Sensei's Great Guidance for Overcoming Illness

For any of you who are facing illness - this should raise your spirits! 

The person who originally compiled these quotes 

was able to use this practice and modern medicine 

to overcome breast cancer completely. 

Please feel free to forward a link to this blogpost 

to anyone who is suffering from illness. 

From President Ikeda's Lecture series "The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin: On Prolonging One's Life Span - Faith for Leading a Long and healthy Life" in the July-August 08 Living Buddhism. (Thank you to my friend Melissa Bradford for compiling these great quotes!)

“Suffering from illness is a means by which you can eradicate your negative karma.”  
President Toda, as quoted by President Ikeda. - pg 70 

“To see illness as an opportunity to transform our karma – this strong spirit and resolve can break through all obstacles and devilish functions and open wide the path to happiness.  Like a rocket blasting out of the earth’s atmosphere, the passionate conviction of faith that comes from viewing illness as an opportunity to transform our karma can become a powerful engine propelling us forward not only in this existence but throughout eternity, enabling us to freely savor everlasting happiness.”  Pg 74

“Becoming ill in itself is certainly not a sign of defeat.  Even the Buddha, who is said to have ‘few ills and few worries’ (LS, 214), struggles with sickness from time to time.  Accordingly, there will be times when we are confronted with illness.  The important point above all is not to be defeated mentally or emotionally by the prospect of being ill.  Faith is the source of the fighting spirit to stand up to illness.  Therefore, as we noted earlier, Nichiren Daishonin first of all talks about the ‘treasure of faith’.  Pg 77

“As Nichiren says, ‘Illness gives rise to the resolve to attain the way’ (The Good Medicine for All Ills, WND-1, 937).  If a practitioner who upholds faith in the Mystic Law becomes ill, it definitely has some profound meaning.  It could be said that confronting illness is one route to awakening to the eternity of life.  President Toda often said, ‘A person who has overcome a major illness knows how to deeply savor life.’” Pg78

From Matilda Buck’s guidance, World Tribune 4/27/01 pg 10 “When We Face Disappointment” – regarding SGI leaders who overcame cancer and chanted this way:  

Through this experience, I will become someone who does not doubt the Gohonzon (my life), no matter what happens.
As a Bodhisattva of the Earth, I have the mission to experience this, and as a Bodhisattva of the Earth, I have the mission to create a victory.
I will share the power of Buddhism with others, even as I grapple with this experience.
I won’t let my spirits stay down.  I won’t make a place in my life for negativity to settle.

From The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra Volume 6:  “Praying with doubt is like trying to keep water in a bathtub with the plug pulled.  Our good fortune and benefit will drain away.  A passage from the ‘Perceiver of the World’s Sounds’ chapter reads, ‘from thought to thought never entertaining doubt!’  A confident prayer will reverberate powerfully throughout the entire universe.”  Pg 88

From Buddhism Day by Day:

“Buddhism views illness as an opportunity to attain a higher, nobler state of life.  It teaches that, instead of agonizing over a serious disease, or despairing of ever overcoming it, we should use illness as a means to build a strong, compassionate self, which in turn will make it possible for us to be truly victorious.”  pg 300

“The expansive world lies not in some distant place; it exists right where you are.  That is why you need to win where you are right now.  Today’s victory is linked to your eternal victory.”  Page 314

“No matter what the circumstances, you should never concede defeat.  Never conclude that you’ve reached a dead end, that everything is finished.  You possess a glorious future.  And precisely because of that, you must persevere and study.  Life is eternal.  We need to focus on the two existences of the present and the future and not get caught up in the past.  We must always have the spirit to begin anew ‘from this moment,’ to initiate a new struggle each day.” Pg 315

“The air around us is filled with radio waves of various frequencies.  While these are invisible, a television set can collect them and turn them into visible images.  The practice of chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo aligns the rhythm of our own lives with the world of Buddhahood in the universe.  It ‘tunes’ our lives, so to speak, so that we can manifest the power of Buddhahood in our very beings.”  Pg 314

From For Today and Tomorrow Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda:

Sept 20 pg 288:  When your determination changes, everything else will begin to move in the direction you desire.  The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success.  On the other hand, if you think “This is never going to work out,” then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight, and then everything really will move in the direction of failure.

