PowerPrayer (Fresh Determination) to go from Hope-less to Hope-FULL Right Here Right Now

"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."

"Hope is the secret to a robust life force."

"When we possess the treasure of hope, it gives rise to other treasures, too. Hope draws forth our inner potential and strength. Hope is a magic weapon that enables us to make our dreams come true."

All three quotes are by Daisaku Ikeda from Ikedaquotes.org

How is is possible to go from Hopelessness to Hopefulness again and again? For me the key is found in Daimoku. 

Occasionally I post a blog talking about how I'd chant for two or three hours...I just keep chanting, and kind of lose track. I don't want to stop chanting. Today was one of those days. (I'm still evacuated from Hurricane Irma, but will return next week)

A reader wrote in and asked "How do you do this? I find it hard to chant for 10 minutes." And I understand that. Really I do. 

As I've said before, I am a fellow Bodhisattva of the Earth. Next month I'll go into my 33rd year of practicing within the beloved SGI organization. I don't speak for the SGI. I only offer my life as an example of what is possible when you chant. In that light, I'll share with you my own techniques for overcoming hopelessness.

First of all, what is hopelessness...nothing but fundamental darkness, right? So when I'm feeling hopeless about anything, I know I need to really focus on building my life-condition through chanting. 

Here is a PowerPrayer I am currently using. PowerPrayers are Fresh Determinations. They are meant to be read before chanting to fuel some thoughts while chanting...they are not a prescription...just some fresh ideas!

PowerPrayer for Moving from Hopelessness to Hopefulness:By Jamie Lee Silver of ChantforHappiness.com 

Life! 

Starting Right Now, With this daimoku, 

I bring the light of hope into my life! 

I feel every cell in my body responding to this bright presence as I realize YES I can accomplish my dreams. 

I CAN and I AM changing my karma this very second. With every Nam-myoho-renge-kyo I am chanting! 

Even though it feels like it may be impossible...it's NOT. Everything I dream can come true! 

I will not be defeated. Fundamental darkness, I see you for what you are, and you are no match for me! I will chant you away, over and over again. I don't care how many times you rise up to make me feel hopeless...I WILL WIN! I WILL WIN because I am a noble Bodhisattva of the Earth. I will win because I am chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo right this very second. I will win! I will win for myself and I will win to be an example for others that ANYTHING is possible. 

I will show, through my own life, that Kosen Rufu is possible...that a world of respect for all is possible. I will win over my own inner darkness so the world will become a brighter place! 

I chant now for ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

(fill in the names of the people you are chanting for)

I chant for these outcomes!_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I chant to see my life clearly, realize my shortcomings and change them. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! 

I chant for the world, my country, every member of my family, every person I love, every person I feel any kind of conflict with - I chant for their happiness! 

I chant for kosen-rufu to happen through me...starting right here! Right Now! 

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

(And a special note - sometimes while I am chanting, I wonder whether it's making a difference. Sometimes I do not immediately feel relief or refreshment. Sometimes chanting does feel like work. Do it anyway! The relief will come. The changes will come!) 

Whatever you do...study...attend Buddhist meetings...do shakubuku and do not give up hope. The new day of happiness WILL dawn. If you need someone to talk to...please reach out to your fellow SGI members, friends, or professionals. Sending love!  

Here in Asheville North Carolina Riding out Hurricane Irma

Wow. What a time of turmoil. I guess it's now or never, right? A huge hurricane, over 500 miles wide is baring down on Florida, my lovely, lovely paradise. And I don't know when I'll be able to return. I am so fortunate to have my Dad and Janis in North Carolina. When I talked to them on Tuesday they invited me up and said "Get the heck out of Dodge!" So I lowered my hurricane shutters, did a last gongyo in my beautiful apartment directly on the Gulf of Mexico in St. Pete Beach and joined many other cars heading up the narrow state. Even though I was alone, i chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for most of the long journey. The first day I only stopped for a few moments at the rest stops as I inched my way up the state. I drove for 11 hours. My sister was able to get me a room in a hotel for the night in Perry, Atlanta. The next day I drove about 6 hours to get here through gorgeous countryside and chanted the whole way. I was hoarse when I got here! 

