Great Soka Gakkai Meetings

We had the best Soka Gakkai Meeting last night at my house.  It was going to be a one hour tozo, but since we had three guests we only chanted half an hour. It was such beautiful chanting. It felt so good. After we finished I turned to everyone and explained why we do Gongyo: 

I said, "How did that feel? That was an experience of you being the Buddha. When we chant these words we are reciting the Lotus Sutra, the words of the Buddha. We are experiencing life as a Buddha. That means we are experiencing being the infinite source and power of the universe. Doing Gongyo and Daimoku is our moment to elevate our lives into Buddhahood. We do it twice a day because sometimes we forget!" And everyone laughed. 


The rest of the meeting just flowed from all the Daimoku that we've all been chanting. That is the key to wonderful and inspiring meetings. I continually chant for every one of our meetings to be incredibly uplifting to everyone who has taken time out of their busy schedules, gotten into their cars on these cold night, and showed up for meetings. I chant for everyone to be experiencing so many benefits that they just HAVE to tell everyone abou this practice. That is one of the reasons that we have 3-5 guests at almost every meeting. We are doing shakubuku naturally. 

President Ikeda talks frequently about how important the youth and the young people are to Kosen-rufu, and last night we had 4 people in their twenties, 2 grade school children and one baby, and the women's division members who are chanting and supporting each other and the youth. We usually have some men also. We feel as close as a family ~ we're a Gakkai Family.  

At the meetings we sit in a circle and share our victories and learn about the practice. After the meetings we all stay and talk for as long as anyone wants. 

Many SGI meetings all over the world are just like this, warm homes for everyone. If you haven't been to a meeting, I really encourage you to go. There are people waiting there who want to get to know you, and are interested in your happiness, as you will be interested in them. SGI meetings are world peace in miniature. We come from all over the world and join in our shared vision of creating happiness for ourselves, changing our own karma and extending that happiness and karma changing into the entire world. 

If for some reason you've been to a meeting and didn't feel this way, you can challenge it with your Daimoku. When you chant with people you all grow close. You can change anything.

You are not alone. There is so much love in the Soka Gakkai. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this wonderful organization. 

If you have any questions about how to find a meeting close to you, or any other questions please email me at chantforhappiness.com and I will do my best to help