Chanting for a Long Time Today ~ Tips on chanting Tozos

I am inspired. 

This weekend I attended the Freedom in Education Conference at the Sudbury School in Riverside Illinois. 

I met and learned from such noted scholars as Dr. Peter Gray, author of "Free to Learn" and Dr. Lou Marinoff, author of "The Inner Philosopher", a dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda. 


I highly recommend both of these books. 

So today, on this new moon day...a day for focusing on what we want to bring into our lives, I am going to chant abundant daimoku (Nam myoho renge kyo, over and over and over) ...because I can...because I want to. 

Some time ago a reader requested I share some ideas about chanting joyfully for longer periods of time. What follows is my response to the reader, along with a few revisions and suggestions:

As I've mentioned before, no one ever has to do a long tozo. (A tozo is chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for an hour or longer). It's not a requirement of any kind. But if you ever feel inspired to dig deeply into your karma and chant for several hours, here are some ideas that may make it easier for you: 

How to joyfully chant for longer times

1. Realize that what you are about to do...an extended chant...a tozo...has profound significance for your life. 

2. Write your goal or determination for the tozo. You can do this before you begin, or some time into your chanting. And connect your prayer, as always,  to the greater good...to the real difference you want to make in the world. Remember that you are a precious votary of the Lotus Sutra and when you break through, the energy is forever changed. You are paving the way for others to break through. 

Tozos can be done for many reasons. Here in Chicago we are chanting every weekday from 9-5 for the violence to end. Two years ago this week we chanted 12 hours for the Japanese Tsunami Victims. 

Examples of determinations could be: 

"I am determined to have the most beautiful, loving relationship so that I can totally inspire other people that great relationships are possible ...I can show actual proof with my life, and be able to introduce others to this practice!" 

or 

"I'm determined to use my life to impact _______________(you fill in the blank) in some positive and lasting way. I am determined to take the actions and meet the people, have the resources and the smarts to accomplish this great goal. I join my heart with President Ikeda's to accomplish my mission. 
I am determined to use all of my talents to accomplish this. I am determined to open the doors and take the actions that will propel me forward. 
I am determined to increase the power of my prayer by 10,000 to accomplish these goals. I am determined to expand my capacity for comprehension, and connection, and memory and resourcefulness so I can use my talents for Kosen Rufu." 

3. Have your favorite drinks close by...tea...water...soft drinks...whatever you like. 

4. DEMAND your results! YOU are the Buddha! Remember the Gohonzon cannot get down off the scroll and do the Buddha's work in the world. YOU actually are the Gohonzon; it is inside your life. The depiction on the scroll is just a reflection of the highest life condition that exists within your own life. So when you are chanting CLAIM what is yours. Yes, the Gohonzon consists of the functions in the universe that are in our life. Tell them what you want. And know that all real change comes from within.

5. All change comes from within. Take responsibility for your life...not blame. Realize whatever you are going through, whatever is causing you to chant...it's your karma..not your FAULT. Chant to reach the very core of that karma and change it forever. THEN your life circumstances and environment will change to reflect it. 

6. Keep your favorite Buddhist study material close by...whatever touches your heart when you read it. And if you find yourself losing focus open it up to any page you want. I have "For Today and Tomorrow" next to me all the time. "When we chant sonorous daimoku, the sun rises in our hearts. We are filled with power. Compassion wells forth. Our lives are lit with joy. Our wisdom shines. All Buddhas and Buddhist deities throughout the universe go to work on our behalf. Life becomes exhilarating." 
(Daisaku Ikeda)

7. Invite others to join you in your tozo if you wish

8. Have pen and paper handy. You may want to write down those brilliant ideas that come into your mind while you're chanting. You'll also want to write down some of those pesky thoughts and reminders that keep coming back...things like "remember to buy dog food." Just write it down and it will leave your brain and you can focus on what really matters.

9. Put your telephone away.

10. After the tozo write in your journal. What have you realized?

I am chanting for you to accomplish your goals and shine with happiness. I am chanting for you to connect with the SGI and President Ikeda and all your Soka Gakkai friends. I'd love to hear from those of you who have connected to the SGI through my blog. And, as always please write your victories to me so I can put them on the blog and your life can inspire others. 

Workplace Experience from a Reader

Hey Jamie-

As always you inspire me- you give me hope! 

Yesterday my CEO called a meeting for all employees 

and gave us the news that we are going to be laid off. 

We have this month of March to look for new opportunities. 

I got a jolt but immediately understood there is a reason 

and this will be the beginning of an absolutely new start!!! 

I am getting a chance to do abundant daimoku 
and make the causes my life needs.

What also unfolded yesterday was mystical. 

The young executive who reported to me 
was anti me right from the day I joined. 

We had rough rides. 

I took guidance and was told to chant a lot for her Buddhahood to emerge 

which was tough but never the less I did. 

It happened so naturally and effortlessly 
that she started having problems 

she could not deal with and 
I spoke to her about the practice. 

She started chanting. 

We changed the situation between us

 to the extent that she apologized to me 
for all the wrong things she spoke about me. 

The biggest benefit was when she agreed to attend the Discussion meeting this March! 

And yesterday we were told about the layoff 
which has her name too. 

