What's this Blog All About? How Does Chanting Work?

The following is a Passage from Julia Landis' and Jamie Lee Silver's upcoming book, The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness:

As Nichiren (SGI) Buddhists we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to summon up our fathomless wisdom while steering our life-craft in the direction of our innermost desires. We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over and over and over again. We call this chanting Daimoku 
(Die-MOH-Koo). Daimoku means title and the title of the Lotus Sutra is  Myoho-Renge-Kyo.  The founder of this practice, Nichiren Daishonin, added to Myoho-renge-kyo  the syllable Nam which means “I devote my life to.” 

So, a brief translation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is, 

“I devote my life to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration,” or, “I am one with the very rhythm of life.”

“Myoho-renge-kyo is the name of the ultimate mystic truth, and Nam-myo-ho-renge-kyo  is the name of the life state of Buddhas who embody and reveal this truth.” 
p.28 On Attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

It actually becomes very natural over time to focus on a personal PowerPrayer while chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.  It is nothing more than putting your deepest fundamental wish into action. By chanting and focusing on our most cherished desire, we come to steer our lives with confidence in the direction of Buddhahood. Our lives become lives of immense creativity, wisdom and value, and most of all Love. For as we chant, rhythmically and powerfully, we exude into our environment a music that evokes our deepest, innermost  capacity and transforms any manner of poison (problem) into a medicine (benefit), and further, into a nectar (deep and absolute happiness). 

Love's Got to do with it

A PowerPrayer is infused with love. That's the source of its power. When we chant for what we really want it comes from a real love for ourselves. All love begins with self love. However, you don't have to come to this practice in a state of self-love. This practice will take you there. Chanting Daimoku will itself bring about this state in your life. As the well known writer in the personal growth movement, Louise Hay, has said at the age eighty-two, “self love is the most important thing of all.” When you love yourself, everything in your environment loves you back. Your environment is a reflection of your own state of life and connection to the source of all happiness. 

Sadly, in general, Human beings tend to project this source outside of themselves. In fact, we are most comfortable, it seems in today's spiritual culture, when we project both the source of our mystical power and, also, its recipient outside of our lives. (Everyone seems to be praying to a power outside of themselves for a person who isn't them!) A great majority of souls, and you, yourself, we imagine, have prayed with love in your heart for the happiness of someone else, invoking a power that you have come to believe is “higher” than your own life. It has become commonplace.

But how often have you prayed with immense love...
for your own life, 
for your own happiness, 
for your own well-being? 
And more importantly, how often have you prayed...
from your own life
to your own life 
for the very best things 
and experiences for you
in short, for your own happiness?

We have found that, as it has been written, if we intone our voice with Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can summon up great love, the kind of love that is required of us if we want to awaken to our true potential. And that is another name for Buddhas: Beings who have realized their infinitely positive wise and loving potentials.

It is our PowerPrayer that as you are reading, these words are activating within you the curiosity and courage it will take to sustain you on this journey. For the Lotus won't give its seed if one's hand is not open. It is our prayer that you open your hand in such a way that you open your mind, heart, and Life, as well. And you chant! 

Listen to the secret we whisper into your ear:

You are the Buddha of Infinite Potential. Yes, YOU are the Buddha. Your life story is one of awakening. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo you will be able to solve your problems and awaken to your own Buddhahood that has always been your birthright. 

The above passage is part of the preface to the book Julia and I have been writing for you. It is almost finished and is packed with PowerPrayers to strengthen your life and your practice. 
On this blog I have written many posts for people who are interested in chanting, and I invite your questions and comments. You may email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

For the Million Daimoku Campaign ~ An Update

Hello to all of you who are joining in to chant a million Daimoku between now and the end of the year. 
Just a note to say I miscalculated a bit. 

We need to do 2 hours a day between now and then to reach a million. 

We can do it! 

Join us by sending an email to chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

Let's all change that stuck karma once and for all! 

Make your list and let's chant together! 

Experience in Faith to Start Your Weekend!

