Shakubuku = Personal Expansion and Wisdom!

I think I told you I have a new shakubuku (Baby Buddha!). She found out about the SGI through Chantforhappiness.com and her incredible seeking spirit. 

I am having the greatest joy bringing her up. You know, one of the Gakkai's guidelines for the year is to have each of us raise one person, just ONE person into this faith.  

There are a lot of reasons for this guideline. Yes, kosen-rufu - a world of respect for all beings, is on the horizon. And each of us can live lives of great good causes to divert war and pain and usher in the age of respect for all life - kosen rufu. Shakubuku is the means for this to happen. 

Through Shakubuku we help others become happy, and we grow ourselves. 

I chanted to have one person come into my life who wants to practice, who wants to receive Gohonzon (she will get hers this Thursday because an obstacle came up for her on New Year's Day), and who will practice their whole life. I wrote this goal down in December 

Here are some thoughts on successfully raising a new member. 

STUDY. I am studying every day so I can discuss this study with Crystal. 

I am chanting for her and talking with her every day.

She has a strong seeking spirit. She is thirsty for this practice. She is calling me to learn more! It is refreshing my seeking spirit and a cause for my own expansion. 

What is Seeking Spirit? 
The will to learn more, to bring life to YOU, and not wait for it to come to you! 

How do we grow our seeking spirit? We take action. We call our fellow members. We study. We chant. 

If your seeking spirit has flagged, this is a great time to renew it!
Call your leaders. Read President Ikeda's guidance. REALLY study the monthly Gosho. Read it more than once. Find the words that are speaking right to you! 

The daily, twice a day, recitation of the sutra is crucial. Establishing a twice daily practice at the beginning - and RIGHT NOW is very important - even if it is only 5 minutes of chanting in the morning and evening. 

Happy first Monday of the New Year!

4 Ways to Write Goals ~ Powerfully Starting the New Year!

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It's not too Late! 

You can start the New Year Powerfully RIGHT NOW! 

This is the year of 

Expansion in the New Era of Kosen-Rufu (world peace.)

We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (I fuse my life with the mystic law of cause and effect through sound vibration) and participate in the Soka Gakkai organization. Click on the link to the right to find out more. I practice in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, and there are members worldwide. This practice enables us to draw forth all the strength, wisdom and vigor we already possess and obtain our goals. We are all Buddhas expressing our Buddha Nature and overcoming our lesser selves. The goal of this practice is our own happiness, and the happiness of others. 

I have written my goals in a new way this year:  

1. I wrote my actual goals in narrative form.

2. I wrote my daily guidelines for fulfilling these goals - For example, my primary guideline this year is to be more present with everyone I am with...to take the focus off myself and listen more intently than ever...to hear their Buddha nature speaking, and reinforce it in any way I can. And to enjoy each moment and add new lifelong friends every day. I also have specific business, health and other guidelines. 

3. I have written a Mind Map for my goals. I took a blank page and put a small sun in the center of it. I drew one long ray for each of the ways I want to expand this year. And I wrote the name of the ray at the end. 
Rays/Goals include: Ben's Memorial Mile. Writing. Public Speaking. Goals for the District. Health etc. and along those rays are lines with action items about the goal. 

4. Across from each goal I wrote the obstacles that appear in my mind, and the emotions I feel in my body when I read them  - and I am using this page to be aware of what to "tap on" using EFT tapping, and to focus my chanting. I am determined to master my mind and override anything holding me back. 

5.  I am also devising a DAILY EXPANSION SHEET - a checklist of all things I must do to keep advancing step by step towards my goals. 

Do you have some goals you want to share...some determinations? Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com!

3 Point Vow for Happiness, Human Revolution and World Peace!

Today, January 2nd, 

 is President Ikeda's 88th Birthday. 

Happy Birthday Sensei!

Entering the New Year, I feel such gratitude to be able to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo along with my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, and along with all of you, my friends all over the world. I have been hearing from so many of you...all my courageous friends. 

