We are the Brilliant Protagonists of Our Own Lives!

This quote was sent to me from Bubbles Sabharwal, our friend in India:  

Sensei said, 

"Viewed from the perspective of Buddhism, 
your suffering is like that portrayed 
by a brilliant, highly paid actress 
cast in the role of a tragic heroine. 
When the play is finished, 
the actress goes home to a life of ease and comfort. 
Your life is the same. 
Moreover, 
the story you play out on the stage of life's theatre 
will have a happy ending. 
There is no need to worry. 
You will definitely become happy. 
I say this with absolute certainty. 
Just as a great actress relishes performing her tragic role, please rise from the depths of your sorrow 
to boldly act out 
a magnificent drama of human revolution. 
All people are pioneers 
travelling the unknown frontiers of life. 
Therefore, it is up to you alone 
to cultivate and develop your own life. 
You must wield the hoe of faith, 
sow the seeds of happiness 
and persevere tenaciously. 
The sweat of your efforts for kosen rufu 
will become precious gems of good fortune, 
brilliantly dignifying your life forever.

Please become the happiest person! 

Illuminated by the Mystic Law, 
may you soar like a queen!"

(NHR vol 1, PG 310-311)

PowerPrayer to Realize You DESERVE your Desires

This PowerPrayer comes from my writing partner Julia Landis. I love it!

Powerprayer 
to realize I deserve what I most want

I Deserve a life of Beauty, Gain, and Good.*
I am now ready to live a life of beauty, gain and good.
I realize that I am completely worthy
of the best and most beautiful riches
and resources this world has to offer,
including money,
especially money.
Any hinderances I have every experienced to realizing my worthiness
have burned up in the fire of my Daimoku!

I am beautiful, I inspire others to realize that they are beautiful, too.
My beauty uplifts people.
The beauty, elegance, and simplicity of my
home,
clothes,
life
creates a cause in the lives of others to surround themselves with beauty and to bring forth great beauty from the depths of their lives.
From the inexhaustable well of Buddhahood within
I bring forth a positive spiral
of ever increasingly high life condition,
(material wealth), that sparkles with inherent generosity.

I am a cause for many great and needed projects
that raise the world's life condition through my wealth.
Gain is inherently good and wealth reflects a healthy self esteem, motivated productivity and generosity.
My wealth flows from my deep innate goodness that I reveal with each Daimoku I chant.
I am beauty, gain and good incarnate now
and I am simultaneously the cause of beauty, gain and good
in the lives of an uncountable number of others.

* What is value creation? Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, visionary founder of the SGI, saw the ability to create value as a distinctively human possibility. He defined value as the triad of beauty, gain and good. "Beauty" might be defined as aesthetic enhancement; "gain" as everything that enriches a person's life in the broadest sense; and "good" as that which benefits society as a whole. http://www.daisakuikeda.org/assets/files/educator/creativ-edu-maki.html

PowerPrayer to Achieve Your Desires

Daisaku Ikeda states 

in Ikedaquotes.org 

under "Desires":

"The Buddha’s enlightenment 

does not lie in “eradicating” earthly desires, 

but in infusing them with compassion and wisdom. 

It is a matter of transforming 

the turbid river of earthly desires, karma, suffering 

and negativity into a pure stream 

of compassion and wisdom. 

Those who achieve this 

possess a perfectly tranquil and serene state of life 

in that they are not troubled by earthly desires; 

at the same time, 

their lives have a vigorous dynamism. 

Such a state of life is like the ocean. 

No matter what turmoil there may be on the surface, 

in its depths there is absolute calm and tranquility."

I get emails every day from people asking me how to chant for their desires and if they can chant for their desires. And the answer I glean from Daisaku Ikeda's writings is this: if you elevate your desires into the deep desire for the happiness of all mankind you will have the deepest prayer to enable you to achieve your desires, and you will be helping other people at the same time. 

How do you do this? 

This is what PowerPrayers are all about. With every desire you have, you can infuse it with the light of compassion for all. 

