The More You Focus ~ The More Powerful Your Life!

When we chant we are doing something very important. We are tuning our lives to the rhythm of life itself. We are calling forth the harmony of the spheres from within our lives and using our determination to focus on what we want to create or to change. 

The focus you bring to bring to this sacred ceremony of communing with your life force is very important. In the last week I have received emails from people who have told me they chant at work or in front of the computer. I appreciate these people for having the sincerity of heart to write to me. And I had to tell them that chanting this way will not bring the human revolution they are seeking. 

If we are serious about changing our lives, if we really want our desires fulfilled and to live in a state of appreciation we just have to put our lives first and our practice FIRST in our lives. 

This practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo should take place twice a day, every morning and evening with our full concentration. No cell phone, no texting, no television, no driving. Nothing. Focused concentration while intoning the name of the mystic law which has always been within our lives. We ARE Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, but if we treat chanting in a casual way and only chant in the car...it will not resonate as deeply in our lives. 

Two members in my district recently started chanting consistently twice a day. They are so excited about the changes in how they feel and how their environment is responding to them. It's truly something you have to have to experience; no one can explain it to you !

What can you do starting right this very second that will deepen your concentration and focus? What can you commit to yourSelf that you will do? 
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I always say that the more I "work" at my practice, the less I have to "work" in life. And the work you put into this practice comes back into your life in so many marvelous ways! Don't trust me on this...it's something you have to experience for yourself! 

As Daisaku Ikeda states:

"It is not a question of your environment, 
those around you, 
or what the organization or leaders may be like. 
To be swayed by such externals is pointless. 
It all comes down to one person: you. 
What matters is that you become a brilliant beacon, 
shining with joy and happiness, 
and live your life with confidence and courage. 
If you shine with radiant light, 
there can be no darkness in your life."

Faith in Action, P. 8

P.S. I am accepting experiences for the book. If you'd like to submit one for us to review please send it to chantforhappiness@gmail.com

The Mystical Significance of Gongyo

"Gongyo and daimoku are a ceremony 
in which our lives 
commune with the universe. 
During gongyo, 
through our faith in the Gohonzon* 
we vigorously infuse the microcosm 
of our individual existence 
with the life force of the macrocosm, 
of the entire universe. 
If we do this regularly each morning and evening, 
our life force is strengthened." 

Daisaku Ikeda, Faith in Action, p. 120 

* Note from Jamie:
The Gohonzon represents our life itself. 
When we chant facing the Gohonzon we connect with the power within our lives. 

Love YourSelf ~ Keep Your Eyes Open While Chanting and Enjoy your Daimoku!

One of my early Buddhist mentors said we should greet the Gohonzon as we would a lover...to have that feeling of love in our hearts while we are chanting. 

We are, after all, greeting ourselves, aren't we? 

And love for ourselves is the most crucial and key element of happiness and contentment that makes all things flourish. Since our environment is a reflection of ourselves, it makes so much sense to fill our hearts and ourselves with self love. 

I recently saw the beginning of a video of a person I really respect ~ Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing. She is now in her eighties and STILL living a vibrant, exciting and contributive life. Her main message was that all happiness stems from loving yourself. That's where it begins and ends. 

How do we love ourselves? 

I believe this is a life-long journey with many facets and twists and turns in the road. And I KNOW that I made huge strides the moment I decided to speak nicely to myself in my head. I challenge you to stop saying mean things to yourself. 

Stop calling yourself a failure, or an idiot, or stupid ~ stop getting mad at your imperfections and focus on words of praise! 

Tell yourself "Look how far you've come! you are definitely on the right track! I am so proud of you!" It might sound corny, but being NICE to yourself will change your life. So will making a vow with yourself not to complain. 

I think how we greet the Gohonzon is key to how we greet our lives, because the Gohonzon, is, after all, our life itself. 

I offer you these quotes from Sensei! 

Enjoy!

Daisaku Ikeda says:
"It's best to keep your eyes open 
and to look at the Gohonzon. 
It's generally considered impolite 
not to look others in the eye while talking to them. 
This is also true 
when we are facing and addressing the Gohonzon 
as we do Gongyo and chant daimoku. 
If you do close your eyes occasionally, 
there's no need to worry. 
It's just that when we close our eyes, 
it can be more difficult 
to commune strongly with the Gohonzon. 
This, of course, 
does not apply to people who are blind 
or vision-impaired 
who need to simply chant or do gongyo 
to the Gohonzon within their hearts. " 
From Faith in Action page 122. 

Also:

"It's very important to sit before the Gohonzon 
as though going to meet the original Buddha, 
Nichiren Daishonin, 
and that daimoku and gongyo be enjoyable. 
What's most important 
is that you continue 
in your Buddhist practice throughout life. 
There's no need to be overly concerned with formality." Faith in Action, Page 122

PowerPrayer to Establish a Strong Buddhist Practice for Chanting My Way to Happiness!

