Guidance by Vice President Tsuji

I'm sorry the type on this is so small. 

From Forever Sensei Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

It was too good not to share!

FANTASTIC GUIDANCE BY VICE-PRESIDENT TSUJI

Gongyo is directly related to your life. There are three things
directly related sustaining life. One is to eat and rest. It is
important to consume nutrients and to get adequate sleep. These
two are easy to understand and everyone does them. You don't
quit eating or sleeping because you are unhappy with someone.

But when it comes to doing Gongyo, there are those who quit
doing their prayers easily. It is because they do not realize
that Gongyo and Daimoku are directly related to sustaining
their life. You can improve your destiny by chanting Daimoku.
Your karma will further deteriorate with out chanting. If you
do not chant your destiny will revert back to your former bad
karma. It is like reverting back to your former state of having
a weak intestinal system or back to poverty. These types of
changes are not easily recognized. This is why people get lazy
with their daily Gongyo and Daimoku. This is a frightening
thing.
There is a phrase in the Gosho, English Gosho page 81, "There
is no true happiness other than upholding faith in the Lotus
Sutra." But do you really do your Gongyo with this conviction?

You must feel that it gives you the greatest pleasure to do
Gongyo and Daimoku. There is phrase in the Gosho that
emphasizes that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the greatest of all
joys. To be wed is a joyous thing. But Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a
greater joy. To save millions of dollars may make you happy.
But Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is even more enriching. To finally
renovate your home after many years of waiting may bring you
joy but chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is better than that.

Finally getting a child after many attempts may be a joyous
occasion but Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is more joyous than that. Look
into your hearts to see if you are chanting with this type of
gratitude. Are you receiving 100% of the benefits that the
Gohonzon would like to grant you? I feel that m ost of you are
just receiving 10 to 15% of what you could be receiving. With
this type of life condition you will lose to obstacles and deep
karma.

Why do you receive benefits when you chant to the Gohonzon -
and why do you continue to chant? If you chant only to overcome
a specific illness will it only cure that illness? If you chant
for the success of your business, will you only become
successful in business? It is not such a limited practice.

The Gohonzon is telling us it can elevate our life to the
highest level, equal to the Gohonzon. There is a passage in the
Gosho, "hoping to make all persons equal to me, without any
distinction between us." You should chant with deep gratitude
to the Gohonzon for granting you the same life condition as the
Gohonzon.

As you continue chanting you yourself will embody
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. There is another quotation from the Gosho
page 216, " Shakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment
countless Kalpas ago, the Lotus Sutra that leads all people to
Buddhahood, and we ordinary human beings are in no way
different or separate from one another. To chant
Myoho-renge-kyo with this realization is to inherit the
ultimate law of life and death. If you doubt whether this Gosho
is true or not you are already separated from your Gohonzon.
Because you think there is a difference your connection is
weak. Therefore your benefits are diminished.

There is another quotation from page 832 of the Gosho, "Never
seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only
within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the
Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." As stated in this
Gosho Nam-myoho-renge-kyo exists within us. But for some reason
it is very difficult to manifest Nam-myoho-renge-kyo or we can
not seem to bring it out. That is why we are mere mortals. Then
how can we manifest it in our lives?

We can bring it forth by just vocalizing Nam-myoho-renge-k yo.
You may see cherry blossom and feel how beautiful it is. You
may see a full moon and enjoy the moonlight. You may see a
cockroach and feel disgusted. By seeing these things you feel
these types of life conditions. You may be moved by hearing
beautiful music or be motivated by hearing President Ikeda's
speech on tape. You achieve these through your ears.

You're related to your Gohonzon through vocalization. That
means by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo out loud you bring forth
your Buddhist life force. There is a phrase in the Gosho that
states that your voice brings out Buddhahood. As long as you
chant Daimoku you bring out your Buddhahood. It will explode
from you. If you are conned or robbed your life will burst
with anger. If your life is filled with worries and suffering
you may commit suicide. If you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo you
can change life filled with such suffering, anger or poverty
and overcome your problems.