Power Prayer infused with Compassion to Achieve Your Desires:

"Gohonzon! My Life! I desire ______________. It is my heart's desire! I am determined to achieve this to PROVE to my family, my friends and the world that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo WORKS. I am determined to show this actual proof and help others learn to chant and become happy themselves!"

And then Take Action. Chant consistently. Take action towards your goal. Tell others about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, study and attend meetings. You will see that you will develop peace about your goal. 

Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo 

enables us to make any hardship or 

setback the source of our new advancement 

and our treasure for the future. 

Therefore, you don't have to be 

afraid if making a mistake or encountering an obstacle. 

In short, as long as you are devoted 

to staying in the correct orbit of faith, 

you won't ever cease to advance

toward your victory, 

even if you may go through 

some twists and turns in life." - Daisaku Ikeda

SGI Meetings ROCK!!!! Tips for Guests!

We had an Amazing SGI (Soka Gakkai) 

meeting in my apartment tonight! 

We had seven guests and eight Members! 

Next Wednesday Amisha will be getting her Gohonzon so she won't be a guest anymore!

Introducing others to this practice is easy! I constantly chant for my life to be a shining example that this practice works, and to meet the people who want to hear about it! 

About a month ago I went to a going away party in Oak Park. I met a woman named Susan and we started talking about our kids. Her daughter is 16 years old. I remember what being sixteen years old was like for me. It wasn't the best of times. I was seeking the Gohonzon, but could only find those forms of Buddhism that said you had to alleviate your desires to be happy, and there was NO WAY I wanted to do that. But how I would have loved to be able to chant to overcome my problems as a teen. It brings me such incredible joy to introduce young people! I shared with her some stories about my sons and the things they had chanted for in High School. And I shared Shazara's story of overcoming being bullied, and Susan was intrigued. She asked her daughter if she wanted to come and her daughter brought two friends! Welcome to Zoe and Dania and Josh and Susan! And welcome to our new friends Kamala and Gita and Amisha!

All of us, Bhavia, Kathy, Alex, Varsha, Debbie, Christine, Pamela and I (and all the members who couldn't be at this meeting) welcome you! 

We chanted together for half an hour, then sat in a circle and talked about this practice and 

what makes it different than any other practice:

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo means "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration" It is the name of the rhythm of life itself. Chanting these words "syncs" your life with the universe itself  to draw  forth your highest potential! 

Chant for what you want - make a list - chant for what you REALLY want. And if you don't know what you want...chant to know what you want! 

It is the law of the universe! It doesn't matter if you believe in it or not. 

It is based on receiving actual proof - that is the most important thing. 

Keep chanting for what you want! Do not give up. 

There is no deity. You are addressing YOUR OWN LIFE when you chant! 

Your life is a reflection of who you are on the inside including all the good and bad causes you've made throughout every lifetime you've ever lived. Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the most powerful GOOD CAUSE you can possibly make. It will change your karma forever. 

You do not have to understand why you have your problems. You just have to chant to change them! 

We look at problems as good things - they will lead to greater understanding and BENEFIT!

We chant every day - twice a day. The more consistently you chant the easier it is to chant! 

All of these guests are beginning a new journey in their own lives in the most wonderful organization of people who are filled with love in their hearts. 

If you haven't connected to the Soka Gakkai in your area please do! Search on Soka Gakkai, or go to SGI-USA.org and call your local center and go to a meeting! You will be so glad you did!!! 

You Can Desire ANYTHING!

Yesterday I had a very interesting discussion with a member of my district who has been Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for about a year and a half. 


I said, as we were beginning to chant, "REMEMBER, YOU CAN DESIRE ANYTHING...YOU CAN CHANT FOR ANYTHING!" And after we chanted we talked about this. I know we had talked about it before, but now it is beginning to sink in for her 


She told me she was raised to believe that desires were bad...and that having a real desire for anything actually leads to suffering and unhappiness. She was taught to appreciate everything, but not to have desires or to be specific. She was taught not to ask for anything. 
I told her about the fulfillment of some of my very specific desires. I listed a specific desire I have now, with all its components (I get VERY specific!)


And she was amazed...and open to the idea of specifying her own desires...and chanting for them ~ rather than denying them. I am so glad we had this discussion! 


