Day of the Full Moon

June 3rd, 2012


(Check out the comment from yesterday - the person I was addressing in the blog wrote in again - you find comments at the bottom of the blog)


I understand that the full moon is a good time to focus on what YOU DO NOT WANT to experience any more in your life. I spent about six hours last weekend chanting with fresh determination to uproot the pain I am so used to feeling in my relationships with men. 


I know so many of you feel overwhelming longing in your relationships, and some of you have written that you don't feel you can go on living without a particular man. Please consider doing what I did this weekend. I went though a process of recognizing the PAIN AS MY OWN, and determining to tear it our by its roots. 


This can be done for other suffering as well. What are you still suffering from? What karma would you like to tear out by its roots? 


Remember you do not need to understand your pain's origin...you do not need to spend hours figuring out its CAUSE...all you have to do is recognize that it is yours...your karma...then resolve and chant to change it! 


I declared my own INDEPENDENCE DAY in front of the Gohonzon. I Roared like a lion! 


Last night I spent working on the book I'm writing for you. I'm writing the book I searched for when I was looking for this practice...the book I looked for on the shelves every time I went to a bookstore...the book I went to libraries to find. 
It's a How-To-Book about chanting. It explains how to get started, what to expect, and how to fire-up your practice day after day! I hope you'll love it and get incredible value from it, and give it to your friends and acquaintances! 


I am more determined than ever to make this dream I have had for so many years come true! Publishing this book will be such actual proof of this practice! 


Questions: 


Is there anything you'd like to see me write about? 
I plan on sharing experiences (YOURS if you'll send them to me!) questions and answers, and all the important concepts for a successful practice.


What are the major concepts or ideas that have helped you the the most?


What have you heard from someone (me or anyone else) that really touched your heart and helped you generate results? 


Do you have a favorite Gosho quote or quote from Daisaku Ikeda?

A great comment from a reader and some heartfelt tips

Happy Monday! 


Thank you for writing me! I am getting many letters each day, and still would like to hear more! Write me your successes, your questions, your challenges, and what you would like to see in my book. I am working on it every day and look forward to bringing it to you! 


First of all, at the bottom of yesterday's blog there's a very entertaining experience that is really well written. Check it out. 


To the writer of that comment I would like to say "Thank you for sending it in to me!" And I would add a question that you might like to ponder, and that could bring you more results in your practice. 
My question to you is "Are you clear about what you really desire? And have you chanted with this in mind? Do you have a strong determination that "No Matter What" you will achieve this desire?" I am not criticizing you...you are definitely on the right path and you are chanting...I just think with a powerful prayer you will have more powerful results. Don't just chant and wait to see what will happen. Determine what you want to happen in all areas of your life...dream big...and chant to make it so! 


All of you reading this deserve everything! 


You can be victorious in every single aspect of your life. 


Chant with the conviction that you can make it happen


And if you don't know what you want...well, chant to find out what it is. I chanted sincerely to find my mission in life. And now I know exactly what it is. My mission is to reach people who are seeking this practice, to inspire them to chant, and to continue to reach more and more and more people so that they can realize their own happiness. That in why I appreciate you passing along the link chantforhappiness.com to your friends and fellow members. 


Here's a Gosho quote to begin your week.
From The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra:


"Faith alone is what really matters No matter how earnestly Nichiren prays for you, if you lack faith, it will be like trying to to set fire to wet timber. SPUR YOURSELF TO MUSTER THE POWER OF FAITH. Regard your survival as wonderous. Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other...a coward cannot have any of his prayers answered." 

Why do you keep chanting? Please Write me! And here are more experiences:

I am very interested in hearing all of your stories. 


What was happening in your life before you started chanting? 


What were the first changes that you saw?


What are some of the major benefits you've had over time? 


I would like to hear your stories so that I can share them with the other blog readers and include them in my book. Please take this cool chance to inspire others with your story~ It's a wonderful positive cause to make! 


There are many reasons people continue to chant every day~ twice a day. 


Once you get the feel of the power you are tapping into...well, you just want more. It's human nature. It works! 


I began chanting when a I spent the day with Kate Randolph in 1985. 


