Answers to your questions, and important questions for you!

Thanks for your comments and questions!


A reader asked about chanting at night. They said they were tired and wanted to do gongyo much earlier in the day. I think it's fine to chant anytime you want to. You can do evening gongyo at 2:00 in the afternoon if that time works for you. The important thing is to establish the twice a day rhythm in your life. The actual time you chant is less important. 


A reader asked if it was OK to stop in the middle of chanting Daimoku to journal, and then get back to chanting. I hope so! I have been doing that for years and it hasn't hurt me at all. I keep a pen and paper handy to jot down the inspiration I get while chanting, otherwise I'd forget some important Daimoku-Inspired ideas. Once, in the middle of chanting I stopped and HAD to google "Agents looking for authors" and I found out about the New York Writer's conference in January of this year. The next thing you know I'd bought my tickets and was on a plane. 
Of course you can do this too much and end up barely chanting at all...
There are times when I just want to focus like a laser beam, and I put my phone and paper away and just stay glued to the Gohonzon. When I chant with other people, and when I am just intent on breaking through with Daimoku I just barely move my eyes from the Gohonzon. 

Which leads me to my question for you. I want to produce something for you that would be of value, and that you'd be happy to pay for, and recommend to others. 


Would you buy a book called "Chant Your Way to Happiness...A How-to-Guide for Having the Life of Your Dreams right now!" (I'm still working on the tag line after "Chant Your Way to Happiness." Your suggestions are welcome!)
 I don't know if I'll have control over the price for this, but would you pay $12, $18, or $22 for a book? Would you prefer an ebook or a real book or both? 


Would you like me to produce a video and sell it on-line? What topic would interest you? Some titles might be:
 Joyfully entering the Path of Happiness and Fulfillment! A How-to-Guide to jump-starting your Buddhist Practice of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!
Energize Your Practice! What you need to know to reinvigorate and break through your karma!
Chanting Powerful Daimoku: How to Really connect with your life when you chant. 
Introducing others is EASY! How to talk about Buddhism in the real world. 


Are there other topics you'd like me to cover? 


And how much would you pay for these? $5, $10, $12, $15?


Thanks for helping me in my research. My goal is to produce products of VALUE to you. Something you can take and use wherever you want. Something you can give to people you care about. I'm open for suggestions. Please respond!

How to explain this practice to others

Hello!


I received a request from a reader on how to talk about this practice for others. I think we each have our unique way, and I'll tell you how I do it. 


It starts with Daimoku! I am always chanting to meet the people who are seeking this practice and will want to chant. I know I was seeking this practice and so many are seeking too! I chant to be a living, breathing example of hope for people...that just by meeting me they can feel a breeze of "Ahhhhh...look what is possible!" Even if they are just meeting me for the first time. I chant to overflow with happiness and draw people to me who are ready to chant!


I am always chanting to let others know about this "tool for happiness"! 


There are three categories for shakubuku:


Strangers I meet in random places... 


People I meet in business....


and Friends...


Let's start with strangers. Most of the time I assume that if someone meets me, that they are seeking this practice. Otherwise why would they meet the Buddha? And how else could they find out about this wonderful practice? So I find a way to just drop the fact that I'm a Buddhist into the conversation, and I always carry Nam Myoho Renge Kyo cards with me! Always!  I give them away saying "This is the secret to happiness! Chant these words and you make the changes inside your life to bring about the changes you want to see!" Or I say "These words are the name of the rhythm of life itself. Chanting these words puts you in rhythm with the universe." Then I tell them I used to be 70 pounds heavier, or I say "I have the most amazing life!" and tell them a bit about me...but only if they are interested. I can tell right away if they don't want to talk about it. I can feel it. I just drop the subject then and move on. I have planted a seed....and that is enough!


