Loving Chanting Daimoku = Loving the Moment

A few days ago I saw a picture on Facebook. It was a much older woman, next to a younger woman saying "time flies" enjoy the moment. And it really made me reflect. 

When I was a young mother I knew I had to enjoy the moments with my kids...I wanted to freeze time. I cried at every year's "first day of school" and wished they could stay young forever. Yes. 

But many times now, I just feel I want to speed things up...like I have to get TO somewhere...but I'm not sure where...just moving...and moving...

And although I feel appreciation in my heart...sometimes I don't "stop to smell the roses." I think it is partly the time we are in...the culture we belong to...we are all in such a hurry, right? (At least here int he States)

Seeing this picture of the old woman telling the young woman how time flies, I decided to experiment with chanting a little more slowly, and relishing each Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. A mentor of mine in San Francisco said you should approach the Gohonzon as if you were approaching a lover...or eating the finest food. Relishing each moment. 

So I slowed it down for part of my hour. 

Later that day, after an energy alignment session with my dear friend Joy, of Path to Joy Wellness, I went for a walk, and decided to just enjoy moving my body, not going as fast as I usually do. 

Now, I don't think I got a great aerobic workout, but I sure did love being in my body...feeling the air, moving my hips. It just felt so good....

So, I'm not saying we should slow down or speed up chanting...I think the speed we chant is up to each person. I just thought this was interesting and wanted to share it with you. 

Just FIVE More Minutes~* YOU Can Do It! Persevere!

"When you think, “I can’t do anymore. I need a break,” that is the time to challenge yourself to keep going another five minutes. Those who persevere for even an extra five minutes will win in life."

Daisaku Ikeda, Ikedaquotes.org
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This blog is written by Jamie Lee Silver, an SGI member for 30 years as of October 20th this year. I do not speak officially for the SGI, although I am an active member. I speak from my own heart.)

Just FIVE more minutes! Or just START with FIVE minutes. That's what I did. When I first began chanting the name of the Mystic law, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, I could only chant for five minutes in the morning and the evening. And those FIVE minutes were not easy ~ I will tell you!. I kept a timer next to me and sometimes really struggled. 

I hear from some of you how hard it is to chant, and that your life is really hard, and believe me, I get it. I know how hard life can be and I know how hard it can be to chant. I really mean this. I also know that when I challenge myself to complete gongyo, to complete the time I've set aside to chant, and to wake up early to get that hour in  - well, it makes the REST of my life go that much more smoothly. No doubt. No doubt. 

I hear from you "I can't chant" and I say "that is an obstacle! You can overcome it! " ...Find someone to chant with...make yourself chant...go for FIVE minutes and it will change your life. Do it every morning and evening and you are on your way - you are tuning your life to the rhythm of the universe. 
I've also had questions about chanting in your head. Does it work...is it enough? 

Yes, obstacles occur. They HAVE to occur and they are supposed to occur. Our attitude about those obstacles defines who we are and what we achieve. I just had one of the biggest obstacles, right? It feels funny even calling the death of my son an "obstacle," but, that's what it was. And I have a choice...will I be fooled by this...stop chanting...say "Oh chanting doesn't work..." or will I be fueled by this and say "BECAUSE of this, not in spite of it, I will make my life that much stronger and I will help more people than ever?" You know what I chose. 

It is a choice. And it is up to us. 

My birthday is coming. September 22nd. My first birthday without my boy. And Aaron is gone too, He's in LA doing a rotation for his fourth year of Medical School. The thought of my birthday this year fills me with emotion.  

AND I lost my two favorite rings. I have looked everywhere...except where they ARE! And I knew I should not wear the tiny ring I bought for myself when Ben went through a terrible time and survived, with my grandmother's tiny little diamond ring. I wore them together, took them off somewhere and now they are gone. This one is tough to get out of my mind because I am so mad at myself. I am chanting to find them. They must be somewhere! 

So my birthday is next week. If anyone wants to send a birthday greeting my address is Jamie Lee Silver, 17w702 Butterfield, #104, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. Your messages and cards always light up my day. 

This week I am giving a keynote speech. It's called "Lessons for Living Healthier Lives." And I think there will be about 300 people there. Friday. The day starts early. Very exciting.  

Chant for What You Want...

Do we really have faith? Or are we just "hoping" without making strong determinations?

I was talking to a friend in faith yesterday and he mentioned that something happened in his job recently and he was "chanting to adjust to it." He is a driver for a non-profit. He drives mentally and physically challenged adults to the place they do their work. 