From a reader from India who now lives in the US:

I started this practice in 2005. I moved to the US from India in 2003 all alone. As per indian tradition I got married in 2004. My marriage was not successful; we had lots of hardship during my marriage. 

I left the house so many times but always came back due to lack of courage and I was always scared what people would think. But somehow I got connected to my friend who had moved to the US. She introduced me to this wonderful practice. 

At first I chanted alone and not much. Whenever I would feel lonely, I always chanted (as my family as in India). I never wanted to tell them what I was going through. One day I got into big fight with my Ex and the next day I chanted - if this relationship is not going to work then I should know right away. 

No wonder, within 1 month I was out of that house. Not sure where that courage came from but I was really happy that I made that decision. Since then my faith is stronger and stronger day by day and I have never looked back. 

I used to chant for hours and received benefits beyond my imagination. A few years later I was chanting for a partner who would accept me with my chanting. I am married now and my partner fully supports my practice.  

I even have my own chanting room in my home (Beyond my imagination). I have two wonderful kids. I always chanted for a Harmonious family. My husband is so understanding and kind hearted that at one time in my life it seemed impossible. 

I have succeeded in my professional life as well. I will share that experience later. 

At the end all I can say this practice is my soul. 

Nothing is impossible - Keep chanting. 

Join Us as We Chant A Million Daimoku by the end of the Year

This is a momentous year for the SGI. On November 18th the new world headquarters will be completed in Tokyo. Many of us have big goals that we intend to complete by that time. You can set goals to achieve by then as well. 

Yesterday I decided that I was facing a lot of challenges, and that NOW was a great time to begin a Daimoku Campaign. I thought about having it end by November 18th, but that would mean chanting three hours a day, and I just can't commit to that at this point. So I decided to aim my Daimoku chart for the end of the year - or sooner, and chant at least an hour and a half a day. Would you like to join me? 

If you begin with us now, you will have chanted a million daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) by the end of the year. You can download a free daimoku chart, buy one at your local SGI center for about a dollar or make your own. One million Daimoku equals 300 hours. I'm not sure who first figured that out, but it's the formula everyone uses. To reach that total by the end of the year we each have to chant an hour and a half ~ are you up for the challenge?

Already many of you have emailed and said "YES~! I'm IN!" and some of you have also sent your goals for the campaign. 

How do you launch a Daimoku Campaign? 

First, DECIDE to do it. Find a way to track. I like the Daimoku chart I got at the SGI Center because it has little circles to fill in for every 15 minutes I chant. 
(It has 4 circles for every hour so 4 x 300 hours means there are 1200 little circles)
I always write in the date after I fill in the circles so I don't lose track. It makes chanting even more fun, I think, because every day you have a goal and track it. And on the chart, or on the back of the chart you write all your goals. 

I remember chanting a million daimoku towards the birth of my first child. I wasn't even pregnant before I started the chart. I chanted for the maturity to be a good mother, I chanted for a house to raise my child, to have a great relationship with my husband, for the child to be healthy, to have a safe delivery, and a good income to take care of everything. I found a job where I earned sales commissions that went up and up and up, and only worked three days a week. We bought a beautiful house on the top of a hill in San Francisco and I started having SGI meetings. And I poured Daimoku into the child that was coming to me. I chanted that this child's karma would be totally affected by all my daimoku and that this child would not have to suffer from all the things I did as a child. I chanted so hard for this child, and every one of my goals came true. 

Will all your goals manifest with one Daimoku Chart? That I can't tell you. But I can tell you you'll be a lot closer to them for having made a strong determination and completed it. And if you still have things you want to accomplish - well then, you start another million daimoku campaign! I have done many in my life and I feel the effects of them every day. 

If you have questions, or if you want to let me know you are joining us please email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. You can even send your picture and your determinations. Maybe I will share some of them on this site (never without your permission, of course!). And I look forward to sharing all our successes!

We've Summoned our Obstacles ~ Let's Overcome them TOGETHER! I'm starting a new Million Daimoku Campaign ~ Want to Join Me?

I am so grateful for yesterday's Gosho study. Even though I have been practicing for almost 30 years, I still need refreshers in faith too. 

We are all Buddhas and we are all learning together in our precious SGI. 

