An Experience of Letting Go of Pain and Negative Experiences

Letting go of hurt and negative experiences.

(This is an experience from an SGI member in my district)

"I have always questioned people’s actions and behavior thus being very careful of my behavior and attitude since it can cause so much happiness as well as pain to others. More so if one is from a religious and spiritual background, our life should reflect our values and beliefs. I have always tried to be a good person giving my all in whatever I do. In the process though we sometimes make mistakes and because of this we should be careful of what we say about others because no one is perfect.
Unfortunately, we as human beings forget our imperfections or mistakes and constantly hurt each other through our words or actions. This is something I have always have a hard time dealing with. When I am a victim of bad word or actions I would have sleepless nights and worrisome days. The sadness and anxiety would not go away and I would rehash the hurt and pain by asking over and over, “how could this happen to me or my family”? I do not deserve this when I have given so much. Or maybe it’s my fault for everything that has happened.

Since having encountered and embraced Nichiren Buddhism through practice by chanting, ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” and reading President Ikeda books/literatures,  my anxiety and rehashing the hurt and pain are not as bad as it used to be. 
I am so much at peace; and quiet reflection on positive thoughts has truly changed my outlook on bad experiences. There is a saying in Nichiren Buddhism, “changing poison into medicine” which is such a profound and positive mental state of one’s mind which can truly change an individual’s life condition. One can change the ‘poison’ of earthly desires and sufferings into “medicine’; something positive for one’s personal growth and development, thus helping others and praying for the people who have caused you pain instead of harboring ill feelings towards them.

This philosophy makes your life so much less burdensome you actually feel happier, stronger and good inside. 

In my current job my bosses always have good things to say about me even saying that since I have been in the department, I have brought “momentum” to the workplace. 

When my daughter got sick they suggested that I apply for the Family Leave Act so that my job is protected. It was approved right away once I submitted the paperwork to Human Resources. My daughter had a cyst in her adrenaline gland which was growing and could have been cancerous and had to be removed surgically. The cyst was found by accident after doing tests for another medical problem which have all been corrected. I am so happy and thankful that I have my daughter, Shazara, and wonderful, kind and supportive people like Ali my husband, Jamie, Mrs Reedy, Darin, my parents/family and everyone here tonight not forgetting the doctors and nurses who took care of Shazara.

What Can Your Chanting Accomplish in Your Life?

What can you accomplish through chanting? 

The power of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo 

is bigger than your biggest problem. 

"There are many elements involved in a prayer being answered, but the important thing is to keep praying until it is. By continuing to pray, you can reflect on yourself with unflinching honesty and begin to move your life in a positive direction on the path of earnest, steady effort. Even if your prayer doesn't produce concrete results immediately, your continual prayer will at some time manifest in a form greater than you had ever hoped." 
~ President Ikeda  (From Faith in Action page 152)

What are some examples of actual proof I've accomplished through chanting? 

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Our Prayers are Powerful

Our Prayers Matter

What do we do when we find out about terrible things happening in the world, when we are touched, and saddened and scared for ourselves and our fellow humans? 

As I said yesterday, the first thing I do is go to the Gohonzon and chant. I chant for all involved, for all touched by the tragedy, and for all the beings in the world to have peace in their hearts. I envision the hospital rooms and chant for the injured, and for the people who devote their lives in the service of others as nurses, doctors, security specialists and the list goes on. I chant for the families of those afflicted, and I chant to understand and continue to have hope, and to give hope, and to somehow be an inspiration to all I touch and to all who read my words.

The next thing I do is turn to the words of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda. The first thing I did this morning was read the Gosho, then I took out one of my favorite books, Faith in Action, the compilation of quotes by Daisaku Ikeda separated into categories. 

Today I turned to the section on peace and read the words I have heard and learned and find to be true, and that is, of course, that true peace starts within every individual.  Human Revolution is REAL. When we change ourselves on the inside, by raising our life conditions from the four evil paths of Hell, Hunger, Animality and Anger, we change the entire world. We are all connected to all of life. When we change, our environment and all around us changes.

On Page 289, under "Peace" in Faith and Action, Sensei (Daisaku Ikeda) writes:

"In Mahayana Buddhism, which is the creed of the Soka Gakkai, there are ten potential conditions of life inherent in human beings, known as the ten worlds. According to this principle, people who start wars exist in the four lowest states of Hell, Hunger, Animality and Anger, known as the four evil paths. Controlled directly by instinct and desire, the thoughts and actions of those who start wars are inevitably foolish and barbaric. Therefore, from the Buddhist point of view, the issue of how to build the "defenses of peace" within the hearts of such individuals takes precedence over any external systemic factors and represents both the well spring and the core of any attempt to build world peace.'