Please don't despair. Please don't give up. 

Strengthen your faith more than ever. Build your foundation by chanting twice a day every day, studying the Gosho by Nichiren Daishonin, and encouraging others to chant. 

We all live noble lives as Votaries of the Lotus Sutra. Our great vow in life is to usher in the new age of light, of happiness, of respect and love. We call it kosen-rufu, and I believe every person longs for this new world. Everyone longs for a world of peace, a world of no violence, a world of love. How do we do this? We do it through our own Human Revolution. 

We do our Human Revolution by making our great vow for kosen-rufu. This causes us to change from within our lives...and, like a body and a shadow, when we change internally, our environment changes to reflect that. 

Recently a friend went to a new doctor and was amazed by how respectfully she was treated. She's been practicing really strongly - chanting lots of daimoku consistently. I said "Yes, you were treated respectfully because you've made the change internally in your life, and your environment is changing to reflect that!" That's how it works. Internal cause - external effect. 

Making a great vow is the perfect way to kick off the new year. It's the kick start for making internal change. Here's my vow. Feel free to use it as the basis for your 2016 vow.

 3 Point Vow 

for Happiness, 

Human Revolution 

and World Peace - 

Kosen Rufu - a world of respect for all!

By Jamie Lee Silver, Chantforhappiness.com: 

1. I vow to use my life for Kosen Rufu. I vow to use every thought, every action, every word and every prayer to transform my life, to discard the transient and reveal the true, and to change the world through tapping into the power my life inherently possesses through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, studying Buddhism, doing shakubuku and deepening my connection with my mentor-in-life Daisaku Ikeda.  

2. I vow to live my life as an example that happiness, absolute happiness, is possible. I vow to use my life as an inspiration for people to learn about chanting, and become happier than they ever imagined possible. 

3. I vow to win in all areas of my life, NO MATTER WHAT! I will win in health, love, happiness, friendships, family, (both my real family and my Gakkai family) work, writings and wealth for the sake of Kosen Rufu. 

This year is 2016. 

I have always been protected financially throughout my practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo twice a day every day for the last 30 years. I have never longed for anything or gone into any kind of debt. 

If I can chant to change my life from the inside out, and have all these results, so can you. 

I am always chanting my vow of kosen-rufu. 

"Life! let me accomplish THIS ________so I can inspire others!" Your prayer is the same. Chant for what you want...exactly what you want. We all deserve to have our dreams come true. 

Happy New Year! 

Write me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com. Share your victories! 

Fascinating Experience - Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year! 

Welcome to the 

Year of Expansion 

in the New Era of Kosen Rufu! 

I greet this New Year with optimism and hope. I continue to chant every day with strong determination to fulfill my vow of kosen rufu, for my family, for you and for the SGI. 

I just read an experience in the World Tribune, January 2015, page 25. 

It's about a gentleman names Joe Perez. 
He was born in the 1930's in Cuba, and wanted to come to America, but had no funds to do so. He found a way to come here by enlisting in the United States Army, and met his wife Junko while stationed in Japan. She practiced Buddhism, and he became an SGI member in 1972. 
Through his business relations he traveled with the Mayor of San Antonio to Japan, and was intent on introducing the Mayor to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, the man many of us call Sensei, or teacher. 

I don't have time to detail what happened, but there was a backlash in San Antonio for making this introduction because the Japanese companies in San Antonio were caught up in anti SGI sentiment, and his business in San Antonio ended, so he had to start over. 

Through his darkest times he says:

"Sensei's example to use faith first
and take action to change my situation 
is what sustained me. 
When I received guidance from a senior in faith 
he encouraged me to read The Human Revolution. 
He said that while reading, 
I should replace Shin'ichi yamamoto 
(the pen name of Daisaku Ikeda) 
with Joe Perez. 
Studying about the history 
and conviction of the founding SGI presidents 
inspired me to deepen my shared vow 
with Sensei to advance kosen-rufu - 
a grand undertaking that, 
because of its goal to empower humanity, 
is fraught with obstacles. 
I determined to prove to the world 
that my mentor is a great man 
who has benefited humanity in irreplaceable ways, 
and that we all can - and should - do the same!"