I have had a lot of obstacles of all kinds over the last few weeks. Yesterday I studied the August Gosho with an open heart and one thing just sprang out at me. I have always known that the three devils and the four obstacles arise as evidence that we are practicing correctly. Now I realize I have summoned them.

They are natural functions (fundamental darkness ~ not actual devils) that arise as a reaction to our positive actions for Kosen Rufu (World Peace). Obstacles HAVE to arise from our lives so we can clear this fundamental darkness away and reveal our own Buddhahood. 

The Gosho is called "The Three Obstacles and Four Devils" and was written in November of 1277 to the youngest Ikegami Munenega after his brother had been disowned by his father for his faith in Nichiren Buddhism. 

President Ikeda says these things about obstacles:

Though we speak of the "three obstacles and four devils" appearing, no one wishes to have to face adversity. 
That is surely a natural human reaction. 
But Nichiren says that 
the appearance of the three obstacles and four devils 
is a source of JOY. 
How could that be? It doesn't seem possible. 
But it is, in fact, 
by overcoming the steep hills and inclines of obstacles 
we can forge our lives 
and ascend the summit of Buddhahood, 
where we can savor the sublime vista of 
eternity, happiness, true self and purity."

He goes on to say:

"We need to "own" them as something we ourselves have summoned up...we are in charge, we are the protagonists...the struggle against the three obstacles and four devils is indeed a great joy."

President Ikeda goes on to say:
"As Nichiren Daishonin writes: "When a tiger roars, gales blow; when a dragon intones, clouds gather" (The Workings of Brahma and Shakra," WND-1, 799) When we adopt this attitude ~ "I summoned this storm!" ~ our hearts will be filled with the bright sense of hope and purpose." (All quotes from the August Living Buddhism, pages 21, 22) 

OKAY! I summoned my obstacles and problems. I get it! 
Now I am redetermining to vanquish them and starting a new Million Daimoku Chart. You can download a Daimoku Chart for yourself at 
http://daimokucharts.org/

I am starting today. I am determined to chant a million Daimoku by the end of 2013, and I have many goals to fulfill by November 18th ~the day we open the new castle for Kosen Rufu in Tokyo - The SGI World Headquarters. There are 300 hours in a Million Daimoku Campaign. 
That averages to chanting 1 1/2 hours a day to finish One Million Daimoku by the end of the year, and three hours a day to finish by November 18th. I don't know if I can commit to three hours a day, but I will definitely finish by the end of the year or sooner.  

I am making a long list of what I plan on overcoming and I can share a couple of highlights with you:

I am determined to live a courageous life and overcome fear in any of its forms. 

I am determined to live my absolute best life each and every day...to chant strong daimoku and never be defeated - not even for a single moment.

I am determined to have a signed publishing agreement for The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness. 

I'm chanting that every single one of you who reads this blog will gain a new understanding, new fire, new conviction in the power of your own life and chant your way to ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS, and share this blog and the SGI with everyone who is suffering and seeking solutions! 

I am determined that the youth in the world and in my district lead lives brimming with hope and enthusiasm! I'm chanting for millions of youth to join the SGI to create lives of hope and happiness and lead us all to Kosen Rufu!

I'm chanting for the health and happiness of all my family members. 

Please join me! Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com and let me know that we are joining together to WIN!!! 

PowerPrayer for Absolute Happiness

What is Absolute Happiness? 

It is unshakable confidence in our OWN life.

It is the knowledge that 

what we do makes a difference... 

Who we ARE makes a difference...

Our lives are meaningful everyday, and we are using our potential to bring out the best in ourselves and others. 

Absolute Happiness is being strong 

in the face of any blowing wind, 

and having the courage to sit down, once more, face the Gohonzon (our lives) and chant truthfully with a seeking spirit to be able to change on the inside so that what we can overcome any hardship or reach any goal. 

Absolute Happiness is 

NEVER being defeated...

never giving up, 

and somehow,having the faith to en-courage others even while facing our own storms. 

