Make Your Mighty Determinations!

Today!

Why not? 

It's your life!

What is a determination? 

It's a goal, and it's a call of your spirit. It's a paragraph that conveys what you really want. 

When Kathy was chanting for her job she had a deep determination. She determined that she was going to find her retirement job...the job she'd stay in until she retired. She determined it would have all the bells and whistles, great benefits, the hours she wanted, the income she wanted...vacation etc. She determined it would be a "home" for her, full of warm people who appreciate her. She determined that it would be a job that showed actual proof of the Gohonzon and that it would inspire others to chant to achieve their goals. She also determined that while she was unemployed she and her family would not suffer in any way. 

All of these determinations were realized! 


She had her first day at her new job on Monday. It was amazing. She immediately felt welcomed. SHe got there early with the other early people, and discovered they have one of those cool gourmet one-cup-at-a-time coffee makers. At her last job they didn't have any coffee at all, and she had to bring a carafe from home. I know that's the tip of the iceberg for her. I know that each day she will reveal another benefit of this job. Last night she was invited out to a celebratory dinner with her co-workers. On her first day her boss called her in and said that her position had been open for a long, long time...and they had chosen her very carefully!!

Isn't that awesome?

What is YOUR determination? 

Would you like to share it with us? 

Transforming Difficult Relationships

What do you do when you have a difficult relationship? Maybe there's a family member you don't get along with, maybe it is someone at work. What is the best course of action to take...well, if you are practicing Practical Buddhism the answer is an easy one. 

Chant for their happiness. 

Okay, I know, it's not really easy...but think of it as strengthening that spiritual muscle of compassion and making an excellent, wonderful, life changing and karma changing cause. Sit and think of that person with a huge smile on their face...a huge smile. And chant for their happiness, whether it is a sincere prayer or not. And do you know what will happen. Sooner or later it will turn into a sincere prayer. And you will have changed. And so will the other person!
Remember, you can't always feel it or see it, but all of life is interconnected. Chanting for someone else's happiness is as good as chanting for your own. Maybe even better!

Today I want to remind you that when you want to change a difficult relationship into a great one, determinations and chanting are important, but please remember that your everyday actions make a huge difference. 

If people come to you saying bad things about the person you are focusing on - you must not join the party of people speaking ill of that person! Your everyday actions, thoughts and words are ALL CAUSES that you are making. You want to focus on making good causes at all times. 

If you want to change a troubling relationship into a fabulous one, watch your actions, and refuse to join the folks who are badmouthing the person whose happiness you are chanting for so deeply. 

All of this is up to you. 

Your happiness rests on you doing your own human revolution. You may think that your chanting for the difficult person is about THEM. But NO! It is about your human revolution. It is about YOU creating the flow of energy that will attract only amazingly great things into your life! It is about you changing from the inside so that you can build a solid sense of self that will be strong and happy NO MATTER WHAT your circumstances!!! It is about YOU, and the other person...and YOU are leading the way for the happiness of all humanity. YOU are opening the door to happiness in your life, in the life of the "difficult" person, and in the happiness of us all because, as you know so well...we are all interconnected!!!

Encouragement for you!

The real thrill about being a Practical Buddhist and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo every day is this:

Even when I don't get what I want...I get what I want. When I keep chanting, and keep focused...what I want is always on its way. The challenge is to not let my own doubt and negativity overshadow things.

Right now I am chanting with appreciation for my life, for being able to chant and for knowing, that NO MATTER WHAT I will be victorious is all areas of my life. I base my life on reading Daisaku Ikeda's writings, encouraging my fellow members and the readers of my blog. My entire life is tied to helping others be happy, and living as an example that NO MATTER WHAT, I will win in all aspects of my life.

Has everything "finished" in my life? No! And it never will! Am I enjoying the process along the way? YES! When you base your life on the mystic law it is possible to even enjoy your own sadness...because you see it for what it is...fuel for the fire of your Daimoku (chanting).

And because you can always turn poison into medicine...NOTHING will ever stop you.

I had a friend in Japan who always used to say "I love it when I get BIG PROBLEMS! Because I know that a BIG BENEFIT is on its way!"

He is so right! As long as you keep chanting, keep reading President Ikeda's guidance, and keep encouraging people...you can't lose.

And if you are at the beginning stage of chanting...just face the Gohonzon and pray about what you want. You deserve to be happy. Don't ever listen to the people who tell you that you don't deserve to be happy....you know you deserve happiness and you have ALWAYS known this. Tap into your life force of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Be fearless. Make your glorious life overflow with benefits!

The (im) Possible Dream

Yesterday I saw Man of La Mancha, one of my favorite musicals.  This song "The Impossible Dream" perfectly describes the quest we are all on. Don Quixote was alone. 
We have each other and our mentor Daisaku Ikeda. How wonderful!
I tried to copy a link from Youtube onto this post. Please go to Youtube and type in "The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha" Enjoy!

The Impossible Dream

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ... 

This is my quest, to follow that star ... 
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ... 
To fight for the right, without question or pause ... 
To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ... 

And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest, 
That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm, 
when I'm laid to my rest ... 
And the world will be better for this: 
That one man, scorned and covered with scars, 
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, 
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

This captures our chanting quest for bettering our lives...for kosen rufu...for our willingness to "march into hell for a heavenly cause" as we confront our own inner darkness, overcome it and march on for the sake of our lives, for the sake of our loved ones, for the sake of the world. 

We all have such noble missions! I salute you on your quest this Monday Morning!!!

You Knew I had to Show you!

Aaron in his white coat. 

The ceremony today was meaningful and moving. After every first-year medical student got their white coats they all stood, along with every doctor in the house and recite the Hippocratic Oath. 

It was beautiful...and Aaron really looks like a doctor, doesn't he?! 

Paging Dr. Silver, Paging Dr. Silver!

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!!!