Because of his strong determination, 
Joe Perez was able to 
introduce Daisaku Ikeda to Rosa Parks, 
and Fidel Castro, 
and eventually helped the United States and Cuba 
restore diplomatic relations through his travel company. 

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

Mr Perez's experience really inspires me. 

When Rosa Parks and Sensei met the world shifted a bit. Do you know she said meeting Daisaku Ikeda gave her great hope for this planet...the first great hope she had had in some time? And it inspired countless people worldwide. Daisaku Ikeda meeting Castro was also truly inspirational. And this man made it happen. 

We can all be sharing in Daisaku Ikeda's vision  - not just from the sidelines. We can all be taking steps to actualize kosen rufu every day. 

I'm running to the Chicago Culture Center now to take part in the 1:00 New Year's Day Gongyo, along with my son and fellow members. I hope all of you are able to join with your Gakkai family today! Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! Here's to a powerful new year for us all! 

3 Perfect Ways to Set Goals - not Scary at ALL!

 

Written words have power. Many books have been written about the power of writing goals. I write my goals and determinations every day...and chant to change my life from the inside...to root out the karma I don't like, and replace it with better karma. And with each Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I chant, I vow to become even wiser, and make better causes each and every day towards my own happiness, and a happier world for all. Kosen-rufu! 

Here are some cool ideas for setting goals - try these:

Goal Setting Technique Number 1

Set "FEELING" Goals. 

You don't have to spell everything out. You don't have to be able to predict the future...all you have to do is make a determination to create a new feeling. Now, I don't mean that if something is bad, you should just "poof" feel better about it. No, that's not what I mean. But you can have a goal like this: 

"By March I will feel better about my finances, I will feel I am on more solid footing and I will feel more secure." Then chant about it. You can do this about anything you want to change. The person who introduced this to me is Nick Ortner who wrote the book The Tapping Solution. 

Goal setting technique Number 2

Write a narrative about how things will be when your goal comes true. 

I love setting goals this way. You can choose whatever you wish. Here are some examples for you:

 "Life! Gohonzon! I now live in a sunny climate with a job I love and a wonderful boyfriend. Every day I wake up glad to be alive and energized by the sun and my surroundings. I have friends to chant with, play with, shop with and take long walks. I laugh so easily and feel totally in the flow with my life. Every day is full of appreciation and love right now." 

or maybe:

"Life, Gohonzon, I am so happy! I have a job I love and I do something that makes a difference in people's lives. I make ______ and have these benefits______. This year I travel to ______ and ______for my vacations"......and on and on...you fill in the blanks. 

or: 

"My living situation is more harmonious than ever. Suddenly there is no more fighting and we all seem to have undergone a transformation. I feel more love in my life than ever. Thank you Gohonzon (my life!)

Goal Setting Technique #3

Write letters to whomever you want to bring into your life.

Many of you write me about finding the love of your life. Or about loving someone who does not seem ready to love you back. You can use this technique to write to a specific person, or to write to the love of your life - even if you haven't yet met. 

Here's how: 

Write letters to the person you envision being in your life. And if you really feel creative, write letters FROM them Back to YOU. 

Like this: 

Dear Love of my Life, 

I can't wait to meet you! Hurry into my life! 

I feel you close to me, I know we will meet shortly. You and I will enjoy so much together. I love your happy spirit, and sense of responsibility. You love my eyes and warm hugs. You are really made for  each other. We love and adore each other and love to make each other happy!  

Do you have any words for me? 

And then you write a letter from them to you: 

Yes!  

I can't wait until we meet. I have been waiting to meet you my whole life. Do not give up hope. I am nearer than ever before. Let's keep chanting and hoping and wishing on that star! Let's keep writing about our life together. It's getting closer and closer! 

And you can use this for a specific person as well. 

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

Happy New Year dear friends. 