Absolute happiness lies in being able to chant wholeheartedly for others, no matter whether we feel they wronged us or not. It is the knowledge that we are all connected, and when we light the way for another, we light it for ourselves. 

Absolute happiness is KNOWING that every one of our obstacles or problems can be a springboard for growth, a reason to chant harder with deeper concentration, and for a longer time...and that we WILL win!

Absolute happiness is knowing that never, never, never is the way lost, because we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we have a wise mentor in life, and we have our friends in the Soka Gakkai by our sides. 

The following is an excerpt from our upcoming book

The BuddhaZone, 

           PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way 

                                           to Absolute Happiness

PowerPrayer for Absolute Happiness

You have arrived! Go ahead, chant your way to absolute happiness. We've done it. We've proved the power of this prayer. Now it's your turn. If we can do it, you can do it.

Core Strengthening PowerPrayer to chant when experiencing unhappiness of any kind

I am determined to experience my brilliant Buddha-self. 

I am determined to raise my life condition. 

I am determined to develop a strong— 

strong 

core of life 

so that NOTHING 

will bring me to this state of unhappiness ever again. 

I am determined to strengthen my life 

from deep within 

and to radiate happiness wherever I go. 

I don't CARE if unhappiness 

keeps rearing its ugly head along the way. 

I WILL WIN and I will defeat it forever. 

I will defeat you, unhappiness.

I am determined to become happy so I can inspire others to become happy. 

If I can become happy, anyone can become happy.

As I am chanting I am strengthening my life now!

I now embrace absolute happiness 

as my mission.

I will use my happiness to inspire others to chant! 

A New Experience from a Reader in India ~ Removing All Grudges and Complaints

(I'm posting this inspiring experience unedited, straight from the reader. Enjoy! Jamie )

“ As long as we look at our situation with only ordinary reason , there wont be the slightest chances for us to win . But the daishonin tells us plainly that the gohonzon has infinite power . the only question is weather or not we believe him .. If we think that we are really disciples of the daishonin , we frist have to pray powerfully to carry out the kind of practise that can make the impossible possible . “
I came into this practise 4 years ago  with a number of impossible situations  . Today, in addition to my victory , I would like to share my initial impressions.
I had been fascinated since long with mysticism and had tried everything from reiki to gem therapy to affirmations to past life regression to art of living and the secret .  Each time I discovered something new, I became really hopeful for a while but wasn't able to cope up for long .
At the time, I heard about this practise, I was in one of the darkest periods of my life , when even a simple voice outside my window  would startle  and scare me . I did not enough discipline , the  money  or even a stable mindset for anything else . And , here was this practise  which made me feel instantly safe , could be done at anytime of the day or night , for as long as I  wanted and even when I quit  in the middle nobody judged me rather they  encouraged me even more  .  On top of it all   , somebody would come to my house and help me chant  . 
I was one of the lucky few  who starts practising and their life becomes an even bigger mess .  It was a time of deep financial crunch in the family , serious relationship issues for me . There was bitterness and blaming within the immediate family over the losses  .  A time when all that was needed to make me tear up was to ask how I am doing .
During this time we shifted houses to sector 3 chandigarh and I started practising regularly with members . I had always been blessed with many friends . For several years I had suffered with the same relationship problem and had analysed the same behaviours and blamed the other person reaching nowhere different . I was completely  amazed to have these new set of friends in soka gakkai  who did not agree with me when I complained about my life and my very serious troubles rather they would tell me , "  complaining erodes good fortune “  and I simply " must not begrudge my life " no matter how big the situation is outside . These friends assured me that all my problems will help me show actual proof and I  should  even be grateful for my problems and the people causing it . My new friends never encouraged me to skip my office or other duties at home to chant....  but to wake up early , skip a TV series but made sure I chanted to my heart’s content.
They weren’t  the kinds who would  let me end my sad story with how bad the other party is but rather  one leader almost congratulated me and said " 50 % of my problem is over since the karma has has already erupted and now 50 % is upto me to solve to completely transform it  " . She asked me to " chant to awaken to the true cause of my suffering and never blame anyone . " Nothing seemed impossible to these people , it was all upto me and my faith in the practise .
 I read the concepts and understood with my prayers the true cause of my suffering and oneness of self and the environment. I started feeling safe and then slowly i started feeling hopeful . I gave myself  completely into the practice .