There is a Gosho phrase on page 412, "What sickness can
therefore be an obstacle?" For those of you suffering with
poverty there is a phrase on page 1137 of the Gosho "...those
who now believe in the Lotus Sutra will gather fortune from ten
thousand miles away." We recite in our Gongyo, "Jiga toku
burai" or "Since I attained B uddhahood". It is that crucial
that we chant with conviction. To think that someone else will
grant you Buddhahood is wrong. You must act yourself.

I visited the Kawai residence in Fukui Prefecture of Japan to
give guidance at a meeting being held there around February.
Mr. Kawai who is now 51 years old had been blind from three
years old after contracting measles. I told him, "You have
eyeballs don't you? If you have eyes then you can open them.
This Gohonzon is the Gohonzon of "The Opening of the Eyes".

"The Opening of the Eyes" teaches us to see clearly. And yet
you can not see - it must be because you did something against
the Gohonzon and the Buddhist teachings in your past. You must
have committed great slanders in the past. Ask the Gohonzon to
please forgive your slanders. Express your gratitude to have
had the fortune to meet the Gohonzon in this lifetime. Pledge
to dedicate your life to Kosen rufu. Ask the Gohonzon to allow
you to see th e Gohonzon, your family and others around you so
you can contribute towards Kosen-rufu." I asked him to pray in
such a way.

In the beginning of March, I received a message that he
regained his sight after almost fifty years. Through his
experience the whole Fukui prefecture has revitalized itself.
It is such a surprise that one person regaining his sight can
have such a great impact on an entire region.

But what I wonder about this incident is why he couldn't regain
his sight sooner? He was a member who offers his own home for
meetings, never missed his Gongyo and had strong faith. Yet why
wasn't he able to see sooner. It was because his attitude when
doing his Gongyo and Daimoku was incorrect. His faith had gone
off track.

You must pray earnestly, "Isshin yokenbutsu fujishaku shinmyo"
or "single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha". You must chant
with gratitude and conviction that you will become one with the
Gohonzon and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. There is no such thing as a
sick or poor Buddha. Therefore all worries will be resolved.
That is why you can achieve human revolution. Only human beings
are able to achieve these things.

In May 22nd when I visited Okayama Culture Center a young
mother came to me for guidance. She was concerned about her two>
year old son who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. This
disease causes shrinking of the muscles until it affects even
the internal organs until it results in death. I told this
mother that it was her karma to suffer over her child. On the
Gohonzon it is written that things are supposed to prosper and
grow, then what is it that such a thing as shrinking happening?
It must be because of the horrendous slander she committed
against the Gohonzon. Pray that the two of you will work
together as mother and child for Kosen rufu so please cure the
disease. The Lotus Sutra is like a like a plague that spans
past, present and future. The Lotus Sutra can even help a
person who has passed away to achieve enlightenment. Your child
is still alive.

It is natural to transmit the Lotus Sutra to your child. There
is no sin that can not be eradicated by this Gohonzon. Your
worry is not the result of your current slanders, it is a
result of slanders in your past life. It is a slander from your
past life that you can remedy in this life. Parent and child
are one. Pray earnestly.

This mother was sort of a complainer and insisted that her son
was named by President Ikeda and that he was a fortune baby. I
told her that President Ikeda will name a child at a parent's
request but he can not change your destiny. It is up to you to
change your own karma and destiny.

I got a message from her afterwards that her son began to run
without falling after three days. She was shocked at how great
the Gohonzon's power was and how happy she was. Her son could
now play on the slide and kneel by himself. He no longer had
nose bleeds when he ran. As she continued practicing and her
son got healthier, her husband began practicing earnestly too.
For this mother who used to complain that she was suffering and
had to practice because of her son, her attitude changed 180
degrees to gratitude towards her son for helping her to
practice. Her practice changed from one of complaint to a
practice of gratitude. With this as a turning point all her
prayers were then answered and her wishes fulfilled.

Each time I hear such experiences I truly comprehend how great
the power of the Gohonzon. To be able to receive guidance to
change our life is the benefit of having the organization. In
the end what our attitude is when we face our Gohonzon is the
most important thing.

Go Buddha GO! Yell at those Shoten Zenjin! Rock Your World!

Roarrrrr!

