Filled With Gratitude!

Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Rocks! 

It's Family Weekend! 

Here we are with our new friends at the reception last night. You know how life just seems to come together sometimes, right? We discovered an amazing coincidence last night. Aaron (far right), just started his first year of Medical school really close to me in Maywood. And on the far left is his new friend Christina, with her Mom, Kathy Ratto. Christina and her family live in Arcadia California in the LA area. 

We were having a spirited conversation last night about all things LA and San Francisco and the Medical Profession (Kathy and her husband are both doctors) and we suddenly realized that Christina lives in my same lovely apartment community and we're all going to the White Coat Ceremony at Loyola in the morning, followed by the party at Versailles (my apartment community) in the afternoon! 

I'm looking forward to getting to know them both better, and it will be great for Christina to know she has a new "Mom"and friend just doors away! Don't you just love making new friends? I do! Lately I am making new friends all the time...new friends I plan to have in my life for a long, long time! 

Seriously, this medical school is amazing. It is a school with heart. It is a Jesuit university and the people I have met are filled with love for our students. That is their constant message to us...that they will love our sons and daughters and help them in any way possible. And I believe them. I see it and I feel it. 

I am so grateful to be on this journey with Aaron!

There is so much to appreciate isn't there? My goal every single day is to live life to the fullest and touch as many lives as I positively can. Every morning I start the day with a solid hour of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...connecting with the universe of power inside me and every other person anywhere! 

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know I am constantly chanting to expand my capacity. While I am chanting I am telling my life to expand my capacity for love, expand my capacity for fun, expand my capacity to help people, expand my capacity to reach people, expand my capacity to spread love, light, and hope to all who are suffering? My prayers are being answered! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! 

And thank you all for helping! Every time you respond to one of my posts and every time you forward a post by email or share it on facebook, YOU make a positive cause for your own happiness too! Together we make such a difference in the world! Thank you!!!

This has been an amazing week.  I've had the opportunity to be at the bedside of a dear friend who is new to chanting. His name is Kevin Haddle and he's a loving, wonderful soul. This week he had to have surgery for a bowel obstruction. So painful. Now he is recovering from the surgery, but still in pain. Please chant for Kevin! 

As you know we had six guests at the meeting on Wednesday night and more and more people keep learning about this practice, trying it and changing their lives for the better! 
Expanding my capacity - expanding ALL of our capacity  - that's what it's all about! 

Have a great Saturday!!!

Everything is a Benefit!

That's Right! 

Everything is a benefit when you're in rhythm, chanting twice a day with all your heart, introducing others to the practice, studying President Ikeda's writings and the Gosho and going to SGI meetings! 

One of the members in my district has introduced three people to the practice in the last few months. A few days ago her nanny quit and of course, it was very upsetting. It reminded me of the time when I caught my nanny stealing from us and we had to fire her. It was awful! Emotionally wrenching etc. Then the most beautiful, wonderful woman came into our lives to nurture our children. Danielle has been like family ever since then! She taught me so much about compassionate child rearing. I learned so much from this delightful earth-mother who makes her own play-doh and knows exactly how to help children make great art! She teaches children to "use your words" and shows them incredible respect...even when they are having an emotional moment...or two! And she called me on my birthday two years ago and said "Jamie, I want to start chanting and I want to hold Buddhist meetings in Cloverdale California!" She is doing just that! And a few weeks ago her MOTHER received her Gohonzon and is chanting too! 

Losing my nanny was upsetting, but I knew something better was coming! At the time I was a district leader, teaching people to chant, following President Ikeda's guidance, hosting meetings in my house...the whole nine yards (as we say in America). 

It's never too late to get into the rhythm of faith! It's never too late to go to your first SGI meeting, or go back to the center. Last night we had six visitors and a surprise guest after the meeting. Why? Because we are all glowing with faith and happiness. We are all unstoppable and so are you!!! 

And remember - it might not look like a benefit - but when you are chanting and making good causes...it will turn into a benefit  --- if you don't give up!!!

For the Broken Hearted - and for any other problem...There is HOPE!

So many of you write me in a world of pain over love. And, believe me, if anyone can understand what you are going through it is me. 

I am here to write you words of hope!

I am telling you RIGHT NOW that whatever you are suffering from...a lost love, heartache, a bad marriage, an abusive relationship, an unrequited love, the death of someone you loved...or any other pain...you can take all that pain and turn it into happiness. I KNOW! 

