10 Powerful and Inspiring Quotes on Prayer by Daisaku Ikeda

Sensei's 10 Powerful Quotes on Prayer 

1. Prayer entails an intense challenge to believe in yourself and stop diminishing yourself. To belittle yourself is to disparage Buddhism and the Buddha within your life. 

2. Prayer is the way to destroy all fear. It is the way to banish sorrow, the way to light a torch of hope. It is the revolution that rewrites the scenario of our destiny.

3. Prayers are invisible, but if we pray steadfastly they will definitely effect clear results in our lives and surroundings over time. This is the principle of the true entity of all phenomena. Faith means having confidence in this invisible realm.

5. Prayer is not a feeble consolation; it is a powerful, unyielding conviction. And prayer must become manifest in action. To put it another way, if our prayers are in earnest, they will definitely give rise to action. 

6. Prayer is the courage to persevere. It is the struggle to overcome our own weakness and lack on confidence in ourselves. It is the act of impressing in the very depths of our being the conviction that we can change the situation without fail. 

7. Prayer is an attempt to merge the inner workings of our life with the rhythm of the universe. 
When we pray in such a way, all the workings of the universe will function to protect us and the endless cycle of painful reality will be transformed into a cycle of victory and happiness. Prayer is the key to open the door to unleach that infinite human potential within our lives. 

8. The important thing is to firmly fix our gaze on our own weaknesses, not run away from them, but to battle them head-on and establish a solid self that nothing can sway. Hardships forge and polish our lives, so that eventually they shine with brilliant fortune and benefit. If left in its raw, unpolished form, even the most magnificent gem will not sparkle. The same applies to our lives. 

9. Prayer is not of the realm of logic or intellect. It transcends these. 

10. Prayer is an act of which we give expression to the pressing and powerful wishes in the depths of our being and yearn for their fulfillment. 

"What kind of future do I envision for myself? What kind of self and I trying to develop? What do I want to accomplish in my life?" The thing is to paint this vision of your life in your heart as specifically as possible. That "painting" itself becomes the design of your future. The power of the heart enables us to actually create with our lives a wonderful masterpiece in accordance with that design. 

It is not about others. It is about you winning, and winning over yourself. By doing so, you will provide inspiration and encouragement to all around you. 

From Ikedaquotes.org

November 18th is almost here. 
Have you broken through yet? 
Send your victories to me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Don't give up! 

How to use PowerPrayers While Chanting

A reader wrote me with this question. 

How do I use a PowerPrayer? 

The real answer is to read them and internalize them. There are many PowerPrayers posted on this blog, and I am soon to release my book PowerPrayers for Chanting for Your Absolute Happiness and Success. (I'm currently ready to find the right literary agent - Agents can contact me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com)

While we are chanting we can actually pray them in our minds as we are chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (Daimoku) over and over. (Of course we don't have to use PowerPrayers. We can chant whatever is in our hearts, and chant naturally as Daisaku Ikeda says. But I have found, and many have proven, that using these PowerPrayers helps focus our prayers for results. That is why I offer them to you.) 

This morning I chanted for a long time. I have a job interview today, and want to be very focused and alert. 

Many thoughts came into my mind while I was chanting, and I asked myself "What do I want? What do I really want out of this session of chanting?" and I realized that today I want to increase my confidence and experience life as the Buddha I am. I want to end this day not thinking "Oh I wish I'd said that...I wish I'd done that..." So I brought some PowerPrayers to mind. 

I chanted the PowerPrayer "I PRAISE MY LIFE" over and over, until the I was actually praising my life as I was chanting...I was not just thinking about it. I was praising my life. 
I chanted to "Raise my life condition, and to experience every moment of this day as the Buddha I am." I let the prayers run freely in my mind. "I see throught the eyes of the Buddha, I feel with the heart of the Buddha. I am determined to get the best job for kosen-rufu...so I don't have to worry about anything.  I trust my Buddha nature to be present and with me through the whole afternoon." 

This is PowerPrayer in action! 

Don't Give Up! Don't Get Discouraged! PowerPrayer for Praising Your Life!

November 18 is almost here!