As practitioners of the Lotus Sutra, we chant the Mystic Law every single day. Intoning Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (which means: I fuse my life with the Mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration) is a noble cause. It elevates our life condition, and the life condition and vibration of all of life. 
We chant for ourselves. 
We chant for others. 
We chant for this life and this world. 
We change our karma 
for the sake of changing the whole world's karma.  
We are the noble Boddhisatvas of the earth 
and Votaries of the Lotus Sutra. 
We TELL our lives what we want. 
We do not ask for favors from a force outside of our lives. 
We ARE Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 
We know that the goal of our practice is to have faith like flowing water...so we chant every day, twice a day...we study...we encourage each other, introduce others and attend our SGI meetings. 

And....Sometimes it seems like it is taking FOREVER for a benefit to come or an obstacle to go away, doesn't it? Even though we KNOW the answer lies within our own karma, and in doing our human revolution, sometimes we just have to get mad at our own life and wake those Shoten Zenjin UP!

In the February Living Buddhism Magazine
(published by the SGI-USA and available by calling 800-835-4558) one of my favorite Gosho passages appeared. In this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin has been persecuted by the government and is being taken away to Tatsunokuchi Beach to be beheaded. On the way, he sees a statue of Hachiman, one of the Buddhist deities (which represent functions within our own lives). 

He makes the entourage stop so he can address the statue. (The full quote is at the end of this blogpost)

What I love about this moment in the Gosho is that he basically yells at the Buddhist God and says you had better show your support to me RIGHT NOW because that is the pledge you made. If I die I will report you! Get to work! Of course, after he yells at the statue, when Nichiren is taken to the beach to be beheaded, a huge orb comes out of the sky lighting up the faces of his would-be assassins, they all run scared, and he is saved from death. 

Nichiren's indignant attitude when he addresses the statue shows us we can summon our anger at the forces within our life. We can all pray in front of our own Gohonzons with fury and with fire. 

I just finished two and a half hours of Daimoku chanted with this kind of energy. As I was chanting I had this in mind: 


PowerPrayer to MAKE IT HAPPEN!
I kept this prayer in my mind while chanting...picturing the Shoten Zenjin rushing to my aid, the country's aid, and the world's aid right now!  
By Jamie Lee Silver of ChantforHappiness.com

"Gohonzon! 
Shoten Zenjin! 
Life! 
SOME KIND OF WAY 
this HAS TO CHANGE NOW!!! 
I Don't know HOW to make it happen. 
I just know it HAS TO!!
It is time for me to see results in this area. 
NOW!
I demand: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We can all summon this fiery attitude at the crucial moment - we are ALL dignified votaries of the Lotus Sutra, we can all command the fundamental forces that are within our lives and represented on the Gohonzon. 

Here is the Gosho passage: 

Nichiren stops at the statue and shouts: 

'Great Boddhisatva Hachiman, are you truly a god?...Now I, Nichiren, and the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in all of Japan, and am entirely without guilt. I have expounded the doctrine to save all the people of Japan from falling into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering for slandering the Lotus Sutra....When Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutra, Many Treasures Buddha and the Buddhas and Boddhisatvas of the ten-directions gathered, shining like so many suns and moons, stars and mirrors. In the presence of the countless heavenly gods as well as the benevolent deities and sages of India, China and Japan. Shakyamuni Buddha urged each one to submit a written pledge to protect the votary of the Lotus Sutra at all times. Each and every one of you gods made this pledge. I should not have to remind you. Why do you not appear at once to fulfill your solemn oath? ....If I am executed tonight and go to the pure land of Eagle Peak, I will dare to report to Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, that the Sun Goddess and Great Boddhisatva Hachiman are the deities who have broken their oath to him. If you feel this will go hard with you, you had better do something about it right away!' (WND - 1, 766-67)

Great Quote on Aging by Daisaku Ikeda -

Let us all stay Youthful! As always, our attitude determines everything! 


Youthfulness

By Daisaku Ikeda

Youthfulness is not determined by age. 
It is determined by one's life force. 
One who possesses hope is forever young.
One who continually advances is forever beautiful.
Youthfulness originates from life-force.