A few weeks ago one of his favorite riders was taken off his route. This rider was someone he really loved. He felt he made a difference in his life by singing and joking every morning. He said whenever he sees him, his ex-rider starts to cry because he misses being driven by my friend. 

And my friend told me he was chanting to adjust to this...chanting so he doesn't feel so bad about it.... 
I said, "Hmmm, why not chant and take action to get this rider back? You can make a determination, chant, and make sure someone in a position of authority sees him the next time he is crying because he misses you." 

Well, my friend though this was an excellent idea and he's going to do just that.

After the conversation, I thought about us all. How often do we chant to accept something when we really could be chanting to change it? Interesting thought, right? 

We are so much stronger than we know! 

GO Buddha GO! A Buddhist Victory!

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Last week, I wrote about a member who was having trouble connecting with SGI members who lived by her. She had recently moved and found herself in circumstances she didn't like...AND she couldn't connect. 

Sometimes everything is hard, right? 

I told her that every bit of energy she spends making the connection happen...calling the nearest culture center, then calling the numbers she is given...until she gets the result...FINDING the SGI members near her will power her life. THAT energy will power her life forward. THAT energy is a great cause for her happiness! I said it is the mentee's responsibility to connect with the mentor. Chant to connect with members who inspire you! Chant about it and take the action...make the cause. Make it happen!  

And, guess what? She just called, all excited, because she found out there are TWO members walking distance from her who are welcoming and helping her. A new journey of faith has begun for her and she is so excited about the possibilities of her new life. She doesn't know exactly what will unfold, but she has fire, happiness, excitement and HOPE! 

The causes we make are important! Now she has momentum. She took responsibility to CREATE mentors, and now she has energy and enthusiasm and she will change this setback and turn it into a victory. 

It IS that easy. 

Once we recognize, that, as Sensei says, we are the protagonists in our own movie, and take responsibility to change - we become UNSTOPPABLE! 

GO BUDDHA GO! She totally made my day! 

PowerPrayer to Ignite and Focus Our Inner Resolve

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Last night's Downers' Grove District's Gosho Study Meeting was fantastic. I appreciate Takahashi, who studied, prepared and presented a great study meeting for us. 

The Gosho was "The Gift of Rice" and he began by saying we should feel that THIS moment is the first time, first day, first moment,to learn this Gosho...no matter how many times we have read it before.

I think that's a great attitude to have towards so many things! 

The first quote that jumped out at me from the Gosho was "When we carefully consider what exactly "earnest resolve" refers to, it is the doctrine of observing the mind." 
(From the Gift of Rice by Nichiren Daishonin, Living Buddhism September 2015, page 29)

President Ikeda goes on to say "Everything is determined by the direction in which our "earnest resolve" orients our minds. When we focus our "earnest resolve" on our Buddhist practice, believing and practicing the Mystic Law that enables all people to attain enlightenment, our inner Buddhahood reveals itself, pervading our lives and the environment." 
LB, 9/15, page 38

And one of the members related an experience from this month's World Peace Prayer meeting on Sunday (Kosen-Rufu Gongyo). I wasn't there because I was in the air flying home from Cape Cod. 

She related Akemi Bailey Haynie's experience.  

She said Akeymi related that one day she heard her mother cry out from a nightmare, and realized that her mother had been having nightmares every night. (Her mother is a survivor of the WWII bombings in Japan). Akeymi developed a deep resolve in her heart and sat down and chanted 15 minutes of focused Daimoku that her mother would NEVER AGAIN have another nightmare. She reached that level of "now or never" or "NO WAY!" that is so powerful, and her Mom never had another nightmare. 

We all have this power in our lives. Sensei tells us this every day. When we are in front of the Gohonzon it is up to us to summon this resolve, and to focus our minds.

We all have this power! Today I offer you: 

PowerPrayer to Ignite and Focus
Our Inner Resolve
by Jamie Lee Silver from ChantforHappiness.com

LIFE! 
Now it the crucial moment! 
THIS MOMENT 
While I am chanting I am drawing a line in the sand! 
This shall happen:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
and/or THIS shall STOP happening:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I NOW summon all the power vested in me as a worthy votary of the Lotus Sutra. 
My life is Powerful!
My daimoku is Powerful
Shoten Zenjin activate your forces NOW! 
Each Daimoku summons my power!
Each Daimoku has an effect NOW
For the sake of Kosen Rufu, I ignite my vow!
I will show actual proof -  inspire myself, and change the world! 
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

PowerPrayer for Upholding Your Brilliant Self!

