So I'm almost a month into my job and it's incredibly exciting. I've already produced a lot of success, and I take my smile everywhere I go. In all things "Our success is our energy. Our energy is our success." that is my belief, and those are my words.
When we freely express our Buddha nature everything flowers around us. We can create a place for the flowers of our life to bloom.
Just a little background:
As many of you know, In 2009, I created this blog to show actual proof through my own life, to inspire people to learn about chanting, and to inspire my beloved fellow practitioners all over the world. This is not an easy practice, but when we practice correctly, our lives overflow with benefit - so it's worth the work.
We get up early...so we can chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to awaken the Buddha in our hearts, and set our sights on what is true. We chant the truth in our hearts and make determinations towards this day, and into the future. We tell our lives what we want, for Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is our life, and the life and rhythm of the entire universe.
Through this chant we connect...and we summon all the power of the universe into our lives and dreams. Then at night, we chant again and prepare for the next day. We chant for ourselves, we chant for others, we chant for this world.
About five years ago, life was going great, but I was worried about my son Ben. We soon began a roller coaster ride of trying to keep him alive through a terrible illness. Schizophrenia. And in July of 2015, my beloved Ben succumbed to the illness and took his life. My blog of July 4th, 2015 was my declaration that I would turn poison into medicine. The worst problem can turn into the best benefit. Even this.
Fast forward, I created Bensmemorialmile.com, where we've raised almost 50K for Schizophrenia research and Suicide prevention, and I moved from Chicago to St. Pete Beach Florida where I live overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. I did not work for a year and lived off the saving that resulted from my many years of fortune accumulated through almost 33 years of practice. (This Friday, October 20th, is my 33rd anniversary of receiving the Gohonzon).
In time, I began to chant for my next job.
I chanted for a job that would use all my talents, where I'd be surrounded by people who inspire me, where I could do public speaking and have a great and growing income, where I could let the light of my life shine and do shakubuku with my life while making new friends, and where I could be HAPPY.
And I was offered many jobs...and found one I accepted.
Now I'm a few weeks into it, and I am having joyful success that is being recognized and applauded. I am surrounded by helpful and inspiring people, and I am having fun while doing good work that helps people.
And the key is to continue chanting to SEE my life, and to expand in my capacity to help others, to do shakubuku (I've not yet shared my Buddhist practice at work, but they are seeing my life shine), and to humbly keep chanting to see what I'm doing wrong so I can correct it and continue moving forward.
I am not perfect, but I chant to learn from my errors and move on. And I chant to love myself completely through it all! I'm chanting each day for the happiness of all of my coworkers as we create this beautiful community that helps seniors.
I am spreading the joyful light of hope, appreciation and love that I feel inside all the time. I have also once again been able to raise my contribution level to the SGI. I know this creates even more fortune and just makes me happy!
Whatever you are facing, you can joyfully create the life of your dreams as you bask in appreciation and continue to devote your life to this practice, shakubuku, study, and creating happiness for yourself and others.
Go Buddha go and never give up!
Embracing Buddhism gives us access to living a fearless life.
I can personally say that chanting the name of the mystic law - Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has been my key to tapping into the vital life resources that have sprung my depression and unhappiness into a life of never-ending wonder and happiness.
As Daisaku Ikeda writes in Faith into Action, page 110:(available through the SGI website - see the link to the right)
People who have strong faith are fearless,
they can overcome anything.
There is no obstacle or adversity
that they cannot surmount.
In the very depths of their lives,
no matter what happens
they lead lives of "the greatest of all joys." (6/10/96)
When I first started this blog - almost 5 years ago, I was frequently crushingly depressed. There were days I had to just put one foot in front of the other and struggle not to cry all day.
I began writing this blog with the determination to practice harder than I ever had before and to prove through my efforts and results - through my life itself that ANYTHING was possible. If I could free myself from the depression I'd had my whole life, and that my mother also experienced...I would show that the impossible is possible, and be able to inspire countless others. Now the depression is gone and close to 35,000 people see this blog every month!
Thank you so much for passing the chantforhappiness.com link to your friends. Countless people have joined or reconnected to the SGI through this humble portal! chantforhappiness.com
Many have accessed the SGI thorough the SGI link to the right: sgi-usa.org
And now, I will soon enter my 30th year of practice and I see this fearlessness blooming in my life like never before.
We talk about conspicuous and inconspicuous benefits. We can SEE conspicuous benefits. They are all around us. We get the job, we make the money, we fall in love, etc. But inconspicuous benefits are the treasures of the heart we build day after day after day as we sit in front of the Gohonzon (the scroll that is the mirror of our lives) and chant to bring forth our Buddha nature, chant to do our human revolution, chant to strengthen our lives.
THAT is where the true fortune lies. For what is a new house, a new car, a new job or a new relationship when we are cowering in fear...we are afraid it is ephemeral...we're afraid we'll lose it, we're afraid of death, of life, of rejection etc.
This practice gives us the keys to the inner kingdom where the real treasure lies.
Strength
Security
Faith
Fresh Determination
This week I received some interesting news. I went to a doctor and was referred to a surgeon, and just took a test early this morning to find out more. And I remain relentlessly cheerful, happy and unafraid. I am a new Jamie that I barely recognize. I haven't cried or been sad. I just feel in my life "I summoned this storm! Bring it on! I know through this adventure that I will be stronger and healthier and happier than ever before!" Because that is what I have been chanting for. I am at the midpoint of this precious life and I am determined to bring 100x more vigor, more enthusiasm, more power to help other people and more results into my life!
So if some type of medical procedure has to come first, well then it is a stepping stone to achieving all my goals...not an obstacle that stands in the way of achieving them.
I need to be well to travel the world and meet all of my readers and fellow members!
Today, and every day is a day of great benefits! Ben starts a new job! Thank you for all your Daimoku! And tomorrow I fly to California and meet my dear friend Etjen at LAX and drive to visit her sister in beautiful Ojai! On Wednesday I go to LA to see Kate, my mentor and friend. Who knows what the future will bring.
Every day on this trip I will be chanting to open my life to new possibilities and to discover in myself new capabilities for experiencing love, light and happiness. I will be bringing my computer and continuing to blog ~ and I'll post some pictures for you.
Whatever is troubling you,
whatever you are desiring,
whatever you do
KEEP CHANTING every day twice a day,
KEEP STUDYING Daisaku Ikeda and the Gosho
with your life!
KEEP CONNECTED TO YOUR SGI FRIENDS IN FAITH
and ATTENDING SGI MEETINGS
KEEP ENCOURAGING OTHERS and
DOING SHAKUBUKU
and your life will unfold
into a beautiful chapter you have written...
with every tear...with every smile...and with every effort you've made to sit down, face your life and chant!