There are young people who look surprisingly old, 
and there are elderly people who, 
no matter how the years pass, 
always sparkle with the glow of youth, 
an inner vitality.

Our bodies may grow stiffer with the passing of time, 
but we should not let the same happen to our minds. 
The older we are, 
the more willing we should be to listen to others, 
especially young people.
The struggle against aging is a struggle against cowardice, 
the propensity to shun new challenges. 
It is a struggle 
against our complacent belief that we have done enough, 
an egocentric unwillingness to help younger people develop,
and an attachment to our past glory.

Aging sneaks in through such chinks of our soul. 
The life of one who continues to challenge to the end 
remains youthful, 
ageless, 
and victorious.
Life loses its dynamism 
from the moment we lose the passion with which to live it.
No matter what our age, 
we cannot afford to let the flame within our heart grow dim.

We do not become unhappy because we grow old. 
We become unhappy 
only when we grow ever more unwilling to change as we age.
Daisaku Ikeda (on Aging)

3 Secrets for Setting Goals and Reaching Them!

"This Lifetime will never come again; 
it is precious and irreplaceable. 
To live without regret, 
it is crucial for us to have a concrete purpose 
and continually set goals and challenges for ourselves. 
It is equally important 
that we keep moving toward specific targets 
steadily and tenaciously, one step at a time." 
Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow, page 55. 

We all know we need to make lists and write down our targets and goals, don't we? We've seen the studies that report that college graduates with clear goals achieve more success than others who don't have written goals. But still, somehow it is difficult to write them out and make them. 

Why is Setting Goals difficult? 
1. Many of us have set goals and failed to reach them. Ugh. For more years than I could count I set a goal to lose x amount of weight by my birthday. Raise your hands if you've ever done the same. And we've seen those targets breeze by...losing faith in ourselves. These failures mean nothing. We should make goals anyway. Read on. 
2. Sometimes it's hard for us to decide what our goals ARE. Maybe this does not describe you. Maybe YOU can set clear goals and targets and achieve them every time. Well, for the rest of us it is more difficult. For whatever reason, sometimes I just have the hardest time deciding. So I chant about making the correct decision and bringing wisdom forth from my life. 
3. We're afraid we won't reach our goals. That's a version of number 1 above. Or...maybe we're afraid we WILL reach them, and regret the outcome. 

So as I am making my list of goals I am remembering what some of my favorite mentors have to say about goal setting. 

3 Secrets For Setting Goals 
and Reaching Them! 
By Jamie Lee Silver from Chantforhappiness.com, based on the teachings of Tony Robbins. 

1. For every goal you have be clear on WHY you want to achieve that goal. Write your goal...and write WHY you want to achieve it. As a Votary of the Lotus Sutra all of my goals include the vow to show actual proof through my own life that the impossible is possible. Years ago before I lost about 50 pounds I wrote down all of the reasons I wanted to be thinner. I still have that list and have referred to it over and over through the years. 

2. Make yourself an inspiring name for this goal. I have a dear friend who just embarked upon a fitness regime with a trainer. After a few days she was feeling discouraged, and I suggested she come up with a name for herself for this endeavor. She exclaimed "Fitgirl!" and has told me over and over how calling herself "Fitgirl" gets her out of bed and to her workout every day. What name can you come up with for yourself to invigorate (great word - meaning "give life to") your goals?

3. Schedule it. Right now I am determined to finish my book for you by my birthday. So I am working at least 2 hours a day on it. It's the hardest thing I've ever done...but also so satisfying. And i can't wait to get started on the next one. 

So here we are, September 1st. Be bold. Be Brave. Make your list. If I can do it...so can you! Go Buddha Go!  

3 Point Vow for World Peace - Kosen Rufu ~ and Happiness!

Aren't these wise words? Aren't all of Daisaku Ikeda's words full of wisdom, practical wisdom for our lives? 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. 

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 you know, last November 18th the Soka Gakkai 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.  This vow gives rise to the wisdom to take the right actions in all areas of my life! 

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 fortune 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 fulfilling my determination 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 last 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. I'm in the final stages of finishing the book. It is the hardest thing I have ever one, but I will finish it! 

