Sunday, September 13, 2015

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! 

Saturday, September 12, 2015

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! 

Friday, September 11, 2015

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! 








Tuesday, September 8, 2015

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!


Monday, September 7, 2015

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

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


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. 

Saturday, September 5, 2015

15 Quotes on Career Success by Daisaku Ikeda

This is Labor Day Weekend in the States...many have Monday off from work. It signifies the end of the summer, the start of the school year...and getting back to work. Here are some quotes for you:

PRESIDENT IKEDA'S WORDS ON JOBS, CAREERS, AND PERSONAL FINANCE-
(Compiled by Bob Hasegawa)

1. Beauty, benefit and good

Mr. Makiguchi taught that there are three kinds of value: beauty, benefit and good. In the working world the value of beauty means to find a job you like; the value of benefit is to get a job that earns you a salary that can support your daily life; the value of good means to find a job that helps others and contributes to society. (Faith Into Action, page 45)

2. No more moaning

President Toda said that the most important thing is to first become indispensable wherever you are. Instead of moaning that a job differs from what you'd like to be doing, he said, become a first-class individual at the job. This will open the path leading to your next phase in life, during which you should also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts are guaranteed to land you a job that you like, that supports your life, and that allows you to contribute to society. (Faith Into Action, page 45.)

3. The Fundamental Cause of Unhappiness

Problems as we have seen, are not in themselves the fundamental cause of unhappiness. Lack of power and wisdom to solve them is the real cause. Fortunately we all innately possess infinite power and wisdom; and Buddhism shows us how to develop these qualities.
When in the depths of despair or grappling with a difficult problem, it may be hard to believe that our lives possess unlimited potential. But this is the essence of one of the profoundest Buddhist teachings, known as three thousand realms in a single moment of life, which we will explore in this chapter. (Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death, page 105.)

4. Success Means Not Giving Up

I hope each of you will realize success in your respective fields, fully recognizing that success means not giving up halfway but resolutely pursuing the path you have chosen. To this end, it is also important that you realize that the place where you work is a place for forging your character and growing as a human being. By extension, therefore, it is a place for your Buddhist practice, a place for practicing your faith. When you view things from this angle, all your complaints will disappear. No one is more pathetic than someone who is constantly complaining. (For Today and Tomorrow, Daily Encouragement, at page 283.)

5. Should you quit?

Once you have decided on a job, I hope you will not be the kind of people who quit at the drop of a hat and are always insecure and complaining. Nevertheless, if after you've given it your all you decide to move on, that's perfectly all right too. My concern is that you don't forget that you are responsible for your environment when you make your decision. (Faith Into Action, page 46.)

6. Excel at something

There is a saying that urges us, "Excel at something!" It is important to become trusted by others wherever you are and to shine with excellence. Sometimes people may dislike their job at first but grow to love it once they become serious about doing their best. "What one likes, one will do well," goes another saying. Growing to like your job will also enable you to develop your talent. (Faith Into Action, page 46.)

7. Wisdom vs. Ego

When working for a company--which is like a society or community all its own--it is important to create harmonious relations with your colleagues and superiors, using wisdom and discretion along the way. If you incur your co-workers' dislike by being selfish or egotistic, you will be a loser in work and society. Wisdom is vital to being successful at one's work. The Daishonin writes, "The wise may be called human, but the thoughtless are no more than animals." (Faith Into Action, page 46.)

8. A Buddhist must not be defeated

Buddhism is an earnest struggle to win. This is what the Daishonin teaches. A Buddhist must not be defeated. I hope you will maintain an alert and winning spirit in your work and daily life, taking courageous action and showing triumphant actual proof time and time again. (Faith Into Action, page 3.)

9. What is actual proof?

When we speak of showing actual proof, it doesn't mean we have to try to put on a show of being any more knowledgeable or accomplished than we are. It is my hope that, in the manner that best suits your situation, you will prove the validity of this Buddhism by steadily improving in your daily life, your family, place of work and community and by polishing your character. (Faith Into Action, page 4.)

10. Past failure, past small success

It's foolish to be obsessed with past failures. It's just as foolish to be self-satisfied with one's small achievements. Buddhism teaches that the present and the future are what are important, not the past. Buddhism teaches us a spirit of unceasing challenge to win over the present and advance toward the future. Those who neglect this spirit of continual striving steer their lives in a ruinous direction. (Faith Into Action, page 17.)

