Raising children to have faith in the power of their lives

Aaron and Ben - Best friends and brothers

The fish we were watching last night at the restaurant. 

We've been having a blast this holiday week spending time together. Aaron is growing his beard to raise money for prostate cancer research. I called him Paul Bunyan last night just for fun.  

I got a few questions about how I raised my boys as Buddhists. 

I think the most important thing I do is strive to be inspiring to my boys. I want to show them that practicing buddhism can lead to a happy and fulfilling life. They have seen me unhappy, and they have watched me determine to change. They've seen me shed 70 pounds. They've watched me in every job I've had, watched as I've greeted every adversity as a challenge and produced great results. They have seen me rise out of heartbreak and seen me become happy again. It's very important to me to inspire them with my actions, words, and with my life itself. 

And I always chant for them to be happy and to fulfill their mission for Kosen Rufu. If they didn't have a mission for Kosen Rufu they would not have been born to me. And I have tried not to push them. Oh sure, there were times I begged them to come to a big meeting, and times I lured them with food. But I always tried not to push them too hard. And in the times that they weren't chanting, or couldn't chant, or were too tired to chant I followed President Ikeda's guidance and said "That's okay sweetie, you don't have to worry, I'm chanting for you twice as hard today." And the next time I would invite them to chant they would gladly join me. 

I have been behind the scenes chanting and chanting for their happiness. 

And I always speak encouraging words to them. I NEVER put them down. I say "I trust you. I know that you have wisdom and that your life always knows what is best for you. I know you will be fine. I'm not worried about you. I am so proud of you."

And of course, when they want to talk I do my best to listen with a full heart and with no judgement. I may steer them, but don't have a heavy hand. 

Those are some of the key aspects I've found to raising Buddha Boys. 

What is the blog about? Happiness!

This blog is about chanting the words "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" to access your highest potential in life and bring about true and everlasting happiness that is unshakable in any circumstances. 


I write this blog so that you can see the possibility and determine to create this kind of happiness for yourself. Every day I am determined to live my life as a shining example that this practice works for every single problem, and to show that living a life of undaunted happiness is possible - so that I can encourage others! 


What is happiness? Does it mean that I am never ever unhappy? No. I experience times of unhappiness, but they are less frequent and less deep than they ever were...and they last a far shorter time. The key is that I know, with absolute confidence that I am improving in all areas of my life. And there is never a problem I cannot solve. In fact, my problems are the fuel for my growth and help me to build this unshakable confidence in my own life. I have proven the validity of this practice, this law of life, over and over and over. 


Right now I've been chanting more than half the time I've been alive. Every day, twice a day!


Since I discovered chanting (and I had to move to California to find it - which is why I write this blog for you, and why I am writing my books about chanting) ~


I have rooted the deep, deep hopelessness and depression out of my life. I no longer have anxiety, or asthma, and I have lost 70 pounds. 
I was lonely for the first half of my life. Now I have friends; many sincere friends, and I make new friends every day. 


I have achieved business success in many areas, and I look forward to every day. 
I am fully expressing myself in every way. I'm a public speaker, a poet, a writer and I love to encourage others. 
I'm writing books and audio books to further encourage you. 
I have had the most marvelous time raising my two happy and successful children in this faith. They started overcoming their problems when they were tiny little guys with bad dreams. A few Nam Myoho Renge Kyos later and Boom, no more bad dreams. They solved problems of bullying, studying, and much more through chanting. As many of you know, Aaron is about to start medical school next Monday, and Ben is a Sophomore in college. I still have areas that I am working on...and I am determined to win in all areas of my life, so that I can encourage you! 


I am a District Leader in the Soka Gakkai organization, which is led by normal people just like me who have dedicated their lives to happiness for themselves and happiness for others. I have many mentors I speak with every day, and many friends who chant alongside me. And I have been lucky enough to be born during the lifetime of Daisaku Ikeda who has dedicated his life to the happiness of all of us since he was 19 years old and is now 83. He is the President of the Soka Gakkai (Value Creating organization - dedicated to Peace, Education and Culture) and I read his words every day. 


You can find his quotes at Ikedaquotes.org, and the organization's website is sgi-usa.org, or search on SGI International to find members in your area. People who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with the SGI are in almost every country. 
We chant together to magnify our results and encourage ourselves and others. Nothing makes us happier than meeting new people who are interested in chanting! Never be afraid to call and attend a meeting. you will be welcomed with open arms. 