I hope you have a great New Year's Eve and a Powerful New Year's Day!

8 Questions to Start the New Year Positively

I always begin a new year by evaluating the last year...
I ask myself the following questions: 

1. What am I proud of - 
what are my main accomplishments from 2014? 
2. What COULD I be proud of? 
3. What did I read?
4. What did I learn? 
5. What new idea/modality/practice did I experience? 
6. What will I write down in my journal for the end of 2015? 
7. What am I determined to record at the end of next year's journal? 
7. Whose lives did I impact? 

And I write out a list of positive accomplishments in all areas of my life, mind-body-spirit. 

And I also take a look at the not-so-positive aspects of last year. 

1. What can I do better? 
2. What behavior will I commit to changing? 
3. What behavior will I commit to doing consistently? 

I also like to write out a vision of what I want my life to be. I do that every year. I write it in the present tense and put in all the elements I want. Then I read it often. 

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

Looking back on last year is a harder than ever this year. Of course. 
But if I can face my life right now...if I can not give up and make a new determination to create a life of brilliant victory. Well then, so can you!

So the new year is a great time say: 

"Hon Nim Myo! From this moment forth!" 

Now is the time to bring forth more power from within my life than ever before. Now, because of what I have suffered, I can help so many more people. I can be a better source for good. I can create more happiness for myself and others. 

We can live in the present. It is all we can do. 
It is what we must do. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the December 2015 Living Buddhism, Daisaku Ikeda writes: 

"In a Buddhist scripture, Shakyamuni states: 

"The past should not be followed after, 
the future not desired. 
What is past is got rid of 
and the future has not come. 
But whoever has vision now here, 
now there, of a present thing, 
Knowing that it is immovable, unshakable, 
for him to cultivate it. 
Swelter at the task this very day" 

Daisaku Ikeda continues:

"It is foolish to endlessly suffer and agonize over the past, 
or to needlessly fret and worry about the unknown future. 
Instead, we should concentrate on taking care 
of the things that we have to do today. 
What is important is that we live each day 
earnestly and conscientiously.
This is the Buddha's message. 

Those who live long lives are for the most part optimists. 
I hope that you will live each day joyfully and with genuine optimism."

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

Merry Christmas ~ Here Comes the New year!

Merry Christmas ~ 

Here comes the New Year! 

This is one of my favorite times of the year...as we wrap up Christmas and begin to make our goals for the New Year.

We are Buddhists...PRACTICAL BUDDHISTS and, as my friend and mentor Amos says: 

"You're a Buddhist - DREAM BIG! ~ 

"How many times do you have to remake a determination? Infinity! Just keep remaking that determination over and over again, and one day it will STICK! Don't give up." 

It doesn't matter how many times you've made the same determination and not succeeded. Go ahead and make it again. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. You can do it! 

As I make my New Year's list of determinations, I often think back to 1993 when I was practicing in San Francisco with Danny Nagashima. We were chanting to bring Daisaku Ikeda to San Francisco and we succeeded. 

Danny encouraged us to make huge long New Years lists...200 things or more...as many things as we could possibly think of for our list of goals. 

And I took what he said to heart. I made a huge list. And 1993 still stands out in my life as the year I met Sensei and had a fabulous year! I found there was power in writing it all down...power in making the goals...power in starting the year with so much focus. 

A few weeks ago I wrote some new goals. One of them said 

"Gohonzon! Life! 
Bring me one person who wants this practice 
who will receive Gohonzon January 1st, 
and practice their whole life!" 

And a few days later I received a call from someone who found my blog, started chanting, and wants to practice. 
We've been chanting, studying, and she's learning gongyo. She is amazing...she's been looking for this practice for a long time. Awesome! That's why I write the blog!

Let's all make our lists! 

Happy 2016!

I respond to emails at chantforhappiness@gmail.com
I'm on Facebook as Jamie Lee Silver and Chant for Happiness. (I prefer not to instant message, but, as I mentioned, I do respond to email)