Aug 15 pg 249:  The first thing is to pray.  From the moment we begin to pray, things start moving.  The darker the night, the closer the dawn.  From the moment we chant daimoku with a deep and powerful resolve, the sun begins to rise in our hearts.  Hope – prayer is the sun of hope.  To chant daimoku each time we face a problem, overcoming it and elevating our life-condition as a result – this is the path of “changing earthly desires into enlightenment,” taught in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

If I can Change My Karma So Can YOU!

Chicago at Night

All of us singing Christmas Carols at the Bean in Millenium Park

The domed Pool I've always loved!

The photos above are from last night...capping a magical week in which I got a wonderful job, met a wonderful man, and made many friends. The picture of the pool above is significant. This pool has always represented a dream of the "unattainable"...the way "other people live" and the glamorous life. I've been looking at this pool since I was a little girl and we would drive by it on our way from Oak Park to Evanston. Well...I have changed my karma and I feel that everything is possible...because I am a different person. I am so happy and full of gratitude. I have broken through my lesser self...I am experiencing life as the Buddha...something that is available to ALL of us through this practice. Last night I was at a party in this gorgeous high rise, and I've been asked to spend four days after Christmas housesitting in my new friend's gorgeous apartment overlooking all of Chicago...what a benefit! This apartment is walking distance to the theater district and perfectly situated on the magical lakefront.

I have seriously changed my karma! And as the title of this post says, "If I can do it so can you." There is no Buddha that is superior to another. I am awakened to the infinite potential in my life, and so are you. And if you don't give up...all YOUR dreams will come true too. Keep Going! Go Buddha Go! 

What is the key to absolute happiness? BUILDING the happiness from within through doing shakubuku, encouraging members, and winning over our own negativity. All of these benefits, the apartment, the job, etc. would have no real meaning if I didn't feel so different INSIDE. I am already happy. These "things" are a reflection of the changes I have achieved INSIDE. 

What did I change on the inside of my life?  I changed the fundamental tendency to be ashamed of my life. I changed the feeling  of being "un-loved." I always "knew" that I had to change this tendency to not love myself, and to somehow love myself. I KNEW that once I did this I would attract and recognize the deepest kind of love in my life. I knew this would draw my soulmate to me, but thinking about it and wishing for it was not the key to accomplishing it. No. I changed it by using Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to fight my own negativity, and by helping others to become absolutely happy. 

I think back to the days before November 18th when I was chanting to shakubuku a suffering youth. I chanted more than 10 hours in the few days before November 18th..."Let me find ONE youth that I can bring to get his/her Gohonzon...and this youth can find faith and encourage others...and on and on." And after that 10 hours I received a call from a young man whom I brought to get Gohonzon the next day. Somehow in those hours in front if the Gohonzon I realized the Gohonzon within my life...not with my mind..but IN my life. 

And here I am. In love with myself and all of life. I am sending you Daimoku on this day...going off to have another marvelous day, and thinking of you, all my friends all over the world, and saying Don't Give Up!!! Don't Give Up! 

Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

You Can Change ANYTHING through Chanting! YOU are the Buddha~

I know I say it over and over, and Daisaku Ikeda, and all of us KNOW that we are the Buddha...but how often do we chant in the sublime recongnition of being the Buddha and seeing through the Buddha's eyes? 

In our daily lives sometimes it seems there is just so much to chant for that we don't know where to start. Whenever I feel this way it is a signal to me to chant to see through the eyes of the Buddha and realize I am the Buddha at every moment. I also focus on chanting for others, kosen-rufu and elevating my life condition. 
If we have this perspectice on our lives it puts all of our problems into perspective. 

When I first began chanting almost 30 years ago in San Francisco I would ask my leaders "I am chanting every day, I am doing shakubuku with every breath I take, and I just bought a car so I can drive my beloved YWD to meetings...WHY am I having these personal problems?" 

And some of you have written me with similar questions. 