Please consider what I am saying. 


Earthly desires are your birthright. 


They make you who you are. 


They are fuel for your chanting, they make the light in your eyes shine...they make waking up each day a joyous experience. Why not be specific and go for what is in your heart? 


I know people who started chanting and had less than lofty desires...and chanting for those desires eventually lead their lives to chant for better desires. But they had to start where they were. There are people who begin their practice chanting for drugs, and if they keep chanting they will develop better desires! 


I know a man who started chanting to prove to his wife that she was wasting her time. More than 40 years later she's still chanting. 


There was an experience in the world tribune of a woman chanting to die, and she kept trying to commit suicide (and failing) and kept chanting and worked her way out of her sadness to lead a happy productive life. Chant for what is in your heart!


And, if you don't know what your desires are, well...easy answer! 


Chant to know what you really want. Ask your life. You have the perfect tool to do that!


I chanted to know what my mission was for quite a few years. I knew I was born to accomplish something important  (just like YOU) and I wanted to find out what it was. 


And now, here I am, thrilled to be writing to you today, thrilled that you pass on this blog address to others, and thrilled to reach more and more people every day and help them to become happy. 


My life has purpose, spark and excitement. Nothing makes me happier than hearing your successes, hearing that you've gone to SGI meetings and answering your questions. 
From the bottom of my heart I thank you and I urge you : Have desires! Make them specific! Chant about them! Own them and claim them!! And be HAPPY!!!

New Determinations

This week has been all about making new Determinations and chanting for the people you are having the most trouble with - chanting for them to be happier than they ever thought possible! 


How has it been going for you?


One member in my District was having a challenge with an official at a hospital who cancelled her contract. As a sincere Buddhist she chanted for this women, and shortly after that the woman lost her job.  The member was not chanting for the woman to lose her job! She was chanting for her happiness...purely for her happiness. And she told the woman she was chanting for her, and it touched her heart. 


I know this story is not yet over...anything can happen. They may become friends. They may do business together again at some point...the hospital official may begin to chant...or they may never see each other again. What's important is that she chanted for her, she made the cause! 


That's what it's all about. That's where the power lies. 


Who ELSE can you chant for? Who do you think is an impossible relationship for you. Who have you given up on, but in your heart you'd like the relationship to change? 


Be courageous! 


You're a Buddha

Turning Poison into Medicine - Relationship Success Stories

Here are some success stories to inspire you. 
All week we've been talking about taking poisonous relationships and turning them around by chanting for the other person's happiness. Check these stories out!


Experience:


We just finished an SGI meeting here in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. One of the members (I'll call her "B". told me the news about her sister-in-law. Last year "B", was in tears about a pending visit from her sister-in-law. Of course we talked for some time about the importance of chanting for the sister-in-law's happiness. It wasn't easy for "B" to do...but she did it! The visit was a little rocky, but "B" kept chanting strongly through it all. At one point, when she heard something bad her sister-in-law said about her, she had the courage to bring it up to the sister-in-law in a way that showed she deserved respect. And "B" kept chanting...She followed our advice to sincerely chant for her sister-in-law's happiness. Sincerely. Even though she didn't feel it at first. 
Fast forward to this year. Now "B" is pregnant. Tonight she told us that her sister-in-law and she are friends, and that she got a call today that her sister-in-law will be flying into town around labor day to host her baby shower! Complete Victory! That's what this practice is about. 


Another Experience:


When I was still fairly new to the practice I sold advertising. A LOT of advertising. And there were a lot of details that went along with placing the ad back then. You had to determine where it went, check it over and over for errors etc. There was a young girl who was in charge of physically posting the ads on the board. Let's just say she and I drove each other mutually crazy. So I followed the advice of my seniors in faith and chanted sincerely fot her happiness. It was hard at first but after a little while it was a truly sincere desire. I pictured her with a smile on her face. Guess what happened? She fell in love and moved to Los Angeles! From that time on I have ALWAYS chanted for another's happiness!