This year has been one of great obstacle and great reward. September is my birthday month and I am in the process of rewriting my list of what I am chanting for. It's a great time to refocus on dreams, reality and plans. 

I feel so much stronger than I was this time last year when my son first became sick. I have chanted so much Daimoku for him that I have gotten stronger. I feel deep appreciation for having a son who makes me chant so much! 

As we near the end of the summer I hope you are feeling strong, and continuing to strengthen your practice. It starts with the vow in your heart! Strength is the source of happiness! I am chanting for strength, and to experience life as the Buddha I am. 

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. 

Chant Just as We Are

On Chanting:

"Chanting is a process of polishing and forging our lives, 

which is why our faith is so important. 

Consequently, the benefit of chanting Nam Myoho Renge 

Kyo is absolutely not dependent on the amount we chant. 

What matters is that we chant to our own heart's content, 

the amount that feels right and satisfying for us. 

Nowhere in his writings does the Daishonin say we should
chant a specific quantity. 

The efficacy of our prayers is influenced by the
strength and depth of our faith, 

and by our determination and attitude. 

At the same time, 

sincerely resolving to chant a specific amount is also an
expression of faith. 

We can chant the amount we've decided on each day,
while continually renewing and deepening our resolve. 

It's also important that we chant honestly and openly, just as we are. 

All of us face times of worry, anguish and sadness in our lives. 

When we do, we can feel free to go
straight to the Gohonzon with our suffering and chant about it
wholeheartedly, just like a child seeking its mother's warm embrace."

Daisaku Ikeda, Living Buddhism, Sep./Oct. 2011
pg. 74 & 75

Be the Sun! Encouragement from Daisaku Ikeda, Nichiren and Josei Toda

The Gosho for January 2014 was called "The Bow and Arrow." In it, Nichiren Daishonin encourages the Lay Nun Toki Jonin with all his heart. My favorite passage says:

"There is nothing to lament 
when we consider that we will surely become Buddhas. 
Even if one were to become an emperor's consort, 
of what use would it be? 
Even if one were to be reborn in heaven, 
what end would it serve? 
Instead you will follow the way 
of the Dragon King's daughter 
and rank with the nun Mahaprajapati. 
How Wonderful! 
How Wonderful! 
Please chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."

With my deep respect, 
Nichiren
(WND-1, 657)

In the commentary, Daisaku Ikeda writes that Nichiren Daishonin is assuring Toki:

"We cannot fail to attain Buddhahood. No matter how painful things are now, we are certain to triumph in the end. We will enjoy ourselves freely in the realm of life that is eternal throughout the three existences of past, present and future. When you are sure of that, what reason do you have to lament?"
He goes on to say:
"Nichiren's encouragement in this passage is a deeply moving expression of his compassionate wish to dispel the anxiety plaguing the lay nun Toki's heart and free her from her sorrow. 
"And the words. "How wonderful! How wonderful! (WND-1657) articulate the joy one experiences when one emerges from the clouds of sorrow to savor a state of being where all clouds have disappeared and one's heart is serene like a clear blue sky. It is a state of hope, optimism and delight.
There may be many difficult and painful events in the course of one's life. But those who remain steadfast in their practice of the Mystic Law need never sink into the more of suffering. Instead of feeling depressed and sad, their spirits are buoyant and their hearts light as they look to the future. 
"The key is to chant resonantly with joy and courage. The lives of those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo embody the principle of "earthly desires leading to enlightenment." They are already victorious. They have triumphed, rising above all suffering." 
And, as people who achieved this state of life, we naturally encourage others. 
"Mr. Toda said that the essence of guidance is encouragement. He personally continued to make energetic efforts to encourage those who came to see him for guidance, until they had roused courage to stand up and face life's challenges again."

Daisaku Ikeda wraps up this essay with this bold, encouraging declatation:

"If you are without hope now, create hope! 
If you are unhappy now, create your own happiness.  
You be the sun, imparting sunshine to all around you!

"The heavenly dieties and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions and three existences will safeguard and protect the members of the SGI, who are striving for kosen-rufu as practitioners of the Lotus Sutra, just as Nichiren teaches. The entire universe is our ally. We have nothing to fear.

