3 Ways to Tap Into Our Noble Missions

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"...When an individual 
who has been suffering from illness 
or financial hardship becomes happy, 
this opens a sure way to happiness 
for all others experiencing similar painful suffering." 

Living Buddhism, June 2015, page 27. From learning From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: "Letter to Horen." Daisaku Ikeda

We all know this is true, and we have seen it and felt it. One of the women in my district met a wonderful man while she was visiting Central America. Over the course of the last two years, they lived apart as he worked on getting his visa to come to America. He learned gongyo, chanted daimoku, and this Wednesday at the study meeting we met him for the first time. This experience inspired everyone that true love is possible. 

Every time you break through something you inspire all those around you, and I believe, energetically and vibrationally we influence the fiber of the universe. We are microcosms of the universe...everything we do, everything we achieve, affects everything else. 

Here are three ways to realize how important YOU are and realize your noble mission:

1. While chanting for your desire bring to mind all others around the world who are suffering from the same desire and realize your chanting at this moment has an impact on them too. 
As I chant for Ben, my son who is suffering from mental illness, I am chanting on behalf of all mothers who have ever seen their children suffer, and who wish, with all their hearts to lift that suffering. I am chanting for all mothers, all fathers and all suffering children. Yes, I am chanting for Ben, and to change my karma to have mental illness in my environment, and I am chanting for everyone else too. 

2. Praise your life as the Buddha you are. Throughout the day, see yourself as "The Great Buddha." Think to yourself "The Great Buddha arises this morning. The Great Buddha is entering her place of work. The Great Buddha is eating lunch." You are the Great Buddha. We are all the Great Buddha. 

3. Study. The Gosho this month is incredible. There is so much I want to say about it, and will write more when I have more time. It reinforces the nobility of every single character of the Lotus Sutra we chant every single day. Study and see even more of your Great Buddha-ness! 

PowerPrayer for Rising Above Our Worries

"When you chant you should 

take a vacation from your troubles." 

And today while I was chanting that's exactly what I did. I chanted to lift my life condition so I could see over and above my troubles...and to experience this day in a state of elevation through Daimoku. 

I chant to release all feelings of having to be in control at every single moment, because, as we all know, control at every moment is impossible anyway! 

Sometimes we may think "I'm a Buddha so I should be able to command every single moment of every single day. I'm a Buddha, right?" But I don't think that's exactly how it works, 

The only things we can really be in control of are our reactions to what's going on. That's not to say that we can't change our lives through chanting. WE CAN. But the process of doing so doesn't always go as quickly as we'd want it to. We are not like Samantha on the TV show Bewitched. We can't just wiggle our noses and make everything change. 

PowerPrayer 

for Rising Above Our Troubles:

by Jamie Lee Silver of Chantforhappiness.com

Life! 

Gohonzon! 

Today while chanting 

I am seeing my life and my spirits 

rising above my worries. 

As I am chanting I am seeing my life rise above. 

Once again I Know that I am the Great Buddha! 

I am focusing on joining the ceremony in the air. 

I am joining with all the Buddhas on the Gohonzon, 

and knowing that 

YES! 

This is the life I chose for Kosen-rufu, 

I am Fulfilling my Vow. 

I will achieve victory in all areas for kosen rufu!

and I will keep my life condition HIGH no matter what. 

I see through the eyes of the Buddha. 

I shine for all those around me as a beacon of hope. 

I am the Buddha at every moment today...

fully aware and focusing on all that is right in my world! 

I am going to float above my worries and chant in the world of gratitude and appreciation. 

I am so grateful for:__________________________

And I release this day to my prayers! 

Happy April 28th! The Day Nichiren Chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the first time

On April 28th, in 1253  
Nichiren Daishonin changed our lives forever. 

He chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
and reclaimed the practice of Buddhism 
for the happiness of all. 

