Fresh Determination for a Power-FULL and Happy Day

How do we have Power-FULL Daimoku? 

Every day is a new challenge. 
Every day we wake into our glorious lives, that sometimes don't feel so glorious. Every day we have the chance to begin anew. 
Ever morning, 
every moment 
is "Hon-nim-myo" ~ 
from this moment forth. 

I have a lot of things on my plate - just like you!

So I decided to make a determination before chanting ~ that after my hour of chanting I would feel absolutely refreshed, confident and ready for anything! I turned my phone off, made my tea, and chanted with some of these thoughts in mind. 
I write this Fresh Determination from my heart for you. You can read it before you chant and see if it inspires your fresh determination. 
This blog is for you. I do not express the official voice of the SGI, only the official voice of this one practitioner, myself, who longs for the happiness of all people! 

Fresh Determination
for a Power-FULL Happy Day!
By Jamie Lee Silver from Chantforhappiness.com

Life!
Today I embrace you at every moment
The wisdom I am creating, right now, 
through every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chant
pours through me every moment this day. 
Every moment is in rhythm
Every moment I am in exactly the right place 
at the right time
Seeing through the eyes of the Buddha I AM! 
I make a difference in every life I touch

The right words come at the right time. 
My warm heart shines
My confidence shines
I feel the love of those around me
I feel my love for myself, for my warm and wonderful self! 
I create an environment that appreciates me 
as I appreciate it! 
My brilliant future is assured
without me having to worry about it or strategize. 

I am creating my future as I lovingly love my present! 
Here are some goals I am visualizing: 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gohonzon!
Life!
Some kind of way 
I am shakubukuing others at every moment! 
Some kind of way 
the people I am chanting for 
will be happy and healthy!
I chant for ___________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
their health and happiness and stability! 
their ability to tap into their practice and get results!
their strong life force!
their mission for kosen-rufu! 
For ______________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
to be inspired and come to the meeting! 
This is a great day!

Waking The Buddha! This is Our Time!

Clark Strand and Jamie Lee Silver

May 18th 2014

Yesterday, Clark Strand, author of Waking the Buddha spoke at the SGI-USA Chicago Culture Center.  

This important book that has come along at the perfect time for the spread of worldwide kosen-rufu. 

The book itself is part personal memoir, and part religious history of the SGI. It's an easily accessible book - a perfect book to pass along to shakubuku and members. 

Clark Strand is a former Zen Buddhist monk, former editor at Tricycle, a Buddhist magazine distributed widely, and a well-respected writer. He is not an SGI member ~ which, in my opinion, lends even more credence to his views. 

There is so much I'd like to relate to you. For now, before I head off to work, I will mention a few things that make Waking the Buddha so important. 

As Clark said yesterday, Waking the Buddha is a mirror of what the SGI movement is and what we as individuals are doing. We live with the constant thought and intention of using our lives and the examples of actual proof we show to encourage others to become happy.

We have spread this teaching of the Mystic Law in a unique way...person to person...candle to candle. The SGI is the world in miniature...a microcosm of the peace we know is possible, and are ushering in with every Nam-myoho-renge kyo we chant. 

Clark Strand has the force of spirit to say 

(I paraphrase for now - I will directly quote in future posts) 

"Look at you, the SGI! You are doing it! You are an organization unique in all the world. The SGI is the most diverse Buddhist movement, religious movement on the face of the earth. You are the fastest growing, best organized and you serve no clergy. The SGI exists for the sake of the happiness of the members. This is revolutionary. You are already successful. This is your time. This is your time!" 

He even has a rebuttal for those who would comment "Aren't those the Buddhists who chant for cars?" He answers "Yes, and they chant for the happiness of others, and for world peace, and for their families and to be better at their jobs. They chant for everything! Isn't that great?"

There is so much more to write. Stay tuned. Write me your impressions and how you are using this book at chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

And as always, send me your victories to share! 

Waking the Buddha is published by Middleway Press and is available through SGI centers in America, is on Amazon.com and is also on the website SGI-USA.org.