I was given this answer: "You are a leader for kosen-rufu...(world peace) one day, your members will come to you with problems just like you have now, and you will REALLY know how they feel, and you will know exactly how to encourage people." And they also told me that whatever I was going through, I was expiating karma from my life, and for my children's lives as well...seven generations back, and seven generations in the future. I learned to focus on the big picture...not just on all my problems, but on chanting for kosen-rufu and the happiness of my district members and all members...and the happiness of the whole world. Every day I would ask in my prayers while chanting "What is my mission in life? What is my mission in life?" and I knew the answer even as I was chanting...I knew I wanted to help people who were suffering like I was before I began chanting, and to help them find out about this practice and try it. 
Whoever you are - reading these words right now ~ I want you to know you HAVE found the solution, and you can use this practice to overcome suffering of ANY kind. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, practicing with the SGI, challenging yourself to understand and live the mentor/disciple relationship, studying and introducing others to this practice is the formula for incredible happiness and strength. One day, you will look back on the hard times and realize they were golden moments that strengthened your life and your practice! 

My life proves it. 
Your life will prove it too. 
We Soka Gakkai members are proving the power of the law with our lives. 

We can solve financial hardships, health problems, weight issues, relationship problems...we can stop worrying and start enjoying life. We can find better places to live, and deepen all our relationships. We can evolve into beings living truly vibrant and fulfilling lives who contribute to the well being of others and stop suffering and start living. The Mystic law is THAT powerful. 

Whatever your challenge may be, the important thing is to not give up. I have had breakthrough after breakthrough this week. I got the job! My son is better! I am living each day with vibrant energy. I am studying this Buddhism. 

I have to run off to have a really wonderful day in my gorgeous city at the Art Institute. 

Please remember to chant for whatever you want. You do not have to ask anyone permission about chanting. Chant what is in your heart. There are no wrong prayers. If you want it...chant for it! 

PowerPrayer for Empowering Youth ~

Hi, yesterday was my 29th Gohonzon birthday. Every year on my birthday I set aside a solid block of time to chant..at least three hours. Yesterday I spent all three hours chanting for youth. And as I was chanitng I was realizing some things I wanted to tell you. 

I get many members and readers asking the same question: "If I spend time chanting for these broader things, like kosen-rufu, or shakubuku, what about my OWN desires? Don't I need to chant for them?" 

That's a perfectly understandable question. We have all had the same thoughts. 

Here are a few of my own thoughts on the matter. This is not an official SGI blog, it is my own heart and soul from years of being a district leader and chanting with an open heart to feel and express the heart of my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda. 

So, yesterday I chanted for youth. For three hours. I flooded my thoughts with smiling faces of young people all over the world. I chanted for them to take the vanguard in ending the suffering of all of humanity by cutting through their obstacles, doing shakubuku, and having the vision, creativity and drive to change the world. The rest of us are their supporters, cheerleaders and mentors. We are all working together. 

As I was chanting I felt connected to all of the SGI. I felt like I was chanting Daisaku Ikeda's prayer. I could see the earth in my mind, glowing in peace and happiness, and personal suffering waning, and waning, and waning. I don't have to tell you we live in turbulent times. And I myself, have a youth who is facing challenges right now. 

Chanting for youth made the time fly. Three hours felt like 30 minutes. And I was surrounded with the peace of knowing that no matter what I am facing personally, everything will just work out perfectly. This is not blind faith, resignation or an inability to take action. No. My life is filled with action, but the prayer to shakubuku youth is DEEP. It is the collective prayer of us all. I felt like I was tapping into a swiftly moving current. 

Do you HAVE to chant about youth? No. No one will ever tell you what you HAVE to chant about in this practice, and I am always saying "Chant for what you want. Chant for what you REALLY want." and I believe that. But we all know that raising our prayer towards universal aspirations has incredible power. 

In every World Tribune and Living Buddhism (American SGI publications) Daisaku Ikeda is talking encouraging youth. He knows that life is eternal, and we need a planet filled with impassioned youth...impassioned for GOOD, impassioned with PURPOSE! 

Having purpose helps us all. It is the most fulfilling way to live. 

