Prayer that Transforms Dreams into Reality

Prayer that Transforms Dreams into Reality

by Jeanny Chen

President Ikeda likens us to a microcosm while the universe is a macrocosm. As the microcosm, we are inherent with the same ability to give birth, breed, plant, create, produce, duplicate multiply, construct, compound, invent, discover. Even to cause, to show and to shape. Moreover, being the practitioners of the Mystic Law, the Law of the Universe, we are fortunate to have the advantage of holding the key, the means, the wisdom and the strength to bring just everything into existence, as the universe does. 

Be it sentient or insentient, conspicuous or inconspicuous, as long as we follow the Law with the correct attitude and practice it assiduously, we are the arbiters of what we can bring about. Our prayer blazes a trail and gives rise to the making of such a development, or manifestation. Therefore, it is virtually a decisive factor whether we are able to walk the right path, to actualize our dreams or not. Wonders of all kinds of incredible formation are one of the major activities in the universe, throughout eternity. 

Prayer is a string of thoughts we put together, to speak for our wishes and goals. From the Buddhist viewpoint, thought is one of the three causes that create effect or karma, which will manifest in due time. 

When we think of karma, we’re most inclined to think of our bad karma; we’re so often caught up by its alarming, unpleasant aspects. Therefore, we learn, through our Buddhist practice, to be cautious about what we think. We do not want to involuntarily place ourselves into facing bad consequences.

While water wrecks the boat, it can also carry the boat. It all depends on one’s ability, how one can maneuver within it.

If any random, careless, negative thought can effortlessly incur damage, by the same token, one can definitely expect to harvest infinite fortune once we scrupulously engage in designing a pool of all the positive thoughts that we can ever think of.

The ball is in our court.

Nichiren Daishonin says in his writing On Prayer:

“The prayer offered by a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra will be answered. Just as an echo answers a sound, as a shadow follows a form, as the reflection of the moon appears in clear water, as a mirror collects dewdrops, as loadstone attracts iron, as amber attracts particles of dust, or as a bright mirror reflects the color of an object.” WND p340

A practitioner of the Lotus Sutra is one who propagates and practices the Lotus Sutra in exact accordance with its teachings. We have to not only practice the Law but also take action to propagate it, in order to be a votary. If we seriously demand extraordinary answers to our prayers, we had better practice and spread it fervently and untiringly. Our persistent sincerity and action will defeat our conscience of unworthiness, affirming our confidence in the outcome of prayer, convincing ourselves that we deserve better. 

Other premises for making our prayers come true are, unwavering faith and, a heart-felt mission to spread the Law. It is imperative to also awaken to the truth that we ourselves are Buddhas, the treasure tower.

There are millions of votaries of the Lotus Sutra around, who are also praying day and night. How can we make a hundred percent sure that our prayers are not left out? The simple answer is to take total control, instead of begging for mercy or trying luck. Only with the inner realization of our inherent Buddha nature can we fully activate and implement the virtues of the Buddha within, and to work profoundly toward the accomplishment of our goals. 

It is essential that we inject penetrating conviction, determination and confidence into prayer. Prayer is a pledge that we resolve to fulfill, for the sake of our happiness and the happiness of others. It’s also a wonderful right, not a formality obligation. Everyday, we even crave for conducting the prayer, longing for one more opportunity to lift our life condition and life force, as well as to emerge with wisdom and build fortune. We pray to appreciate – without pretense – the rare fortune of encountering this Buddhism in our lifetime. If we decide to pray with the attitude of entering a Treasure Tower, we would never leave it empty-handed. 

In his writing “Rebuking Slander of the Law”, Nichiren Daishonin demonstrates to us how to pray for the impossible:

“I am praying that, no matter how troubled the times may become, the Lotus Sutra and the ten demon daughters will protect all of you, praying as earnestly as though to produce fire from damp wood, or to obtain water from parched ground.” WND p444

Surely, we can create the picture in our mind’s eye: wet timber flaming with heavy smoke; a stream of water making its way to the surface of desert ground.

Together with prayer, we freely play with our visualization; the intangible becomes tangible, dreams transform into reality, poison turns into medicine and misfortune brings about fortune.

We want to focus on the desired result but not how it is possible to come true. 

The fact is, that besides the protection that countless Buddhas rendered to us, it is our sincere prayer and faith that gives rise to action. Efforts appropriate to our situation propels us in the direction of actualizing our prayers.