I know many of us have goals towards November 18th and may not have achieved them yet. Please do not get down on yourself. Do not call yourself names, or think that you are a failure because you haven't achieved them yet. Forge on ahead! 
You are a precious Boddisattva of the Earth! Your life makes a huge difference! 

Praise Your Life! 

PowerPrayer for Praising My Life

I praise my life. 

I praise my life...

I praise my life!

I feel its absolute perfection at every moment. 

I chant to experience the glowing life-condition of the Buddha that I am. 

I can now appreciate my life 

and everything that arises 

just as it is 

with all my heart. 

I even accept and appreciate 

obstacles 

because I now understand them 

Obstacles are vehicles

for greater and greater victory! 

And, I know that I will have victory over every single one of them. 

I praise my life all the more because of those victories. 

I am a living example of what it means to praise one's life. 

I inspire countless others to do the same. 

A Genuinely Happy Person Brings Happiness to those around them....

What is happiness after all?  It comes from within, right? Happiness is something we have to BUILD for ourselves. It comes from our chanting consistently for strength, happiness, and to deepen our faith. And when we are happy we naturally want to brighten other's days. We actually can't stop ourselves from brightening other's days when we are genuinely happy. 
This is my Favorite Quote on Happiness by Sensei: 

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.

We Can Turn Every Problem Into A Benefit

We are all alchemists who turn everything into gold. 

Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 

we turn every poison into medicine 

and infuse our world with love. 

No matter what our stuggles may be...no matter the pain...no matter the obstacles...WE have the power to transform them and create medicine for our lives, and for the rest of the world. 

This is the formula for kosen-rufu, (world peace) Each one of us is an incredible participant in each and every moment. 

How do we take a poison in your life and turn it into medicine? 

Realize that it is our mission to change our problems to benefits. Our problems EXIST just to strengthen our muscle of faith. If this obstacle is in our life we MUST overcome it. I remember growing up as a young overweight girl and thinking "I must have a mission to lose this weight and help others to do the same - otherwise I would not have this problem." We can all elevate our problems into our mission. 

Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and having the intense desire to change our karma, we change our circumstances so that we can show actual proof of this practice and help others stop suffering. 

Whatever we are facing, whether it's 

illness, money challenges, relationship problems, job challenges, anxiety, depression, worrying about others, safety issues, hopelessness, fear, anxiety, shyness, and anything else...

Whatever we are facing we can transform it through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. 

We just have to decide that we will do it. 

We must make a fierce determination, like we are climbing up a rock wall, that NO MATTER WHAT, we will get to the top. 

And then follow the 5 keys to a successful practice:

1. Chant every day twice a day, and as much Daimoku as we like. 

2. Keep your determinations fresh, and make sure they express our desire to show actual proof so we can help others.

3. Go to our Soka Gakkai meetings to practice with our fellow travelers and deepen our understanding and compassion. 

4. Help others to the best of our ability.

5. Study the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda.

Daisaku Ikeda says in Faith into Action on page 140:

"Life has the capacity like flames reaching toward heaven, to transform suffering and pain into the energy needed for value-creation, into light that illuminates darkness. Like wind traversing vast spaces unhindered, life has the power to uproot and overturn all obstacles and difficulties. Like clear flowing water, it can wash away all stains and impurities. And finally, life, like the great earth that sustains all vegetation, impartially protects all people with its compassionate, nurturing force."

We can activate this life force inside you at any time and transform any suffering into gold for your life. 

We can absolutely do this. 

We are all doing it together. 

I look forward to hearing your victories. Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

If you've used some of the power prayers, or they have strengthened your faith, please send me an email and you may be included in my next book. 

Also, remember the translation button on the top right. Anyone can access this blog at the touch of a button. 

PowerPrayer for Overcoming Anything !

A reader asked me if an hour is the minimum time we should chant. 

There is absolutely 
no mimimum time to chant. You can break your time chanting into as many segments as you want. 
If you're aiming towards an hour a day you can chant 1/2 an hour in the morning and 1/2 an hour at night, or intermittently throughout the day. Just turn your cell phone off, get off Facebook and chant for as long as you like any time you like. 
Although many SGI Buddhists who have practiced for a while feel it is beneficial to chant at least an hour a day.  When I was a "Baby Buddhist" I could only chant 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening. That was it. That was all I could do. As I gained strength and the sailboat of my life picked up wind and resistance, I started chanting an hour a day to power the boat forward. I began to realize that I could change my karma...I chanted a bad boss out of my life and changed my "boss karma" forever with one hour a day every morning. 