I feel I joined the Company to help this young executive know the joys of the practice.

Thought to share this with you.

Best Reet

Thank you so much Reet. You've inspired us all. 

There is Always a Way

Oh the intelligence of nature...

the intelligence in all things. 

For today, just remember...

winter always turns into spring. 

And, there is always a way. 

And, the energy you put into your practice

comes back to you over and over, 

even if you don't see it today. 

All that chanting, all that persistence, all those prayers

are going deep within your life

to bloom and bloom and bloom. 

No Nam myoho renge kyo is EVER wasted, 

even if today, you can't see it. 

Above all, don't give up. 

Never give up.

Courage and Determination

"One who refuses to seek the advice of others 
will eventually be led to a path of ruin. 

A mentor helps you to perceive your own weaknesses 
and confront them with courage. 

The bond between mentor and protégé
enables us to stay true to our chosen path until the very end."

Daisaku Ikeda 

Yes, you can chant for ANYTHING

I know it is hard to believe, but this is actually a practice where you can chant for anything you desire. 

I still get emails asking if it's okay to chant for marriage, or  money, or anything...and the answer is a resounding YES! 

Chant for whatever you want. 

Earthly desires are enlightenment. 

Many of us know people who didn't chant for the most lofty goals when they first started chanting, but over time, through following their hearts, their goals turned more and more towards their happiness, and the happiness of others. 

But you have to start somewhere, and that somewhere is exactly where you are now. 

Please know that you are a noble child of the Buddha...in fact...YOU ARE THE BUDDHA and you deserve to chant for your desires. How can you believe in the power of the mystic law (chanting Nam myoho renge kyo) in your life if you do not see actual proof for yourself? 

Chant to have the kind of benefit that will make you see the power of this law. you need to encourage yourself! Chant for anything. When you encourage yourself you can definitely encourage others. 

Start with your own life and go from there. Your prayers will eventually turn to the happiness of others, and the best way to help others become happy is to become happy FIRST, then show by your example what is possible. 

That is why we chant to show actual proof of the law in our lives. When we show actual proof in our lives and do our own Human Revolution,  constantly improving ourselves,  others will see our results and be inspired. 

As I've said many times, there are people who decided to practice, people I deeply love, who decided to practice just by seeing the changes I made in my life. And my constant prayer has been to show actual vibrant proof of the power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo so that others can be inspired to tap into that same power and become happy themselves. 

You can do it. Chant for anything. Money, cars, job, friendship...anything. 

Chant to show actual proof so you can inspire others. 

When I chanted for my house I chanted for a house to show actual proof, and for a place where I could have meetings. When I chanted for a car I chanted for a car to drive members to meetings. 

When you connect your prayer to the greater good it is that much more powerful. 

Chant for your desires. You deserve them, and the world deserves your happiness. Your happiness is contagious, important and worthwhile. And you have the ultimate key to making it happen...Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Go, you Buddha YOU.  

Challenge Everything with Confidence

"It all comes down to you. I hope you won't rely on others or wait for them to do something. 


Try to develop such a strong sense of responsibility that 


you can stand up to the fiercest storms, confidently proclaiming, 


"I'll do it. Just watch me!" Please confront reality, look it squarely in the face, 


and with guts, wisdom and strength, challenge everything that lies ahead of you." - 


Daisaku Ikeda

What if We Don't Know Exactly What We Want?

"What is youth?
The French philosopher Roher Gaurady suggests that while
most people believe a person is born young and then ages and dies,
in reality, acquiring youth in the deepest sense is a very long and challenging process.
The youth of which he speaks is the spiritual strength
not to stagnate or grow resistant to change
but to stay ever open to new possibilities.
It is the power of the spirit
that refuses to succumb to complacency and strives forward. "
Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow p. 71

I am often recommending that we all write and rewrite our lists of what we want in our lives, and continue to hone our desires so that we can achieve what we really want in life. 

Being specific is always a good idea...

But what if we don't know what we want? Does that mean our lives will not advance and that our happiness will always elude us? 
No. No. No. 
If we don't know exactly what we want, we can still activate a very powerful prayer on our own behalf. If we focus our prayer on using our lives for kosen-rufu (world peace) we can continue to advance our happiness even if we don't really know exactly what we want. 

Right now, as many of you know, I am looking at the next phase of my life and chanting about my next job/life endeavor. And I have an all-encompassing prayer, rather than a narrow and exact prayer. 

I chant to use every one of talents for kosen-rufu, fulfilling my real mission in life among people who inspire and delight me. I chant to be well-compensated and happy and fulfilled. 
That is enough. 

I don't have to have a clearer vision until I do have one. At some time I may have something specific that catches my eye, and chant for that. In the meantime this is still a powerful prayer.

We can adopt this idea for any prayer...to find love for kosen-rufu...to buy a new house for kosen-rufu, for anything you want for kosen-rufu. 
Basing our lives on kosen rufu will move our lives in the direction of our happiness. That us just the way it is. We can't go wrong. 
The prayer for kosen-rufu is a deep prayer for the happiness of all...the happiness of all beings. Basing our lives on everyone's happiness is a noble and beautiful way to live. Our happiness is assured when we have such a strong prayer.