Sculpture in Wellfleet, Cape Cod

As I was chanting this morning - with a heart full of appreciation and love for my life and practice I created a new PowerPrayer for you. I feel my power surging back into me. I have a whole new life to create! The sky is the limit for me! I plan on traveling...would you like me to visit your country? Write me a note at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. 

Also, send me your concerns and questions - I am developing some cool resources for you! 

PowerPrayer 
for Upholding 
Your Brilliant Self! 
By Jamie Lee Silver from ChantforHappiness.com
Read this PowerPrayer before chanting to POWER your intentions and Daimoku!

Life! 
With every Daimoku I chant
I feel my power rising
With each Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
my life rises in life condition

I spring from the lower worlds of reaction
to worlds of creation! 

I honor my own life with my prayer!
I uphold the dignity of my own precious life!
Nothing anyone can say or do will sway me today. 
I know my worth as a Bodhisattva of the Earth
I rise above any criticism 
I know who I am

Life!
With every Daimoku I chant
I praise my life
I dedicate my life to making this world 
a better place for all beings
All I chant for - I chant in the name of Kosen-Rufu! 
Put me in the position to make the best causes for all of life! 
I VOW to win in all areas of my life because I am the Votary of the Lotus Sutra. 
My LIFE makes a difference! 
I praise my life!
I will accomplish (add personal goals here) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
for Kosen Rufu!

3 Keys to Regaining Hope!

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"No matter how hopeless or bleak things appear, the moment always comes when suddenly our spirit revives, and hope is reborn. That is why we must never give up."

Daisaku Ikeda, Ikedaquotes.org

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I know I look happy in that picture above, and I was happy when I was there, at Chatham Beach Inn with my son, Aaron. 

And when I got home yesterday from the Cape my heart was breaking. I was mourning my Ben, and my previous life, and Aaron took off for LA for a medical school rotation for a month...and I was really sad. We all have those times, or those moments when we are sad...when we feel hopeless or sad, as Daisaku Ikeda says in the quote above. 

So yesterday I thought to myself "Thank goodness I have my Buddhist practice, and one more day before I go back to work, because I am going to use it to change my karma right now...and raise my life condition sky high. I must continue to inspire myself and inspire others that anything is possible through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo"

We call it a "Buddhist Practice" because we are always in a state of reviving...of learning...of growing! 

Today, I'm sitting here on my patio, waiting for a few SGI friends to come over to chant with me. And I am applying these three keys to changing my karma:

Three Keys to Regaining Hope

By Jamie lee Silver of Chantforhappiness.com

1. Once again, we must realize "I summoned this storm." It may look like we had nothing to do with it...but somehow, we must know, as a Boddhisattva of the earth that we summoned this storm, and we have the power to change our karma right now. We are not to blame. It is OUR opportunity and right to change it...our fortune to take this poison and change it into medicine. We can take some time to lament, and THEN we need to move - chant - change! 

2. We gather our friends around us to chant with us. 

What if we don't have people to chant with us? 

We chant on our own and make finding these friends one of our goals. 

We make a fierce determination to find them and/or shakubuku them! 

I just connected with a member who is suffering...she has moved...she is not happy with her life...and she has not connected with a member in her area. At the moment, her whole life is like a cork in a tide stream...bobbing away this way and that and not gaining any ground. I encouraged her to CHANT to connect with a person who inspires her in her area. And then...to take action. Make call after call...and make the connection happen. Call the nearest community center...call the list of people she is given. And keep calling until she connects. 

It is always the responsibility of the mentee to connect with the mentor. And doing this, connecting with the mentor, making the determination...steering our life...THIS give us power. 

The world is our mirror...everything around us reflects our internal state of life. So, it is natural that sometimes everything seems hard...even connecting with a mentor. That is when we must make a strong...determined effort. We can see connecting as a way of powering our life forward. We start with daimoku...and continue with action. 

I've talked about how challenging it was for me after I left all my mentors in San Francisco and moved to Chicago.
I had to use the full power of my faith to chant to connect. Now I have many respected mentors in the Chicago area. We need to do these things for ourselves! And of course, we connect in some way with Daisaku Ikeda and the Gosho every day...our ready-made fuel for our lives! 

3. Chant !

and employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra...

meaning...

we must chant with all our hearts, and not feel we have to "figure everything out." Sometimes we think we have to know what we are chanting about before we chant...and yes, it is good to have clear targets...and we can also chant for the best, best, best things, events, jobs etc. so that we can fulfill our mission for kosen-rufu in the most profound way! Connecting our dreams, and our happiness, to the happiness of all is the way of the Bodhisattva of the Earth.