Now we chant and wait. I chant for all my friends who stayed, and I chant for everyone in my beautiful state and everywhere around the world where there is suffering. 

I chant: "Shoten Zenjin - protective forces of the universe, come from wherever you are and protect this planet...everywhere! And weaken that hurricane right now!" 

I hope you are safe and well wherever you are! 

The Life-Giving Power of Each Character of Gongyo

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Hello friends, I evacuated Florida today. I drove 11 hours in some really bad traffic and made it to halfway to Asheville, North Carolina where I'll stay with my Dad and Jan. I figure, even if the hurricane does not come to St. Pete Beach, I'll have a nice visit with my family. Thanks for your messages! All my best to you. There is so much to chant about...and remember...all real change starts with our own human revolution! 

In the Gosho "Letter to Horen," the Daishonin describes the characters of the Lotus Sutra as individual Buddhas emitting beams of light...able to find all those, living and dead, with whom we are connected. 
Wow.
What a great thing to learn about while we are all striving to perfect our Gongyo and deepen our faith. 

Daisaku Ikeda states in Living Buddhism, 
June 2015, page 32:

"...Through chanting the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can transmit benefit even to deceased family members, relatives, friends or acquaintances who may have opposed our Buddhist practice - benefit that will warmly embrace them and lead them to a state of profound peace and comfort.

Similarly, through the power of the Mystic Law, our family members and friends who have passed away in the course of the journey for kosen-rufu - whether from illness or as a result of unexpected accidents or natural disasters - will also be able to enter the path of Buddhahood. 

The best offering we can make for the eternal happiness of the departed is to live fully and strive vibrantly for kosen-rufu in their stead..."

"The Daishonin says that 
each of the 510 characters 
of the verse section 
of the "Life Span" chapter 
of the Lotus Sutra, 
from "ji ga toku burrai" 
(Since I attained Buddhahood) (LSOC, 270) 
to "soku joju busshin" 
(quickly acquire the body of the Buddha) (LSOC, 273), changes into a sun 
and then into a Buddha. 
It emits great beams of light 
that pervade every corner of the universe, 
finding Kyoshin's father wherever he might be 
and illuminating him 
(see WND-I, 517-18).
In other words, 
each chapter 
of the verse section of the "LifeSpan" chapter 
recited by Kyoshin 
becomes the Buddha, 
shining with the brilliant light of compassion 
that reaches his deceased father
in whatever state of being he may reside, 
relieving him of his suffering 
and guiding him to enlightenment."

What a wonderful life-giving practice we have! Who do you want to reach with your Daimoku today? 

Perfecting Our Spiritual Workouts (Gongyo!) to Bring Benefit to Our Lives

As I'm sitting here watching the news about hurricane Irma barreling this way.
Please join me in chanting for Irma to veer to the right and north and miss America completely! 
Let's also chant about the flooding in India, the wildfires in the West and continued cleaning up in Texas and all other areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Oh yes, let's not forget North Korea, and keeping the peace. 
There is so much going on. 

Here are some of my thoughts on how we can continue to leverage our spiritual muscles to change ourselves, and change the world. 

Perfecting our daily recitation of Gongyo and Daimoku is our spiritual work-out for the interior of our lives. This work-out makes our environments 
(our world at every moment, and all the people and things and EVERYTHING in it) 
flow smoothly...and we can accomplish our goals and live fulfilling lives.  

When Shakyamuni was meditating under the Bodhi Tree, he was assailed by many thoughts to make him stop or to throw off his meditation. 
He kept focused. He won. 
Our practice of Gongyo every day is just like this. 
We are the Buddha! 
Every day - twice a day!  
We must win! 

Gongyo is important!

Our concentration will pay off. Doing gongyo with the following guidelines has brought me great benefit. 
(As always ~ these writings are mine, and come from my heart to yours.)

5 Keys to Make Your Gongyo 

and Your Life Sparkle!