"Our lives are wellsprings of infinite value creation. We are entities of everlasting hope, dispelling the darkness of despair." 
(All quotes are from the January 2014 issue of Living Buddhism, pages 30-32) 

And I will add we are all so much more important than we may know. We are unusual. People are watching us. Our practice is the key to tapping into the vast life-source of the universe. We live bold and noble lives. Whatever we are struggling with - we can create value, and encourage others.  

5 Things I tell Every Shakubuku and a PowerPrayer for Shakubuku

Our lives blossom when we introduce others to this practice. (Shakubuku) When we introduce others we are doing the work of the Buddha. 
We are the Buddha after all. 

As my friend Kate says: 

The Gohonzon cannot get down off the wall 
and tell people about chanting. 
Only we can do it. 
And THIS is one of the main reasons 
we are worthy votaries of the Lotus Sutra. 
When we help others learn to practice 
our lives expand and we change our karma. 

And an observation of my own is:
whatever is stopping us from doing shakubuku 
may also be stopping us in life. 
When we break through in shakubuku 
we break through in life!

Think about it. If we are too scared to do shakubuku (tell others about the benefits of chanting) chances are there are a lot of other things we are also too scared to do, right? When we overcome this fear...we become stronger and more courageous in all things. Don't take my word for it, try it yourself. And, like all other things...it starts with determined Daimoku. We can break through any obstacle in life with daimoku, study and ACTION. We can break through whatever is stopping us. 

Shakubuku is easy, not hard. There are so many people who are seeking the solution to their problems. There are so many who are suffering with no solution, but look at us... We know we can transform any poison into medicine. We are changing our karma right here, right now. I do shakubuku out of compassion for those who are still searching.

Five Things I Tell People About Chanting:

1. You can chant for whatever you want. And if you don't get exactly what you want, you will get something better. You get to KEEP your Desires! In this practice desires are NOT the cause of your suffering. They are the fuel for your happiness. How refreshing!  (Life is long. Patience is important. Not giving up is KEY.) 

2. You don't have to convert. It's like meditation. Anyone can do it. 

3. You don't have to believe it will work. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the law of cause and effect. We don't have to understand it. When we turn on the light do we UNDERSTAND why electricity works? I don't. But it works. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a law. The law of the universe. You can these words and you will see an effect in your life. It will work. 

4. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration." It is the name of the rhythm of life itself. If you intone the name of the rhythm of life itself while focusing on your desires you tap into the energy of the universe...your highest potential...to make your dreams come true. Internal change is where it starts. Chanting works because chanting creates an effect on the INSIDE of your life. And because we are connected to our environment our environment HAS to change. It HAS to. And it will. 

5. Chanting has No rules. No paths to memorize. No uncomfortable positions or clothing. All people regardless of race or sexual orientation are welcome. 

If people have time to talk I also discuss the SGI, President Ikeda and the benefits of being part of this incredible organization. 

As many of you know, I looked for this practice for the first half of my life. I knew it HAD to exist. I kept finding practices that said my desires were the cause of my suffering.... Somehow I KNEW that my desires weren't bad...that they were a part of me, a lovely, beautiful part of me. So I kept searching until I found this practice. I know others are out there...just like I was...searching. That's why I write this blog! And I have been so grateful for the last 30 years to be able to chant and sing the story ~ CREATE the story of my life.

So everywhere I go I bring cards. I made them myself but you can usually buy them at the SGI Centers. I have the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the phonetic pronunciation. They also say: Chant these words and become happier than you ever imagined, and my blog and the contact info for the Chicago Center are on them.

I hand people a card, even if I've just met them for a moment at a store, or in line somewhere. 

I say "I just have to let you know about this- Have you ever heard of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? This is truly amazing. When you chant these words and think about what you want you become happier than you ever imagined."

Everyone says Thank You!
Almost NEVER does anyone respond negatively. 
And with each person I am planting a seed. It might not sprout now, but it might sprout when the NEXT person tells them, or when a family member starts chanting.  At any rate it it a great cause for YOUR life too!