So now, I offer you a PowerPrayer for YOUTH. Many people read PowerPrayers before chanting, to help with focus and concentration. 
Please, as always, don't cut and paste it, but please send links to chantforhappiness.com or use the sharing buttons at the bottom of the post. 

PowerPrayer for YOUTH

Life!
I tap into you with this strong Daimoku!
Every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chant is aimed straight for the heart of the youth in this world!
I picture youth chanting
I picture youth singing
I picture youth smiling radiantly and seeing their actions change the world
I chant for every hopeless youth to have HOPE
I chant for them all to connect 
with this incredible law of life 
create happy families, 
and challenge themselves to create a happy world of respect for all (kosen-rufu!)
while introducing their friends to chanting. 
Their Daimoku is MY Daimoku. 
Every moment of my prayer I dedicate to these new, shining, spiritual ones.
My District will have at least ONE new Youth receive Gohonzon by November 18th! 
May they each experience the joy of practice! 
May they each transform their lives
into lives of happy purpose, 
May they transform their families, their schools, their communities and the world!
My prayer is their prayer
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

PowerPrayer for Revealing Our Buddhahood

We are Worthy of Every Happiness

In the upcoming book The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness, Julia Landis and I are publishing many PowerPrayers that have been published on this blog. We ARE all worthy of every Happiness. This prayer helps us to feel it. 

PowerPrayers are usually read just before chanting and sometimes after. Some people print them out and put them on their altars. I owe the phrase "I Praise my Life" while chanting to my dear friend and mentor Kate Randolph. Chanting in this way has really helped me ~ Thanks wise one! 

PowerPrayer for Revealing 

Your Buddha Nature 

and Appreciating YourSELF

I Praise My Life!

I Praise the Buddha I am! 

Each Daimoku I chant reveals the pure, sparkling Diamond

of resilience, strength and wisdom

that lies within me. 

I chant to be more and more aware 

of how wonderful I am every single day. 

I am determined that every cause I make, 

at every single moment of every day 

is a great and positive cause for my life, 

and all of life, 

and leads me to see more and more of my Buddha nature. 

I chant that my Buddha Nature emerge 

and flow from my life touching everyone I see. 

I chant to I see my life 

as the brilliant sparkling Diamond that it is. 

I chant that throughout the day 

I say only kind words to myself. 

That I praise myself with my every thought. 

I chant to believe in my own goodness 

and to see it revealed in my actions. 

I pray to realize my life as the Buddha I am.

I chant that those around me 

are inspired to begin chanting, 

or to strengthen their practice 

just by seeing my happiness flow. 

I chant to meet the people 

who are looking for the Mystic Law 

and to be able to help them practice.

I praise my life

I praise my life! 

Hope is Life's Treasure, by Daisaku Ikeda

Hope Is Life's Treasure

Hope is
life's treasure.

Those
who have hope
are always happy.

One can have
all the wealth, power and fame
in the world,
but if one loses hope,
one will falter and stumble
in life.

The ancient Roman orator
Cicero wrote:
"Our capital is invested in hope
rather than in money;
if that hope be abandoned,
all else will be amassed
only to be lost later on."

The arrogant
who ridicule the hopeful
invariably fall in defeat,
left with naught but regret.

On no account
must we ruin
our lives,
which shine with such promise!

Hope is
a jewel that inspires and uplifts.
As long as we have hope,
we will never be deadlocked.

Victory always awaits
and happy smiles spread
where there is hope.

In the words of
the admirable Wangari Maathai,
the Kenyan environmental activist
and friend whom my wife and I
will never forget:
"Hope is like a flower,
which, when it blooms,
does so no matter
what mood it's in
or who is watching.
It always gives its best.
We can too."

Hope is
a flower that blossoms
in effort and perseverance.
Hope is
the noble visible reward
of those who accumulate unseen virtue.

People who live out their lives
with hope
never become jaded
or apathetic.

A contributive life
of giving hope
to those who are suffering
is a source of growth,
fulfillment,
learning,
creativity
and solidarity.

The great Spanish author
Miguel de Cervantes wrote,
"Just as light shines
more brightly in darkness,
so hope should be
more steadfast in trials."

