Great Quote by Daisaku Ikeda

I'm home! Thank you for all your daimoku!

The quote in the picture above says:

"Life is about scaling one mountain 
then facing the next one, 
and the one after that. 
Those who persevere finally succeed 
in conquering the highest of mountains. 
On the other hand, 
those who avoid such challenges by taking the easy route 
will only descend into the valleys."

Daisaku Ikeda  

PowerPrayer to End Depression and Anxiety

Chicago's Deep Freeze

This week I have proven once again, that that this prayer to end depression and anxiety works, and that karma change is permanent, no matter what the circumstances. I am in the middle of a very long dilemma...trying to get back home to Chicago after a winter storm. And through it all I have been calm...even with several sleepless nights. I don't feel anxiety. It will all work out. It is the middle of the night and I just found out my flight was cancelled again. I am in Asheville, North Carolina and there is a tiny airport here...and my flights keep being cancelled. I've spent 4 hours in line at the airport on 2 different days, and now this flight was canceled!  Thankfully, I was just able to get through to the airline and get booked on a plane that will take me through Charlotte, provided these flights don't get cancelled. I don't usually ask this, but if you have a chance could you please chant for me? I start my new job on Thursday (I was supposed to start on Monday) and I would really like to get home! 

This post is in answer to a question I got from a reader recently. 

She asked if I ever feel despair or anxiety, and what do I do when I sink into that feeling?

And yes, even Buddhas (like you and I), who have been chanting for many years still get occasional moments of despair!  Every time I feel a moment of sadness I think of all of you, and my district members, and I make a new VOW to overcome my karma (and propensity toward depression) once and for all by ripping it out at the roots. This is Human Revolution...never giving up. I must pave the way for others, just as you are paving the way for others through every one of your fresh determinations.

As Sensei says, the important thing is to keep chanting. 

There are several steps I recommend for when you are battling to WIN over your own despair ~
1. Chant ~ go to an SGI meeting
2. Call your friends in faith to encourage you 
and read Daisaku Ikeda's writings and Nichiren Daishonin's letters to his followers (the Gosho).
3. Make a fresh determination and a new vow
4. Chant again and win! 

I will pass along some wise words from my dear friend Kate who overcame her lifelong depression: 

She says that when you are making huge causes for Kosen Rufu it is natural to get obstacles in the form of emotions, and that once again your karma has shown itself to you anew so that you can once again determine to root it out forever. 

She also said at the core of our suffering is the fact that many aspects of our environment reflect our own deep seated feelings of self doubt and of not being good enough...but our perseverance changes this. 

Kate said sometimes our environment does not yet truly reflect the amazing and wonderfully shining, worthy people we are. And she attributes that to our deep seated doubts somewhere in our lives. (karma, of course). 

We have been suffering over some of the same things for our entire lives, haven't we?  She said:

Human Revolution is HARD 
because you have to break the ties 
to your own unhappiness. 
Those grooves are familiar, and hard to break. 

But if you greet your life in front of the Gohonzon and EVERY DAY say, "NO WAY! I am going to defeat this fundamental darkness forever!" you can break through. Kate did it. I did it. You can too. 

The following is a PowerPrayer...some powerful words to keep in mind from time to time while you are chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...a suggested attitude to WIN!

Out of Kate's wise words I wrote this 

PowerPrayer to Defeat Despair:
Written by Jamie Lee Silver, from the blog ChantforHappiness.com

No way Unhappiness! You will NOT WIN TODAY!
No way anxiety~I am the Buddha!
I don't CARE how many times I have to chant to defeat you. I WILL WIN! For Myself and for all! 
I am a noble, brilliant Buddha! 
I DEMAND a life free from sadness and fear! 
I root the karmic cause of my sadness and fear
right out of my life now!   
I DEMAND that my environment 
reflect who I really am, 
not my fears or doubts of who I am. 
I DEMAND that I have the courage 
to do Human Revolution 
and to FOREVER break 
those ties to my own unhappiness. 
I am determined to stop making causes 
that bring me pain! 
I am determined to make causes 
that bring me happiness! 
Not just for me, but for everyone!
I MUST succeed 
LIFE 
No matter what! 
I choose to be happy!
I choose happiness now!  