We met in late summer when I was in a very depressed frame of mind. I'd been laid off from my job and suddenly didn't know who I was. 
I was scared. 
I was depressed. 
And I was searching for a solution to my troubles. She and I met for the first time and spent a day working together on a project. All day long we talked about Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. She told me a story I'll never forget. She was woking on this project in LA with Paul Newman. THE Paul Newman. In 1985 he was still a super star. In his prime he was similar to Brad Pitt. Gorgeous blue eyes...great humanitarian...the whole nine yards. She told me that when they first met she could barely talk to him. She was nervous and couldn't think straight or get the words to form to communicate. She knew she'd have to work with him quite a bit so she chanted for an hour to regain her composure and to treat him like any other human. It worked. From that hour on she was able to speak with him and keep her brain engaged. All my life I'd been looking for a practical practice....one that produced whatever result I was seeking at the time. This sounded like it could be the solution. 


So I called a local friend who'd mentioned Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to me, and went to a meeting and began an earnest practice.
Immediately the fog and depression started to lift.  I woke up one day and realized I could still have a bright future. I found a job and had to wear a suit every day. I began to make some friends. And I made new friends in the wonderful Soka Gakkai organization who taught me how to chant...and helped me to realize that the things I thought were PROBLEMS in my life could actually be viewed as FUEL for the happy transformation of my life. What a revelation. 


And I learned that my desires were good, and that I could become happy just the way I was, without memorizing and fourfold path or changing my eating habits or wearing yellow robes and shaving my head. I didn't have to change anything about myself! All I had to do was chant, and learn about this practice. And go to meetings. And help others learn to chant to the best of my ability. 


I got one job, then another...then another. Each new problem was like a baseball coming at me and I hit it out of the park by chanting through it. I learned to appreciate everything and everybody...and I started turning the depression that I'd suffered from my entire life around. 


I have countless experiences to share...and will share more and more and more...of my own, and hopefully of YOURS!!! 


If you just started chanting GREAT! Go to SGI-USA.org and find your local meeting! Go to Soka Gakkai Interntional and search for your country. Join us! We are all here to help you live your happiest life ever!!!

Chanting A Lot!

I just got back from chanting several hours of daimoku with a group of people. (called a TOZO)


I was roaring like a lion - just like I talk about in this blog. 


There is one part of my life that is still causing me pain and I am determined to root that karma out. 
I am DONE with this particular feeling and pattern of behavior! As I was chanting to change this karma forever I could picture the roots, and see myself yanking them out. I don't have to know where this karma came from...all I have to do is see it for what it is and determine to change it. I don't have to figure it out. No. All I have to do is chant to grab it by its roots and rid it from my life forever. 


I chanted with all of you in mind. I chanted "I MUST solve this problem so that I can have complete and total actual proof and inspire the readers of chantforhappiness.com that anything is possible." No suffering is too much for Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. The vibration of chanting is stronger than any possible problem. 


I am fighting right alongside you. 


We can all be victorious in all of your challenges and problems. We can all shine like the sun!!!


Every time each of us breaks through...we are opening a door for so many others to come through. 


You are inspiring me with all of your emails and comments. Keep writing! And ask me anything. My email is chantforhappiness@gmail.com


Keep Going! Don't give up!


I heard an author say recently "Your Mess is your Message!" And I say "Yes! Embrace your "mess", recognize that it is your karma, and and change it!!! Forever!" Remember...this is not the kind of practice where you are supposed to suffer for your karma. NO you have the tool to change it! And stop its pattern in your family FOREVER! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!

Powerful Prayers and stories!

POWERFUL PRAYERS! 


Buddhism says one of the causes of suffering is ignorance...ignorance of your own Buddha Nature! Chanting to do your Human Revolution and Praise your life is a great way to pray to reveal and recognize your own Buddha Nature. 


You may remember that my job duties changed in several ways over the past few months. I now work for three locations and faced a lot of challenges at the beginning. I had to introduce myself, and my way of working, to two new campuses. 


Every morning in front of the Gohonzon and in the car ride I would chant to PRAISE MY LIFE! In other words, to recognize my own brilliant Buddha Nature. This is what I call a SuperPrayer! When you chant this way you touch your life in many ways! You bring about changes from deep within. 