It all starts with Daimoku.
I chant this PowerPrayer to meet the people who are seeking this practice.
I firmly believe that there are Bodhisattvas out there who made the vow to return at this time to prove the power of this law, but they haven't found it yet. YOU can be the one who helps them live out their vow.

PowerPrayer for Shakubuku 

(to introduce others to this practice) 

When you are experiencing benefits and your life is glowing like the sun, you will naturally want to share your secret with other people. 

Simply put, Shakubuku means sharing Nichiren Buddhism with others. From the Japanese, it means “to clear away illusions that prevent one from recognizing the ultimate truth or reality.” This truth is that we are all Buddhas. Every time you share Nichiren Buddhism with others you are doing the work of the Buddha, in helping others to attain happiness by realizing that they are Buddhas, too. Each time, you bring people one important step closer to knowing who they are and their absolute happiness. Please do not cut and paster this PowerPrayer. If you want to share please use the buttons at the bottom of this post. 

Life!

Let me meet the people who want to practice right now!

Give me the courage to tell them about it

and the heart and wisdom to touch their lives.
Increase my level to really CARE about others, and to be articulate in sharing this practice. 

Give me the confidence and 
let my life SHINE with BENEFITS and ACTUAL PROOF 
so that people want to know my secret! 
Let my life SHINE! 

Do you have any shakubuku tips for the readers of this blog? Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Also send your experiences with a picture and a bio so you can share your inspiring practice on the blog! 

What a Week - 7 Tips to Rising Above Trying Times in the World

Sometimes the world just has a really rough week...I feel like collectively we have all been through the mill this week from the incredible Robins Williams taking his own life to the Furguson Mo nightmare and all the challenges and wars all over the world. 
I don't know about you, but sometimes it is hard not to let some of that sink in through my pores. 

Having Robin Williams die of depression was so sad and jarring to all of us, and I think may have also hit me, and others who have loved ones who suffer from depression and various other mental challenges particularly hard. I was just on edge all week...struggling to catch my breath. 

What can we, as Buddhists do when we get agitated, and when everything in the world seems to day "cower in fear"? 

I started a survival plan of my own. Here are some of the things I've done.

1. I moved myself even closer to my Butsudan and sat up as straight as I possibly could. I shined a brighter light on the Gohonzon. And I had my phone in the other room for each hour as I chanted. I am sticking with my determination from earlier this year to not let anything interrupt my Gongyo from start to finish. And if I do get interrupted I begin again and do another complete Gongyo. I can see how this is having an effect on my life every day. 

2. I spent time with my family. 

3. I read the Gosho every day, even the confusing parts. I chanted to understand with my life - and to feel Nichiren's spirit with every word I read. 

4. I turned my focus on taking care of my physical body. 
I drank more water...at least 4  24 oz bottles a day. 
I walked vigorously as often as I could. 
I ate more fruits and vegetables and drank less caffeine. 

5. I did some mirror work. You know, Louise Hay, one of my favorite mentors, talks about looking yourself in the eye in the mirror and giving yourself the words that you would give to your best friend. So this week I was my own cheerleader and biggest supporter. It feels really good to look myself in the eye and tell myself that I can achieve anything, look what I've done so far. 

6. I chanted specifically for strength and to realize I am the Buddha at every moment. I am determined to live a life without fear. I chanted to raise my life condition and once again embrace my mission and my choice to be born at this time, in this country with this faith. 

7. I talked to my friends all over the country - reconnected with some people I haven't talked to in awhile. 

And tonight I am going out with a new group of people to see a Philharmonic concert...
This week I also worked hard at work and on my book. I will have some questions to ask you soon about the title. 

All my best to you! 

PowerPrayer for Rising Above Our Problems and Having Joy ~ No Matter What!

I read some guidance that said 

"When you chant you should 

take a vacation from your troubles." 

Great idea

And today while I was chanting that's exactly what I did. I chanted to lift my life condition so I could see over and above my troubles...and to experience this day in a state of elevation through Daimoku. 

I chanted to release all feelings of having to be in control at every single moment, because, as we all know, control at every moment is impossible anyway! 

