Why We Chant ~ Add Your Voice...

We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...meaning "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration," or "I am one with the rhythm of life." With this intonation we tap into the power that has always been within our lives, and we direct that power in the direction we choose. We use this vibration to overcome problems and realize the type of happiness that is not determined by outside circumstances, but is generated withn. When we chant we FEEL the change in our lives. Chanting is experiential...it can be explained, but we have to actually DO it to experience its power. Here are some fresh insights from Chantforhappiness.com. I write from my own heart...not representing the SGI, but loving the SGI. 

I've added "Why We Chant" submissions from readers at the bottom! Send yours to chantforhappiness@gmail.com to be published here. 

Why We Chant
by Jamie Lee Silver 
from the blog chantforhappiness.com

We chant because we can feel it. 
The moment we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
our lives respond. 
We chant because we see and feel the benefits of chanting. 
When we chant, our lives, our feelings, 
our circumstances, and those around us change. 
We chant because we have seen the results of chanting, 
and know that we can win over our own weaknesses by chanting...and that by winning over our own weaknesses we create unshakable, authentic, absolute happiness that is not self determined, not ruled by our circumstances.
We chant because we see others Buddhists who have won over great difficulties, and we can feel their energy, see their shining lives, and we believe (or hope) "If they can do it, so can I!"
We chant because when we chant for others we see the effects in their lives. 
We chant because when we introduce others to chanting they are able to change their own lives and become happy...what could be better than that? 
We chant because we are part of the Soka Gakkai, the organization made up of regular people who are dedicating their lives to ushering in the new age of happiness, energy, education, culture and peace for our planet. 
We chant because we have goals and dreams...hopes for the future...hopes for today... and we KNOW we can make them come true. 
We chant because we know we can make the impossible possible. 
We chant because we KNOW that our potential is unending...is vast...is important and we can feel our own life force becoming stronger and stronger every day. 
We chant because we have Daisaku Ikeda, a mentor we respect...whose life pulses with purpose and direction...whose life we connect to, whose words we study, whose heart we share. 
We chant because we ALL desire a world free of misery and hopelessness.
We chant because we have awakened to our missions as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and we are fulfilling our VOW. 
We chant because we read or watch the news and we know that all change comes from our own human revolution, our actions and our ichinen (will put into action)
We chant because we love. 
We chant because we struggle. 
We chant to release ourselves from painful emotions
We chant because we CAN!  

Submissions from readers: 
From Niketa Sharma: 

We chant ...because we feel a positive strength in ourselves while we chant.

We chant ... because we feel connected to ourselves deeply.

We chant..so we can accumulate our whole power and create good and noble cause...achieve Buddha's (our own) dreams.

We chant..so we can reveal our buddha nature..buddha's wisdom.

We chant..so we can get that much wisdom that we can get correct decision at each and every moment of life..

We chant because we can..

And from Jaka Rey: 

I chant for all the reason u mentioned and because every time I open my Gohonzon I smile.

I chant for the transformation that is taking place in my life.

I chant for strength and to totally understand the connectivity of all that I cannot understand 

(individuals in my life who I cannot relate to). 

I chant for resolve and victory so that I can live life fully and do what I can to the planet to do.

Have anything to add to this list? Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

Why Do We Chant?

We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...meaning "I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration," or "I am one with the rhythm of life." When we chant we FEEL the change in our lives. Chanting is experiential...it can be explained, but we have to actually DO it to experience its power. Here are some fresh insights from Chantforhappiness.com. I write from my own heart...not representing the SGI, but loving the SGI. 