Hope is the hallmark
of invincible fortitude.
Life is a struggle -
hence, our challenge is to live
with optimism and strength,
year after year.

InazoNitobe,
the great Tohoku-born educator,
friend of first Soka Gakkai president
Tsunesaburo Makiguchi,
declared that hope
can be found
even in the darkest gloom.

Such hope, he said,
is "visible only
to the eye of
faith and courage."

Even while imprisones dor his beliefs,
President Makiguchi wrote serenely,
"Depending on one's frame of mind,
even hell can be enjoyable."

Josei Toda later said
in gratitude to his martyred mentor,
"In your vast and boundless compassion,
you let me accompany you
even to prison."

As the third Soka Gakkai president,
I have steadfastly walked
the profoundly solemn
path of selfless dedication
of mentor and disciple.

I have given my life
to realizing all
the cherished hopes of
my mentor.
My heart is clear and bright,
without a cloud of regret.

As Nichiren Daishonin writes,
"The sun breaks through
the pitch-black dark."
Courageous faith is
the sun of limitless hope.

Mentor and disciple
committed to the noblest cause
will rise above all trials and adversity;
the unsurpassed brilliance of their lives
shining on forever.

Infinite hope!
The mystic law is the source.
A boundless state of life!
Faith and practice are the key.

In the Lotus Sutra,
we find these truly generous words:
"We beg that the merit (we have) gained...
may be spread far and wide to everyone,
so that we and other beings
all together may attain the Buddha way."

Kosen-rufu us
the supreme and colossal hope
of elevating
all humanity
to a vast life-state
of peace and happiness.

Ah---
Hope! Hope! Hope!
Hope is life's treasure.

At the start of a new year,
a new day,
let us set forth,
brimming with bright hope,
the sun of time without beginning
brimming in our hearts!

Let us boldly break through
even the deepest turmoil
of these troubled times,
and be the ones to create new hope!

Let us advance in triumph,
imparting the hope
of absolute victory
to one person after another!

The French writer and activist
Romain Rolland said,
"The last hope of our day
lies in youth."

I now wish to declare for all to hear:
"The greatest hope for the future lies in Soka youth."

My young friends,
never be defeated!

No matter what trials and hardships
may befall you,
never lose sight of
the golden light of hope!

Oh my friends,
my beloved friends
whom I trust with all my heart,
live out your lives with hope!
Be victorious without fail!

Daisaku Ikeda
--on my 84th birthday,
January 2nd, 2012

You can Overcome ALL Your Problems! Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo WORKS!

I know I say it over and over, and Daisaku Ikeda, and all of us KNOW that we are the Buddha...but how often do we chant in the sublime recongnition of being the Buddha and seeing through the Buddha's eyes? 

In our daily lives sometimes it seems there is just so much to chant for that we don't know where to start. Whenever I feel this way it is a signal to me to chant to see through the eyes of the Buddha and realize I am the Buddha at every moment. I also focus on chanting for others, kosen-rufu and elevating my life condition. 
If we have this perspectice on our lives it puts all of our problems into perspective. 

When I first began chanting almost 30 years ago in San Francisco I would ask my leaders "I am chanting every day, I am doing shakubuku with every breath I take, and I just bought a car so I can drive my beloved YWD to meetings...WHY am I having these personal problems?" 

And some of you have written me with similar questions. 

I was given this answer: "You are a leader for kosen-rufu...(world peace) one day, your members will come to you with problems just like you have now, and you will REALLY know how they feel, and you will know exactly how to encourage people." And they also told me that whatever I was going through, I was expiating karma for my life, and for my children's lives as well...seven generations back, and seven generations in the future. I learned to focus on the big picture...not just on all my problems, but on chanting for kosen-rufu and the happiness of my district members and all members...and not just members, but the whole world. Every day I would ask in my prayers while chanting "What is my mission in life? What is my mission in life?" and I knew the answer even as I was chanting...I knew I wanted to help people who were suffering like I was before I began chanting, and to help them find out about this practice and try it. 
Whoever you are - reading these words right now ~ I want you to know you HAVE found the solution, and you can use this practice to overcome suffering of ANY kind. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, practicing with the SGI, studying and introducing others to this practice is the formula for incredible happiness and strength. One day, you will look back on the hard times and realize they were golden moments that strengthened your life and your practice! 