I think sometimes we think "I'm a Buddha so I should be able to command every single moment of every single day. I'm a Buddha, right?" But I don't think that's exactly how it works, 

The only things we can really be in control of are our reactions to what's going on. That's not to say that we can't change our lives through chanting. WE CAN. But the process of doing so doesn't always go as quickly as we'd want it to. We are not like Samantha on the TV show Bewitched. We can't just wiggle our noses and make everything change. 

PowerPrayer 

for Rising Above Our Troubles 

and Having Joy - No Matter What!

by Jamie Lee Silver of Chantforhappiness.com

Life! 

Gohonzon! 

Today while chanting 

I am seeing my life and my spirits 

rising above my worries. 

As I am chanting I am seeing my life rise above. 

I am focusing on joining the ceremony in the air. 

I am joining with all the Buddhas on the Gohonzon, 

and knowing that 

YES! 

This is the life I chose for Kosen-rufu, 

and I will keep my life condition HIGH no matter what. 

I see through the eyes of the Buddha. 

I shine for all those around me as a beacon of hope. 

I am the Buddha at every moment today...

fully aware and focusing on all that is right in my world! 

I am going to float above my worries and chant in the world of gratitude and appreciation. 

I am so grateful for:__________________________

And I release this day to my prayers! 

(I wrote this in the Spring, but based on some of the emails I've been getting I think this is a good time to run it again. All my best, Jamie)

3 Buddhist Victories in Finding Lost or Stolen Items - A Job for Daimoku!

Chanting to find lost items - or stolen items can work. 
Here are a few success stories. 

Years ago in San Francisco my backpack was stolen out of my car. I didn't care about the backpack but I DID care about my walkman (that shows how long ago it was!) I chanted to get that Walkman back. It was my constant musical companion and had a really cool equalizer on it. I'd listen while I was walking the 2 miles to work every day. I just yelled at those shoten zenjin in my prayer! "Bring my walkman back to me!" I just chanted on faith alone. That's all. 
The next day when I went into work the walkman was sitting in the breakroom just waiting for me. It didn't make any sense at all, none at all, but I chanted in deep appreciation. 

A few years ago one of my district members was introducing a friend to this Buddhism and the friend's wallet was lost. We all chanted for the wallet to be found, intact, and after a few days it was returned completely to him. Her certainty made us all certain. She KNEW Daimoku could return his wallet to him. 

Right after that, my son Aaron lost his entire backpack. He had put it in a locked locker at the Armory (gym) at the University of Illinois and when he returned for it, it was gone. He was so upset. That day he had carried EVERYTHING - his laptop, wallet, phone...you name it, all his valuable items. He felt it was stolen and that recovery was impossible. 

I told him about the walkman incident and the recent wallet incident and we all just chanted "Some kind of way! He will get his backpack back!" We kept chanting and he left his name with he attendants, and took every action he could think of to find it. Nothing happened for a few days and then I got a call from the Armory.(He had given them my number because his phone was lost). They found the backpack in another locker...totally complete...nothing missing. It made no sense but we didn't care! We didn't have to figure it out- we just chanted in appreciation. 

My friend Morag in the UK just emailed me that her family's van with all of their sporting equipment AND her children's passports has been stolen. I encouraged her to tell those shoten zenjin that this is unacceptable and she HAS to get that van back. Please join me in chanting to get Morag's van back! 

Do you have similar stories to share? 

Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

A Special Blog for my Loyal Readers

Today is a special day for me. 

It has been a year since my son Ben first got sick. Some of you have followed his progress closely both through this blog and through emailing me directly to voice your concern. Many of you have been chanting for Ben. 

My appreciation for YOU knows no bounds. Surely we have all been friends lifetime after lifetime after lifetime. You are my cherished friends. 

This is a photo I took this weekend of Aaron (left) and Ben (right) joking together. It makes me so happy to see this. 

This year has changed me. I have chanted more daimoku than I've ever chanted in one year. I have summoned appreciation for having an obstacle SO BIG that made me chant so much~! And Ben is doing great. 

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo WORKS! It absolutely works. 

Whatever you are dealing with just do not give up. Do not give up!