Establishing our strong Buddhist practice will lead us to happiness for ourselves and others, and to a happier world for all. Establishing a strong practice is not "hard" or difficult to figure out. It just requires putting OurSelves, and our practice first, so that we can be more useful to the world, and HAPPY! 
Absolute Happiness is the goal of chanting....establishing such a strong life-condition that no matter what happens we are unswayed and possess strong determination. 
Julia and I wrote this PowerPrayer for you yesterday. Please give me feedback on how this strengthens your practice for the book we are writing. 

PowerPrayer to Establish 

a Strong Buddhist Practice 

for Chanting My Way to 

Absolute Happiness! 

I will do Gongyo and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
every morning and every evening 
no matter what. 
I will no longer allow anything to stop me! 
I am establishing the strongest practice imaginable 
and I am becoming so fully resourced in self esteem 
that I fully commit to myself:
I keep my promise 
to myself 
first and foremost 
with the understanding that I can only really love/help others 
when I myself have become strong and self-loving.
And it’s very natural for me now 
to share Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
because my life is overflowing with benefits. 

The more I chant, the more I want to chant. 
I look forward to my time with myself 
dialoguing with my own life
and discovering who I really am. 
I feel the connection more deeply every time I chant. 
I see actual proof that my self esteem is rising:
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Nothing can stop me from getting to discussion meetings 
and studying SGI periodicals and books. 
I love studying because it makes me a better person. 
Study helps me to see the connection between my chanting 
and what I see happening in my life. 
What a privilege! 

Yes! You Can Chant for ANYTHING!

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

As Daisaku Ikeda states in Faith in Action, page 35:

"Buddhism teaches us 
that the individual writes and performs the script 
for his or her own life. 
Neither chance nor a divine being 
writes the script for us. 
We write it, and we are the actors who play it. 
This is an extremely positive psychology, 
inherent in the teaching of 3,000 realms 
in a single moment of life. 
You are the author and the hero. 
To perform your play well 
it is important to pound the script into your head 
so thoroughly 
that you can see it vividly before your eyes. 
You may need to rehearse in your mind. 
Sometimes it helps to write down your goals, 
copying them over and over 
until they are inscribed in your heart."

I 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. 

Your desires will lead you exactly where you want to go ~   sometimes to the fulfillment of those exact desires ~ sometimes to even better desires you uncover as you chant. ~
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. 

When you make the vow to be happy for the sake of others you are making the Buddha's vow. 

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.  

Power Prayer for Living in Appreciation

Today, July 15th, 2013, would have been my Mom's 80th birthday. In honor of her, I offer you one of the PowerPrayers from the book Julia and I are almost done writing for you, 

Your Own Treasure Map:
PowerPrayers for Chanting for Your Absolute Happiness

Since Mom was such an appreciative spirit, she found the good in everything. When she was young she had rheumatic fever which resulted in her having continual heart and lung problems when she got older. Even in our numerous medical appointments she would do her best to make every nurse the doctor smile. Mom was full of love and appreciation, and loved nothing better than chanting with me and her grandsons. 

In honor of my Mom I offer you the PowerPrayer Julia and I wrote together for you, and I am chanting for you to have a week filled with appreciation for yourSELF, all those around you, and for you to find something wonder-ous in every single moment. 

PowerPrayers are meant to be read just before you chant the name of the rhythm of life itself, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo so you can have a joyous focus in your chanting. 


PowerPrayer for Living in Appreciation ~

Oh, Thank You! Oh!

As I am chanting I am feeling the happiness
comes from living in a deep state of appreciation.
As I have practiced and studied Buddhism, 
I have become more and more aware of the Mystic beauty and connection in all of life.
My heart is glad so often because of benefits and I have learned to chant as a way of saying thank you. 
Oh, thank you to my own life!
Even when I am in distress I am already thanking the Gohonzon (my life) because I've never seen it fail. 
I know greater good will follow any challenge!

So I am even appreciating the times of challenge 
as much as the myriad benefits
to self, 
          soul, 
                 and life, 
                             my Daimoku has garnered.
I am opening of my heart 
                 and my eyes. 
                              I see beauty all around me. 

I enjoy each moment of my life  
and I feel its spaciousness. 
My life is deeply nourishing to me now. 
What greater appreciation is there to feel?
The ruby of my heart treasure gleams.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

If You're Struggling...

Please remember what Nichiren Daishonin says:

"Winter Always Turns to Spring"

And sometimes the saying "It's always darkest before the dawn" is all too true. 

You WILL break through. You WILL be happy. You will probably remember this time as the time you REALLY changed your life. Problems and challenges are FUEL for your growth and happiness. But sometimes it does not feel that way, does it? 

I know!

Believe in the power of your own prayer. 

Believe in the power in your own Life! 

And keep chanting! DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!

Chant for the type of benefit that will strengthen your faith. 

Chant to strengthen your faith and your life...

Keep chanting!

Keep introducing others to the practice and telling people about Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! It doesn't matter if they decide to start chanting today. I have many friends who started chanting after I'd known them for 20 years! When you tell people about the practice you are planting a seed in their lives, and changing your OWN karma. 

I carry Nam Myoho Renge Kyo cards with me everywhere I go.  And I give them to people who help me in stores, and people I encounter casually. I just say "This is the secret to happiness and bringing out your highest potential. You can chant for anything you want."

Have a great day!!