Never underestimate the power of a few moments of Daimoku. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the name of the Mystic Law within ever atom and cell in the universe. it is in the far-off stars and in the eyebrows that we cannot see on our faces. When we chant the name of this Mystic Law all forces in the universe begin to move in our favor. And this happens whether we believe in the power of the Mystic Law or not. It's a Law - when we chant it, things will change. That's just the way it is!

When we are practicing correctly, obstacles will arise. This is pure physics. We then chant to overcome these obstacles and become happy. To support ourselves and others we chant in the SGI. Soka Gakkai International. We foster each other. We educate, inspire and encourage each other in faith. If you are not connected to the SGI, be assured that your Buddhist Family is waiting for you, chanting for you, and will be so glad to see you when you click on the SGI link to the right and connect. 

As Daisaku Ikeda states:
"When we practice Gongyo and chant Daimoku in front of the Gohonzon, the good and evil capacities of our lives begin to function as exalted forms of fundamental existence. Lives that are full of the pain of Hell, lives that are in the state of Hunger, lives warped by the state of Anger - such lives, too, begin to move in the direction of creating personal happiness and value. Lives being pulled toward musfortune and unhappiness are redirected and pulled int he opposite direction, toward good, when they make the Mystic Law their basis."
(Faith in Action page 119)

We can change whatever karma we have. I was born with a deep well of sadness, and that sadness went everywhere with me until I faced it and chanted it out of my life. There came a time when I felt I was strong enough, and sad enough to sit in front of my Gohonzon for 2 hours a day and chant using this PowerPrayer from my wonderful mentor Kate, who led the way by chanting depression out of her life.

What is your suffering? Lack of self-confidence? Lack of hope? Anger? Loneliness? Physical pain? Whatever it is, you can use this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to break the bonds of your karma once and for all.  While chanting you may want to keep this PowerPrayer in mind from time to time. 
If you want to share it, please share a copy of the link chantforhappiness.com. The share buttons are at the bottom of this post. 

PowerPrayer to Overcome ANYTHING! 

"I don't CARE how many times this depression 
(or ___________) resurfaces. 
I am Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and I will get it out of my life. 
I WILL WIN! 
As I am chanting I am rooting the cause of this suffering 
out of my life forever! 
And I will defeat this depression (or _____________)
not just for me, 
but for all who who are suffering from any affliction, because if I can rid my life of this sadness,(__________) 
If I can do this, 
then I can inspire anyone 
that they can overcome their deepest suffering too 
by chanting the name of the Mystic law itself...
the law that is WITHIN my life and all of Life, 
I am Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
I can change my karma and create a better world for us all! 


Please email me your comments, questions and experiences to me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com! 

18 Types of Fortune and 3 Ways to Build Unlimited and Powerful Good Fortune

Lately I am getting a lot of emails asking how to get money  ~ and asking "Is it ok to chant for money? First I would would like to say to chant for exactly what you want. If you need money chant for money~! You deserve to have what you need. There are many, many examples of people chanting for money and getting it. I chanted for 5K and got it immediately. 

But underlying the need for money there is a deeper and more exciting benefit that we can access within our lives. We can access and build TRUE FORTUNE into our lives. 


What is FORTUNE? How do we build it for ourselves?

First of all, fortune is self made. No matter what our levels of fortune may be before we begin practicing Buddhism, once we begin intoning the name of the Law of Cause and Effect, the Mystic Law itself, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our lives begin to move in the direction of fortune. 

With our Daimoku (chanting) we begin "changing from the inside out", the ONLY way to affect true and lasting change. 

And with each passing day of chanting, studying, encouraging others and introducing people to this practice our fortune grows and grows.