Why We Chant
by Jamie Lee Silver 
from the blog chantforhappiness.com

We chant because we can feel it. 
The moment we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 
our lives respond. 
We chant because we see and feel the benefits of chanting. 
When we chant, our lives, our feelings, 
our circumstances, and those around us change. 
We chant because we have seen the results of chanting, 
and know that we can win over our own weaknesses by chanting...and that by winning over our own weaknesses we create unshakable, authentic, absolute happiness that is not self determined, not ruled by our circumstances.
We chant because we see others Buddhists who have won over great difficulties, and we can feel their energy, see their shining lives, and we believe (or hope) "If they can do it, so can I!"
We chant because when we chant for others we see the effects in their lives. 
We chant because when we introduce others to chanting they are able to change their own lives and become happy...what could be better than that? 
We chant because we are part of the Soka Gakkai, the organization made up of regular people who are dedicating their lives to ushering in the new age of happiness, energy, education, culture and peace for our planet. 
We chant because we have goals and dreams...hopes for the future...hopes for today... and we KNOW we can make them come true. 
We chant because we know we can make the impossible possible. 
We chant because we KNOW that our potential is unending...is vast...is important and we can feel our own life force becoming stronger and stronger every day. 
We chant because we have Daisaku Ikeda, a mentor we respect...whose life pulses with purpose and direction...whose life we connect to, whose words we study, whose heart we share. 
We chant because we ALL desire a world free of misery and hopelessness.
We chant because we have awakened to our missions as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, and we are fulfilling our VOW. 
We chant because we read or watch the news and we know that all change comes from our own human revolution, our actions and our ichinen (will put into action)
We chant because we love. 
We chant because we struggle. 
We chant to release ourselves from painful emotions
We chant because we CAN!  

Have anything to add to this list? Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

What is Our "Buddha Nature?" How Does Revealing it Help Our Lives?

Vincent Van Gogh

Unlimited compassion!

Eloquence!

Power!

Concentration! 

Emancipation! 

On page 79 of The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, Daisaku Ikeda translates a passage from our daily practice of reciting from the Lotus Sutra and says 

"This passage explains the expansive powers of the Buddha. That is, it describes the wonderful state of life that those who embrace the Gohonzon can develop." 

..."Here Shakyamuni identifies "immeasurable [compassion]," unlimited [eloquence],""power, "fearlessness" and so on as attributed of the Buddha's state of life. To put it simply the Buddha has infinite concern for the people (immeasurable [compassion], can freely expound the teachings through words (unlimited [eloquence]), has penetrating insight into life and the power to discern the causes of people's unhappiness (power) and has the courage to fully articulate the truth (fearlessness)." (p. 80)

How can this we use our own Buddha wisdom in our daily lives? I can tell you a little about how I use it. I just got a job working for a senior living community that has people living on its campus, and also has various services it offers to the residents of the surrounding towns. Right now I am meeting with seniors and officials to discover what we can do to help more people, and uncover more needs and ways to reach those who may need us and other services. I am chanting to help seniors live their best lives, and finding ways to make it happen. My sincere wish is their safety and to remove their sufferings and frustrations. I feel as if these communities are now a part of my Buddhist district and am chanting for them too. 

In order to fulfill this job/mission I must have compassion/eloquence/power/concentration and emancipation. I must be the Buddha every single moment. So as I am chanting every morning for an hour, I am bringing my full Buddhahood to the surface and chanting for wisdom, eloquence and to take the right action. 

In the next few weeks I'll be giving presentations in front of hundred of seniors and I am determined to make each moment count. 

As a Buddha, I know I can focus my daimoku on this great mission, while embodying my mission as a District leader and continuing to chant for every reader of this blog. I'm a Buddha. We are all Buddhas. Through persevering every day we all bring forth the wisdom of the Buddha - our own power, spirit, compassion, will and perseverance. How great is this way of life. How fulfilling. How fun!

Please send me your victories. I and the rest of the readers, are waiting to hear YOUR victories! chantforhappiness@gmail.com 

The Significance of Doing Gongyo - Chanting from the Lotus Sutra

"In general, 
every time we do gongyo and chant daimoku, 
we praise the Buddha nature in our own lives. 
We also praise the Buddha nature 
in the lives of all others, 
and we commune 
with the Buddha nature of the Universe. 
What a solemn ceremony this is! 
How fortunate we are 
to live according to the principle 
that faith expresses itself in daily life." 