11. Chant to become people of strong will

Life is a struggle with ourselves. It is a tug-of-war between progress and regression, between happiness and unhappiness. Those short on willpower or self-motivation should chant Daimoku with conviction to become people of strong will who can tackle any problems with seriousness and determination. (Faith Into Action, page 109.)

11. Faith and deadlocks at work and in life

Over the long course of your life, you may at times find yourself in a deadlock at work, at school or in your daily affairs. However, these are phenomena of daily life and society which lie on a different plane than faith and are not themselves the essence of faith. Therefore, you must never allow yourself to be swayed by such superficial matters and risk losing your faith entirely. (Daily Guidance, Volume Three, page 183.)

12. Worldly fame and wealth

Worldly fame and wealth which is not based on Myoho may appear to be sources of happiness for the moment. However, such happiness is merely superficial and cannot last. Through your faith, however, you can change transient, superficial happiness into actual happiness, and temporary enjoyment into everlasting prosperity. Everything boils down to the strength of your faith and the power of your conviction. (Daily Guidance, Volume Three, page 39.)

13. What is faith?

Everything is contained in a single word faith. It encompasses truth, courage, wisdom and good fortune. It includes compassion and humanity as well as peace, culture, and happiness.
Faith is eternal hope; it is the secret to limitless self-development. Faith is the most basic principle of growth. (Discussions On Youth, Volume 2, pages 163-164.)

14. Faith and Work

Faith and daily life, faith and work these are not separate things. They are one and the same. To think of them as separate ~ faith is faith, and ~ work is work is theoretical faith. Based on the recognition that work and faith are the same, we should put one hundred percent of our energy into our jobs and one hundred percent into faith, too. When we resolve to do this, we enter the path of victory in life. Faith means to show irrefutable proof of victory amid the realities of society and in our own daily lives. (For Today and Tomorrow, Daily Encouragement, page175.)

15. Strength is Happiness.

Strength is itself victory. In weakness and cowardice there is not happiness. When you wage a struggle, you might win or you might lose. But regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing to struggle is proof of your victory as a human being. A strong spirit, strong faith and strong prayerdeveloping these is victory and the world of Buddhahood. (For Today and Tomorrow, Daily Encouragement, page 50.)

Friday, September 4, 2015

We are ALL Interconnected - Each Nam-myoho-renge-kyo COUNTS!



"We need to awaken 
to a common consciousness 
of all being inhabitants of Earth. 
This consciousness is not to be found 
in some distant place. 
It will not be found on a computer screen. 
It lies in our hearts, 
in our ability to share the pain 
of our fellow human beings. 
It is the spirit that says: 
“As long as you are suffering, 
whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, 
I suffer also.”

Daisaku Ikeda, Ikedaquotes.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are Boddhisattvas of the earth. We feel these words deeply in our hearts, as so many people around the world also do....when we see the pictures of the refugees, and think "how can I help?"
There are many ways we can help, and we can also help in our prayers. 

Years ago I put a picture of a boy who had been burned in the Iraq war on my altar, and chanted that somehow my prayers would reach this one child, (and all else who were suffering), and bring him some sort of relief and help. One day a member was chanting with me and she saw the picture and recognized the boy. She told me he'd been airlifted out of Iraq and brought to Canada where they were giving him the finest care possible. 

Sometimes when we see all the problems and all the suffering we feel it's out of reach, and that we can't help, but we can help. 

We are all interconnected...we know this intellectually, and being Buddhists, we also know this from experience whenever we chant for someone's happiness  - we see and feel the result. 

We are all here right now for a reason, chanting for peace, chanting for happiness. We have to know, that even if we do not see the direct result today, and even if some of our prayers are not "answered" right away that every cause we make has an effect. (I use "answered" in brackets because no one is answering our prayers in the commonly thought of way - that of some outside force giving us the answer. We ourselves ANSWER our OWN prayers when we do our Human Revolution and change from within.) 

And every Daimoku has an effect...EVERY Daimoku is a cause.We must not give up, no matter what! 

That is something we must all engrave in our lives. No matter what, keep chanting!