Danielle's Description of the Practice

What follows is from Danielle Canaris in Cloverdale California. SHe is my beloved shakubuku who helped me raise my two amazing Buddha Boys. 

Danielle is an inspiration herself...and has now, after many years come to practice. 

She brings all her wisdom, all her determination, all her love to this practice. 

After not even a year, she presents us all with this awesome piece. Enjoy!

The workings of the universe are an expression of a single principle or Law, expressed as Nam-myho-renge-kyo.

Chanting Nam-myho-renge-kyo enables all people to understand this law in there own lives and come into rhythm with it.  By putting your life in harmony with this law, you can unlock your hidden potential and achieve harmony with the universe.

Nam-myho-renge-kyo literally means;

Nam- Devotion

Myoho- Mystic Law

Renge- Lotus Flower, represents the simultineity of cause and effect.

Kyo- Sound Vibration

The invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, was established by Nichiren Daishonin on April 28,1253.  After studying  widely among the the Buddhist sutras, Nichiren concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate truth of Buddhism: that everyone without exception, has the potential to attain Buddhahood!

The three fundamentals of Nichiren Buddhism are faith, practice, and study: Faith is based on experience.  It begins as an expectation that something will happen.  If we are willing to try the practice and anticipate some result, we will then develop our faith brick by brick as examples of actual proof accrue.

Practice:  To develop faith, we must take action.  We strengthen our wisdom and vital life force by actualizing our Buddha hood each day in a very concrete way.  Practice consists of two parts; practice for ourselves, and practice for others.  We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo each morning and evening along with reciting Gongyo (two chapters of the Lotus Sutra).  Practice for others is taking compassionate action to help give people the means to make fundamental improvements in their lives.  President Ikeda describes Gongyo as a ceremony in which we bring the primordial sun of Buddha hood to rise brightly in the vast skies of our lives each day!  When chanting Nam-myho-renge-kyo, we are tapping into the underlying pulse of life and it's limitless potential.

Study; We study to gain deeper understanding.  Nichiren Daishonin instructed followers in the correct way to practice.  His writings give  people valuable insight into how this practice will benefit their lives.

The Gohonzon, which was inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin  on October 12, 1279 is the focal point of our practice.  In the center are the characters Nam-myho-renge-kyo.  It reflects Nichiren's life state of Buddha hood, and is the link between the Buddha state within our lives and the environment.

The Soka Gakkai International was founded in 1930.  It has expanded to 192 countries and territories.  The SGI seeks to promote peace, culture, and education.  The practice of Nichiren Buddhism exists for the happiness of each individual and the fostering of world peace.

JULIA's incredible Experience....read this to be inspired!

Julia Landis...Musician...Healer....Yoga Master...
and now....Nichiren Buddhist!!!
What follows is Julia's experience, written by her. I'll throw in a few annotations as well. Just let me say to begin, that Julia was a special radiant and wonderful friend from the moment we met many years ago. Her Yoga classes transported me. No other teacher compares. Since she is already so incredibly spiritual, once she decided to embrace this practice she "GOT" it in a way that is always teaching me...and we have been growing and evolving and creating our wonderful lives ever since! I learn so much from her!

Kelly's Island Ohio...where this story takes place...

Dear readers (from Julia),

some of you may have read Jamie's post about me last summer. After 13 years of contemplating chanting NMHRK I finally took the big plunge last fall after I realized I had nothing left to lose. After visiting with Jamie on Kelley's Island in Ohio and seeing the transformation of her relationship with her husband and experiencing their warm friendship in the midst of their impending separation I was truly amazed. There was simply an ease and happiness I could feel in being with them, which was a relief to me for many reasons, but most acutely, because I was really suffering: I was experiencing severe challenges to my health, far worse than anything I could have imagined. I had MRSA type wounds on my foot that refused to heal. It was a nightmare in the humid midwestern summer to try and enjoy being a tourist while the band-aids and ointment repeatedly slid off and I was left in searing pain and fear of further infection. I also had developed chronic giardiasis and related intestinal syndromes. Let's say I was not a "happy camper." Please scroll down...

I remember not talking with Julia much about chanting at the beginning of the visit. I let my life speak for me. Julia could see the physical transformation I'd had since I last saw her ...with the loss of 70 pounds and the new outlook on life...I look much younger. Outside at the lake I remember telling her something about my relationship with Paul, and she said "I want to try it."

I asked Jamie if she would chant with me one afternoon while we were alone at a picnic area overlooking Lake Eerie. I was so weak I asked if I could chant lying down on the picnic table. Jamie gently recommended that I at least try sitting up, to feel the energy in my body... 