Our Glorious Mission = Our Glorious Life!

Awareness of Our Glorious Mission

Equals 

Awareness of Our Glorious Lives!

I do not say this lightly! In my opinion, the more aware I am of my mission, the more energy I feel towards winning over every aspect of my life...because I am determined to overcome my problems not just for me, but as an inspiration to others. When we can truly feel this way, our problems become opportunities, not burdens. How is this possible? 

I remember a time talking to Kate (she introduced me to this practice and is my dear friend and SGI mentor)  about my challenges. She said "Raise your problems to realize your noble mission. You are not facing them just for yourself, but for all the people you will help. The most important thing is to chant to strengthen your life, because that is the key to everything. A strong life equals a happy life. Appreciate your problems and win over them!" 

Wise words! 

I'm here in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the most beautiful and interesting places on earth. I had intended to come here from Chicago for a two day stay but the huge storm that just raged across America changed my plans. I spent almost three hours in line at the airport yesterday and was able to get a ticket back for Wednesday night. I met some nice people in line.  Today is the coldest day in Chicago in 40 years - it's -13, negative 13 but the wind chill factor makes it feel like it's negative 40. They are calling Chicago Chiberia. Funny. Many schools and businesses are closed. I am not missing anything by being here is Asheville, and I have the morning to answer emails, chant and write. 

Our friend Morag in the UK has been thinking about the recent posts about fulfilling our vow for kosen-rufu, and found this is the New Human Revolution, by Daisaku Ikeda, Volume 17 on page 232:

Shin'ichi then went on to introduce four guidelines for carrying out ones mission for kosen-rufu: 

1) Have strong unwavering faith in the Gohonzon and firmly believe in you ability to share Buddhism with others;

2) Study the Daishonin's teachings;

3) Take courageous action with composure and resolve 

4) Strive to grasp the Soka Gakkai spirit and posses a strong sense of awareness as a capable person dedicated to kosen-rufu. 

Thank you Morag! 

We can all win in our lives. Whatever we are dealing with...it is our opportunity to change it. It is our gift to the world. I overcame my depression and anxiety and now can help others to do the same thing. We each will help others by winning over what is right in front of us. 

The key is to not give up, not feel sorry for ourselves, but to elevate our problems into our mission. We can do this!

I am answering some emails this morning. I'm a little behind. Please keep studying President Ikeda's words and reading the Gosho with your life! Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

Daily guidance by Daisaku Ikeda

Daily Guidance by Daisaku Ikeda:

WHEN we chant and exert ourselves for kosen-rufu, we can block
negative, destructive forces from entering our lives and allow the
positive, protective forces of the universe to enter instead. Please
chant with strong conviction, as if calling, "Brahma, Shakra, the gods
of the Sun and the Moon, enter my life and put your power to work!"


BY dedicating ourselves to Buddhism, we transform our lives into
"gold". Inept and unworthy though we may think we are, our lives come
to shine with supreme brilliance and will remain so eternally. That is
why Nichiren Daishonin urges us to strive earnestly in our practice of
faith.


HAPPINESS is ultimately determined by oneself alone, not by others. To
base one's happiness on how one appears to the world is to live in a
"provisional" way, only chasing after illusions. In contrast, to live
in accord with the "true" or "essential" way of life is to determine
by oneself: "I did my best. I am satisfied. I have won." These two
ways of life are as different as heaven and earth, and water and fire.


LIFE without philosophy, without belief, is indeed both vulnerable and
fleeting. Swept along in the current of times, such a life drifts
aimlessly. One's soul knows no rest, preoccupied with the immediate
and the transience of other people's opinions.


NO one can avoid the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death.
It is the Mystic Law that is capable of eliminating suffering equally
from the lives of all people. For this reason, it is our
responsibility to teach all mankind the power and benefit of the
Gohonzon which embodies the Mystic Law.

Every Hardship Makes our Lives Shine!