Myo means to revive, to rejuvenate, to fully endow . I don’t know how the transformation happened but I started waking up early , got  extremely disciplined with my gongyo , read guidance’s assiduously , never missed any meetings .  I stopped seeing much value in crying over the same matters , even in my own heart . Everytime i wanted to feel sorry for myself , I pondered over the guidance in buddhism that " everything has a reason " and " a Buddha has limitless possibilities " . I chanted strongly to open a way forward from the deadlock .  I was moved by Sensei’s guidance to Young women division on being "  the cheerful sun of the family " no matter what and put the same into practise  . I chanted as though to produce fire from a stone .
My fellow members and new friends never gave me direct advise but told me I  had the wisdom to decide what needed to be done and there was anyways no time left to complaint or feel sorry  for myself anymore . I had to chant for 3 hours along with office .
Our business started again in sep 2010 after getting a big unheard  relief from high court against govt authority of chd  . 
This was a time of hope yet the winter of the problems were no way over.  There was illness in the family , property disputes , serious relationship troubles ,and even depression . I don’t know how many times did  I read the gosho " winter always turns to spring "  and hung on to hope .
Even though things had not changed outside , something in my heart changed completely and it didn’t feel like winter anymore. I got out of a traumatic relationship with almost no trouble ( the only trouble I went through was to follow the guidance of a leader ; Not to blame the other person and take 100 % responsibility for all my suffering, turn around my karma )   .
There came a time when I started noticing how bad  my father’s teeth had become and thats when I realized I had never seen him laughing so much before since he suffered from severe  depression . 
We shifted to a beautiful house and were able to pay off all of our loans . Most of all we all now feel it was a big blessing rather than a failure and there is no blaming or bitterness with each other over the losses .
I prayed to be able to contribute to SGI and my own business revenue has increased manifold . 
We have had a  property dispute case with my father’s brother  since 1995 and we won the case in session court , high court ( this year ) . The other party appealed in supreme court and am happy to report that theirs case has been dismissed in supreme court and we have won yet again . 
Sensei says ,  “Any action taken for the sake of faith will become the source of your good fortune and benefit. Relations of cause and effect based on the Mystic Law are absolute. All of you working hard for the sake of kosen-rufu and the Law, as well as exerting yourselves for the happiness of your fellow members. Please be convinced that all such efforts will serve to change your karma and return to you as benefit.”
Nichiren daishonin says  in New years gosho  . “ Also,  In light of this, it is clear that those who now believe in the Lotus Sutra will gather fortune from ten thousand miles away." 
And good fortune I did attract from millions miles away  :-) . It  came in the form of an awesome man who came in into our lives as a guest.  My family had started looking everywhere for the right match for me , and they cdn’t help but admire this earnest man who had somehow  come right to our doorstep . He was exceptionally brilliant  , kind hearted  and cheerful . Time and again I was amazed at  how the universe literally conspired to get us  to spend more time together . We got engaged around May 3 this year just like my fellow members in SGI had determined  and I feel blessed  to report that we are getting married on October 7th this year .
The practise of Nichiren Budhhism most of all has changed my outlook and attitude towards life and problems. My aunt who is a doctor  recently mentioned that it seems as if i’ve had a complete metamorphosis.  We all know that life without problems doesn’t exist,yet now i feel confident in my ability to deal with those based on faith . Most of my friends say  how inspite of the bitter experiences of the past, I do not seem cynical about relationships or life in general which is biggest benefit of all . 
Nichiren Daishonin says “ Where there is unseen virtue there will be visible reward “ and  I truly believe the unseen virtue  was the  effort in front of the gohonzon  to  remove all grudges and complaints from my heart and my reward is my wonderful fiancée who further showers  me with all possible visible rewards . 
I determine to keep sharing more experiences and to transform the karma of dispute in the family and restore harmony . I pray for all of us here to be able to carry out the kind of practise that makes the impossible possible .
Thank you .