PowerPrayer for Making Friends!

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This week has been true summer in Chicago...sun...warmth...humidity...just like I like it. 
And every day I have chanted to actualize President Ikeda's dream, MY dream, OUR dream. And headed forth into my day, working and helping people. My world of work is in helping seniors stay safe in their homes, inspiring them (and their family members, through my "Older, Bolder, BETTER!" talks.

I am grateful to have work that is worthwhile. 

I have barely spent a moment alone recently. My friends are surrounding me with love, care, laughter, tears and warmth. I've mentioned before that I had a hard time making friends when I was younger. And this has been one of my most treasured benefits from this practice...maybe even my MOST treasured benefit. 
For me, it did not happen overnight. I chanted with this PowerPrayer in mind for some time. And here I am right now overflowing with appreciation for all the dear friends I have and the new ones I make every day. One of my favorite sayings is "There's always room for more friends! I love making new friends!" I 
I offer you my PowerPrayer below. You can read a PowerPrayer before chanting to inspire you in the conviction that RIGHT NOW you are making this happen! 


PowerPrayer for Making Friends
By Jamie Lee Silver of Chantforhappiness.com

Life!
With every Daimoku I'm chanting I am drawing friendships to me!
Every single Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is transforming me into the kind of person people WANT to have as a friend! 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
I now remove any barriers to forming friendships. 
If there is something I am doing to prevent friendships - I stop doing it now!
As I am chanting I am becoming a person with many invitations ~ 
And many real, real friends. 
As I am chanting I am learning how to BE a friend...how to listen...how to CARE. 
My life is becoming rich with friendships through my Daimoku Now!
I find new ways of appreciating the friendships I have, and cultivating new ones. 
I change this karma right now! 

Question and Answer about changing Friendship Karma

Dear Jamie: 

Hope you are well. 
Tell me can Karma be removed through 
our practice of Nichiren’s Buddhism? 
I am told it can, that’s what I read in your blog 
and hear from others. If that is true, 
why does it surface again?

I don’t make close friends easily 
although I have a large circle of friends
and acquaintances. If I look back all through
my life each time I have become close 
to anyone, after a while they have 
moved on- and we may stay in touch it's 
never the same- It's me who ends up 
miserable. I have tried very hard first 
not to let any one get close but still it 
happens and I am in a state of hell. 
I have chanted a lot that I should not 
be dependent on any one but this 
tendency has been stuck till date.

I have yet again gone through the 
same situation and am so upset that 
its affecting every area of my life. 
I fear loneliness and have no one 
really with whom I can share my joys 
or sorrows. What do I do?

Signed, 

So Lonely

 Dear So Lonely, 

 I totally understand. Thank you for writing. 
Yes, you can definitely change karma 
by chanting. Absolutely. And you can 
change this karma. I did. I used to be in 
so much pain and so lonely. 

So: I made a determination to be the 
kind of person that people would want 
to have as a friend. And I chanted to 
change in any way possible so that I 
could make this happen. A very good 
power prayer is: "I now release any 
resistance to change in my life." 
It really works. I chanted to BE a friend. 

And yes, the karma came around again 
for me many times before it went away. 
And each time I screamed at the Gohonzon 
in my heart chanting "I am DONE with this 
karma of not having friends. I am rooting 
this suffering out immediately. I don't CARE 
how often I feel discouraged I will not lose 
hope. I will WIN! I HAVE to win so that I can 
show actual proof for Kosen Rufu. This 
experience will encourage people!" 

Having a strong practice is the most important 
thing. Chant twice a day. Twice! Go to SGI 
meetings, no matter what. Study President 
Ikeda's guidance and encourage people. 
Use this practice the way it was intended: 
to create your OWN human revolution which 
creates your happiest self. Your happiest self 
will hve the wisdom and skills to draw close 
friends to you. 

You can also use the powerful tool of writing 
out your experience BEFORE it happens, 
and write it in the present tense...read it 
and reread it. "I have many satisfying 
relationships, I care about people and 
they care about me. It is easy for me to 
make friends." Even if this is not yet true. 
The declaration is powerful. You can start 
speaking these words too. Don't give up. 
Take action, get out there. My best friend 
is a woman I met in a bead store who helped 
me learn to make jewelry. Go places where 
you will meet people who share your 
interests. I met many friends at networking 
events, then called them and invited them 
to other networking events. I also set lunch 
dates and made friend after friend. 

You are not alone, so many people are 
suffering from this. When you chant, think 
I MUST change this karma so I can help 
other people change this karma. 
I MUST break through  for Kosen Rufu!!! 

And you WILL I know you WILL!!!

All my best, truly my best, 
Jamie

Friends are Life's Treasures

Pooh and Piglet are such great examples of life-long companions and friends. They are so dear to each other and so kind. Friends really are life's treasures. 

But not everyone has friends. I didn't always have friends. For many years I struggled with having no friends or very few. I could barely watch shows like Sex and the City, they just made me sad. 

It was so painful for me to even chant about this subject. I'd start to chant and all these childhood memories would surface. I felt so alone, but I was making new friends in the Soka Gakkai, and that was a great benefit. 