Although my husband was opposed to the practice--and had been for over a decade-- I was determined this time not to let anything stand in my way. I'll never forget the first time I chanted with Jamie for more than a few minutes, staring out at the calm surface of Lake Eerie-- my first Gohonzon!--from beneath a picnic shelter accompanied by the chatter of newly hatched swallows nesting above us. I was blown away, so to speak, when Jamie's son Ben, a top athelete, stood behind us and joined us in chanting. I got the goose bumps as I felt the generations of Buddhas voices like a soft wind under my broken wings, lifting me towards the light.

 Here are the birds Julia's talking about

After I returned home, many obstacles arose to my practicing, but I let nothing stop me. At first I only chanted a couple of minutes a day and got out of breath and hoarse. (Julia was incredibly weak and sick when she started chanting - her transformation has been amazing) I created an altar and began to thirst for the experience of chanting. Jamie expressed so much support, making herself available in ways no other friend or helper would ever have been able to... I now realize that she was excited for me and knew about the benefits that lay in store for me. I read the copy of "On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime" she had given me as a gift and began to hear Daisaku Ikeda's loving and powerful words reverberating in me when I chanted. I believe at this point I began to connect with the spirit of Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha of our age who first chanted Nam Myoho Renge kyo and unlocked the mysteries of the Lotus sutra for all of us living in this age. Nichiren wrote... "With this teaching  all the teachings advocated by [earlier Buddhist teachers] will be like stars after sunrise..." I began to feel joy in my chanting and worked my way up to chanting an hour a day. At this point I discovered (through amazing synchronicities involving my husband and public radio) the herbs I needed to treat the MRSA. It took months and several approaches, but by now you've guessed it: the wounds have closed and are healing

nicely. 

With each passing week the benefits mounted. A doctor who'd been treating me in a half hearted always busy way began to take a real interest in me and began really helping me. Through his increased vigillance I was able to get an MRI which has led me, again through synchronicities to the most wonderful physical therpist I could have ever imagined. I am getting full physical healing including pilates and cranio-sacral therapy now and... it's all covered by my insurance. I also have begun receiving lucid dreams guiding me further along in my healing and I began my own blog about my experience. As Jamie has put it, I've gone from an experience of dying to an experience of really LIVING. Of feeling alive and cherishing each moment of my life, no matter what it brings.

It has been so exciting to share each benefit and each new challenge with Jamie, knowing that she fully understands both the nature of suffering and the emergence of strength and capacity that come with this practice and can stand beside me in either kind of state. With her encouragement, I was able to overcome many obstacles and learn to chant Gongyo; this year on New Year's day I received my Gohonzon, the mandala Nichiren Daishonin personally inscribed for his disciples (us!) some seven hundered years ago.

Having practiced many forms of meditation and yoga over the past twenty years, I was amazed to experience the blessing of chanting NMHRK with my eyes open and fixed on the character which means "MYO" on the Gohonzon. Minutes slip away in states of happiness, peace, transcendance that are worthy of MYO's immeasurable meanings chiefly characterized by the simple definitions, "to open" to "rejuvenate" and "fully endow."

I made a determination, on the eve of receiving my Gohonzon that each time I would look upon it I would be filled with reverence for it and for my life, of which it is a mirror. And I am. I can never adequately thank Jamie for sticking with me for the 12 or so years it took me to "open" up my life to my full potential and cultivate the capacity and the bravery to live fully and embrace my innate Buddhahood. I am learning the exquisite feeling of deep worthiness, worthiness of love, healing and real joy. I am beginning to praise my life.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

Julia has changed in so many ways since she began chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Her voice...her health...her bright eyes...and most of all...Julia knows...beyond a shadow of a doubt...that she can accomplish every happiness she desires. She knows with a knowing that is beyond intellectual, that the ONLY way to accomplish her desires is to wholeheartedly EMBRACE them!  She knows YOU MUST chant for what your heart desires...you Can't tamp it down. And you will either get what you are chanting for...or something better...or your desires will change and so will your suffering. She is a living Buddha...inspiring people with her incredible life! We've only just begun! So much more to create...chant for...embrace...appreciate!!! She knows she has found the key to every happiness...and what could be better than that!!!! I love you Julia! I love you readers! May each of you be soooo inspired by beautiful Julia!!!!

Tomorrow is the Big Day

Versailles On the Lakes!
Tomorrow I get my keys
to my first real apartment...right there...on the Lakes of Versailles...and step BOLDLY into the next chapter of my life.
I stand in absolute awe of the power of chanting
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
I have no regrets. For the last 30 years I have lived with a great person who is the father of our two wonderful children.
And now it is time to move on...taking a stand for my own happiness, while chanting to have this transition be one that is INSPIRING TO ALL!
Through this change, ALL of our lives will be made better. That has been my determination from the beginning...and at least one amazing person started chanting after seeing how nicely we are making this transition. My children are happy and inspired. My soon-to-be ex husband is ready for this move to happen.
My life is brimming with faith...strength and Appreciation!!!
Woohoo!!
You Can have it all...
don't let anyone tell you anything different!!!