I host meetings every Wednesday at 7pm in the Western Suburbs of the Chicago area, and there are meetings everywhere in the world. The SGI websites can help you connect. 


YOU are integral to the success of this blog and I chant for you, my readers every single day. I appreciate every single email I receive at silversunsinger@gmail.com, and I respond to every single one. I love hearing your successes and sharing your successes with the other blog readers. Please continue to write to me and post comments on this blog. And THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for sending this blog to your friends and those you want to encourage. All you do is send an email with chantforhappiness.com in the message. 


THANK YOU! Have a great day! 

Happy Easter

Another beautiful thing about being a Buddhist is you can celebrate any holiday you want to! 


Some years we have a Passover Seder...some years we celebrate Easter...and some years we do both. 


I was raised celebrating Easter...culturally. We got our Easter dresses and had an egg hunt and a family brunch. 


Today, on this holiday celebrating spring, we had a great time! 


My sister and her fiance, and my nephew and his girlfriend joined us along with Eli and we had a blast! 


Eli and I hid eggs filled with money and candy and my sister cooked a great meal at my house. Fun Fun Fun. 


And yesterday we went downtown and showed Eli Chicago and took him to some live jazz...


At every moment I am thinking how grateful I am to have the practice I have...the chanting I do brings me above any of the things that used to annoy me...and puts me constantly in the right place at the right time...like having the email about free live jazz tickets come to me a few days before Eli arrived. NICE. 


We all watched the jazz and laughed together and just had a great time...every moment I am so appreciative...thank you life! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! I hope you are enjoying this day too!

Most Exciting News

I just don't think there is anything more exciting than having a really deep impact in someone's life. For me, that is the crux of life...the reason I chose to be born at this time...the juice that makes life worth living.

You should just see what is happening in the lives of my friends from California who are about to receive the Gohonzon...and the thing is...the beautiful thing is...I shakubukued them with my life...and THAT is the anwer to my prayers.

I've known Julia for 12 years, ever since a friend fell deeply in love with her when we were all living together in San Francisco. We always had friends living with us there...it was truly a gift for ourselves and our kids. We gave our kids "chosen" family!

Once we met Julia, we could see why he had fallen so deeply for her...she is a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul. It took him many moons to win her over, and when they got married it was in a grove on the side of Mt. Tamalpais...and the four of us flew back to San Francisco for the wedding. It was an unforgettable experience...watching Julia walk barefoot down to us through the knee high grasses...hearing all the blessings each person bestowed upon them as part of the ceremony...watching my little boys play catch while we drank Champagne and basked in the glow of their love...

Then over the course of life, Julia had some setbacks and got ill...she got Lyme disease and a deep sadness from some events she went through.

When Paul turned 50 I flew Cliff and Julia here to surprise Paul...and we had a great time...only I was so heavy and so sad. Julia believed in me. She believed I could win over my heavy body and become healthy and happy. She turned me on to Goji juice...and I redetermined...and redetermined to achieve victory. I would not give up. She and I would talk frequently about life and affairs of the heart. As you know...I've lost the weight!

When Paul and Ben and I drove to Port Clinton, Ohio to see Julia and Cliff this summer, Julia was in no mood to talk about religion. She had spent a week with Cliff's wonderful...evangelical ...Mennonite family...so I said nothing about chanting, and my life itself did the talking.

She was floored by how I looked...but not just how I looked...she is intuitive and spiritual and she could FEEL the strength of my life. She saw how Paul and I, even though we are divorcing, we are enjoying each other's company and raising our wonderful and happy Buddha boy! She has known Ben since before he was born and she and Cliff and Ben jammed on guitar and talked and laughed together. One afternoon in the park she said "Let's Chant". And Ben and I just started chanting outdoors with her...and she has not stopped since!!!

She and I talk every day...you should hear her! The power of life...the excitement of reclaiming her health, her vitality, her energy...it's palpable!!! She KNOWS she has tapped into the source of the UNIVERSE within her...she's chanting every day, twice a day and preparing to receive her Gohonzon. Every time I talk to her I get a surge of "Anything is possible! ANYTHING!" and we give each other energy. I know I am in the process of making my dreams come true. And I'm sharing this process with the people I love and watching their lives blossom too! Truly...what could be better?