My life proves it. 
Your life will prove it too. 
We Soka Gakkai members are proving the power of the law with our lives. 
As many of you know I've faced a tremendous challenge with the illness of one of my children. And every day I have used this practice to remain strong and to persevere and to WIN. I have chanted to be a better person, and to bring out my inner wisdom, and to work together with the health professionals to bring him back to wellness. Sometimes I have had to say difficult things. But every morning, with my focused prayer, I have set the course for a day filled with wisdom and power. I am steering the ship...even if I can't control everything, I can control myself and set goals. 

Now I have some peace! 
All week I've been side-by-side with my son who was recently released from the hospital and I've been cherishing every minute, every laugh, every experience.  The joy I feel in my heart just to be with him is immense. Every daimoku right now is filled with gratitude. I feel I have already won! 

Thank You Sooooo Much!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. 

Do you have ANY idea how courageous, how strong, how loving and wonderful you are? 

I have received countless emails this week encouraging ME. 

Encouraging me...for encouraging you! You see that I am going through some amazing challenges...really the biggest challenge of my life so far, and you are encouraging me. You are sending warm words of hope and sending your updates on how the Worldwide Million Daimoku Campaign is going for you. Thanks!

As one of you noted, Sensei says that those who can encourage others, even while going through their own firestorms...they are the greatest of people. (I paraphrase here, but I'm sure you've seen the quote) And each of us noble Bohisattvas of the earth have that power. 

Thank you! 

Did you know that the readership of this blog is now at 30k a month? My goal is 50k by November 18th! Thank you for helping! 

I know it is because of each one of you forwarding the url (chantforhappiness@blogspot.com, or chantforhappiness.com)  to your fellow members or shakubuku. 
Did you notice that there are icons below each post? You can forward your favorite posts via email, facebook, or twitter. And I have a new twitter account: Chant for Happiness@JamieLeeSilver.
I just found out how to work twitter recently and I'm still learning. You can follow me there if you like. I occasionally when I am about to chant and you can join me. 

It's not too late to join the Million Daimoku Campaign  - email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com to let me know you're in! Also send me your goals (if you wish), questions, challenges, Victories and pictures. I won't ever print anything on this blog without your written permission. 

And if you'd like to know more about talking to me on the phone send an email to chantforhappiness.com. Have a great day!  

Burn With Ever Brighter Spirit!

I have huge challenges now! Huge. Bigger than ever. I am burning bright as the sun because I am embracing these challenges and I am determined to WIN. Not just for myself...but for YOU...and my district, for kosen-rufu and for the world. The problems I face are the problems people are facing all over. I MUST defeat them. I must use them to fuel my growth and to help people. I am a warrior for happiness...a warrior for kosen-rufu. I burn with the spirit of my mentor Daisaku Ikeda, and I AM Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and so are YOU!

The second Gosho I ever studied and studied and studied is "A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering" by Nichiren Daishonin. In it, he makes it clear that our problems are actually our benefits because the more problems we have the more we will strengthen our lives. And the stronger our lives become the happier we are. The happier we are, the more we can help others. And happiness is contagious. Our happiness leads to kosen-rufu...our happiness SPREADS. Our happiness is IMPORTANT. 

In America we have a couple of phrases that represent this. One is: "Happy Wife, Happy Life." Smart husbands say this, because they know it is true. Another is "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" and that's true too, isn't it!

A happy wife makes a happy husband. A happy wife and mother creates a happy home. A happy home creates a happy neighborhood. A happy neighborhood leads to a happy world. Your happiness is important. In Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism we create our own happiness. We are responsible for turning poison into benefit. And we have the ultimate tool to do it! We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in front of the mirror of our lives, the Gohonzon. We are fortunate indeed. 

