Tips for Beginning Chanting ~

(Periodically I post this passage about chanting for the first time. If you're new to the practice I welcome you with open arms. If you're strengthening your own practice I congratulate you, and if you are forwarding the post to someone who wants to try chanting, that is awesome.) 

Here you will learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

First of all make a list of what you really want in life. Take a fresh look at your desires and write them down.  Dream big. What do you really want? What do you want for yourself? What do you want for others? What do you want for the world? Make a list. There is no such thing as a “bad” desire as long as you wish no harm on others. 

Many Buddhists began chanting with desires that later turned into other desires. So don't worry about your current desires. Chanting is progressive, both you and your desires will evolve. I know people who began a very rewarding practice chanting for things others might consider wrong or strange. One of my friends chanted for a month to prove to his wife that this practice doesn't work. More than 40 years later he is still practicing. In Nichiren Buddhism your desires ARE enlightenment. It is okay to desire whatever you desire, whether it's money, the happiness of someone else, a relationship, a job, or peace of mind and contentment.

Turn "Why me? to "YES ME!"

Each one of us is a Boddhisatva of the earth. We are the ones here on earth proving the power of the law. 

We can take each one of our challenges and realize that it is our mission, our sacred beautiful mission to change our karma. Because we are interconnected with all of life (dependent origination), whenever we break through, we break through for our families, friends, for the web of life itself. 

When we can take our problems and elevate them to being our mission we have more power and strength. 

We can turn our lives from  "Why me? to YES ME!" and use or faith, and power in our daimoku to open the door through which many will flow after us. 

We are Boddhisatvas of the earth or we would not be chanting Daimoku. How lucky we are! But the minute we start saying "Why me?" and feeling sorry for ourselves we erode our strength and our life force drains our lives.

The next time you are wondering "Why me?" turn it into a "YES ME!" Embrace your challenges. You would not have them if you couldn't change them. 

In the February 15th World Tribune there was a message to the women and young women from SGI Honorary Women's Leader Kaneko Ikeda called "Precious Flowers Blooming in the Garden of Kosen Rufu." 

Kaneko Ikeda states: 

"Times of suffering are times when our faith is put to the test. Our Buddhist practice enables us to face such difficult and painful times with wisdom and fortitude and, supported by the warm encouragement of our fellow members, to move in a positive direction, a direction of hope and fresh growth. 

In his writings, the Daishonin teaches that we can lessen our karmic retribution through our efforts in faith to spread the Mystic Law. It can be said, therefore, that whatever daunting hardships and karmic trials may befall us, they appear precisely because we have the power to transform them. 

From the perpective of Buddhism, everything that happens in our life has a profound meaning. Based on the law of cause and effect, the greater the efforts we make for kosen-rufu, the greater our future happiness. This is something that will become clearly apparent when we look back later." 

(Page C, February 15th World Tribune") 

So today, see if you can turn every "Why me?" Into a "YES ME!" and appreciate and embrace your karma and unique challenges. Make a firm determination that you CAN change anything in your life, and lead others to happiness through your example. 

Appreciation Power Prayer

I am on a roll of chanting in Appreciation. 

Power Prayer of Appreciation:

Thank you life! I appreciate all the wonderful people, opportunities, money, love, fun, and treasured moments that are flowing into my life right now. I feel every cell in my body vibrating and radiating happiness. My whole being shimmers in happiness and contentment as I let my light shine. Thank you life, thank you, thank you! 

I'll bet you can write a great appreciation power prayer for your own life. 

Every time I sit down to chant I focus on appreciation and feel my heart swelling in happiness...a feeling of peace comes over me.

I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the name of the rhythm of life itself, and I feel the rhythm within myself and in all of life. Everyone who chants these words can have this experience. This is not something reserved for an elite few.

Creating A Powerful Practice

TO create a Powerful Buddhist practice and a powerful life, remember that you are not chanting to something outside your life....you are chanting to your very life itself...
and the life of the entire universe.  

Through chanting Daimoku 
you have the keys to access the power of the universe. There is no need to beg. 

There is a need to VOW, and DETERMINE...and to clearly tell your life that you want results from your chanting NOW!!!


That's the power of chanting Daimoku. And please, do not chant under your breath! Chant as if you mean it! You are speaking to the universe...be strong. Take deep breaths, remember to breathe. Breathe from your belly...feel the energy surging through your body. SIT UP STRAIGHT! Be STRONG! You're chanting!

What you Focus on Increases

It is so easy to think of all the things we want to change in our lives. It is so easy to focus on what we don't want, rather than concentrating on all of the good things, in our lives and in ourselves. I received some positive feedback this week about one of the blogs postings. 

A reader wrote me to tell me that she'd made a sign for her Butsudan that says: 

What you focus on increases. 

It is true. 