It's fascinating to imagine what it would have been like for him that day. I wonder what he felt when he was pondering the true practice for the age. Remember, he'd made a vow at the age of twelve to be the wisest man in Japan. He'd traveled to Buddhist temples all over reading the sacred scrolls and asking himself the same question over and over: 

"What is the REAL practice for this age? What will lead people to happiness? What is the true lifeblood of Buddhism NOW?" 

He put every cell of his body into finding the answer to this question. There were many forms of Buddhism at the time. All of them promised rewards in the future, but no fulfillment right now. The Pure Land sect focused on happiness after death in the Pure Land. Other sects said you had to atone for every single negative cause you had ever made and after many, many lifetimes attain Buddhahood. Others said you had to be reborn as a man. 

But NONE said that Happiness exists in the here and now, and you can attain Buddhahood, happiness, enlightenment, right here right now in your present form. 

And THAT school was the one Nichiren founded, beginning 762 years ago today by chanting the title of the Lotus Sutra for the first time. I can just imagine the shivers going through his body. I can just imagine the responses of the people around him who were all attached to their own particular beliefs. It took an amazing amount of energy and strength. 

And he continued his religious revolution every day from then on. In the face of multiple persecutions, attacks, hatred...you name it. But he KNEW. He KNEW that one day you and I would be chanting this phrase and changing the world by infusing our lives with the energy of this vibration, advancing, dancing step by step with Nichiren and our mentor in faith Daisaku Ikeda. 

What courage. What strength. 

Those of us who have read the writings Nichiren wrote to his followers know what he went through...being exiled to a gardener's hut with holes in the walls and the ceiling with no provisions in the cold of winter ~ in a graveyard no less...not even a graveyard actually, a place where dead bodies were just left on Sado Island. People were told not to go near the hut or help Nichiren or they would be killed.

And it was from this hut where he wrote the Opening of the Eyes and many of his most important letters "Gosho" saying "I am the happiest man in all Japan!" 
Why was he so happy? Because his persecutions confirmed that this was the correct teaching. We can learn so much through his actions and attitude. 

Happy April 28th! 
We are the Buddhas of this new age! 
All of us are standing on that hill with Nichiren 
facing the rising sun...
boldly proclaiming Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
I CLAIM my life! 
I will live my life with the vow to accomplish a world of respect for all. I will show, through my own life what is possible as a human being.

My noble, noble friends! 
I look forward to hearing your victories on May Third!  

Vow for a Kosen Rufu Life Partner

This was sent to me from a reader in India. She says it has helped many to achieve their dreams of attaining a KosenRufu life partner. 

The Solemn Pledge and Prayer based on the Mystic Law

Gohonzon, I pledge to spread the Mystic Law. I take a solemn vow to work for the happiness of all sentient beings and the advancement of kosen-rufu. I determine to recognize, arouse, manifest, and respect my Buddhahood as well as that of others. 

Gohonzon, I determine to welcome you in my home. Give me a home where I could enshrine and protect you in complete grace and honor. Give me a home where I can work for kosen-rufu and can hold and host Gakkai meetings and activities freely. Give me the life partner who supports and promotes the cause of kosen-rufu.

I am now happily united and married to my true love and kosen-rufu partner. He is a nice, wise, kind, healthy, happy, handsome, responsible, dependable, and prosperous young man, who approves of and supports me in all the areas of life… in all my Gakkai activities. We work together for the spread of the Law and attainment of kosen-rufu. We love, value, trust, respect, appreciate, and accept each other from heart, mind, body, and soul. We are true and honest to each other and have a beautiful, mutually enriching, and deeply fulfilling relationship. All the other distractions and obstacles melt down and fade away of their own accord amicably from our life. 

Our union is supported, protected, promoted, and blessed by Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the Sun and the Moon and all the positive and protective forces of the Universe. We perceive, feel, hear, understand, and respond to each other’s Buddha nature… Gohonzon, make my KRLP emerge and let us recognize and unite with each other. My KRLP contacts me today and we both respond well to each other. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Gohonzon, I determine to enter the institution of marriage in perfect faith, enthusiasm, happiness, and confidence in my own and my partner’s worth. I feel complete appreciation and respect for myself and my partner. I love myself, I respect myself, I value myself, I cherish myself, I appreciate myself, I accept myself completely. I am thankful and grateful for my life and everything that I have got in my life. I pray and determine to get connected and engaged to my Kosen-rufu life partner by 3rd May 2014 or_____________. 