If they are interested I tell them it's a tool, like meditation and that they do not have to stop doing what they are doing or CONVERT to chant. They don't. They can still use chanting as a tool. I tell them it's a tool for drawing forth the power of the universe from within. And I tell them we chant twice a day every day to establish that rhythm in our lives. I tell them they don't have to believe in it. It's a law of the universe and works no matter what. Then I tell them stories from my life...invite them to read my blog and attend meetings at my house. I also direct them to the SGI-USA.org website. 




I think I told you about my new friend who helped me at the Apple Store. My phone was having problems and she was helping me with it. I told her it was important for it to work so that I could stay in contact with my Buddhist District and my blog readers. 
She immediately told me she was seeking Buddhism and had been reading books and visiting temples to find a practice. We had a spirited conversation where I talked about using the TOOL of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to achieve goals and I told her some stories about actual proof in my life and in others. She was immediately hooked and has been chanting ever since. In the store we exchanged numbers, I began chanting for her and she and I have stayed in contact. Although she doesn't live close to me, she works close to me and comes to my meetings. She introduced a friend to this practice already!!


And then there is the woman I shakubukued at my sister's swimming pool. She and I had about a 5 minute conversation at the pool. She could feel something about my life. And she came to a meeting...she has now been chanting a year and a half and is glowing actual proof for all of us...she is so much happier!! 


In business I usually I wait until I get a clear sign from the other person. When they say "what is it about you Jamie? Why are you always so happy and smiling?" Then I tell them! I bring them reading materials and see if they want to have lunch with me. Then I let them lead. I wait until they bring it up. I never bug people. If they aren't interested I drop it right away and wait until they bring it up again...


And shakubukuing friends...and family...for me they sometimes take more time. They KNOW me. They are watching me for results. I chant, chant, chant for them! And chant to show them actual proof. I offer to chant with them when they are struggling, and I chant for them all the time! I let them take their time. I have many friends who have joined after watching my life for twenty years. And once they began chanting...oh my...they have achieved sooooo much!


I LOVE doing shakubuku! Do you have any more questions? 


Introducing others is the fastest way to change your karma, and when you see people using the practice and becoming happy...well, there is nothing more satisfying!!! 

Fundamental Darkness Be Gone!

Understanding Fundamental Darkness is one of the keys to becoming enlightened, and HAPPY! 

And "Fundamental Darkness", although it sounds scary, is not scary at all AS LONG AS YOU RECOGNIZE IT FOR WHAT IT IS!!! When you see it for what it is, and don't give it any power you can vanquish it from your life. 

Fundamental darkness is only ignorance of your fundamental brightness. And when you are practicing correctly you WILL experience it! It's part of the process!

That's how simple it is. 

It's not a force that will overwhelm you, unless you give it power! 

For me,  fundamental darkness is the negative voice in my head urging me to give up. The voice says "This is not possible Jamie girl...don't even hope for it...no one you know ever accomplished this goal, what makes you think you can?" and on and on and on. It leads me to doubt and fear...and I have the power to lead myself back into light and hope. It also appears as a feeling of hopelessness...a feeling of insatiable longing....that too is fundamental darkness. Unless I see it for what it IS, I feel the hopelessness is real. But it's not real! Do you see what I'm saying? 

Now, if I were to believe those voices, and continue giving them power...well then, fundamental darkness WINS. But if I instead call out "I KNOW YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE!!! HA! Negative thoughts BE GONE~!!!!" If I say "I don't CARE how many times you come to defeat me...I am the BUDDHA! I am stronger than you! I will WIN! I will recognize my FUNDAMENTAL GOODNESS INSTEAD! My life is a brilliant example of actual proof of this Buddhism! I WILL accomplish what is IMPOSSIBLE! I will be absolutely happy and healthy in every way!" Then I have power. 

Listen to the supportive voices in your head...SUMMON them!...write them on your walls! 

