

And remember - it might not look like a benefit - but when you are chanting and making good causes...it will turn into a benefit  --- if you don't give up!!!

For the Broken Hearted - and for any other problem...There is HOPE!

So many of you write me in a world of pain over love. And, believe me, if anyone can understand what you are going through it is me. 

I am here to write you words of hope!

I am telling you RIGHT NOW that whatever you are suffering from...a lost love, heartache, a bad marriage, an abusive relationship, an unrequited love, the death of someone you loved...or any other pain...you can take all that pain and turn it into happiness. I KNOW! 

The key to happiness is realizing that whatever you are going through...WHATEVER you are going through can be used as fuel for growth and happiness when you chant about it in front of the Gohonzon (the scroll within our altar - a depiction of the highest life condition that exists within your own life and in the life of the universe) 

The key is this: the suffering already existed in your life. This person whom you think is causing you pain, is actually working as a karmic sponge to draw that pain out of your life forever. One day you may actually be grateful to them! 

The important thing to do is take responsibility for your own pain. Not blame! Responsibility. Realize that the pain you feel is your karma. Not blame. Not shame. Just your karma. You can change that karma right here, right now using this incredible practice. You don't have to figure out why the pain or karma is there. All you have to do is determine that you are done with that pain forever. And you have to redetermine this over and over in front of the Gohonzon until you change it. That is the real power of the practice. We chant every day - twice a day. I chant for a solid hour every single morning. President Ikeda says "The important thing is to KEEP CHANTING until your prayer is answered." Over and over again! Keep chanting. Keep refreshing your determination. Do not give up!

I had  turning point 2 months ago. I chanted for 4 1/2 hours at a tozo. (Long chanting session). As I was chanting I was telling my life "I am DONE with suffering! I am pulling this karma of unhappiness out of my life by the roots! I will no longer tolerate this unhappiness! I must change this karma so that I can give others hope that they can change their lives also. I must be happy!" As I was chanting I was picturing roots being ripped out of my body. I was literally feeling the change in my body and in my life. I chanted to BE THE BUDDHA OF ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS! 

Prayer leads to action. After this tozo I was able to take some actions that brought me to the amazing freedom and happiness I feel today. 

I have also been focusing on introducing others to this practice. If is so easy. When I am glowing from within people naturally are drawn to me to find out about it. When you are happy people want to know why! 

We just finished another amazing meeting of inspiring Buddhist SGI friends here at my house. There were 6 guests! People leave through the patio door in the summer. They are laughing and in high spirits after chanting together and sharing our successes and challenges and teaching the guests what we are doing. After everyone left I heard a voice from the other side of the bushes from my patio. "Excuse me, can you tell me do you teach something here." And it was someone I've never met, here to find out about chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! I answered her "I sure do teach something! I teach people how to be happy!" and I invited her in and told her she could access the power of the entire universe through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, and we chanted together. 

She is coming over again to chant. She is writing her list of what she wants in her life and she'll be chanting twice a day every day to make it happen. And she will change her life dramatically!

How wonderful is that! 

Become happy so you can fulfill your mission to help others be happy! 

You can do it! 

You are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Hello! Yes, that's me. Good morning!

I've been thinking of the Gosho "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime. "It's one of my favorites. It was the first Gosho I ever read, one I memorized during a difficult period years ago, and the one I read to my babies when they were in the womb.

"If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must first awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life. This truth is Myoho Renge Kyo. Chanting Myoho Renge Kyo will enable you to grasp that mystic truth within."

Remember, YOU ARE THE MYSTIC TRUTH ALREADY! There is nothing you need to do to become the mystic truth except REALIZE IT! Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with the deep conviction that you are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Tap into that vital essence that exists within your life! There are times I've chanted "I'm Myoho Renge Kyo!"briefly,  just to remind myself. Feel the energy of the mystic law coursing through your body and chant as hard and as long as you can! Tap into the source of your life and TELL IT what you want!