We both love, respect, understand, cooperate, and appreciate each other in every aspect of life. I determine to have the wisdom, courage and opportunities to make the right choice at the right time regarding my marriage and life partner. Through my happy and successful married life, I determine to encourage and show the actual proof of the benefits obtained from the power of the Mystic Law to all the YWD members of SGI and others.

I determine to discard the transient and reveal the True in all areas of my life. When the skies are clear, the ground is illuminated. Similarly, when one knows the Lotus Sutra, one understands the meaning of all worldly affairs. The one who chants Lotus Sutra will never have a twisted mind. I demand clarity and wisdom. 

I demand protection from all the positive forces of the Universe. Gohonzon, put me on my correct path.. in the orbit of righteousness, happiness and contentment. I call upon Brahma, Shakra and the gods of Sun and Moon to enter my life and illuminate it ... I must take the right decision at the right time.. I have a mission as the Bodhisattva of the Earth and everything’s going to be the very best. I am going to get married to my KRP in the most beautiful and harmonious manner. “This sutra can fulfill their desires, as a clear cool pond can satisfy all those who are thirsty,” and “They will enjoy peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences.”

Gohonzon, I am determined to have a KR marriage, a KR husband, a KR home, and a life dedicated to the spread of the Mystic Law and the attainment of kosen-rufu. I am a Bodhisattva of the Earth.. I pledge to work for the Law.. to complete my mission. The core of my life is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Illuminated by the Mystic Law, I soar like a Queen and attract, accept, and enjoy all the good fortunes of every kind from all the directions of the Universe.. Thank You Gohonzon.. Thank you so much… 

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo .. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo .. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 

Signed By:    

Dated:          

Every day Proof of the power of the mystic law

A reader wrote in reminding me that every "experience in faith" is not necessarily a big, huge experience. And she's right. When we are chanting consistently, the little things just keep adding up all the time. 

This weekend I had moment after moment of joyous experiences. I saw a group called "Straight No Chaser" at the sold-out Rialto Theater in Joliet. They were great. They started as a group of college kids at Indiana University, and one of their members put a video on YouTube and the rest was history. They told everyone to film them, take pictures, and tweet away. It was such a departure from the normal "please don't take any pictures" message. And so right on for this moment! They gave an awesome performance filled with energy. 

And yesterday I spent the morning chanting and communicating on line. I am always looking for ways to help people find out about chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, this blog and the SGI. If you have any ideas for me, let me know. 

Later in the day one meeting with a friend got rescheduled and I ended up having an energetic dinner party here with my son Aaron and my oldest friend. Every moment of this weekend just flowed seamlessly. Those are the benefits of bringing forth the law of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo every single day. 

The reader who wrote me about small experiences sent this in:

 "I like the big dramatic proofs you have posted, life and death struggles and great storms. I like to think the the Law can be small fry too.  It seems to me I have a little proof every day; fortunate coincedences and such.  Just this week-end, I knew I had to have cash to pay for a delivery coming on Monday, but was not sure of the amount, so I chanted 'for just enough' to pay it.  I worked Sunday morning, took some cash, but used some of it pay for groceries and such.  I phoned up monday morning to get the amount and if I hadn't bought the groceries it would have been enough.  so I chanted for the little extra and my first customer that came in spent exactly twice the amount I needed and paid in £ coins. 
so I can pay the for the delivery and put the rest in the bank. N-M-R-K."

Thank you! Please send your experiences, large or small to chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

Living as a Buddhist - What does this mean?

First of all, living as a Buddhist is living a life of action. Some people think of Buddhists as sitting on a high mountain top somewhere ~ contemplating the wonders of the universe, and that's not an accurate depiction as a modern-day SGI Buddhist. 