Train your thoughts to say: 

"Buddhism is winning or losing...I choose to WIN! I am the Buddha! I have all the power of the universe right here between my hands when I am roaring the roar of the Buddha and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and dispelling these doubts from my mind.!!!!! I AM the BUDDHA! No ONE and no THOUGHT will defeat me. And I VOW I will overcome my karma and be absolutely happy in every way...mind, body, spirit! I will be an example for others that this practice works. My life is an example of glowing, brilliant happiness and I can be a beacon of hope for others! Goodbye fundamental darkness! SHOOO! I feel and see my fundamental BRIGHTNESS instead!!!!

I'm focusing on that!"

Roar the roar of a courageous buddha! Do not give into fundamental darkness. It is not who you are. You are a brilliant beacon of hope for everyone. Claim your brightness! Embrace your Buddhahood! Vanquish your fears! Ever. Single. Day!!!!

You Can Chant for Anything

You can chant for anything....anything. 
I mean it. 
Anything. 
I recently had a breakthrough of a personal nature... one I thought would never happen. I thought it was just one of those things I had to accept...that it was just "me" And one day, sitting in front of the Gohonzon, I thought..."Well, I always say the Gohonzon works for everything...maybe I'll chant about this little thing..." and boom...immediately I had a breakthrough in something I'd never thought to chant about before. 
Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo works for EVERYTHING. There are no exceptions. 
Try it on some little thing today and see what happens!

Put YOUR LIFE and Happiness FIRST!

Have you ever been on your way to an SGI meeting and had something come up that was trying to stop you from attending? Did you give in, or did you make it to the meeting? 


Did you ever sit down to chant and then get pulled away by the endless to-do list in your head? When you stay in front of the Gohonzon and chant anyway...then you WIN in your life!


You know there are obstacles that appear in our lives to prevent us from moving forward. We call these "Sansho shima", and when we see them for what they are, we can boldly move ahead forward and create real and lasting happiness. For instance, before a really important meeting some time ago, I got a call that someone was going to make us all late to the meeting if we didn't figure out a way to change the situation. OBSTACLE I thought! And I quickly changed the situation by figuring the best course of action so we could all get there on time. 


I realized at the very beginning of my practice (27 years ago) that the time I spent chanting actually gave me MORE TIME, because it put me in rhythm with my surroundings. This is the profound nature of chanting. 


When we tap into our essential life force through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo our lives move in sync with our entire surroundings. 


So I am writing this blog to urge you to put your life first by putting your practice first. 


The power of your life force, and the strength of your practice are one and the same. 


When you put your practice first you put your life first. 


When you put your life first you can create anything you want in your life.  


I live my life to be a walking example of this! Every morning I sit down and put my practice and my life first. 


I go to an SGI meeting every week, and I have the highest life condition of happiness ~ I literally glow. It is not unusual for people, after meeting me to seek me out to find out what it is about me that creates this glow. That's why it's so easy for me to do shakubuku, (introduce people to this practice) 


My LIFE does shakubuku for me. 
My energy, enthusiasm and vibrancy just shine through. 
They HAVE to shine through because I focus my life on polishing my shiny life every single morning and evening. 


I chant for my bright Buddhahood to sparkle and shine. 


I chant for my friends and district members and blog readers. 


That's where true happiness lies. I put my life first by winning every single morning. 
I don't even use an alarm clock any more. I wake up in time to chant one or two hours, work out, blog...you get the picture...all because I put my practice first. I also spend my days helping others become happy. That makes my light glow extra bright! When I know I have helped someone overcome their challenges and learn to put their life first....I know that person has the tools to create the life of their dreams. What could possibly make me happier than that? 
And you know how much I love to hear from the readers of this blog. I love to know your challenges, your successes, your questions...everything. When I get your comments it makes me so happy! 
Let me hear how you have put your life first and claimed your own happiness!

My Fortune baby! Heading to Loyola Medical School!

Aaron Michael Silver in front of the 
Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola 

We all spent Friday at "Second Look" a day reserved for all incoming Medical Students at Loyola. 

I've told you some of Aaron's history before, right? When I was pregnant with him I chanted a million Daimoku, 
a million Nam Myoho Renge Kyos. 