The picture and the quote above are perfect, since I am in the Great Smoky Mountains right now with no way to travel home due to this great storm we are having in America they are calling "Hercules." 

My flight from Asheville, North Carolina to Chicago was cancelled, and I cannot get through to the airline to reschedule..even in the middle of the night. United Airlines hangs up on me. Tomorrow I was supposed to start my new job, but I've called my new boss and he is very understanding.

There is a huge storm in Chicago. It has been snowing for days. Some areas have more than 10 inches of snow. Tomorrow it will be as cold in Chicago as it will be in Antarctica...13 degrees BELOW zero. My friends in Chicago say "Stay in Asheville!" 

I am lucky enough to be visiting my Dad and Stepmom here, so I am warm and cozy...but it's weird not being booked on a flight back. I even thought of driving the 10 hours back but the roads are unsafe.  

I am chanting to enjoy my time with my Dad, for perfect timing in the beginning of my new job, and for all the stranded travelers. I went to the airport yesterday to try to get a flight booked and the lines were filled with people who were in worse situations than myself...with no where to go! 

I guess a big weather incident is just the way it goes sometimes!

Yesterday in Asheville we visited the amazing Points of Light Gallery and store. (Pointsoflight.net) It has the most amazing minerals I've ever seen. Here are a few pictures. Enjoy!

This amethyst cluster is about 3 feet high ~ from Brazil

Just magnificent! 

 This geode was so beautiful up close...

here's my Dad next to it! 

Today I'll be chanting and trying to arrange a way home. I appreciate each and every one of you for sending me such heart-warming greetings over the new year! You can write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com ~ and thanks for your Daimoku! 

Embracing Our Great Vow as Buddhas

Ahhhhhhhh

In yesterday's post I wrote about the great Vow for kosen-rufu. 

(If you're new to this blog please read the sidebar to the right. This blog is about chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and accessing our highest life potential...overcoming obstacles in our lives with happiness and ease and creating a world of respect and peace for all (kosen-rufu) we chant every day, twice a day along with fellow SGI members in 193 countries with inspiration from the President of the SGI, Daisaku Ikeda - please click on the SGI portal link to the right to find out more. This is not an official SGI blog; I have practiced for 28 years and continue to be amazed by the results of chanting every day!)

Last night I was studying President Ikeda's essay in the December 13th World Tribune, a publication here in the states. The World Tribune is, I believe, essential to the life flow of Buddhism. Whenever I get it, it's as if Sensei (President Ikeda) has written directly to me. Words just jump out of it. 

If you'd like to subscribe to the World Tribune call 800-835-4558 or go to sgi-usa.org. 

In Daisaku Ikeda's essay A Life Dedicated to the Realizing the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu I found some very interesting phrases to chant about and ponder. This essay was the address written to commemorate Soka Gakkai Foundation Day and the 70th memorial (69th anniversary) of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi's death, (the founder of the SGI) held on November 18th at the Great Hall of the Vow of Kosen-Rufu in Shinanomachi, Tokyo on November 18th. 

"The essential teaching (the latter 4 chapters) of the Lotus Sutra reveals that the life of the Buddha is eternal and imperishable from time without beginning (see the Lotus Sutra and its Opening and Closing Sutra, p. 267) The sutra's "Life Span" (16th) chapter, which is the heart of the essential teaching concludes with these words:

At all times I think to myself:

How can I cause living beings to gain entry 

into the unsurpassed way 

and quickly acquire the body of the Buddha? (LSOC, 273)

In other words, the Buddha is constantly thinking about how to guide all living beings to the supreme path and enable them to quickly attain enlightenment.

The life state of Buddhahood is characterized by one's mind and one's life being filled with a fervent wish for the happiness of the people and an unwavering commitment to keep striving in this suffering-filled saha world to help everyone attain Buddhahood. Because the Buddha is eternally dedicated to this vow, the life of the Buddha is eternal.