Don't just "do" Gongyo. Feel it. Experience it.
by Jamie Lee Silver at chantforhappiness.com

1. Put your phone in another room. 
                 Claim this time as your own! 

2. Pray each silent prayer with all your heart. 

Elevate the moment from reading to praying! 

Read each silent prayer over and over until you can actually feel the appreciation. Read the silent prayers until they sink in...so you are truly praying in appreciation. If you don't know why Nichiren Daishonin and the three presidents deserve your praise, please ask a fellow member and study the history of Nichiren Buddhism and the Soka Gakkai. (Clink the link to the right to find your local SGI group) It took tremendous conviction and courage to bring this practice to us today! 
During these prayers, I bring forth the gratitude I feel for having this practice in my life.   

3. Begin and end Gongyo 
                     with no interruptions. 

You can chant as long as you'd like between gongyo and the silent prayers. 
Sometimes I recite the silent prayers at the end of Gongyo soon after the recitation...not after finishing all my daimoku for the morning. This makes it easier to do a complete gongyo before I get up to do something else, or refresh my drink or whatever. 
I start and complete gongyo. Boom. 
Then I can do as much daimoku as I want, with gongyo done. Complete. With no interruptions. If I get interrupted in the middle of gongyo I begin again! I see this helping me complete things in my life on a much more regular basis. 

4. Chant every morning and evening. 

I know, I know, you've heard this before. The reason I keep repeating this message is that it WORKS! When we do gongyo twice a day our lives get on a roll. You have to experience it to see it! I can't tell you how it feels. I can tell you that one of my YWD (young woman) finally began chanting twice a day (after refusing to do this for two years) she was able to realize a hidden goal, bring it to the surface, chant about it, and now she's living her dream in Colorado. Chanting twice a day WORKS! 

5. Perfect Your Rhythm 
              and Pronunciation of Gongyo

In the early days of my practice, I was fortunate to have a leader who believed that perfecting gongyo was important. Every day I showed up at her house to fine-tune my rhythm and pronunciation. You can do the same, and it will energize your practice and life. 
I suggest finding a mentor in your SGI circle who can work with you. To learn, we can bring a pencil and circle the parts we find difficult, and highlight our mistakes. The next time through we can be aware of the challenging parts because we circled them. We can learn it like a song. 
It is easier to learn it right the first time, but not impossible to fix, if learned wrong. 

Having perfect gongyo gives us confidence. 

I'd like to hear your stories of how perfecting your gongyo changes your life. Everything we do to enhance our practice is reflected in our lives. 

Gongyo and Daimoku are our laboratory 
where we create the lives of our dreams! 

I'm interested in hearing how you are perfecting your gongyo! 
Doing Gongyo is like lifting spiritual weights. how strong can we make our lives? 
That's what we're talking about! 

Email me at chantforhappiness@gmail.com

Avnita Bir's Experience of JUSTICE!

My name is Avnita Bir and I have been practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism for one and a half years. I feel I have had a very seeking spirit and have experienced many benefits as actual proofs of the faith. 

I recently had a life changing experience, which both challenged and reinforced my faith in the Gohonzon. My family went through the darkest period of our lives, as my brother became a victim of a horrific conspiracy in which he was forcibly and unlawfully detained for false, fabricated cases under inexplicable circumstances. Shocked, uncertain about how to deal with the crisis, we began fighting a battle we had no clue how to go about. It was providence that had taken me to Delhi when this tragedy struck in the middle of the night on 1st July. Trying to understand how the system works, during what seemed like endless days, all I could do was resort to my faith and abundant, powerful daimoku. Throughout this period, as we fought the system, I got strength from my chanting. My brother seemed to be in a very low life condition and no support seemed to be reaching him. Josei Toda wrote in HR, Vol. IX, and I quote, “When your life is at stake, you struggle with every single ounce of your energy. However, the battle against your own karma is even harder than that. Life and faith are exactly the same. To think that you can get through somehow, just because you believe in true Buddhism, is not real faith at all. When you try so hard that the sweat streams off your brow and you squeeze out wisdom, which you didn’t even think you had, then you can make the impossible possible. And that’s the time when the Gohonzon will protect you in every way, shape and form. There’s no doubt about that.”