I had so many things on my list...for my husband and me to be mature enough to be good parents and be ready to raise a child...for financial security...for my child not to have the difficult karma I had...for him to easily make friends and to have self esteem ... and...with all my heart I chanted for him to have a dream and for him to fulfill it.


And throughout his life I have encouraged him to chant for whatever he desires...while trying not to push him so hard that he doesn't want to chant. 

Aaron has been a world class human being his whole life. He's been a true friend to many...a trusted leader and mentor to his brother and to others. He has started leadership groups, 
set the pace for his friends, been an 
outstanding student and resourceful young man. 
And for many years he has had a dream to become a physician. 


In the fall he led his Cross Country team to the national championship. A few months ago he won the Campus Excellence in Community Engagement award. Today, he found out that he is graduating with Distinction. And now, he has chosen a medical school that prides itself on the HUMANITY it brings forth in every doctor. It's staff has been there many years. The students are known for being happy. Yes, you heard me correctly. Happy. That's refreshing isn't it? That is also my style..the way I like to go about things.
Happiness is important!
Over and over on Friday we heard consistently positive messages from the staff and students at the Stritch School of Medicine.


Anything is possible. Anything can be fulfilled. 
Dream big. 
You're a Buddha!


I wish you happiness in everything you are doing. Remember that all your problems might seem big right now. ANd they might be big right now. But really, compared to Nam Myoho Renge Kyo they are quite small! The more you chant, the smaller they become. Keep determining to win.
Don't give up! 

Happy Saturday!

Hello! 
I have been chanting about my challenges, and I have also been having a lot of fun! 
As I mentioned in an earlier blog I am so rich with friendships and love. 
I look around my life and am really astonished by the depths at which I have changed my karma regarding relationships. I have more girlfriends than I can count, and the group who knows each other is growing all the time. All these friends are bright, positive, happy, creative women! And I meet more every day. Yesterday one of my dearest friends stopped by and we read Maya Angelou's poem "I Rise" together. What a masterpiece from a true goddess of our lifetime. 
Another friend invited me over to introduce her 9 year old nephew to chanting. I went over and gave him his own beads, a few copies of "friends for peace" and we chanted the magic words that would get rid of his nightmares and immediately made him very happy! Children are so open. And a few moments of chanting begins to open up their world! 


And on the subject of  friendships...
 I can't help thinking back to kindergarden when I was 5 years old and a little girl and I were sitting next to each other in a large circle and she got up and moved to a different part of the circle because she didn't want to sit next to me. That began a long pattern in my life that lasted many years. I had a few friends here and there, and I am so grateful for them...but I was an outsider with few friends for all of my school years. In college I had the fortune to meet my new friend Jenny on the very first day and we roomed together for the rest of college and had a blast...but I still felt like an outsider most of the time. 


Once I became a Buddhist I chanted for friendships. I chanted to change whatever I needed to change in myself to have friends. And now...I really have what I chanted about...constant fun invitations with people I adore being with...celebrations...and friends who know each other. 
I also chanted a lot about my love life and I am very happy in that area too. Busy! Happy! Enjoying life! I feel so fulfilled!
Remember you can change ANY karma through chanting!!!! If I can have a circle of friends...If I can make the impossible happen...so can YOU!!!
It did not happen overnight for me. You WILL change some things overnight. You will see some immediate results, but some karma is tougher than others. It is different for every person. 
Remember "karma" is not the same as "fault". Please realize you are not to blame for whatever you are experiencing...but you are at CAUSE for making whatever changes you want in your life!!! 


You make the most profound cause by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo consistently to make that change. President Ikeda says (and I'm paraphrasing here): "The important thing is the KEEP CHANTING until you do get the benefit!" Of course! Don't give up!
This morning I will sit down and chant another tozo on your behalf, on all of our behalf...on the whole world's behalf. 
Join me! Happy Saturday!