Another SuperPrayer I love is the one to EXPAND MY CAPACITY. I sit in front of my Gohonzon and I chant to expand my capacity, and I list all the ways I want to experience expanded capacity:


I chant to expand my capacity for writing blogs that inspire you!
...expand my capacity for compassion...
...for happiness...
for skill in writing my book...
for being a great Mom...
for being a great friend...
for feeling immense joy every day...
I chant to expand my capacity for JOY!
and for pleasure
and for feeling the love in my life
for brain power and memory
for learning and resourcing new ideas
for making new friends
for producing amazing results in my job...
for giving powerful guidance...
for inspiring others to chant...
for overcoming negative emotions quickly!


There are so many ways I chant to Expand my Capacity! 
And so many ways I already HAVE expanded my Capacity!


If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know how frequently I used to sink into depression...and have a feeling of being unloved. That almost never happens anymore. And when I feel that feeling coming on, I chant it away very quickly. I almost never feel depressed or hopeless, and I used to feel depressed very frequently. This practice has SOLVED THAT PROBLEM for me, and IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT! 


At the core of my prayer is always the the deep conviction that I must overcome my problems so that I can show actual proof of this practice and help others to become happy. 


You can have the same prayer. 


WHEN YOU BECOME HAPPY YOU AFFECT EVERYONE AROUND YOU! THEY BECOME HAPPY TOO, AND THEY MIGHT JUST BE INSPIRED BY YOU TO CHANT! 


For me, there is no greater happiness than watching my friends and new members and blog readers become happy through this practice. You can SEE IT AND FEEL IT! 


There's a woman in our district who inspires everyone every time she comes to a meeting because of the bright smile she wears. All of us remember her early days of chanting when she was so sad you could feel her sadness walk right in the door with her! She has totally transformed! You can transform ANYTHING though this practice!


It all starts with you and your determination to be happy and to solve your problems. 


Chant every day...every morning and evening! Read the Gosho!
And regard your troubles as wonderful reasons for you to chant and show actual proof. 


In Nichiren Daishonin's "Letter to Sado" he writes:
"Only by defeating a powerful enemy can one prove his own strength." 
What is your "powerful enemy"? Is it sadness, depression, abuse, hopelessness...whatever it is: 


You can definitely defeat it! 


Do you have others suffering around you? You can help them too! 
As always, thank you for writing me! Thank you for letting me share your challenges (only with your permission). Thank you for helping me inspire all 6,000 blog readers every month. And THANK YOU for sending the link chantforhappiness.com to everyone you know! You never know when YOU are going to profoundly help someone! 

Comments from readers! Experiences and Questions

Thanks for writing! 
From my readers! The first is an experience, the second is a question and the answer I provided.


Hello Jamie 

I wrote you back in September I just wanted to let you know I continued chanting I haven't had time to keep up with the meetings at the SGI near my house because of work but I still chant at home. My health problem was complete resolved I had surgery and everything went great I went on a trip to Thailand and new Zealand for work and had a great time my divorce is final and me and my ex husband have remained friends. And I'm learning to remember the good times I had with my friend that passed away. I suggest chanting to anyone that will listen because I know it helped me through some really hard times. I just want to tell you thank you for creating your blog , reading your words help me to become a stronger and happier woman.  

Question and answer:


Hi Jamie,

I can't tell you many times your blog has given me hope when I've even considered quitting the practice.

I just graduate and have applied to at least 50 jobs and have been rejected from all of them. I wrote down some goals and even included the salary I would want in my dream job but I feel guilty for being greedy. I chant only 10mins a day and despite practicing for almost a year I haven't really had any victories which makes me wonder what am I doing wrong ? I would appreciate guidance from you in terms of what I should chant for in a job or what more can I do to Improve my practice .
My response:  


Hello!

First of all you are not being greedy to want money in your life, and to have a job that brings you joy. You can envision a life that makes you happy down to every detail. It is your birthright. And now, since you are chanting Nam Myoho REnge Kyo it is time for you to Raise your life condition and focus on what you want. The goal of this practice is to be happy. Having the right job is very key to being happy. 

There are many elements to having a successful practice. They are not all easy but they will result in actual results in your life and a happiness you have never known before. The question you must ask yourself is "How much do I want to be happy?" And if you're wondering if you deserve happiness I will tell you YES YOU DO!!!! 

And if you don't believe me, please chant in praise of your life. You have a noble mission. You can help all those who are suffering...once you achieve happiness yourself. This is a crucial time for you. You must determine to win! 