The key to happiness is realizing that whatever you are going through...WHATEVER you are going through can be used as fuel for growth and happiness when you chant about it in front of the Gohonzon (the scroll within our altar - a depiction of the highest life condition that exists within your own life and in the life of the universe) 

The key is this: the suffering already existed in your life. This person whom you think is causing you pain, is actually working as a karmic sponge to draw that pain out of your life forever. One day you may actually be grateful to them! 

The important thing to do is take responsibility for your own pain. Not blame! Responsibility. Realize that the pain you feel is your karma. Not blame. Not shame. Just your karma. You can change that karma right here, right now using this incredible practice. You don't have to figure out why the pain or karma is there. All you have to do is determine that you are done with that pain forever. And you have to redetermine this over and over in front of the Gohonzon until you change it. That is the real power of the practice. We chant every day - twice a day. I chant for a solid hour every single morning. President Ikeda says "The important thing is to KEEP CHANTING until your prayer is answered." Over and over again! Keep chanting. Keep refreshing your determination. Do not give up!

I had  turning point 2 months ago. I chanted for 4 1/2 hours at a tozo. (Long chanting session). As I was chanting I was telling my life "I am DONE with suffering! I am pulling this karma of unhappiness out of my life by the roots! I will no longer tolerate this unhappiness! I must change this karma so that I can give others hope that they can change their lives also. I must be happy!" As I was chanting I was picturing roots being ripped out of my body. I was literally feeling the change in my body and in my life. I chanted to BE THE BUDDHA OF ABSOLUTE HAPPINESS! 

Prayer leads to action. After this tozo I was able to take some actions that brought me to the amazing freedom and happiness I feel today. 

I have also been focusing on introducing others to this practice. If is so easy. When I am glowing from within people naturally are drawn to me to find out about it. When you are happy people want to know why! 

We just finished another amazing meeting of inspiring Buddhist SGI friends here at my house. There were 6 guests! People leave through the patio door in the summer. They are laughing and in high spirits after chanting together and sharing our successes and challenges and teaching the guests what we are doing. After everyone left I heard a voice from the other side of the bushes from my patio. "Excuse me, can you tell me do you teach something here." And it was someone I've never met, here to find out about chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! I answered her "I sure do teach something! I teach people how to be happy!" and I invited her in and told her she could access the power of the entire universe through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, and we chanted together. 

She is coming over again to chant. She is writing her list of what she wants in her life and she'll be chanting twice a day every day to make it happen. And she will change her life dramatically!

How wonderful is that! 

Become happy so you can fulfill your mission to help others be happy! 

You can do it! 

You are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Hello! Yes, that's me. Good morning!

I've been thinking of the Gosho "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime. "It's one of my favorites. It was the first Gosho I ever read, one I memorized during a difficult period years ago, and the one I read to my babies when they were in the womb.

"If you wish to free yourself from the sufferings of birth and death you have endured through eternity and attain supreme enlightenment in this lifetime, you must first awaken to the mystic truth which has always been within your life. This truth is Myoho Renge Kyo. Chanting Myoho Renge Kyo will enable you to grasp that mystic truth within."

Remember, YOU ARE THE MYSTIC TRUTH ALREADY! There is nothing you need to do to become the mystic truth except REALIZE IT! Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo with the deep conviction that you are Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Tap into that vital essence that exists within your life! There are times I've chanted "I'm Myoho Renge Kyo!"briefly,  just to remind myself. Feel the energy of the mystic law coursing through your body and chant as hard and as long as you can! Tap into the source of your life and TELL IT what you want! 

The Clouds were beautiful today!

So three dimensional...

Just a bit of my view from my drive today. 

I determined to have a happy, exciting day today, and it was great! I woke up at 4am and will turn in soon so I can wake up tomorrow and write something that will inspire you to keep chanting...keep dreaming...keep taking action to move your life forward...ever forward...into your happiest life ever! 

Words of Encouragement from Daisaku Ikeda

Daisaku Ikeda's writings in "My Dear Friends in America, Collected U.S. Addresses 1990-96" is a book full of essays that appeared in the World Tribune during those years. Those were interesting times for the Doka Gakkai in America. After the excommunication of the SGI by the priesthood the SGI had the wonderful opportunity to reexamine the ground of beliefs and practices that made it so unique...and PROUD to be excommunicated and free. These quotes are from the essay "Pioneer the Ultimate Frontier of Life and Death" pages 156-7. 
     