This is one of my favorite quotes from the Gosho "A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering:" "In the Latter Day of the Law (now), the Votary of the Lotus Sutra (us), will appear without fail. The greater the hardships befalling him, the greater the delight he feels, because of his strong faith. Doesn't a fire burn more briskly when logs are added? " and...by extension, our problems cause us to chant and make new determinations. These new determinations strengthen our lives. We forge our own humanity and strength through having problems and defeating them one by one by one. 

President Ikeda says: 
"Instead of becoming discouraged by setbacks or changes of our circumstances, we need to lift ourselves up and take on new challenges with even greater energy. The important thing is that we remain true to the goal we have pledged to achieve that we burn with ever brighter fighting spirit to win in the end."
 (April 5 World Tribune, p.3,)

Guest Posting From Bubbles Sabharwal

Bubbles Sabharwal

I joined the practice in 2005 and know I was a bodhisattva from many lifetimes ago. I am a theatre director with two theatre companies, one that works with children and one with adults. I am a published writer with Penguin (Tomorrows Promise, contemporary fiction), and Scholastic (The Curse of the Broken Step, an adventure story for 8-10 year olds. Fusing history with fiction) I write a column with the Financial Chronicle which is about the "Business of Life" i.e. mystically value creation. I acted in a popular film, "No One Killed Jessica". I am one part writer, another part actress, another part mother, one part wife,one part businesswoman, but these are merely parts, the whole is NMRK. A foot soldier of the Law.

Today I went for an activity and a member said a lovely line "Focus on faith and Karma will sort itself out."

Focus on faith, strength will come, strength to challenge karma and karma will get sorted out. In the process you grow from strength to strength (those are my words!!!).

and only 73 days to Nov 18th when victories must ring across the countries...we MUST break through shackles and obstacles and chant with a do-or-die passion to change our lives. i.e. become happier!!!

Hugs, and much love from a hot hot country! (India)

Bubbles

"As long as we pray earnestly and sincerely with all our being, if we have strong and genuine faith, even though results may not be immediately visible, they will definitely manifest without fail in generations of our children and our children's children. I would like all of you to have absolute confidence in this."

Daisaku Ikeda

WISDOM FOR A WINNING LIFE:
"Success, is not a matter of accumulating more of this or that; it is not measured in quantity. It means changing the quality of your life. Wealth, power, fame and knowledge alone cannot make you happy, no matter how much you acquire. Nor can you can them with you when you die. But by improving the quality of your life you will at last approach true happiness."

Daisaku Ikeda

GOSHO PASSAGE:
"Believers in the Lotus Sutra should fear those who attempt to obstruct their practice more than they fear bandits, burglars, night raiders, tigers, wolves, or lions—even more than invasion now by the Mongols."

(WND 495) Letter to the Brothers
Written to Ikegami Munenaka and Ikegami Munenaga on April 16, 1275

BUDDHISM DAY BY DAY - WISDOM FOR MODERN LIFE:

"Overcoming the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death is not just a matter of theory. We mustn't move away from the issues of how we can lead healthy, fulfilling and long lives, and how we can die without suffering. Buddhism teaches the wisdom that enables us to do this."

Daisaku Ikeda

THE NEW HUMAN REVOLUTION:
Shin'ichi gazed at the white, ruined pillars of the Forum as they glistened in the sunlight, astonished that these buildings, crumbling though they might be, had stood for some two thousand years. No doubt the ancient Romans had built and designed each of their monuments to last for eternity, aiming also for the highest aesthetic beauty.
Shin'ichi was deeply determined that the Grand Reception Hall (Daikyakuden) and the Grand Main Temple (Sho-Hondo) that would be built at the head temple in the future would also endure for two or three thousand years, that they would be strong and at the same time endowed with both aesthetic beauty and the brilliance of humanity.
The party returned to their hotel and, after dinner, discussed further personnel appointments for Soka Gakkai activities in Europe...
After the meeting, Shin'ichi returned to the Roman Forum, accompanied by the other members in his party. He had wanted to take some time for quiet reflection while strolling through the ruins at night. A beautiful full moon illuminated the massive pillars with its cool blue light. In the stillness of night, the Forum had an impenetrable air not evident in the daytime.
It probably never occurred to the ancient Romans that their proud empire might one day perish. Shin'ichi thought to himself. Prosperity and decline are an inescapable part of human existence. Only a little more than 500 years after it began, imperial Rome, which all had thought would last forever, disappeared with the disintegration of the Western Roman Empire.
But Nichiren Daishonin wrote, "If Nichiren's compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity." (MW-4, 272). The Mystic Law is eternal. LIkewise, peace and prosperity for humanity that is built upon the foundation of the Mystic Law must also endure for eternity. The Mystic Law can be described as a great spiritual realm where humanity has triumphed over the domination of military might and authoritarian power.
The Soka Gakkai's mission was to build this great spiritual realm - the Land of the Mystic Law - in the heart of each individual, and to construct there an Eternal City of human harmony. To open the door to a new, more hopeful, future for humanity, this had to be achieved. Vowing to accomplish this as he gazed up at the moon over Rome, Shin'ichi silently composed a poem in his mind:

Standing here
In the ruins of Rome
I am convinced
The Land of the Mystic Law
Shall never perish

(Vol. 5, Joy 124-125)

From Jamie: 

Thank you so much Bubbles! It was our great benefit to have you here in the Chicago Area at our meetings this spring! We wish you a speedy return here! 

If any readers want to guest post, please send your submission, a bio and a picture to me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Experiences and questions are always welcome as well. 

Overcoming HUGE Challenges!

ROARRRRRRRRRRRR

Here we are chanting in the Worldwide Million Daimoku Campaign. Many of you have emailed me saying you have huge goals, and are chanting 300 hours (a Million Nam-myoho-renge-kyos) to make them happen. 

You know what that means, right? YES! It means that your karma, my karma, all of our karma will come out so we can change it forever through chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Although this is really the best, most invigorating way to live, it can also be daunting. Today's post is from my heart, because I am totally sharing in a great challenge in my own life.

Many of you write me facing Huge challenges...HUGE CHALLENGES. As you know, I love hearing from you and am always happy to answer your emails that you send to chantforhappiness@gmail.com. I am now offering chanting coaching over the phone or skype. You can tell me what is happening in your life and I will really hear you. I can help you write your own personal PowerPrayer, and move your life forward with new courage, vigor and determination. If you are interested in finding out more about speaking with me personally, please send me an email at chantforhappiness.com.  

Whatever you are facing ~ YOU have the power to change your situation. It starts with chanting to do your own HUMAN REVOLUTION. Your life is the shadow of your inner life. When you change your inner life, you will also change the shadow ~ your whole environment will change. This will absolutely happen. 

I think of karma as being in the garden hose of life...the water is coming through the hose, but it also has mud and dirt in it. As the dirt (karma) washes out through Daimoku, sometimes it gets clogged with problems, and that's when I have to chant more, study more, chant with others more, do shakubuku more and challenge myself more to change my karma. 

I can't give up. No problem is bigger that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! Let's not give up! 

I know I can use my victory over this problem to inspire others and build my own unshakable faith. I MUST use all the resources of my faith, my mind, my courage and my compassion to light the way for all of us. 

When you have this sort of feeling, that "I, _______(your name here), will overcome ALL my suffering and use my experience to inspire others" your feeling of suffering will change. You will understand and challenge your life in a new way. You will chant with more strength in front of the Gohonzon! See if you can do this!  

You must generate and create the conviction that you are suffering for a greater purpose: to help others, and that you WILL achieve victory so you can inspire others. And your suffering will end immediately when you grasp that you have a deep mission. But we are not here to master suffering, not we who practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism with our mentor Daisaku Ikeda! We are here to master happiness! And forging courageously through our suffering, and using it as the fuel to create our happiness...that is the highest and best state of life. 

We are so lucky to be able to chant to overcome our problems! We can change everything! We can't back down. We must make strong determinations! We have to go the distance and say "No matter how long it takes...I WILL change this! I am THE BUDDHA! I AM NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO! NO devilish function, no "bad karma" can defeat me! No WAY! 

"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is like the Roar of A Lion - What Sickness Can Therefore be an Obstacle!"

"A Coward cannot have any of his prayers answered" Nichiren

Summon Courage! 

Make a strong determination!