Here are the aspects of a successful practice:

Chanting as much joyful "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" as possible.

make your list of what you want!

Get your Gohonzon as soon as you can! (The Gohonzon is the scroll inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin of the highest life condition possible. We focus on it while chanting...it is the center of our Buddhist altar. You get it through chanting with the SGI and attending meetings and learning Gongyo which is the recitation of the Lotus Sutra we recite every morning and evening)

Going to SGI meetings at the Buddhist center or in people's homes - (I know it can be difficult to get to meetings. If you cannot attend, keep chanting anyway! Chant to be able to attend!)

Making good Buddhist friends

Studying the Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin and writings of Daisaku Ikeda

Chanting as much Daimoku as you can and doing Gongyo twice a day every day. 

Taking action towards your goal....every action you take is a cause!

Chant for the perfect job for kosen rufu. (World peace) 

Chant to show actual proof of this practice through your own life so that you can inspire others to chant.  

Demand that your life deliver this to you!

You can do it. 

Persevere. 

Challenge Yourself. 

I promise you. It is worth it!!!

What can you accomplish through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo?

I'm celebrating today! All time readership of this blog just went over 50,000! Thank you so much! Thank you for passing the link chantforhappiness.com 
on to your fellow members, friends, family and anyone you want to introduce to this practice! And thank you for passing it on to people who speak languages other than English since there's a translation button on the upper left corner! And thank you so much for writing me! I love knowing what is on your mind and I adore hearing your successes! I am so grateful to you!


What can you accomplish through chanting? Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is bigger than your biggest problem. I keep thinking about the experience that was in a recent world tribune. A girl with a very heavy heart and lots of troubles went to her first SGI meeting. A member who had been chanting for many years had her hold up her baby finger, and she told her "All your troubles will be as tiny as your baby finger compared to the power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo." And that's the truth! 


What are some examples of the things I have personally seen change for people? 


I'll start with my own benefits for you.

There are three categories of "treasures" in Buddhism - the most important is the treasure of the heart:
Here are some Benefits of developing the treasure of the heart:


I have cured in my own life:


Hopelessness
Depression
Anxiety
Sadness
Fear! 
Loneliness - I went from having very few friends to having many friends, and to being happier on my own too. 
I have resolved every conflict in the workplace and in my personal life very quickly
I have no more need to be eating all the time
I have alleviated the endless hunger for everything, that constant longing for what I cannot have for whatever reason. 
I've lost 50 pounds and feel younger and stronger than ever.
I am working on publishing a book that will help many people learn to chant. This, along with the blog you are reading now is my greatest passion....helping people alleviate their suffering. 
I have peace of mind! Aaaahhh!


Other treasures of the heart:


One of my members stopped his pattern of constant worrying and never worries anymore.
One member overcame her deep dark depression, and all of the members in my district have greatly alleviated their anxiety.
They face their problems head-on and together we break through them! 


I've seen many members get the jobs of their dreams...overcome fear of public speaking...overcome many fears. 


The list goes on and on.....


There are also treasures of the storehouse...and things that people want to have and accomplish.


I remember chanting for my first car. I chanted for a reliable car for Kosen Rufu (world peace) so that I could drive people to meetings in San Francisco. 
I chanted for a beautiful house to hold Buddhist meetings in...one that would inspire people that anything was possible!
 I'll never forget the looks on the movers faces when they arrived at my beautiful kosen rufu home on the hill with the gorgeous view! It was such a contrast from my tiny little apartment on lower Nob Hill (Upper Tenderloin for those in the know) in San Francisco! 
And I've chanted for financial benefits. We need money to live and to give us opportunities. Without money I could not have brought my Buddha boys to California this spring! It is not some kind of "sin" to chant for money. Money is necessary. 


Oh there are soooo many things... feeling...experiences that you can chant for. And the biggest benefit of all is that as you are chanting for these things you are developing a stronger sense of self...a stronger inner core...a strength so powerful that NO PROBLEM CAN DEFEAT YOU. EVER. That is truly the best benefit. 
And remember that when you chant you are not asking anyone for anything...you are drawing power from your own precious life! Go YOU!


I wish I had more time but I have to run out the door to my job! 
Please keep writing me. Let me know what you'd like to hear about! Let me know your successes! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo !!!!