When I give my talk "Change Your Words, Change Your Life" I begin by telling this story:

Jyoti's Experience of Finding a Job

Jyoti's Work Experience 

I was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism 
by my dear colleague in Delhi. 

That time I was under depression
due to some personal problem going in my life.  
I came to Vadodara to my parent’s house in August 2012. 
That’s the time when I started practicing with
full faith and really chanted for hours. 
As they say 
"If you chant with a determination 
to chant until your heart sings with joy,
then your problems will melt 
like dew in the morning sun." 

I experienced this power after chanting consistently 
and gained a lot of strength and peace of mind 
with no grudges for anybody 
in fact I became more & more compassionate 
towards the people who created problems in my life.
And always pray for their happiness and Buddha nature 
to emerge. 

When I compare myself with what I was a
few months ago, I could see an incredibly positive 
change in me.  I received lot of protection benefits 
also.

This increased my faith in the law.  

After coming out from depression 
(in just 1 month, which could have taken years 
otherwise…considering my problem) I started 
applying for jobs in September 2012. 

I was praying for a lot of other things related 
to the problem I was facing 
which made me enter this practice. 
But I never prayed for a job since I came
to Vadodara as I was always in two minds. 

I met my leader and asked her what to do. 
She said you must be in high life condition 
as you have to make efforts whether you be here 
or in Delhi. “You have to make efforts” 
these words immediately changed my perspective 
towards my situation. I should do what I can do best 
in my present situation; this thought came to my 
mind. I also prayed and asked to Gohonzon
…should I look for a job in Vadodara or should 
I wait till my problems get solved. 

I prayed to the Gohonzon that I should get some 
indication of what to do. The very next day 
I got a call from a friend in Delhi who knows 
about my problem. As soon as I picked up my call 
she said you must look for a job in
Vadodara and keep moving ahead in your life. 
She also revealed a few things which were going on
(which I can’t share with you) but her words 
kicked me to move ahead. After that call 
I was never in two minds and decided to find a job. 

I started praying sincerely 
with complete determination for my job in the
first week of November. I prayed that by Nov 19th
I must join an office in Vadodara and my salary 
should match with my Delhi salary and the job 
location should not be very far from my leader’s 
place so that I can attend evening meetings 
and chant with her after office…I prayed hard. 
Within 2-3 days I started getting calls for 
job interviews. After a few rounds of interview I got selected. 
It gives me immense pleasure
to tell you that I joined my new office from Nov 18th.

 My salary is little higher than my previous job and my
workplace is just 5 mins away from my leader’s place. 
All my wishes got fulfilled. Isn’t it amazing? It
strengthened my faith in the mystic law.
”Nam myoho renge kyo”…. 
This way I could see for myself the
great power of the Gohonzon. 

This practice has given me courage, conviction, and strength to fight all my problems. 
And the environment is giving me opportunities and responding positively towards my human
revolution. 

I am geared up to solve my biggest problem 
in a few days and I look forward to share with you
another very big experience. 

I would also like 
to tell you that during my struggle also I was able to
encourage 4 people to enter this practice. 
They are now chanting consistently and experiencing benefits for them. I am determined to encourage 
them to become member of SGI. Am also determined to make all the right causes to develop my block and propagate this practice. 

Thank you!!

More on Jyoti's Experience...truly inspiring

Note to readers: I am reposting Jyoti's experience because several of you wrote to ask me how long it took Jyoti to achieve the benefits she reported in the experience I posted this Sunday, March 17th. 

Jyoti first wrote me on November 12th of 2012, and I've amended the experience to reflect the short time it took her. 

Dear Jamie, 

I am Jyoti from India. 

November 12th of 2012 I emailed you 

about a problem I was facing.

I was in a very low life condition. 

Hated myself. Cried for months. 

I felt completely rejected. 

You guided me to chant for my buddha nature to emerge.

I now shine from within. 

I am chanting regularly, I got a job with good salary, 

I am enjoying my work and learning lots of things, 

and getting more opportunities to enhance my personality.

I am also participating in Gakkai activities.

My leader appreciates me always and calls me a star member. 

I am also WD leader of my block. 

I am suddenly inclined towards charity. 

I visit the orphanage and give something 

every month to the children.

I want to dedicate my new life towards kosen rufu.

I had a fear pf public speaking. 

Last month I became Master of ceremony in one zadankai. (Buddhist meeting).  

And yesterday I performed as MC in a professional technical event.

Opportunities are coming my way. 

And my fear is vanishing.

I used to get affected by anybody. 

I used to mind things a lot. 

Small criticism or harsh language could make me cry.

I never had the courage to reply back, and kept things in my mind for days, in some cases for years.

But now when somebody gets harsh on me I actually laugh inside and think why is that person talking in this way? 

I resolve the matter very calmly.

At least I put forward what I have to say with courage 

and never think about it again.

This is happening very naturally, as if something inside has completely transformed within me. 

I am in love with myself and feel life is beautiful.