Friends are Life's Treasures

Pooh and Piglet are such great examples of life-long companions and friends. They are so dear to each other and so kind. Friends really are life's treasures. 

But not everyone has friends. I didn't always have friends. For many years I struggled with having no friends or very few. I could barely watch shows like Sex and the City, they just made me sad. 

It was so painful for me to even chant about this subject. I'd start to chant and all these childhood memories would surface. I felt so alone, but I was making new friends in the Soka Gakkai, and that was a great benefit. 

At one point I just wrote myself a determination to change in any way necessary to have friends. I realized there MUST be something I was doing, or thinking, or putting out there that was preventing me from having friends. 

So I determined to change IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE to have friends. And I chanted sincerely to the the Gohonzon (my Life) creating this reality. It didn't happen overnight. It wasn't one of those "easy benefits" for me. It took determination to continue chanting in the face of doubt. 

It took years of chanting for my District Members' happiness...and chanting to change my own character. And slowly I began adding more friends. I found people with positive outlooks and creative and beautiful characters. 

I worked at creating friendships. I called. I sent cards expressing my love and appreciation. I gave kind words. I found people who shared my interests and we made dates to go to events. I found people who also wanted friends, and who wanted to have me as a friend. 

And I introduced my friends to each other, until finally, I have circles of friends who know each other. What bliss! I chant for my friends and invite them to parties where we share poetry or books or music. I continue to chant for their happiness. 

If you are looking for friends please realize that you can have them. Chant for them. It is possible. Don't give up! 

Power Prayer for Someone You Love

How do I chant when a friend is in darkness? How do I chant for someone in crisis?

I make sure to put away my cell phone and concentrate all my energy on the prayer I am sending to my friend.

Power Prayer for my friend in Crisis:

Shoten Zenjin and all protective forces of the universe go to my friend right now. 
(I visualize all of the characters on the Gohonzon as Shoten Zenjin and picture their bright energy  flying to my friend's aid)

Surround my friend with bright and healing energy. 
Protect him from all of his own lower tendencies and help him to see his brilliant self. 
Awaken in him his Buddha nature and have him see his deep mission for kosen rufu arising from his current problems. 
Awaken hope in my friend!
Awaken determination in my friend!  
Awaken his mind to his brilliant mission! 
Protect him and surround him with protection through this problem. 

I'm determined that this problem will be the catalyst that will turn poison into medicine for my friend! My prayer alone will make this happen!!! 

Sharing Happiness and Joy with Others

There is nothing I love better than seeing someone transform their problems through this practice. It is one of the greatest joys in life. 

My career has often given me opportunities to sit down with people on-on-on for coffee and networking.  I usually, just drop the fact that I'm having a Buddhist meeting, or I speak briefly about my blog. 

That's ALL I do, then I follow their lead. If they say "Cool, I've always wanted to know more about Buddhism", I'll open a discussion. If they ignore my comment, or don't seem interested I will move on in the conversation. 

That's it. I just take their cue. If they want to know more I usually start by talking about my own story, and sharing how I looked for this practice for so many years. I KNEW it had to exist. But I kept finding practices that said you had to alleviate your desires to be happy. And I kept searching until I found this practice that says "Earthly desires are enlightenment" and you can chant for what you want. Then I either answer their questions or share more about how I raised by kids as Buddhists with the knowledge that they could solve every one of their problems, from bad dreams to arguments with friends by chanting. And I answer their questions. That's how I do it. 

Sometimes people who don't initially want to discuss it will come to me later with questions, or they'll introduce a friend of theirs to me who wants to learn. It's all about planting seeds. I always use discretion. When I am working for a company I don't say anything to my fellow employees for quite some time, and with some of them I never bring it up. I follow my higher instincts in this regard. If I feel a spark of connection with someone, I will casually mention my practice as I described and see if they want to talk about it. If someone is really interested I will bring them literature and invite them to a meeting. I've introduced a lot of people this way, and planted a lot of seeds. 

And I've been careful. I worked for a Baptist organization for 5 years. I was VERY careful not to talk about Buddhism much within the organization. Only my closest companions knew! 

Keys to introducing others - It's easy!

Hi, I posted this picture because I think it is the essence of doing shakubuku. (Shakubuku is sharing Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with others - shakubuku is COMPASSION) 

Here are some keys to telling people about the practice:

First of all, I know it's obvious to some, but chant to meet the people who are ready to hear about this practice. And chant to have the kind of life that inspires others. Chant to show actual proof and BE an inspiration every day. Happiness will flow from you. 

This absolutely works. 

I have proven it time and time again, and so have many others. 
I think shakubuku has two categories....people we know and people we don't know. 

I have introduced both. Some of the people I know well who have started chanting were in my life many years before they began. Mary knew me for over 20 years, Julia and Danielle for at least 12 years, but the beautiful thing is, I kept chanting for their happiness, I kept planting seeds and sooner or later the depth of my happiness and great fortune in life touched THEIR lives and they decided to practice. It took a while, but they are strong members! The key is to continue to chant to show actual proof through your life. My Mom started chanting a year after I joined saying "Jamie, I want what you have." 

Here are some tips to shakubuku people you don't know. This is a great joy for me. 

