Friday, August 30, 2013
Happiness - The Purpose of Life ~ by Daisaku Ikeda
Happiness
by Daisaku Ikeda
The purpose of life is to attain happiness.
Happiness is something you have to feel inside.
It is something you have to build for yourself.
It is something that lives within you.
That is why the state of your inner realm, your life,
is so crucial to your being happy.
Happiness is not in some far off place.
Happiness exists within your own life.
It is within a single thought in your mind.
You, yourself are the most precious of all.
You have no need to be envious of anyone
or to long for things far away.
Faith and one's single minded desire
to achieve Kosen Rufu (world peace)
are what makes this self of yours shine its brightest
and develop its highest potential;
they are what fill you with good fortune,
satisfaction and eternal joy.
This is the essence of true happiness,
A palace exists within your own life.
When you open that palace
you can be happy wherever you are.
"'Just as flowers open up and bear fruit, just as the moon appears and invariably grows full, just as a lamp becomes brighter when oil is added, and just as plants and trees flourish with rain, so will human beings never fail to prosper when they make good causes.'
From “The Third Day of the New Year” (WND-1, 1013).
"Those who make the best possible causes in their lives through working for kosen-rufu will never fail to enjoy immeasurable good fortune and benefit. Such are the workings of the law of cause and effect in life.
"How admirable are the efforts of those who strive tirelessly day after day for the happiness of others and the peace and prosperity of society! They are certain to achieve lives of brilliant victory." Daisaku Ikeda
Win in the Morning and You Win in Life~! 10 tips for Overcoming Stress
Be Good to YourSELF!
Win in the Morning and you WIN in LIFE!
1. Get some exercise! Walk if you can. Fill your lungs with air, and oxygenate your body. It is always amazing to me how my mood is affected by moving my body. Yoga is great too. Find something you love...dance...run...whatever makes you feel great!
2. Drink lots of water. I drink about 100 ounces of water a day. It helps me in so many ways. I feel so much better. I take out four 24 ounce bottles and put them on my counter and make it a goal to drink them all each day.
3. To keep myself from anxiety I stay away from most forms of caffeine. Your body may handle caffeine just fine. But if you have anxiety I recommend cutting out the caffeine for a few days and seeing how you feel. I do drink tea.
4. Take loving care of your body. Get a massage. Massage is healing. It literally helps to drain the toxins from your body.
And get enough sleep! Studies are coming out every day about how important sleep is to overall health, mood, even weight loss.
5. Take your vitamins. I found a reliable person to help me understand what my body needs, and I follow the regime. I take a lot of vitamin D3. I can feel the difference if I don't take it. Even if it's sunny I need my Vitamin D!
6. Chant as much Daimoku as you can. I know sometimes my voice gets tired and raspy. But I am keeping up my two-hour a day campaign. I have to. I am skyping with friends all over to chant and get and give support.
7. Study Buddhism to get perspective and re-fire your faith. When you are studying you can tap into your deepest and most powerful prayer.
8. Laugh! Have some fun with your friends. Make room for spontaneity. This week I ended up on a sunset boat cruise on Lake Michigan viewing my favorite skyline with the sun going down behind it, and the lights of the city coming up. Truly a magical moment. Or watch something that makes you laugh. Most of us have heard about Norman Cousins who healed himself of cancer by watching old funny TV shows. Laughter fills your body with oxygen.
9. Be grateful for all you DO have. When I am really stressed I write down all the things I am grateful for...my eyes, my ears, my sense of smell, the fact that I can walk, and sleep, and all my close friends.
10. Do something for others. Doing shakubuku is the highest cause you can make for your own happiness. Give out Nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards, invite people to your house to chant. Call up a fellow member and say "How are you?"
Of course, chanting a lot of daimoku is the cornerstone to handling stress, but the other things I mentioned here are also important to me. I hope they are helpful to you.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Overcoming HUGE Challenges!