Nichiren Daishonin refers to the constant thought that occupies the Buddha's mind as "the compassionate vow of the Buddha" (see The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin Vol. 1 p. 62) The eternal Buddha does not exist apart from this compassionate vow." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have always known that we recite the passage during gongyo:

"At all times I think to myself:
How can I cause living beings to gain entry 
into the unsurpassed way 
and quickly acquire the body of the Buddha? (LSOC, 273)

And from the first days I began chanting I embraced this phrase. I have interpreted this phrase with my life, and have written about this many times. Essentially, when I chant, when I am in dialogue with my life itself - I tell my life that I must achieve _______not just for myself, but to inspire others to chant! 

And the two phrases I have put in black italics above are very interesting to me. Last night I read them over and over and am chanting to understand them with my life. I offer them to you today, through our mentor, as phrases to ponder and chant about. Study is not only about intellectual understanding. How do we understand what we study with our lives? 

As always, write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. I love to hear your comments...I love to make new friends all over the world...and, of course, I love to hear your victories! 

3 Point Vow for World Peace (Kosen-Rufu)

Aren't these wise words? Aren't all of Daisaku Ikeda's words full of wisdom, practical wisdom for our lives? Entering the New Year I feel such gratitude to be able to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo along with my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, and along with all of you, my friends all over the world. I have been hearing from so many of you...all my courageous friends. 

We all live noble lives as Votaries of the Lotus Sutra. Our great vow in life is to usher in the new age of light, of happiness, of respect and love. We call it kosen rufu, and I believe every person longs for this new world. Everyone longs for a world of peace, a world of no violence, a world of love. How do we do this? We do it through our own Human Revolution. The definition of Human Revolution is below:

We do our Human Revolution by making our great vow for kosen-rufu. What does this mean for each of us? Here is my interpretation. As always these are my views only. I speak to you from my experience and don't officially represent the Soka Gakkai. 

As you know, the Soka Gakkai has just opened the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen Rufu. We can now travel to the hall to renew our vow for Kosen Rufu. (There are specifications for entry. Please check with your local SGI center) 

Please do not cut and paste the following. 

Please send people to this link instead: http://chantforhappiness.blogspot.com/2014/01/3-point-vow-for-world-peace-kosen-rufu.html

My 3 Point Vow for Kosen Rufu is very simple

By Jamie Lee Silver, from the blog Chantforhappiness.com: 

1. I vow to use my life for Kosen Rufu. I vow to use every thought, every action, every word and every prayer to transform my life, to discard the transient and reveal the true, and to change the world through tapping into the power my life inherently possesses through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, studying Buddhism, doing shakubuku and deepening my connection with my mentor-in-life Daisaku Ikeda.  

2. I vow to live my life as an example that happiness, absolute happiness, is possible. I vow to use my life as an inspiration for people to learn about chanting, and tap into their own limitless potential. 

3. I vow to win in all areas of my life, health, love, happiness, friendships, family, (both my real family and my Gakkai family) work, writings and wealth for the sake of Kosen Rufu. 

This year is 2014. The 4 is very significant. To me it symbolizes stability. Security. Foundation....like the four legs of a solid table.  

This year I am determined to learn money management, build a solid foundation for myself and lead a life where I can travel freely to visit my friends all over the world. You!

I have always been protected financially throughout my practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo twice a day every day for the last 28 years. I have never longed for anything or gone into any kind of debt. Even this year, when I decided to take the time to write my book I was never without anything I needed or wanted. I was always protected. But I want more. 

Right now I am visiting my Dad and Stepmom Janis in beautiful Asheville North Carolina and learning from them. 

I am chanting to deepen my understanding of the financial world. This will be a real leap for me! And I tie it to my vow of Kosen-Rufu. If I can accomplish my goals, so can anyone. 

I enter this year with a new job (I start on the 6th) and a new relationship. I'll tell more about this after we've had more time together, but right now it looks and feels so warm and wonderful. 

If I can chant to change my life from the inside out, and have all these results, so can you. 

I am always chanting my vow of kosen-rufu. "Life! let me accomplish THIS ________so I can inspire others!" Your prayer is the same. Chant for what you want...exactly what you want. We all deserve to have our dreams come true. 

Happy New Year! 

Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Share your victories!