The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, by Daisaku Ikeda, page 117

Sometimes Chanting Brings up Emotions and/or Tears

Here it is in deepest winter here in Chicago. My son says January's snowfall was the most in over 100 years. Most of the time I see less than 10 degrees when I look at my phone. It is easy to feel down. 

What to do?
I am very affected by the weather. Sunshine is good for my spirit.
Yesterday I kept my determination to chant three hours every Sunday, and by the end of it, I was literally overflowing with emotion. All of these thoughts were flooding my brain. Thank goodness it was just in time for me to run out to Kosen Rufu Gongyo at the Culture Center in Chicago and I got to hear Sensei's speech by video. 

I believe it's okay to cry and feel emotional while chanting. I believe every tear cried in front of the Gohonzon is a diamond in our lives. And if we take action, study, go to SGI meetings, get encouraged and encourage others we will transform our lives. (Remember I speak for myself on this blog. This is not an "official" SGI blog. It's me sharing my heart with you.) 

During my early years of chanting I had to keep tissues by the Gohonzon. I was tapping into something deep within my life...releasing it and moving on. Sometimes it still happens, especially when I chant for a long time and reach a deeper level. 

At kosen-rufu Gongyo we watched a film of Daisaku Ikeda. He spoke about a Gosho where Nichiren Daishonin is writing to Shijo Kingo, the "everyman" of the time. He was a Samurai warrior...almost like us...working for our "lords" experiencing living in the world and all the emotions of the time. Nichiren Daishonin wrote to Shijo Kingo (not a direct quote) "Don't betray your grief and consider everything a benefit. Things that look like they should not have happened will turn to benefits in the end if you persevere in your practice"

I guess that's a message we need to hear over and over and over. I KNOW I chose these battles, I KNOW I summoned these obstacles because they are the perfect obstacles for my growth as a Buddha. But sometimes it doesn't feel that way, and I need to be reminded. 

I spoke with Kate in LA later in the day and she reminded to keep my level of appreciation high, and of course, that's the right thing to do. 

So my message of the day is it's natural to experience emotions while chanting. Every tear cried in front of the Gohonzon is a Diamond in your life. 
As Nichiren Daishonin says 
"Suffer what there is to suffer and enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life and continue chanting Nam-myoyo-renge-kyo no matter what happens. Then you will experience boundless joy from the law. Strengthen your faith more than ever." From the Gosho Happiness in this World. 

Absolutely Everything is a Benefit

From The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, by Daisaku Ikeda. 

In suffering and joy, we can find meaning.

What does the wisdom of the true aspect of all phenomenon add to our lives? It gives us the power to skillfully use everything that happens to create value. 

Many things occur in the course of life. There are sufferings and joys, tailwinds and headwinds. All such phenomena provide opportunities for us to make the true aspect of the world of Buddhahood in our lives shine; we can use everything  that happens to expand our happiness. This is what it means to lead a life illuminated by the wisdom of the true aspect of all phenomena. 

Worth is not found in joy alone, nor is success the only valuable outcome. Suffering is the mother of realization, worries and failures, as long as we are not defeated by them, enable us to deepen our faith. Our sufferings become the raw material with which to build our happiness. This is the principle that earthly desires are enlightenment. Earthly desires, like other phenomenon, are themselves the true aspect. 

Fundamentally, for people with faith in the Gohonzon, everything that happens is a benefit. This is the difference between those who believe in the Mystic Law and those who don't. 

As a young man, I once asked President Toda what makes a person great. Smiling brightly, he replied: "It's having confidence. In life and in everything, it's confidence that counts. "There are many important things in life. Among all possible answers, Mr. Toda, without a moment's hesitation cited confidence. By this, he meant of course, great confidence in the Mystic law. 

"I will show victory in my life without fail." 
"I will help everyone definitely become happy."
"I will cause my workplace and my community to develop greatly."
"I will change the current of the times toward the emergence of a joyous society of humanism."
Those who possess confidence and who take unwavering action based on such confidence are great. 

Confidence is single-minded resolve. 
Confidence is courage. 
Confidence is hope. 
Confidence is inner latitude and mercy. 
As Nichikan indicated when he said, 
"Buddhahood means a strong mind of faith 
in the Lotus Sutra," 
confidence is itself the world of Buddhahood.

