PowerPrayer For Expanding Our Capacity ~ And Words of Wisdom on Achieving Our Goals

PowerPrayer to Expand 

My Capacity in All Areas of My Life

(You may want to read the PowerPrayer prior to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to your heart's delight. 
If you like this PowerPrayer please share it with the links provided at the bottom. Do not cut and paste it. Thanks!)

Life,

I chant to expand my capacity, 

decisiveness and ability to achieve my goals!

As of now I expand my capacity to use this practice to activate the life of my dreams. I vow to accomplish:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________by ______________(date)

I expand my capacity in ALL AREAS

I chant to expand my capacity 

to think positive thoughts 

and to make positive causes

and take decisove POSITIVE ACTIONS 

every single moment of every single day. 

As I am chanting I increase  

my capacity 

to experience feeling loved 

and to accept love in my life. 

I chant to expand my capacity 

to dance in joy 

                 in love 

                       and in light. 

I now spread that joy and love and light effortlessly 

and naturally to everyone in my life. 

by Jamie Lee Silver and Julia Landis from the Upcoming book: The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following passage was published on the facebook page of "The Spirit of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" today. Thank you so much. Enjoy! I published the Expanding Capacity PowerPrayer to go along with the last paragraph of this passage: 

The following points were shared by Norimasa Saito, SGI North America Bureau director, at meetings he attended during his recent visit to the United States, including the mentor and disciple relationship study conference held Nov. 18–20 at the Florida Nature and Culture Center.

~ 

It is important to win in our daily lives. What I mean by winning is achieving each of our specific goals. First be determined to win, you can then specify your personal goals one by one. I personally have some 33 things I am praying deeply to achieve. With a strong determination to win and an earnest desire to accomplish each goal, your prayer as you chant daimoku will be focused. This means you will tap greater wisdom, giving you insight about how to face your problems, and bring forth more courage to do what you need to do.

• When you need to achieve a major breakthrough in your life, I suggest you start with what is most essential, and that is faith. In other words, you can first ask yourself whether you have a personal determination or pledge you aim to fulfill for the sake of kosen-rufu. I think we should each have our own specific pledge or goal for kosen-rufu. We should be able to say to ourselves that “This is what I will achieve for kosen-rufu” or “I will help this person begin practicing Buddhism” or “I will help this person develop into a capable leader for kosen-rufu.”

• Since Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Gohonzon for the happiness of all humanity, our lives should be geared to the objective of all people's happiness. The Daishonin did not establish the Gohonzon simply so that we can wear nice clothes or own a fabulous car. We need a higher sense of purpose, and when we have a higher sense of purpose, our prayers about personal matters are more easily answered.

• Then, it all boils down to effort. When your life is well geared to the objective of kosen-rufu, you are contributing to the purpose for which the Gohonzon was established, which means you belong to the world of the Gohonzon or Buddhahood. Firmly positioned in this world of great fortune and dynamic rhythm, we then take the actions necessary to win in our personal struggles. In this way, the protective functions of the Mystic Law will become clearly apparent in our day-to-day existence. In Buddhism, this approach is called the “Strategy of the Lotus Sutra.”

• President Toda described the two types of circumstances in which we derive benefit from our Buddhist practice. The first occurs at the very initial stage of our Buddhist practice. It arises naturally from the pure faith and pure joy we experience over the fact that we have encountered the Gohonzon. Of course, this is always a source of benefit and fortune.

The other type of benefit comes from our earnest prayer. In “On Rebuking Slander of the Law and Eradicating Sins,” Nichiren Daishonin writes, “I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon) and the ten demon daughters (Buddhist gods) will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 444). At a time of crises, or any crucial juncture in our lives, such determined prayer is necessary. And the Daishonin describes the sweeping power of such prayer when he says, “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like a gale” (Gosho Zenshu, p. 742).

• At times we may feel overwhelmed by our personal problems. However, we have to realize that Buddhism teaches us to expand our capacity rather than trying to get rid of our problems. Some problems may be with us for quite some time. However, as our life-capacity and our capability grow, we can more easily cope with our problems.

Experience of a Fortune Baby: Aaron's Medical School Victory

Experience of a Fortune Baby 

On getting into the best possible

medical school 

for my life:

A Fortune Baby is defined as a person who was born into this practice. I am one of those people. And, there is something we refer to as Fortune Baby Syndrome. In general, it is a neglect of the practice itself, the lack of appreciation or understanding of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Let’s just say…I had it bad. 

To me, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo was simply a means to an end. When I was a child, I chanted with my mother to get the newest toy, win a baseball tournament, or conquer a class. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. For me, it was merely circumstantial evidence, just like, I thought, of all other religions. 