Fortune :

Daisaku Ikeda states: "Governments come and go, economies rise and fall, and society changes constantly. Only the good fortune we accumulate during our lives lasts forever. True victors are those who cultivate the tree of Buddhahood in the vast earth of their lives while achieving success both in society and in their personal lives through true faith and a true way of living. (Faith in Action page 110)

Fortune is being in rhythm so that we KNOW what to do, and have the spirit, conviction and courage to make the best possible causes at all times! 

Fortune is being in the right place at the right time. 

Fortune is Happiness and the ability to overcome any suffering and turn poison into medicine.

Fortune is strength and resiliency. 

Fortune is getting a call from an associate about a job opportunity that happens to be perfect for you. 

Fortune is having the courage and wisdom to say what must be said and do what must be done at the crucial moment. 
I had one of these crucial moments yesterday and I trusted myself to take the correct action and I'm really satisfied that I did the right thing... the absolute right action. buddhist wisdom in action. That's fortune. 

Fortune is always having what you need when you need it. 

Fortune is having the time to chant to our heart's content and encourage others, too. 

Fortune is being able to join harmoniously with our fellow SGI members creating a new kind of family for us all. 

Fortune is being born at the same time as Daisaku Ikeda and learning how to engrave the mentor disciple relationship into our lives so that it is a living, powerful source of energy and wisdom in our lives.  

Fortune is the finding solace and peace even when we have lost a loved one. 

Fortune is experiencing the true depth of friendship... knowing how to be a friend, attracting, keeping and appreciating quality people in our lives.  

Fortune is experiencing how to love and be loved in return. 

Fortune is the freedom to live our lives as we want...traveling freely and happily. 

Fortune is health. 

Fortune is the ability to laugh.  

Fortune is the ability to sit in front or our Gohonzons and cary out a meaningful dialogue within our own lives that makes the impossible possible,and brings happiness to ourselves and our families, friends and world.

Fortune is seeing that advertisement for exactly what we need when we need it. A few years ago I kick started my 70 pound weight loss by turning on the TV and seeing a weight loss program being advertised that I ordered and really worked for me. Another time I googled "Agents looking for authors" and found out about a Writer's Digest Conference in New York. A week later I was on a plane to a conference that really forwarded my writing career. 

How do we build fortune for ourselves?

1. First we must build a strong practice.  
The more "work" we put into building our practice...the less "work" we have to put into our lives...the less struggling we have to do. We can use all the resources at our disposal to CREATE the discipline to be able to chant twice a day every day and participate in activities. Being a part of the SGI is crucial. Click on the link to the right or send me an email if you need help finding your local organization. Having the wisdom to ask for assistance is crucial. Having a seeking mind to understand how and why the Mystic law can have such a profound effect on our lives is important. Studying our SGI publications is important. We call this having a seeking spirit. Chanting at least an hour a day is the fuel most people need to get the motor of their lives started. Some people prefer two hours or more. (If you don't have this time right now you can chant to have more time to chant!)

Fortune Comes from Having the spirit and the prayer: 

"I will WIN because my life is important. I will use my life as a shining example that this practice works!! My winning will be a real "win/win" because I will inspire others to the greatness of their own lives! I will win for kosen-rufu. I will win over my own negativity. I will absolutely do this!" 

2. Determine and believe we DESERVE what we want fuels our fortune. Every action we take all day long is a cause for our happiness. What do we want? Why do we want it? What can we do to fuel that desire? When I was 70 pounds heavier I wrote all the reasons I wanted to be thin. And I read that list all the time. I still have it. I found pictures of how I wanted to look, and I looked at them frequently. I visualized walking into a store and being able to buy any clothes I wanted! I fueled my determination. I fueled the conviction that losing weight was possible for me because I chant, and all my past failures just didn't count. 
Hon Nim Myo - "from this moment forth". Every time we chant we begin life anew. From this moment forth I will win. From this moment forth is EVERY MOMENT. We have the power to change. NOW. We chant the MYSTIC LAW underlying all of life. Wow. We are filled with fortune!

3. Chant for what we want, and Chant for STRENGTH of practice and strength of mind and heart! If we want money, we chant for money. If we want to NEVER WORRY ABOUT MONEY AGAIN - we chant with this in mind. If we want a job we chant for it. The world is OURS. We chant for exactly what we want!

What does fortune mean for you? Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com with your experiences and comments!