Prayer accompanied with goals is our life proposal. We present to Gohonzon, in the form of dialogue an introduction of ourselves. We make ourselves known to the universe. Since Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, prayer strengthens our confidence and reassures goals back to ourselves. We don’t wish to ever miss any point of this important presentation. Therefore, the best way is to write them down, as specific and thorough as possible, if we don’t want to burden our memory cells. We read it out or silently before, during or at the end of our chanting. Or, we can recite the entire prayer in our head throughout the duration of our chanting, emphasizing and repeating the crucial parts, to our heart’s content.

The most powerful means of communication between two people is to dialogue with the other person, without his presence, through daimoku, in front of Gohonzon. From the very beginning of our daimoku, in our mind, we open the other person’s Buddhahood and ours, positioning both sides in the world of Buddhahood. We pour out our heart with goodwill. No matter how ugly the relationship, whatever righteous wish we desire of the other person, it will be well received, via this amazing channel. Better yet, answered in reality, once we are absolutely sincere and serious about our prayer. 

Why open Buddhahood, or Buddha nature? Among the characteristics of Buddhahood, there are wisdom, life force, compassion and happiness. Buddha wisdom sees the true aspect of all phenomena. People in the state of Buddhahood are not deceived by the superficiality of any situation. They certainly are wise enough to know how to communicate the truth, nothing by underlying truth. They know exactly how to manage damage control, how to interact perfectly, exactly what to say to reach the win-win result.

People with unbeatable life force won’t be defeated by any circumstance. No matter how bad the situation, they have no worries, no negative concerns. They are strong, upbeat and courageous. When two such positive minds talk, their optimistic energy can only generate constructive outcome.

Compassion is the lifeblood and trademark of Buddhas. They respect and embrace all beings as they are and what they are, regardless. Thus, both ways of any communication are original, genuine and, straightforward without distorting, abating or blocking. Messages will be sent compassionately and humbly at the one end. They will be warmly acknowledged, equally treated and, thoughtfully responded to, by the other. How can anything not turn out to be harmonious and satisfactory this way?

Buddhas enjoy absolute happiness under all circumstances. Nothing could ever upset or irritate them in such a highest life condition. They take everything as a blessing. In other words, whatever you say is perfectly fine. Thus, is it a surprise that the dialogue between two forever-happy people comes to a happy ending?

Prayers offered from the bottom or our hearts in the world of Buddha reach every corner, move the most obstinate and, work wonders. Be it a relationship, health, job hunting or promotion. IT is the ultimate dialogue we conduct with Gohonzon, the universe, ourselves, family members, friends, co-workers, future employers, future soul mate, ex-…etc.

A heartbroken elderly mother had been mistreated by her son and daughter-in-law. She was devastated. She depended on their assistance in areas of her daily life. What she asked from them – especially her son – was a fair and clear communication. She was unable to get it. Her son only listened to his wife’s twisted, one-sided stories, putting her in the spot. After learning about dialogue in the world of Buddha, she engaged in a sincere daimoku campaign. She put all three of them in the world of Buddha. She apologized for the inconvenience she had incurred on them. She appreciated their filial caring and, prayed for the daughter-in-law’s happiness. She specifically chanted for her son’s wisdom to see the truth.

Within a week, her son’s attitude changed totally. Within one month, the daughter-in-law became sweet and thoughtful. The elderly woman was overjoyed; she had found her happiness again. 

Throughout the episode, no outsider had to risk becoming entangled in their domestic affairs. Not a single person became offended. It was a seamless victory, achieved through heart-to-heart dialogue, via daimoku, at the state of Buddhahood.

What do we pray for? We praise the Lotus Sutra, the King of Sutras, for its profound teaching. We praise Nichiren Daishonin for his devotion, for making it possible for all human beings to embrace the Louts Sutra. We apologize for our ancestors’ slanders and for the slanders we committed. We appreciate our fortune for encountering Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. We would like to pay or debt of gratitude by spreading its benefits with all our might. We vow to fight against evil functions. We pray to contribute to the success of world peace, the prosperity of the SGI organization, and the happiness of other people. 

Last but not least are our personal goals.

Positive personal development parallels the importance of our goals of overcoming challenges, changing karma and achieving accomplishments. (See “Goal, the Priceless Life Proposal”)

In his book “Faith into Action” p. 152, President Ikeda gives guidance regarding the most important element of prayer, to keep praying:

“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 itself in a form greater than you had ever hoped.”

Does it sound familiar that when our prayers are eventually answered, they usually turn out for the best? That is a surprise bonus.

Realizing the power of prayer, why don’t we sit down and start to write down our unique prayer, the prayer that transforms dreams into reality?

“Dear Gohonzon:

In order for me to become very capable of fulfilling my mission of spreading the Law, I have determined to spare no effort to overcome my challenges and to do human revolution, to accomplish all my goals…”