Chanting in Appreciation

Today's morning two hours will be from a heart overflowing with appreciation. My voice may be a bit tired from cheering at the top of my lungs yesterday for Ben and the warriors of the 4x8 race....but I am so happy and so grateful for all the benefits overflowing in my life. I get keys to my new apartment that has been being totally rehabbed for me on Wednesday...I start a new chapter of my life...I'm really enjoying my new job...and I have some other new and exciting things that I will share with you when the time is right. Thank you life! Thank you to the power within me welling forth in strength and courage! Thank you Jamie for your fierce determination to be happy...and your fierce determination for others to be happy too!!!

A Winning Life! Benefits Everywhere!

Benjamin Silver with his 8th Place Medal

Ben is such an example of the pure Buddhist 

Never Give Up spirit!

Today he placed 8th in Illinois' State Track Meet...after being injured all season and fighting back to run two races to qualify for state...then rocking the competition. 

Ben runs the 3200 meter (2 mile) race. 

He qualified to run in the slower heat (slower race) of the state meet. Here's how it works: he runs as fast as he can...and if his time is faster than the time of anyone in the top nine of the faster heat...then he gets a medal. 

Watching his heat was amazing...we had about 100 of us in the stands screaming "SILVER SILVER SILVER" for him. He could hear us all...we were going crazy! Suddenly he broke away from the pack and came in first with no one even close behind him...you can only imagine how thrilling that was!

Then we had to wait until the next heat...about an hour later...and see if his time beat any of the top nine from that heat. 

It did! 

He came in 8th in the state. 

Wonderful!

This has been a great few months for Ben. He's graduating. He has a girlfriend. He got a scholarship to college. He chants with me as often as he can...and on Wednesday night, in preparation for my moving out, and for him going away to college~ he received his Omomori Gohonzon. It's a smaller version of the Gohonzon I chant to...a portable one...perfect for a dorm room. Aaron, his brother has one too. 

Ben made a powerful cause by accepting the Gohonzon this week!

And he triumphed! 

Go Ben!

Go YOU!!! Achieve YOUR dreams and become incredibly happy! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

Whoohoo More great and wonderful benefits!

Aaron and ben just after Ben's race!

 Today, May 28th, 2011 
My son
Benjamin Lee Silver got a medal in the 3200 meter race at the Illinois State Track Meet!!


After a season of injury...he totally blew us away today. 


8th place in Illinois is a major achievement! 
We are one of the fastest (maybe THE fastest) running state in the whole country. 


This was a fabulous way for Ben to end his High School Running Career!!! This fall he starts at Miami University of Ohio on a running scholarship he earned with all his hard work and determination!

Ben and me

Ben is on the left!!!

One Week Until Moving Day ...so many benefits!

Wow. 
The fact that I am moving in one week really blows my mind. 
AND the fact that I can sleep at night and I'm not going through intense anxiety is even more outstanding. It really shows the power of chanting! 
When I first began wanting to change my life, and realized that although I love the man I married, we are not meant to stay together....well.. my biggest fear was "Where am I going to go? ANd how can I live on my own?" 
Now, I know tons of people support themselves and live on their own, but I never have. I've either lived at home, in the dorm at college, again at home, then with my husband. 


And for the past two years I have been chanting to:


Raise my life condition


Strengthen my life on the inside


I've VOWED to win in all areas of my life...health...finances...friendships...and for the members of my district...readers of my blog....and all people in the world to realize their inner potential and light the flame of happiness in their lives. 


I have chanted from my deepest desires all this time...for deep, fun...love and happiness and for a career I  love. 


And the results are:


I am happier than I have ever been...even though my Buddha boys are launching their lives and, in a sense, leaving me behind. But that's a process of life! I have to be happy for the incredible men they are....I have to trust them as I always have and watch them shine. I am healthy...pain free...and have a job where I am making a real difference in people's lives. I have the dream to be a published author and reach everyone who is looking for this practice...because I looked for it for so long myself! I have many dreams....and I am watching all of them come true! 


Remember...chant what is in your heart and trust yourself!!!


Yesterday I chanted to connect with all the right people for the sake of my students...and I had the most fun on the phone setting up lively appointments! I set up a room at a hotel for Ben's state race this weekend and the sweet woman knocked $20 off my bill because I was so darn happy. Seriously. 
Your happiness affects the world! Only you can draw the deepest happiness from your life! I believe in you!! You can do it! If I can do it so can you!!!