And we can begin by building defenses of peace within ourselves. When we chant to raise our own life conditions we affect not only ourselves but life itself. When we chant to experience life in the world of Buddhahood (the highest of the ten worlds) our lives become imbued with compassion and move in action to help others by chanting for them, helping them learn to chant, and engaging in society in meaningful ways, including our activities for kosen-rufu, world peace through our activities in the SGI. 

Who we are makes a difference. What we think and how we act makes a difference. In Flourish, by Martin Seligman, the great book outlining Positive Psychology, Seligman asserts that what we have long felt can actually be proven, that HAPPINESS is CONTAGIOUS. And so is anger and all other lower emotions. So our happiness actually matters. That is why I am continually encouraging you to chant for your own happiness. It is important. 

Also from Faith in Action, from page 151, the chapter on Prayer, Daisaku Ikeda states:

" Prayers based on the Mystic Law are not abstract. They are a concrete reality in our lives. To offer prayers is to conduct a dialogue, an exchange with the universe. When we pray, we embrace the universe with our lives and our determinations. Prayer is a struggle to expand our lives." (taken from Learning from the Gosho p. 92)

"It is important that we offer prayers with great confidence. The powers of the Buddha and the Law are activated in direct proportion to the strength of our faith and practice. Strong faith is like high voltage ~ it turns on a brilliant light in our lives. (from Learning from the Gosho page 88)

Let's all turn our lights extra bright today, and every day! 

   

Boston Today - I redetermine to chant for peace and create peace every moment

Unbelievable, shocking and so sad. 

When I heard the news I went straight to the Gohonzon and chanted for all involved, all over the world. I later heard that 95 countries were represented in Boston today. 

Our chanting, our prayer, our generating the vibration of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is needed now more than ever. 

It is so easy to get discouraged, sad, and afraid. But I hope instead that you get fired-up, chant with all your might, bring forth fighting Daimoku and redetermine to win in your life and inspire others. 

Here in Chicago we have been chanting every Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm for an end to violence in this city. Murder rates have fallen drastically. 

Our prayers make a difference. 
All of our prayers, every moment, every day. 

True Love, by Daisaku Ikeda

I thought you all might enjoy this quote from ikdeaquotes.org. 
I know we are all busy polishing ourselves! 

True Love

True love should be transformative; 
a process that amplifies our capacity to cherish 
not just one person 
but all people. 
It can make us stronger, 
lift us higher 
and deepen us as individuals. 
Only to the extent that we polish ourselves now 
can we hope 
to develop wonderful bonds of the heart in the future.

Daisaku Ikeda

Hope For Heartbreak

I get many emails about heartsick love. 

And believe me, those who read this blog know that I am no stranger to the real, gut wrenching pain associated with loving someone who does not love you in return. It actually physically hurts, doesn't it? 
But I am living proof that it is possible to, as President Ikeda says in the following quote, "forge ahead" and I have emerged with "a more wonderful me." It did not happen overnight. But it did happen. And you can emerge from any kind of pain if you keep moving forward. I chanted many hours to strengthen my life from within and build a strong core of resilience. Daimoku Works! 

I'm just writing today to encourage any of you who are still feeling this deep, deep wound of the heart. Keep advancing. Keep chanting. And the clouds in your heart will go away and the sun will shine. 

From Daisaku Ikeda, 

"The important thing 
is to overcome the sorrow 
that accompanies any type of separation, 
such as death or divorce. 

The vital thing is to continue advancing. 

Do not look back. 

Just forge on. 

There are many reasons 
why people bid farewell to one another. 
People have their own thoughts and situations. 
The deep scars within your heart may not heal quickly. 
Yet brace yourself so you can look forward. 
You should strive to move on, 
cutting through the clouds in your heart. 
As long as you advance, 
new hope will be born. 
The sun will rise. 
Only when you continue to advance 
can you encounter an even better, 
more wonderful you."
Daisaku Ikeda, from Ikedaquotes.org under "Love and Marriage" 

Chanting for What You Want - And Getting SO Much More! Aaron's Medical School Experience

At the White Coat Ceremony

Here's my son Aaron Michael Silver. He's turning 23 on the 21st of April. Some of you are familiar with a little bit of his story, but today I want to tell you an experience that I hope will really encourage you. Aaron didn't get exactly what he chanted for - he really did get a bigger and better benefit. 

He knew he wanted to be a doctor for many years, and spent his undergraduate years at the University of Illinois focusing his attention on the Medical School entrance exams. During the summer of his sophomore year he stayed on campus and took MCAT (Medical School Entrance test) preparatory classes. He had a certain score he wanted to attain.  In preparation for this test he decided to chant 15 minutes a day, the most he'd ever chanted. And some days he chanted much more. 

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