1. Carry Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards everywhere. I never leave the house without them. 
Who do I talk to? Everyone. I'm a naturally friendly person and I believe there are no strangers, there are just people I haven't met. So the person at the grocery - I give them a card. I say "Thank you so much!" and smile. Then I get the card out and say "Here, I have something for you. Have you ever heard of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?" then I give them the card. I say "these are words that, when you say them over and over and think about what you want, you get it. I've been practicing for 28 years." I say, "And I have the most incredible and happy life!" And they can already see that from my life condition and how cheerful I am. The card has the SGI website and the address sof my blog and my name and telephone number on it. 

People usually look me straight in the eye and say "Thanks! I really needed to see this today." and if there's time and no one behind me waiting they will usually start talking about a challenge they are facing and telling me that our encounter was meant to be. I live in the midwest, and people are really friendly here, but I've done this all over the world. If people want to keep talking I stay and answer their questions. If they don't I move on. 

I used to work for the San Francisco Bay guardian newspaper and my name was listed in many places. People would call me at work all the time and say "Is this the Jamie Silver who gave me that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo card on the corner of...2 years ago" (This was before cell phones) and I'd say yes. Then they would tell me all about how they found a local SGI meeting, got their Gohonzon and solved the biggest problem in their lives. They tracked me down to tell me. 

The thing is you just never know what another person is going through. They might have prayed just that morning "Oh please, I need a solution to my problems right now!" and you show up and give them a card. How wonderful is that? They may be contemplating suicide, or have someone in their life that really needs to hear about this practice. A simple few words from you can change the course of their lives and the lives of those around them. 

We are all so important. We are Soka Gakkai Buddhists. We live in a world of suffering. We can easily overcome our social fears and hand out Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards and invite people to meetings. My meetings are filled with people I met in this casual sort of way, who are now practicing! I am a Buddha. you are a Buddha. So many people are searching for Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. We can help them find it. 

Please feel free to send in your thoughts and experiences. I am so grateful for you! 

How Loudly Should We Chant?

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 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! Or maybe you chant softly because you have the feeling that you are praying to some power outside your own life. Or, you could be chanting softly because deep down, you really believe whatever you are wishing for is impossible. I hope not. But you can change that way of feeling. It all starts with attitude and determination. One of the members in my district recently started chanting twice a day after hearing me talk about it for two years. She said the difference is indescribable. You just have to try it for yourself. It's lie trying to describe what eating chocolate cake is like...indescribable, right? 

Keep this is mind: 

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! 

Write Your Own Story

We are so fortunate to be practicing this Buddhism. 

Today I am filled with joy in knowing there is NOTHING I need to be worried about, and NOTHING I need to fear. 

Every single day I strengthen my resilience, increase the level of my inner strength and roar like a lion from the depths of my own life...the same place we are all connected. 

I connected with a reader this morning and she said that sometimes when she chants she can feel me chanting too. We are all connected together in the deepest rhythm of life, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. We are all chanting for each other and for Kosen Rufu (the happiness and fulfillment of all). 

I begin this day filled with gratitude for sharing this life with you and with our mentor Daisaku Ikeda. 

It is very, very cold here in Chicago. I hope you are all warm and safe. 

Commanding your life. A Great Gosho Passage

The February Living Buddhism Magazine( published by the SGI and available by calling 800-835-4558) has one of my favorite Gosho passages of all time. In it, Nichiren Daishonin has been persecuted by the government and is being taken away to Tatsunokuchi Beach to be beheaded. On the way, he sees a stature of Hachiman, one of the Buddhist Deities which are functions within our own lives. 

He makes the entourage stop so he can address the statue. 

What I love about this is that he basically yells at the Buddhist God and says you had better show your support to me RIGHT NOW because that is the pledge you made. If I die I will report you! Of course, when Nichiren is taken to the beach to be beheaded, a huge orb comes out of the sky lighting up the faces of his would-be assassins, they all run scared, and he is saved from death. 

The point I like to make is Nichiren's indignant attitude when he adresses the statue. I have prayed like this in front of my own Gohonzon with fury and with fire. We can all summon this fiery attitude at the crucial moment - we are ALL dignified votaries of the Lotus Sutra, we can all command the fundamental forces that are within our lives and represented on the Gohonzon. 

Here is the passage: 

'Great Boddhisatva Hachiman, are you truly a god?...Now I, Nichiren, and the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra in all of Japan, and am entirely without guilt. I have expounded the doctrine to save all the people of Japan from falling into the great citadel of the hell of incessant suffering for slandering the LotusSutra....When Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutra, Many Treasures Buddha and the Buddhas and Boddhisatvas of the ten-directions gathered, shining like so many suns and moons, stars and mirrors. Int he presence of the countless heavenly gods as well as the benevolent deities and sages of India, China and Japan. Shakyamuni Buddha urged each one to submit a written pledge to protect the votary of the Lotus Sutra at all times. Each and every one of you gods made this pledge. I should not have to remind you. Why do you not appear at once to fulfill your solemn oath? ....If I am executed tonight and go to the pure land of Eagle Peak, I will dare to report to Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, that the Sun Goddess and Great Boddhisatva Hachiman are the deities who have broken their oath to him. If you feel this will go hard with you, you had better do something about it right away!' (WND - 1, 766-67)