Lighting the Lamp of Hope! The Joy of Fostering Youth!

Ahhhh the brilliance of introducing youth to this practice! Some of my golden memories are of the youth I took under my wing. They are living the lives of their dreams with the ultimate tool for creating happiness and value for themselves and others...this practice!

The other day someone magical...seeking...young and vibrant came happily into my life. I was at a restaurant with  my new friend Mari Beth whom I'd just introduced to chanting. She came up to my apartment and chanted with me for the first time. 

Our server was this delightful, beautiful young woman...she looked like she couldn't possibly have a care in the world. We had some laughs with her and a great time. At the end of the dinner I said "I have something for you!" and took out my card and wrote Nam-myoho-renge-kyo on it and the connection was INSTANT. 

It was as if she had been seeking this her whole life. She said "Oh! I really need this right now, my Mom's in the hospital in pain and I'm all alone caring for her!" I asked her if she wanted to come over to chant after she got off - my apartment was right across the street and she said SURE! 

She said she'd get our by about 10:30, but she got some last minute customers and was able to come around midnight (!!!)...and I was waiting for her and so happy to see her! She told me the story of her young life (she just turned 20), and I could see what a fighter she is, against all odds. She's faced extreme challenges and is intent on fulfilling her dream of helping people with artifical limbs. She is such a Bodhisattva already. 

We sat in front of the Gohonzon. I put the bell in front of her, taught her how to chant, and told her she could ring the bell when she was finished. She chanted almost half and hour!  

Yesterday her Mom was released from the hospital! Last night she came over at 10:30 pm and we chanted and talked. She is so grateful to be embraced into this practice and my life. There is nothing better than having experience, knowledge and HOPE to give someone who is soaking it up! She is my Mother's Day gift! Last night we watched the Ben videos and she got to know and love my boy. What a wonderful life I lead! 

I am dedicated to raising her. I am dedicated to helping her achieve each of her dreams. I see her as a leader of our bright, positive movement that will attract 50,000 youth and more!  

I am grateful for all your Daimoku for the youth. We can feel the groundswell... feel them arising...and RISE to meet them! We all have determination to raise capable, happy, bright beacons of hope. And introducing her has brought ME such happiness...a new vibrancy in my step...a fresh determination to live as a brilliant beacon of hope, to overcome my sufferings and achieve my dreams. 

It is time for our youth to find relief and stop suffering. It is time for them to gain human connection...and hope. It is time to stop losing so many to despair! It is up to us to reach out and be available. And it is the greatest joy to watch them blossom like flowers! 

As Daisaku Ikeda writes in the May 2017 Living Buddhism study material on Fostering Successors, (page 44):

"The right time 

is not something one waits for; 

one creates it!"

Now is the time! We can carry cards everywhere we go. 
Introducing people who work close to where I live is now a focus for me. I live on the beach. There are countless restaurants and stores close by. If I meet someone who is receptive they can pop on over before or after they work to learn to chant! 

So happy to be sharing this journey with YOU! 

Power Prayers Create Happiness for ALL!

Today is going to be a great day! I'm about to start the day chanting for the success of our SGI District meeting here tonight. And I'll spend my day finishing up business and doing my best to encourage others during the last days on my job. I'm full of appreciation, and want to share this determination/vision with you.

On Sunday Morning, right as I was sitting down to chant I had this prayer and determination flow through me to you and the world. 
As I was chanting I could see the eyes of all the people who are suffering, all the longing, all the need for hope. I was chanting into their eyes with this prayer: 

I am chanting to

Be in touch with you, my readers, my members, my friends and family and all I touch directly or touch through my blog or writings. 

I chant to say exactly what you need to hear  - in a way that inspires you to discover the great power in your life, experience unsurpassed happiness, and share your happiness with others through your own words and through forwarding the chantforhappiness.com url to others all over the world. (There is a translation button in the top left corner of this blog - it can be translated with one click into any language) From these actions more and more people release their sufferings, change their lives and inspire those around them. 

I value a world where no human ever has the compulsion, wish or action to hurt another soul...where we all aim for everyone's happiness  ~  because a sincere wish for the happiness of ALL is what is in everyone's hearts. 

Happiness for all! 

I aim to be a living example that happiness is possible and that life can be fun and wonderful and exciting! I live to show that a wish for happiness for all is a wish for happiness itself, expressed in everything, through everything and with everything. 

Through all of our chanting, actions and words, human impulses change.

We are all joined together ~
Me and all my fellow travelers, 
be they Buddhists who chant, 
people who pray, 
or people who just wish for a better future - 
where there is no suffering, 
no hunger, 
no physical pain inflicted on any one or any thing of any kind. 

What would a world like this look like? 

The Heart of Compassion rising in the land!

Kosen Rufu. 

This goal is possible through each of us becoming happy. This is Human Revolution. When we each have the courage, the conviction, and take the action through chanting to purify our lives and to do our own human revolution we are changing life for all. It is the law of the universe. When we each change inside...we change EVERYTHING.

This is the reason I am living in this world. 

Today we have a really exciting Buddhist meeting here at my apartment. We will be "full to the rafters". Many members who haven't been able to attend in a while will be here. People are coming to tell their stories of Victory. All will be inspired. 

I am studying the World Tribune and President Ikeda's words every day. This month's Gosho is so perfect "A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering." It has always been one of my favorites. 

President Ikeda writes: "People who have polished their lives through practicing Nichiren Buddhism come to brim with a rich and abundant power, which enables them to apprehend reality just as it is, bring forth wisdom and creativity, surmount difficulties, and savor good fortune and benefit."

YES!