Although confidence and the world of Buddhahood are invisible to the eye, they are certain to become manifest in concrete form. This accords with the principle of the true aspect manifesting in all phenomena. Buddhism is not empty idealism. 

From The Heart of the Lotus Sutra by Daisaku Ikeda, page, 116 as quoted on the chantforhappiness.com blog by Jamie Lee Silver

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Shakubuku (helping others learn to chant) is Easy

That's right. Shakubuku is easy. Not hard. We are all Buddhas. We shine. Our light GLOWS. If we carry nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards with us, we can plant seeds of shakubuku wherever we go. And some of those lives we touch will practice. I know this. 

When I lived in San Francisco I have a goal to give out 10 cards a day. I walked a lot, and met a lot of people. And I worked for a newspaper and my name was in that paper all the time. I would routinely get calls from people asking "Are you the Jamie Lee Silver who gave me the Nam-myoho-renge-kyo card on the corner of the street that day?" and then they'd tell me they were practicing and their lives had changed in so many ways. Never doubt that every seed you plant makes a difference! 

There is also the kind of shakubuku we do with our close friends and family, where we lead them to the Gohonzon through our shining life conditions and sit side by side with them as we teach them to practice. I will write about that at another time. 

How do we do this kind of shakubuku? 

First of all we can chant to meet the people who are seeking this practice. 

I know I was seeking this practice for years before I found it, and I know many others are seeking too. Most people are caught up in unending karma, not knowing how to get out of it. 

We know the way to enable people to unlock the key and end suffering in their lives. We've changed so much of our own karma, and we can teach others. It just makes sense. 

And I want to remind you that I speak for myself on this blog. I am not an official representative of the SGI; I only relate my experiences and thoughts, with the hopes that you will become absolutely happy and enjoy being part of the Soka Gakkai International. In some countries it is safe to pass out cards. In others it is not. Please use your wisdom! 

Here's how I do it. 

1. I carry nam-myoho-renge-kyo cards with me wherever I go. Whenever someone waits on me in a store, and as long as there's not an impatient line behind me, I always take the time to connect with the person who is helping me. I start up a conversation, thank them and smile. We chat about whatever is topical, the weather, the place, the food...whatever. And before I leave I say "I have something special for you." and take out a card. I ask them "Have you ever heard of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?" and most of the time they say no. I say, "Well Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a phrase that if you say it over and over and think about what you want, you get it, or something even better. Its the name of the rhythm of life." Usually they ask me more about it and I reply. If they don't ask me any questions I will move on, but they have the card with the SGI website and the name of this blog on it. I have planted a seed. 

Once we plant a seed we never know when it will sprout. I began chanting when 3 people told me about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the span of two weeks. I thought the message was coming in loud and clear, and I began chanting, and saw results right away. 

When we do shakubuku it's not important for every single person to begin their practice that day. Just telling them about it is enough to start. And whomever you've shared this with will feel your energy. They will feel your high life condition. Every morning I chant to have the life condition of the Buddha, and to be the Buddha at every single moment. 
Today I went to a networking meeting and we all had a moment to stand and introduce ourselves. A man came up to me and said "Where do you get all that positive energy?" That's my cue. I gave him a card and we'll be talking again next week. He's going to go to the website. He has young children. Because of this moment in time, his young children can be introduced to this practice, vanquish bullies, and live lives of victory. 

You never know when you'll be able to change someone's life permanently. When I had been practicing for just two months I called an acquaintance and asked her to a meeting. She began practicing immediately. EVERY month for years and years she called me and said "jamie, I don't know what prompted you to pick up that phone and call me that day. We barely knew each other. But I want you to know that forever and ever I am grateful to you for introducing me to this practice." I just heard from her last week. It's been 28 years since the day I introduced her. 

Doing shakubuku is the greatest joy in the world. It's easy. We can all do it. 

If you send me your shakubuku stories I can share them with your fellow readers. chantforhappiness@gmail.com