Ben's Memories of State

When I asked Ben this morning "what will you remember forever about your senior year state meet?" He answered that he saw the time as he ran through the finish line 14:33 - and his lowest prior was 14:52 and he was elated...he was looking for someone to celebrate with, and saw Aaron, his beloved brother first, there to congratulate him! He'll never forget that.

And he also said on Friday night, Coach Kup gave a talk, and at the end of it, just as he was walking out the door Kup said, "Oh, and you can keep your uniforms forever!" and he just couldn't believe it! The boys were shocked and happy! So happy!

Ben Silver Rocks!!! We love Coach Kup!!!

Today, my almost 18 year old son, Benjamin Lee Silver came in 10th in the State of Illinois Cross Country meet. As a senior, this means the world to him!

Illinois is the top running state in the nation, and Ben's been injured for much of the season. What did being injured mean for Ben? It meant that every night he'd spend 2 straight hours on the elliptical machine at the gym to keep his heart in running shape for when he could run again. You should have seen him. And he worked so hard to keep his grades up in the 5 AP classes he's taking this year.

And it paid off for my Buddha boy. His goal was top ten and he accomplished it. So exciting. Now he can really focus in on college planning. At the moment he plans on applying to 11 colleges, all over the country. I am chanting for him to be happy...wherever he ends up!

What a day...we are really on a roll these days. I woke up early enough to chant strongly for an hour before we headed off to Peoria "The Promised Land" as those of us in the Downers Grove North running program call it....aaahhhh Detweiler Park, I know you well!

This year was especially important because the entire team qualified to run, and it's coach Kup's last year. He's an amazing man, Kup. He leads the boys with heart and character and love. I told him many moons ago "Kup you can't retire until my boys graduate!" and here we are in Ben's senior year...and Kup's last year before retirement. Goodness knows, though, KUP is not going to retire! I can't wait to see what he does next with his amazing precious life!!!

Remembering My sweet Mommy...

Mommy,

Last year I didn't even notice how quickly the cold came on...

because I was with you in the hospital...

day and night...day and night...

alternating between moments of rapture

cherishing you

and electrifying moments when the knowledge

first struck...

that maybe you weren't going to be able to breathe on your own.

And who would have thought

that just watching you breathe, still being alive, and warm,

would be enough for me...by your side...chanting for your life...

in appreciation,

for your future lights and energy and shine

Oh this lifetime Mommy...

I know it broke your heart

in so many ways...

and I know how much you loved your girls

and your grandsons...

And how I feel you now...beside me...

urging me to win over those demons we two share.

Feelings of hopelessness, and of feeling unloved...

knowing only to stuff them down in some way...

because they are just too painful to feel.

But I do this for you Mommy.

I vow to win forever.

I vow that this suffering has ended with me,

and that through my strong prayer

I have changed our karma forever.

I am not done yet, Mom,

But I won't give up.

I won't give up.

I won't give up.

Time for Cross Country State Meet

Wow! What a wonderful morning..seeing the boys off to Cross County State! So much energy and excitement. And the sun is shining even though it's cold.

These two weeks, culminating in the date of November 12, commemorate last year when my Mom was spending her last few days on the planet. In her honor I have dedicated the top of one of my bureaus in my Butsudan room to her...with some gifts she gave me, pictures...her kukui beads...and just honoring myself and being especially good to myself. In her honor I decided to reach some goals by the 12th...I've made a lot of progress so far. I cleaned out all the drawers in my bedroom, and the closet and closet floors, and yesterday I had my dear friend help me in the garage, and in cleaning and organizing our entire pantry. It may not sound like much to you...but I know, as many of you do, that having a decluttered life allows clarity of thought...and an openness for great things to come into my life!

Amazing Day!

Wow! What an amazing day! Today I was on Megan Gala's Everyday Wisdom radio program on blogtalkradio.com. It was soooo incredible! I will post a link to this radio program as soon as possible.

I'll tell you about it!