ROARRRRRRRRRRRR
Here we are chanting in the Worldwide Million Daimoku Campaign. Many of you have emailed me saying you have huge goals, and are chanting 300 hours (a Million Nam-myoho-renge-kyos) to make them happen.
You know what that means, right? YES! It means that your karma, my karma, all of our karma will come out so we can change it forever through chanting nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Although this is really the best, most invigorating way to live, it can also be daunting. Today's post is from my heart, because I am totally sharing in a great challenge in my own life.
Many of you write me facing Huge challenges...HUGE CHALLENGES. As you know, I love hearing from you and am always happy to answer your emails that you send to chantforhappiness@gmail.com. I am now offering chanting coaching over the phone or skype. You can tell me what is happening in your life and I will really hear you. I can help you write your own personal PowerPrayer, and move your life forward with new courage, vigor and determination. If you are interested in finding out more about speaking with me personally, please send me an email at chantforhappiness.com.
Whatever you are facing ~ YOU have the power to change your situation. It starts with chanting to do your own HUMAN REVOLUTION. Your life is the shadow of your inner life. When you change your inner life, you will also change the shadow ~ your whole environment will change. This will absolutely happen.
I think of karma as being in the garden hose of life...the water is coming through the hose, but it also has mud and dirt in it. As the dirt (karma) washes out through Daimoku, sometimes it gets clogged with problems, and that's when I have to chant more, study more, chant with others more, do shakubuku more and challenge myself more to change my karma.
I can't give up. No problem is bigger that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! Let's not give up!
I know I can use my victory over this problem to inspire others and build my own unshakable faith. I MUST use all the resources of my faith, my mind, my courage and my compassion to light the way for all of us.
When you have this sort of feeling, that "I, _______(your name here), will overcome ALL my suffering and use my experience to inspire others" your feeling of suffering will change. You will understand and challenge your life in a new way. You will chant with more strength in front of the Gohonzon! See if you can do this!
You must generate and create the conviction that you are suffering for a greater purpose: to help others, and that you WILL achieve victory so you can inspire others. And your suffering will end immediately when you grasp that you have a deep mission. But we are not here to master suffering, not we who practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism with our mentor Daisaku Ikeda! We are here to master happiness! And forging courageously through our suffering, and using it as the fuel to create our happiness...that is the highest and best state of life.
We are so lucky to be able to chant to overcome our problems! We can change everything! We can't back down. We must make strong determinations! We have to go the distance and say "No matter how long it takes...I WILL change this! I am THE BUDDHA! I AM NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO! NO devilish function, no "bad karma" can defeat me! No WAY!
"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is like the Roar of A Lion - What Sickness Can Therefore be an Obstacle!"
"A Coward cannot have any of his prayers answered" Nichiren
Summon Courage!
Make a strong determination!
Quote from Daisaku Ikeda - Strive to Elevate Your Faith With Freshness and Vigor
IT is certain that those who maintain an immovable determination
never to discard faith will receive the protection of all Buddhas.
WHILE controlling your mind, which is both extremely subtle and awesomely profound, you should strive to elevate your faith with freshness and vigor. When you do so, both your life and your surroundings will open wide before you, and every action you take will become a source of benefit. Understanding the subtle workings of one’s mind is the key to faith and to attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
THE actions we take for others, for the Law, for society and for kosen-rufu ultimately bring blessings to our own lives. To the extent that we exert ourselves in this way, our lives become polished. We become like magnets, drawing benefits into our lives. People who continue to chant daimoku throughout their lives, naturally become a “cluster of fortune and blessings” themselves.
IF you fall down seven times, get up on the eighth. In other words, do not give up when you feel discouraged, just pick yourself up and renew your determination each time.
WE have truly entered the age in which the great philosophy of Buddhism will lead the world. Many thoughtful, discerning leaders around the globe are focusing intently on the wisdom of Buddhism and enthusiastically endorse the humanistic principles upheld by the SGI. Let us proudly work to expand our network dedicated to bringing peace to the world through the propagation of the correct teaching of Buddhism.
Daisaku Ikeda
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