Happy Summer Solstice!

When you chant enough daimoku 

your life is shining like the sun. 

Are you feeling a little down? 

Are things not going your way as often as you would like? 

If you start chanting more daimoku more consistently your life will rise with the power of daimoku, you'll feel a glow and contentment, you'll be happier, people you want to have in your life will be drawn to you...

Try challenging yourself to chant more daimoku in the morning and the evening. You can make it fun by chanting with others. And you may experience the place I am in right now...the more I chant the more I WANT to chant. The time flies. It is effortless. I have so many things to chant for! I feel so connected. I chant with so much joy! 

Daimoku is FREE and a "happiness making machine." 

I've been chanting at least two hours a day for awhile. I'm focusing on writing the PowerPrayer book, and on YOU who read this blog. 

My deepest desire is to write words that inspire you, give you hope and make you want to get back in front of your Gohonzon and rededicate yourself to creating the life you really want. When you chant you TELL your life what you want.

My deepest desire is to encourage you to take Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda's words to heart and engrave them in your lives. 

My deepest desire is for you to be so happy that people naturally want to learn what you're doing and you can teach them to chant. 

My deepest desire is to always connect with Sensei (Daisaku Ikeda) and take the actions, chant the prayers, and write and say the words that he would say. 

Sensei's Daily Guidance for June 21 from For Today and Tomorrow reads:

"When you devote your life to achieving your goal,  
you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. 
In fact nothing can be accomplished 
if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, 
always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking. 
The key to achievement is to move forward resolutely along your chosen path."

Response to A Question

Hello!

Question:


"I have been chanting for about a year and a half but my life doesn't seem to have improved. It even seems worse. Please tell me what I can do."


Answer:


Examine your practice! Focus on the basics!


Prescriptions for a Powerful Practice!


Here are a few questions for you to consider~ all of these things contribute to having a powerful practice. When you have a POWERFUL PRACTICE you are able to raise your life condition high enough to overcome your challenges and get the engine of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo running in your life and be happy! 


1. Do you have a Gohonzon (altar) in your home? 
2. Do you go to SGI meetings regularly? (SGI websites can connect you to your local group of friendly people!)
3. Have you made a personal connection with SGI members who inspire you?
4. Do you study and read President Ikeda's writings and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin? 
5. Do you chant twice a day, every day? 
6. Do you have an attitude of gratitude - are you able to focus on the positive in your life? 
7. Are you introducing others to the practice to the best of your ability? 
8. Do you have fresh determinations about the changes you want to make in your life? 
9. When you are chanting are you focusing your mind? Are you VOWING to achieve victory in all aspect of your life? 


You are so much more powerful than you realize!


If you are doing all of these things your life will become unstoppable! Your challenges will disappear one after the other...new challenges will arise but you won't be afraid of them. 


If you are chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and wish to change your life you must be the one to pick your life up from the floor- make a fresh determination and ROAR like a lion when you chant. Tell your life exactly what you want. Write your determination for your life. Send it to me. I will chant for you too, but it is YOUR determination that will create your results. 


You can do it!

Make your determination! 


Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Chant to raise your life condition! 


Write me again! 

It's November....a time for new determinations....

Here we are in November...when it gets colder and darker...and somehow the days seem so, so long. 
Oh yes, things do pick up closer to Thanksgiving when the boys come home, and then there's the holidays to look forward to...I think. 


Today, as I sit down to chant, I am making new determinations. First of all, November is the month of Spiritual Independence. On November 28th we will all celebrate the day the SGI was excommunicated by the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood. And I don't mean that tongue in cheek. It really is a day to celebrate. No Buddhist needs a priest to tell them what to do! We are all spiritually independent and it is time to truly claim all the power we have within. 


Look at what is going on in  the world, people are rising up to claim the power that is theirs. This is a concept Daisaku Ikeda has been talking about for years! The people have the ultimate power....no one can stop the people when they are united. The Occupy movement is already having an effect. The Bank of America decided today not to charge it's customers $5 a month to access their own money. Hurray. What is next? I just read that Occupy protesters are heading to Iowa to occupy the offices of those running for President and demand that they start actually talking about the things that are important to Americans. This ought to be interesting. 


And what does spiritual independence have to do with all of this? Everything. We are claiming our spiritual independence...we are becoming Buddhas of absolute freedom. I have vowed in my prayer and in my life that no person, no circumstance, no nothing will determine my happiness and independence. I know this may strike you as a radical notion, and I can tell you it is easier said than done...but when I keep my life condition high I feel the beginnings of such a state in my life. If you look back to the beginning posts of this blog in 2009...you'll see how this blog was born...from extreme heartache and the desire to be happy no matter what the circumstances. This does not mean I don't chant for what I desire....no...it means I don't suffer over it...most of the time! 


I will write more on keeping Life Condition high in the following weeks. It all starts with your determination, your list of goals, feeling the call of your heart...and chanting, studying, helping others to chant...and continually digging deep in your prayer to realize THIS is your karma, and THIS you can change (whatever it is!)


So I'm making a fresh determination today, that the next few months are going to shine in my life. I am determined to celebrate my first year living on my own in holiday time and create many new traditions for myself. I may travel...make new friends...have adventures. I will continue chanting for the opportunity to reach as many people as possible through this blog, and by writing books and giving speeches. Please contact me if you have invitations or an agent for me! Most of all I will not feel sorry for myself that my life has changed so dramatically!


I made the decision myself to change my life, get my own apartment and begin a new phase of my life. My kids are both at college, and we are divorcing...but that doesn't mean I have to be sad. Through my daimoku I am going to come up with some goals and visions for this season...and I will fulfill my determination to live an inspiring life based on chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...no matter what!


Join me! Make your determinations! Free your life from whatever suffering you are experiencing...let's all change our karma....and the karma of our towns, our country and our world through our own inner transformation. 

Whoohoo More great and wonderful benefits!

Aaron and ben just after Ben's race!

 Today, May 28th, 2011 
My son
Benjamin Lee Silver got a medal in the 3200 meter race at the Illinois State Track Meet!!


After a season of injury...he totally blew us away today. 


8th place in Illinois is a major achievement! 
We are one of the fastest (maybe THE fastest) running state in the whole country. 


This was a fabulous way for Ben to end his High School Running Career!!! This fall he starts at Miami University of Ohio on a running scholarship he earned with all his hard work and determination!

Ben and me

Ben is on the left!!!