First of all, I want to introduce Megan Gala to you. She is the founder of The Love More Project. She is a media visionary and a clear channel of love and light. When I went to California in March I was on a mission to expand my horizons for my life. Megan was giving intuitive readings in the Angel store in Benicia California. I only saw her for a moment, and it was a profound moment! I had an intuitive hit that showed up like a visual spark. I called her immediately and had an intuitive reading from her soon afterwards...and working with her has been expanding my horizons! Her website is thelovemoreproject.com.

A few weeks ago she and I had another conversation, and my entire spiritualweightlosscoach.com website came directly from the chanting I did after that conversation!

Today's show was a testament to her ingenuity, openness and intelligence. She really wanted to learn more about the practice of Buddhism, and at the same time all her listeners had an education as well.

I covered my favorite points...the fact that desires are GOOD in this practice...that your life is totally interconnected with the universe, in fact...you ARE the universe...we talked about the rebirth of the SGI in wartime Japan...and the meaning of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Megan was having a glitch preventing callers from getting through...and when one caller got through it turned out to be my dear friend Julia, who recently started chanting. Julia said she'd chanted to get through to the station...making herself the perfect example of putting the practice into action! Breathtaking! Julia talked about working with me and chanting and changing her life...how she'd discovered that she had MRSA in a wound (a superbug) and how her husband keyed her into an herbal way to cure it...and she has really had so many breakthroughs that I know about as well.

We ended by me chanting on the air. I rang the bell, chanted Nam myoho Renge Kyo three times and chanted for a few minutes at varying speeds. Then I ended with three daimoku.

Megan gave her listeners a few moments of silence to take it in. And we ended the program. Thank you Megan! I look forward to working with you again soon!

Radio Today

Today I am being interviewed on Megan Gala's Everyday Wisdom radio program. The interview will take place at 1pm Central time.

If you would like to listen live go to blogtalkradio.com at 1pm and click on the button that says "on the air now" and choose the show.

You can listen later if you can't listen live.

Right now I am heading back to the Gohonzon to chant some more this morning!

Chanting...Dependent Origination

This month's Living Buddhism Magazine (can be ordered through sgi-usa.com) is focused on a Buddhist concept called Dependent Origination. It means that all of life is dependent on all the rest of life...nothing exists in a vacuum and all work together at every moment. It is the reason that sometimes in life...everything is going great...and other times...everything seems to be hitting the skids.

When you chant and devote your life to your own, and everyone else's happiness (i.e. work for Kosen Rufu - as we Buddhists would put it) you become very aware of the workings of dependent origination.

This concept is at the root of this incredible week I've had...and why my coaching business is really taking off. (spiritualweightlosscoach.com) The fact that my son Ben's senior year dream of his whole team going to the state meet for Cross country is happening...well...that is also no coincidence because it is all tied together in the web of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo - dependent origination.

This is the true beauty of this practice...if you devote your life to your own desires...the happiness of others...and the study of Buddhist principles...your life can literally soar like the eagles. Anything that seems like a problem is so small and so dim...you see it from the air...but it doesn't penetrate your life...doesn't cause you to suffer as much as it might have in the past.

Devoting your life to your own desires is the reason I embraced this practice. I think in this society, because of our cultural Christian heritage, many people distrust or feel guilty for their own desires. It is ingrained in so many of us. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism is a revolutionary practice because it is through chanting for your desires that you can obtain the greatest happiness..and bring happiness to all around you...even if you THINK your desires aren't so good...they are the core of who you are...and when you chant for them...

your desires will naturally transform into the desires that truly bring you the most happiness. This is the core of the practice for me...and why I am heading into my 26th year of chanting every day, twice a day with my desires in mind. Think about it...when you are happy...aren't those around you basking in your glow too? Don't you BRING happiness wherever you go...to your family...your kids...your parents...the grocery store...the bank...EVERYWHERE? Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo digs deep into the core of your life...releasing the beautiful universe inside for all to see and experience!!!