"The Heart of the Lotus Sutra" by Daisaku Ikeda.
(Available at sgi-usa.org - you can click on the portal to the right).
As a fellow SGI member and lover of this practice (not as an official representative of the SGI) I share my thoughts here with you:
"The Heart of the Lotus Sutra" is truly the story of our lives. In the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni reveals that he did not attain enlightenment in his present lifetime as so many people assume. (And as Shakyamuni said in earlier sutras) In the Lotus Sutra he reveals that he attained enlightenment in "beginningless time" and that we, as practitioners of Nichiren Buddhism also attained enlightenment in beginningless time, and are fulfilling our vow to come to this world and show everyone the path to happiness by using the example of our own lives, never being defeated, and overcoming every obstacle.
Once we are awakened to the fact that we are Buddhas equal to the original Buddha, we can embrace every challenge with fresh eyes, saying to ourselves
"Yes! I chose this challenge.
I chose this because I KNOW
that I can chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
and absolutely, without a doubt I can change this.
It is up to me.
I have the power to tap into the vast resources within,
as long as I stay focused on my mission for kosen-rufu."
Each of us can awaken every day with the reality that we are Boddhisatvas of the Earth ~ Dancing in happiness ~ assured of our own power to overcome anything in our lives, through reading President Ikeda's words, chanting, refreshing our determination and knowing, absolutely knowing that we chose this existence to manifest our highest potential.
What kind of PowerPrayer (thoughts in our minds while we are chanting) would be useful?
Let's look at a few of Sensei's quotes from "The Heart of the Lotus Sutra,"
"The Buddha's original state of life is identical with all people's original state of life. They could not be in any way different. Fundamentally, all people are Buddhas. The only difference is that the Buddha understands this while others are ignorant of it. " p. 153
When we realize that we are Buddhas from beginningless time "We can attain a state of eternal happiness as indestructible as a daimond~that is, the true aspect of the Buddha ~ in our lives." and that "No matter how heavy our burden of karma, through tapping our inner life force, we can revolutionize our existence." p. 163.
"It enables us to address the reality of our situations with a fresh, forward-looking spirit, always basing ourselves on life's "original moment."
Sensei goes on to quote Josei Toda who talks about how we all dwelt together as Buddhas of absolute happiness before making our vows to return to this world and lead others to happiness.
We are all here fulfilling our vow joyously together.
What problem could stop us?
Could financial difficulty stop us?...not unless we let it.
How about heartbreak, a karma many of us are challenging? No, I have not yet found my "soulmate." But I am still en-couraged. Every day I chip away at my karma right along with you. And every day I awaken refreshed...when I study, chant, encourage others and go to SGI meetings. We have such precious lives. People are depending on us to shine. We ARE the suns in our lives!
PowerPrayer for
Awakening Our Own Buddha Nature!
By Jamie Lee Silver, from the Blog Chantforhappiness.com. Please do not cut and paste this without sharing its origin.
Life!
Once again I greet you in front of the Gohonzon!
I appreciate one more day in this world of strife!
Once again I strive at every moment
to bring forth the world of Buddhahood within.
Right now I am raising my life condition!
I am determined to live in wisdom,
tapping the highest potential in my life.
I am determined to harmonize with my fellow humans
in a way that makes a difference.
I am determined to be all I can be,
and fulfill my vow for kosen-rufu!
(Happiness and respect for all of life -
the raising of the life-condition of ALL)
I am determined to forge ahead
with wisdom, happiness and composure.
May I live this day fully and happily,
and shine like the sun!
I am determined to_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
as I joyously bring forth my Buddhahood!
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