College was different. Amid the freedom and the chaos of it all, I tried my best to chant, squished into my little fraternity room. Four times per week would have been a major victory, but I only chanted when I needed to prepare for some track race or test. In that time, I was growing, but I was anxious, anxious in uncomfortable social situations that are so prolific in college. I set my sights on medical school, studying late nights and liberally making sacrifices. Often, I studied through a weekend, even if the test wasn’t until Wednesday. At the time, I called it diligence. But really, it was fear, fear of throwing myself fully into the college experience. 

Along came the MCAT, the mother of all college tests, that which could entirely decide my fate in medicine. I set the goal of chanting 15 minutes every day, a drastic increase from the previously meager effort, to achieve the score that would be best for my future. At the time, I did not understand what that meant. Every day, every day, every day, I chanted. But, just like some of my childhood experiences, I did not do as well as I had hoped. Disappointed again, I put away the practice. I told myself that there would never be anything more important. If it failed me then, it would fail me forever. (That was major Fortune Baby Syndrome). 

What I didn’t notice at the time, however, was that my life grew in leaps and bounds that semester after I chanted so consistently. I made true friends and found a feeling of belonging that had evaded me for the two years prior. My running reached a new level, and I felt powerful. At the end of that semester, I even met a great girl! Essentially, everything was going well. As the rest of that year progressed, I felt like I was leaking, like I had a sip of some powerful juice that was finally wearing off. I could feel myself slipping. 

It all came to a point during winter break of my senior year of college. Everything was still going well, but something inside was troubling me. We had just won the National Championship for club cross country, I had gotten into medical school, I was going into my last semester of college, and I went skiing with great friends.  I should have been on top of the world! Instead, I was angry, I was irritated, and I was uncomfortable with myself. I was unhappy. At that moment, I evaluated my life, looking back to the last time I really felt happy. 

The answer? 

The semester after I had chanted my heart out all summer long for that MCAT. 

Well, that was a realization. So, in that new year of 2012, I decided to start chanting again. After a few weeks of chanting every single day, things started to click again. I felt that power, the power that we call Buddhahood. Slowly, my life started to grow again. My relationship with myself and with my girlfriend began to improve. 

I started going to weekly SGI meetings, a goal that I had long since left behind for the sake of my studies. But, with all the work behind me, I could throw my energy into something new. That last semester put quite the exclamation mark on college. Every day, I felt the progress…just a little more strength, a little less doubt, and a lot more positivity. 

Halfway into the semester, something happened that nicely illustrated the overall change in my life condition. One day, all of my important things were stolen out of gym locker: laptop, phone, video camera (I was pretty dumb about what I carried with me), research hard drive, and all of my notes! But, something strange happened. When I opened my locker and found nothing, that deep, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach never came. I didn’t ask all the what ifs and I didn’t swear at the world for doing this to me. Instead, I walked calmly downstairs and reported my things missing. What a benefit! I really started to understand how much my practice could affect those little elements within my personality that I never thought it could reach. What a benefit! And, it gets better. All of my stuff magically was returned a few days later.

With that extra boost, I powered forward, now determined to chant 2 x per day! I still made goals, but I was not a slave to them the way I had been in the past. I just started to have this feeling that things will work out and that I will be prepared for what life throws at me. 

All of sudden, I was graduating and moving on to medical school. And, as it turns out, my score got me into a medical school where balance, happiness, and spirituality are taught as much as medical knowledge. I found a real community of happy individuals in one of the last places you would expect it. So, perhaps I got exactly what I chanted for: the medical education that was best for me. There will be many challenges along the way, but I will continue to progress as a student, a friend, an athlete, and a Buddha. 

PowerPrayer for Revealing Our Buddhahood

We are Worthy of Every Happiness

In the upcoming book The BuddhaZone, PowerPrayers for Chanting Your Way to Absolute Happiness, Julia Landis and I are publishing many PowerPrayers that have been published on this blog. We ARE all worthy of every Happiness. This prayer helps us to feel it. 

PowerPrayers are usually read just before chanting and sometimes after. Some people print them out and put them on their altars. I owe the phrase "I Praise my Life" while chanting to my dear friend and mentor Kate Randolph. Chanting in this way has really helped me ~ Thanks wise one! 

PowerPrayer for Revealing 

Your Buddha Nature 

and Appreciating YourSELF

I Praise My Life!

I Praise the Buddha I am! 

Each Daimoku I chant reveals the pure, sparkling Diamond

of resilience, strength and wisdom

that lies within me. 

I chant to be more and more aware 

of how wonderful I am every single day. 