Another Experience:


At another job there was a person who disliked me the first moment she saw me. Who knows why...it was a mystery. I did the same thing. I chanted for her for quite some time, and during this time she and I slowly became friends. One day she came and told me her husband had left her. She was thrilled! She was so happy. She had wanted him to leave! From then on she was one of my biggest supporters and helped me accomplish quite a few wonderful things on this job. 


Another Experience:


Our youngest member is only 17 and started chanting almost a year ago. She is a lovely young woman, but people were picking on her....they sent her nasty texts and said bad things about her. We had a talk about chanting for the bully's happiness...and she started to chant sincerely for this person and BOOM. The bully moved away. 


It ALWAY works! Chanting for another person's happiness always works. And it strengthens your life force and YOUR character. 


The last few blogs have been on the theme of chanting to turn poisonous relationships into medicine. 
If you are interested in this subject read back a few days. And when you have an experience share it with me and I'll share it with the other readers if you wish. We all encourage each other.

Chanting...Dependent Origination

This month's Living Buddhism Magazine (can be ordered through sgi-usa.com) is focused on a Buddhist concept called Dependent Origination. It means that all of life is dependent on all the rest of life...nothing exists in a vacuum and all work together at every moment. It is the reason that sometimes in life...everything is going great...and other times...everything seems to be hitting the skids.

When you chant and devote your life to your own, and everyone else's happiness (i.e. work for Kosen Rufu - as we Buddhists would put it) you become very aware of the workings of dependent origination.

This concept is at the root of this incredible week I've had...and why my coaching business is really taking off. (spiritualweightlosscoach.com) The fact that my son Ben's senior year dream of his whole team going to the state meet for Cross country is happening...well...that is also no coincidence because it is all tied together in the web of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo - dependent origination.

This is the true beauty of this practice...if you devote your life to your own desires...the happiness of others...and the study of Buddhist principles...your life can literally soar like the eagles. Anything that seems like a problem is so small and so dim...you see it from the air...but it doesn't penetrate your life...doesn't cause you to suffer as much as it might have in the past.

Devoting your life to your own desires is the reason I embraced this practice. I think in this society, because of our cultural Christian heritage, many people distrust or feel guilty for their own desires. It is ingrained in so many of us. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is a revolutionary practice because it is through chanting for your desires that you can obtain the greatest happiness..and bring happiness to all around you...even if you THINK your desires aren't so good...they are the core of who you are...and when you chant for them...

your desires will naturally transform into the desires that truly bring you the most happiness. This is the core of the practice for me...and why I am heading into my 26th year of chanting every day, twice a day with my desires in mind. Think about it...when you are happy...aren't those around you basking in your glow too? Don't you BRING happiness wherever you go...to your family...your kids...your parents...the grocery store...the bank...EVERYWHERE? Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo digs deep into the core of your life...releasing the beautiful universe inside for all to see and experience!!!

When the student is ready...the teacher will appear

It has been an exciting few days helping 2 precious new members learn how to practice. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

I remember what it was like to be in the youth division of the SGI...it is a special time when you can grow in unprecedented ways and make friends that you will treasure for life.

Due to all the chanting of the members of our district we now have two brand new 20 year old young women so eager to learn! Today they spent three hours at my house practicing gongyo and chanting daimoku. It is not easy to learn gongyo...it has it's own rhythm and style. But once you learn it...it becomes so energizing to recite!
And it overcomes all language barriers. Once you learn it you can chant anywhere in the world together with SGI members. When you recite Gongyo you are literally reciting the words from the Lotus Sutra. You are joining your microcosm with the macrocosm of the universe...drawing forth the power that has always been yours...channeling it in the direction of your desires!

You are speaking the words of Shakyamuni Buddha...
and of course that makes total sense because
YOU ARE A BUDDHA! SO ARE WE ALL!

It ends with the deep prayer:

"At all times I think to myself:
How can I cause living beings
to gain entry into the unsurpassed way
and quickly acquire the body of a buddha"

There are several goals that my new young friends have...and I am going to chant for each of them and help them achieve their dreams. It will be so wonderful watching them grow in faith and become happier and happier and more certain of the power of their faith. Soon we will have many youth in our district! They are the leaders for the future. It is an honor to help them as I was helped by my seniors in faith so many years ago!