A senior in faith would daily send me Gosho messages and encouragement and that became my anchor through the long period of darkness. One of the earliest messages she sent me was about President Ikeda's Osaka campaign and his arrest and unjust detention on false charges for a crime he did not commit. That he was exonerated of all charges and his honor restored, instilled hope in me. In that moment I felt that my brother was a noble Buddha who was practicing the concept of 'voluntarily assuming karma' and that he had taken this suffering on himself in order to lead his family into the Practice. And I was confident that the Gohonzon would surely protect him. Seeing my strong and courageous faith, my family members, especially my young nephews and nieces, also joined me. It felt as though this was Human Revolution for the family as everyone rallied together like one united force. Sensei Ikeda says, and I quote, “ From one perspective, gongyo and daimoku are lyrics and songs. They are an ode to life.  I hope, therefore, that your gongyo and daimoku will be such that even people who are not practicing will be favorably impressed by the sonorous and invigorating sound of your voices. That too will contribute to the spread of kosen-rufu.” As much as my prayers were for my brother, they were also for my family to see the actual proof of strong resolute faith.

Even as I prayed, there were hindrances and obstacles in the form of deadlocks, delays and disappointments that would try to shake my faith and courage. Nichiren Daishonin says and I quote, "A coward cannot have any prayers answered.” That gave me courage to start each day with powerful gongyo and daimoku.

"Faith in the Mystic Law is the basis for victory. Chanting nam myoho renge kyo is the ultimate driving force that enables us to break through all obstacles, undefeated by any problem or suffering.” Even as I prayed for winter to turn into spring, I prayed for a higher life condition not just for my brother but also for those who had caused him this suffering and for poison to change into medicine. The situation was tricky and complicated and we needed to have not just strength and fortitude to deal with it but also the right strategy to be able to take the right decisions. I prayed  to the Gohonzon for my brother's protection and for the family to have wisdom to take the right steps towards a positive outcome. Even in the face of many mistakes we made because we were ignorant in these matters, there was new learning at every step. Sensei Ikeda says, and I quote, “Wisdom is invisible. It can only be gauged by a person’s actual conduct and behavior.”

A month had passed by and despite all our efforts, we had not been able to make any breakthrough. My spirit was reaching breaking point as I prepared for the hearing on the 1st of August. That morning a senior leader from Mumbai called me and gave me guidance. She said walk into the court with the determination of Sensei. Sensei Ikeda says, and I quote, “When your determination changes, everything else will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fibre in your being will immediately orient itself towards your success.” And win we did! That was our first victory. That day I also had another breakthrough. I got an appointment to meet Dr. Ouchi in South Extension despite his very busy travel schedule. The session with him was very valuable as he explained to me how this incident was an opportunity for me to feel empowered and in turn empower my family through my faith and practice. Our second victory took another ten days to happen but the actual proofs of faith and resolute prayer continued till the very end when my brother finally came back home on 12^th August, stronger than ever and with the added compassion for humanity and kosen-rufu that he was able to carry out even in the midst of the negative environment in which he had found himself. 

The learnings and benefits from this entire experience were manifold. Even though he was initially angry at the injustice of the system, my brother did not give up on prayer. I happened to read his diary and was very happy to see nam myoho renge kyo on top of every page. He hadn't been a follower of Buddhism but my prayers had reached him. My aged parents with whom I barely got time to spend living in Mumbai, started to rely on me for hope and action to help their dear son. I became the second son for them. The family became closer and this was the human revolution we much needed. I returned to Mumbai feeling victorious and with an indomitable spirit that I never had before.

Nichiren Daishonin writes “On Prayer” and I quote, “Though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rises in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.”

Today I determine to live the Gosho and share the actual proof of faith and victory through my experience as one of the most powerful ways to advance kosen-rufu.

Thank you Avnita! 

You are such an inspiration!

Today I take off for Cape Cod for 5 days. I'll post when I return!