At one point I just wrote myself a determination to change in any way necessary to have friends. I realized there MUST be something I was doing, or thinking, or putting out there that was preventing me from having friends. 

So I determined to change IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE to have friends. And I chanted sincerely to the the Gohonzon (my Life) creating this reality. It didn't happen overnight. It wasn't one of those "easy benefits" for me. It took determination to continue chanting in the face of doubt. 

It took years of chanting for my District Members' happiness...and chanting to change my own character. And slowly I began adding more friends. I found people with positive outlooks and creative and beautiful characters. 

I worked at creating friendships. I called. I sent cards expressing my love and appreciation. I gave kind words. I found people who shared my interests and we made dates to go to events. I found people who also wanted friends, and who wanted to have me as a friend. 

And I introduced my friends to each other, until finally, I have circles of friends who know each other. What bliss! I chant for my friends and invite them to parties where we share poetry or books or music. I continue to chant for their happiness. 

If you are looking for friends please realize that you can have them. Chant for them. It is possible. Don't give up! 

Filled With Gratitude!

Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Rocks! 

It's Family Weekend! 

Here we are with our new friends at the reception last night. You know how life just seems to come together sometimes, right? We discovered an amazing coincidence last night. Aaron (far right), just started his first year of Medical school really close to me in Maywood. And on the far left is his new friend Christina, with her Mom, Kathy Ratto. Christina and her family live in Arcadia California in the LA area. 

We were having a spirited conversation last night about all things LA and San Francisco and the Medical Profession (Kathy and her husband are both doctors) and we suddenly realized that Christina lives in my same lovely apartment community and we're all going to the White Coat Ceremony at Loyola in the morning, followed by the party at Versailles (my apartment community) in the afternoon! 

I'm looking forward to getting to know them both better, and it will be great for Christina to know she has a new "Mom"and friend just doors away! Don't you just love making new friends? I do! Lately I am making new friends all the time...new friends I plan to have in my life for a long, long time! 

Seriously, this medical school is amazing. It is a school with heart. It is a Jesuit university and the people I have met are filled with love for our students. That is their constant message to us...that they will love our sons and daughters and help them in any way possible. And I believe them. I see it and I feel it. 

I am so grateful to be on this journey with Aaron!

There is so much to appreciate isn't there? My goal every single day is to live life to the fullest and touch as many lives as I positively can. Every morning I start the day with a solid hour of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...connecting with the universe of power inside me and every other person anywhere! 

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know I am constantly chanting to expand my capacity. While I am chanting I am telling my life to expand my capacity for love, expand my capacity for fun, expand my capacity to help people, expand my capacity to reach people, expand my capacity to spread love, light, and hope to all who are suffering? My prayers are being answered! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! 

And thank you all for helping! Every time you respond to one of my posts and every time you forward a post by email or share it on facebook, YOU make a positive cause for your own happiness too! Together we make such a difference in the world! Thank you!!!

This has been an amazing week.  I've had the opportunity to be at the bedside of a dear friend who is new to chanting. His name is Kevin Haddle and he's a loving, wonderful soul. This week he had to have surgery for a bowel obstruction. So painful. Now he is recovering from the surgery, but still in pain. Please chant for Kevin! 

As you know we had six guests at the meeting on Wednesday night and more and more people keep learning about this practice, trying it and changing their lives for the better! 
Expanding my capacity - expanding ALL of our capacity  - that's what it's all about! 

Have a great Saturday!!!

At The Chicago Buddhist Center

Cassie, Jamie, Shazara and Hashmin last night!

Just look at those glowing young girls. 

It's hard to believe that just a few short months ago Shazara was incredibly unhappy about her inability to change the circumstances that were making her miserable. 

Then, as I've mentioned in the New Year's blog post, she ran away from home and 

landed right at my doorstep asking for water! 

Oh, I gave her water and a whole lot more. She immediately accepted my invitation to chant right then and there. We chanted for almost an hour because she could feel the happiness coming into her mind, body and spirit and she didn't want to stop! When I drove her home her Mom, Hashmin, got into my car and 

called me her angel. 

I said 

"The worst day of your life has now turned into the best day of your life. Your daughter has brought home with her the key to happiness for herself and your family." 

Two days later Hashmin and Shazara came over and chanted with me, and they, along with Shazara's father have been chanting ever since. 

In the car on the way home Shazara was effervescing with energy and enthusiasm about her exciting life (now free from bullying and brimming with hope!) and Hashmin said 

"I can't believe this is my daughter talking...

she's so different than she was a year ago!" 

That's the power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

Last night's meeting with Linda Johnson our Territory Women's Division leader was very inspiring and Shazara even made a new friend, Cassie! Can you see how full of vibrant energy they are? They have so much in common already and will see each other Wednesday night at the meeting at my house. 

Tomorrow morning (Sunday) is a exciting meeting commemorating May 3rd at the Chicago Buddhist Center. If you live in the Chicago area feel free to join us. It's at 10:00 at the center, 1455 S. Wabash, but I always arrive an hour earlier. 

Send me an email or post a comment and we will welcome you! 

Happy May Third! 

What a wonderful life we live where we can become happy and help others to become happy too! I am so appreciative to all my mentors in faith who continue to help me 

learn how to use this tool for happiness: 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!!