"In the 'Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings" Nichiren Daishonin states: "Now Nichiren and his followers who chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo dispel the darkness of birth and death and cause the fire of nirvana's wisdom to burn before their eyes....We burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom before our eyes" this passage explains the principle of "the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana" and "earthly desires are enlightenment."
..."It is not true that because we practice faith in the mystic law our lives will be free of worries. And of course, it is certain that we will eventually die. Nevertheless, through our mind of faith, we can illuminate our lives with the brilliant light of wisdom and the flame of happiness shining forth from the depths of our lives. 
"For this reason, no matter what happens, as long as you embrace faith you will never be deadlocked; you have nothing to fear.  Turning everything into a source of energy to advance still further, you can continue vigorously climbing the hill of growth and hope in life. By challenging your circumstances with composure in this fashion, you can perfectly establish a vast and eternally unshakable inner state as if you were kings and queens of life." 
Writing about Nanjo Tokimitsu's father, Nichiren Daishonin writes: "When he was alive,  he was a Buddha in life, and now he is a Buddha in death. He is a Buddha in both life and death" (Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 456) This also applies to the great seniors in faith whom you yourselves have known. In life, great good fortune, and in death, great satisfaction - in fact, a single person can enact an infinitely respectable drama of life and death in this world. I hope that you will continue making tenacious efforts based ont he three pillars of faith, practice and study, all the while cherishing lofty prode in being philosophers who embrace the great Buddhist law. Those who do will realize unparalleled victory and will lead lives of unparalleled happiness."

And my friends, I hope you have a great week - starting with these words by Daisaku Ikeda. Our desires...even the pain we experience from those desires...are exactly what we need establish a state of absolute happiness in our lives! Happy Monday Morning! 

Chant Strongly...Don't Whisper to Your Own Life!

Does it make a difference how loudly you chant? 

Can you chant in a whisper or under your breath? 

Well....you can chant any way you like of course. If there are sleeping babies in the next room or you have some other reason that your chanting with full vigor would be detrimental to someone, then  there are times you need to chant softly. 

But if you are chanting softly for no real reason...maybe you still think chanting is kind of weird, or no one ever told you to chant with strength and vigor - let me be the first! 

When you are chanting you are directly addressing your own life...and through your own life you are connecting with the entire universe. 

Make yourself heard! 

Chant strongly and proudly! 

You are the Lotus Flower rising from the muddy water...spread your petals wide and let your voice fill the room, 
fill the house, 
fill your universe! 

If you really, really, really, can't do this at home, do your best to concentrate on your prayer, and do not worry about anything. You will get the results and the benefits. Do not be shy about telling your life what you need. And remember that true happiness comes not only from achieving what we need, but also by growing, and helping others! You are a Buddha! You deserve exactly what you want. 
And then, if you are in your car alone, (or someplace private) just let 'er rip! 
Chant as loudly and as powerfully as you can. I do not mean scream! I mean tap into your whole body...feel your chant come from deep in your belly and rise through every chakra. 
Sit up as straight as you can and feel the energy flowing! Once you get started you will not want to stop! 

I'm not sure why, and maybe there is some kind of good reason for this, but the more I chant...the more I want to chant! I feel as if I am tapping into a deep reservoir of hope and health, life and vibrancy and possibility...not just for myself, but for my loved ones, my members and all of you. 

We are all so magnificent. We can think of ourselves as standing in front of a huge crowd of people. In front of us is a big heavy door representing the karma that we want to break through and change. All the people behind us are waiting expectantly with hope shining in their eyes for US to open the door, so everyone can flow though into the sunlight, into the warmth. We are so precious and we all have such incredible missions. We need to constantly remind ourselves that ANYTHING we are suffering from, any heartbreak, any hunger for someone or something, any job problems, any family problems...any challenges...they all exist for us to exercise our muscle of faith and become stronger. If those problems weren't there we would not have to chant and we couldn't shine ourselves and polish our lives! 

We need to have gratitude for the very things that make us suffer. I know. I know. Trust me! We can do it! We can do it together, for ourselves and for each other and for the entire planet. Kosen Rufu is everyone's dream...a world of respect for life and a higher vibration of happiness for all. That's our goal. That is what is in our hearts. Remember to chant for whatever you want and attach it to the goal of kosen rufu! I am always chanting to be happy so that I can inspire others that happiness is possible. Our lives have meaning when we can be lifting each other, holding hands, laughing, smiling, sometimes crying and always advancing with each other and with our Mentor, Daisaku Ikeda!