Sending love ~ Jamie

Our RV Journey to see the Eclipse

This is exactly the way the sun looked during the total eclipse

Here's our "rig," an RV that we rented to drive 

to South Carolina to see the total eclipse. Everyone loved the dragon on the front. 

I've always wanted to see a total eclipse. I've heard about how the streetlights come on, everything goes quiet, the sky turns dark enough to see the stars, and everyone joins together in a special moment. 

But only IF there are no clouds obscuring the sun! 

About two weeks ago, I suggested to Ric that we rent an RV and go see the total eclipse. And Ric, being the smart man that he is, said "Yes," found an RV to rent, and a site to reserve where we could see the total eclipse. (That wasn't so easy!) He had to pay a premium for the site, and it was perfect! We drove for two days to get there. 

I chanted everyday for the last two weeks for clear skies. 

And....on the day of the eclipse, after driving for two days, we woke up with clouds. 

So what did I do? You know the answer. 

I went into the RV, and chanted! I chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the clouds to go away so we could see the eclipse. I chanted to my life, with all the power in my life. 

Suddenly the skies opened up and everyone in the campground ran for cover as it rained really hard.....and a few minutes later we had clear blue skies. We all breathed a sigh of relief, put on our eclipse glasses and enjoyed the show! 

Here are some of the pictures from our trip. We stayed at the Flamingo Lake RV resort in Jacksonville Florida, and Saluda River resort in South Carolina. 

 Nasa took this one

Our Neighbor in South Carolina.

Ric on our site in the morning, after all the maintenance he did every day. I could never have done this alone. RVs are fun...but it takes a technical mind, and some real strength to do the day-to-day. They are a challenge to drive, and expensive to rent. Ric did it all! And we laughed and had interesting discussions the whole way...(about 700 miles each way) 

I see this through the lens of the new life I've created...and benefit from all the daimoku I've chanted to change my karma. We had great sites, a great time, and a chance to focus on a wonderful event uniting the country and the world. 
I love my life! 

How do we Fight With The Heart of the Lion King?

I wanted to write to you all about how we are renting an RV and heading to South Carolina to see the total eclipse of the sun. It is so exciting! 
Then I got home and heard the latest news and did some studying and want to share this: 

The youth are studying "The Opening of the Eyes" so I picked up a copy to study along with them. 

From the Opening of the Eyes, chapter entitled
"Why the Votary Encounters Persecutions", page 121. 

By Daisaku Ikeda, 

"In my mind I can hear the Daishonin 
calling out vigorously to his followers: 
"If you are not going to fight now, when will you fight? 
My followers, stand up with courage! 
If you fight with the heart of the lion king, 
you will expiate all past offenses 
and transform your karma!
Let us lead to enlightenment even the icchantikas 
(persons of incorrigible disbelief), 
and help free humankind from fundamental darkness!
(illusion, xenophobia (fear of people from other countries)hatred, fear, prejudice and the forces that stop us from practicing, notes from me)
Let us establish the correct teaching for the peace of the land and construct a world where we can all live together happily and peacefully."

What does it take to "fight with the heart of a lion king?" Well, as I always mention, I am not employed by the SGI and don't speak for them, but I do practice this Buddhism as hard as I can to change my karma, and change the karma of the world. So I will tell you what this means to me. 

Fighting with the heart of a lion king means looking fearlessly at our own lives, making the deepest vow possible as votaries of the Lotus Sutra to change ourselves, change our karma, SEE ourselves, and chant to change all illusion, all self-slander, all doubt, all in the name of being happy, and in creating a happy world for ourselves and others. It means vowing to have victory in our lives, not just for ourselves, but for kosen-rufu - to show others what is possible.
And it means chanting for the youth. Chanting hard for the youth. In a few seconds, I'll be joining my district's toso to spend an hour chanting for the youth. They are our beacons of hope and they need our daimoku more than ever. They need our prayers more than ever...they are searching for this practice. NOW is the time! 

Let's all be fearless. Let's all join together and chant for the sake of our youth, for the sake of our country and for the sake of our beautiful world!