Yes, SGI Buddhists are vastly different than any other kind of Buddhist. 

Here I will just say briefly that SGI Buddhists do not pray to Buddha as a substitute for God, and do not believe that happiness exists in some far off place that can only be attained by quieting the mind so completely that it is devoid of any desires. 

NO! SGI Buddhist USE their desires as fuel for happiness, just as they use their problems as fuel for happiness. We realize our fundamental challenge in life is to overcome our notion that we are not Buddhas. We live our lives to keep awakening the knowledge, keep shedding light on...keep en-lighten-ing the very fact that we ARE the universe and we ARE the power in our lives. 

The illusion many people on earth have is of their own weakness. SGI Buddhists serve as bright lights to illuminate their own, and everyone else's power. This is done by realizing our negativity is the MAIN BARRIER we need to confront and conquer. 

When we get negative, the important thing is to FACE IT and chant to rid our lives of it. And we do this by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

We also see our lives as part of the great web of life. As Daisaku Ikeda puts it:

The misfortune of others is our misfortune. Our happiness is the happiness of others. To see ourselves in others and feel an inner oneness and sense of unity with them represents a fundamental revolution in the way we view and live our lives. Therefore, discriminating against another person is the same as discriminating against oneself. When we hurt another, we are hurting ourselves. And when we respect others, we respect and elevate our own lives as well." - Daisaku Ikeda

Each day I awaken and sit in front of my life...my altar...my very own heart that is represented in the scroll that Nichiren Daishonin inscribed called the Gohonzon. I face it and chant for one hour. Some  people chant for less time...others for more. And some days I chant longer, other days for shorter amounts. 

In that time I connect with the life flow that is within me. I chant in appreciation, I chant with desire, I chant for other people. I chant for my country, the world, and for anything that is on my mind. I chant to realize my own Buddhahood and to expand the life that is within me so that my light (the light of us all, the light of the universe ) can glow stronger and stronger through me and that those who are still suffering can have hope. 

Suffering is mainly a lack of hope, and lack of strength. 

Suffering is a feeling, a fear, a dread and a lack of light and life and warmth. 

And if I can raise from the depths of the deep, deep longing without hope that I was in most of my life, well, so can anyone else. Anyone who chants these words can be happy. 

Happiness is something we build from inside our lives. It is totally unattached to what is happening in our lives. I know this is hard to believe at time, and at other times it makes perfect sense. I know sometimes we lose a loved one to death, and we think we will never be the same. I know that the people I have loved who have died are here with me everyday. I talk to them, they converse with me, and I'm not crazy. 

Life is eternal. My Mom is right here. 

So is my friend Danny, and lately I am really in sync with john Denver. It has been 15 years since he died and I will write about what happened between the two of us on this blog soon. It is a fascinating story of how Nam Myoho Renge Kyo reaches into the depths of life, whether we see it THIS MOMENT or not. 

Today chant to praise your life and to wipe away any thoughts of doubt in your life. Doubt is what holds us back. In SGI Buddhism faith is a muscle, faith is a verb. It is up to you to strengthen it....and YOU CAN DO IT! 

Chant to strengthen your faith. Chant to have the kind of benefit that blows you away! Chant for those you love and those your really don't love and you can watch your life grow in amazing ways. Compassion is also like a muscle. You grow your compassion and you grow your own ability to revel in the beauty all around you...including the beauty of your very own soul. 

Happy Tuesday. Happy Chanting. Happy Life my dear friends!!! 

What if you get bored with your own prayer?

It happens. 


Sometimes you have a specific prayer...and for awhile you have so much fire behind that prayer and then suddenly POOF that prayer is no longer so firey and meaningful.... and your mind is thinking of other things when you sit down to chant.


What do you do? 


This is an awesome time to chant for others. 


Chant for your friends...for your family...for the members in your district, for the people you haven't even met who are suffering. Chant for the country...for the planet...for everyone you dislike and every one you love. use this time to chant for others and fire up your prayer. 


Time spent in front of the Gohonzon is so precious!


Don't waste a minute!