I am determined that every cause I make, 

at every single moment of every day 

is a great and positive cause for my life, 

and all of life, 

and leads me to see more and more of my Buddha nature. 

I chant that my Buddha Nature emerge 

and flow from my life touching everyone I see. 

I chant to I see my life 

as the brilliant sparkling Diamond that it is. 

I chant that throughout the day 

I say only kind words to myself. 

That I praise myself with my every thought. 

I chant to believe in my own goodness 

and to see it revealed in my actions. 

I pray to realize my life as the Buddha I am.

I chant that those around me 

are inspired to begin chanting, 

or to strengthen their practice 

just by seeing my happiness flow. 

I chant to meet the people 

who are looking for the Mystic Law 

and to be able to help them practice.

I praise my life

I praise my life! 

Gratitude by Sensei

How to Start a Successful "Chapter Daimoku Tree"

Washington North Chapter in Washington DC 
Youth Division! 

This post was sent to me from Pat Henry in the Washington DC area. Pat responded to my request for info about how each district is supporting members in strengthening their practice. Thanks Pat!

"One of the ways we have fighting daimoku for members who are challenged with chanting consistently for an hour to achieve certain goals is  We start what we call a daimoku tree.  Each person is responsible for calling someone.  

We start with a member who has to be at work early in the morning.   They will chant starting at 5 am and chant for an hour then call their person at 6 am. The next person will chant until 7 am and  so on and so on.  It really works.  Some people can only chant 30 minutes but that is ok because  that is more they would normally chant in the morning.   

Pres. Ikeda always talks how important it is to win in the morning.  And he is so right. During this year's August Shakabuku campaign we were very successful.  Our chapter led the Washington region in Youth Division Shakabuku.  We are starting the chain again it to make sure we have 5 new Youth Division members by November 18. The another good thing is you really develop heart to heart relationships with members you might not talk to all the time.  


Thanks so much Pat Henry. What a great idea! If your chapter or district decides to start a Daimoku Tree after reading this post ~ write and let us know! 
If you have ideas - or experiences to share on this blog please email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Send a picture, too. 

"When One Sun Rises, Everything is Illuminated" Daisaku Ikeda

Today is the anniversary the day Nichiren Daishonin "inscribed his life in sumi" by inscribing the first Gohonzon to lead all of humanity to happiness. October 12th. That day the world was changed. Forever. 
In honor of this day, I share these words of our mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, from the November Living Buddhism magazine. Enjoy!

Change Starts With One Person

Let us make this planet 
a place where the hearts of people who have risen up 
from the deepest depths of suffering 
can shine like Sirius, 
the brightest star in the heavens. 
This is the vision 
that the Brazilian astronomer Ronaldo Moroau 
and I shared in our discussions. 

No matter how humanity advances, 
the fundamental sufferings of human existence  - 
birth, aging, sickness and death -
will always remain with us. 
No one is without problems or suffering of some kind. Everyone is struggling 
with some aspect of their karma, their life. 
But we all possess within us
the light of hope 
that can break through 
and dispel the greatest sorrow and darkest despair. 

Nichiren Buddhism 
teaches how to illuminate the entire world 
with that light 
starting with one person 
courageously shining with hope 
which will then spread to a second, 
a third, a hundred, and eventually to people everywhere. 

Nichiren Daishonin writes, 
"The Lotus Sutra offers a secret means for leading all living beings to Buddhahood. It leads one person in the realm of hell, one person in the realm of hungry spirits, and thus, one person in each of the nine realms of existence to Buddhahood, and thereby the way is opened for all living being to attain Buddhahood" (Letter to Horen." The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 512). 

We can all attain Buddhahood. 

We can all triumphantly open 
the state of Buddhahood within us. 
The great wisdom of equality of the Mystic Law 
embraces everyone without exception, 
transcending differences of nationality, 
ethnicity or personal circumstances. 
It represents a truly all-encompassing philosophy, 
applying equally to all living beings, to all humanity. 

The sound and rhythm of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
revive the spirit of an individual. 
That individual then goes on to revive their family, community and society. 
We of the SGI, united by the bonds of mentor and disciple, have spread the joy of human revolution 
to 192 countries and territories...

All it takes is one person to change. 
Change starts with one person. 
Let us continue to courageously press forward 
along this path of self-transformation - 
the surest path to achieving kosen-rufu. 

We will definitely fulfill
the great vow of kosen-rufu
through compassionate propogation 
all across the globe!
This is our greatest pride. 

Daisaku Ikeda
From The November, 2013 
Living Buddhism magazine, pages 4-5. 

Respect for Others... quote by Daisaku Ikeda