HOW TO CHANT TO CHANGE THE CORE OF YOUR LIFE

HOW TO CHANT TO CHANGE THE CORE OF YOUR LIFE

First of all, before you begin:

Relax, clear your head, clear your heart!

But especially your head, your mind, relax emotionally, mentally, physically. It is important to be very natural.

Second: 

When you chant, you really need to use your eyes. 

• Focus on the Gohonzon. 
• Then listen to your voice. 
• Focus on the ‘myoho’ character [about one fifth of the way down, in the middle] which means‘mystical’. You have to use your eyes. This is extremely important.

When you use your eyes, your mind stops. Clear your mind by strongly focusing your eyes. Let your thoughts rest by using your eyes. When you’re busy thinking all the time, your brain is sucking energy. This means your brain is getting stronger (which is not healthy), but your core isn’t changing because the energy isn’t being directed there.

What you really have to do is look at the Gohonzon with power and let your mind relax. The Gohonzon in your life already knows your worries and desires. Keep everything in your heart – *just chant with your eyes locked on the Gohonzon.* Then when Nam Myoho Renge Kyo comes into tune with the core of your life, it will melt away and dissolve karma. It will change into strength so you can become strong and clear-minded enough to accomplish your desires.

In this way you should come to enjoy the act of chanting because you’re feeling the core of your life. You’re fusing with the highest potential in your life, represented by the Gohonzon. 

*When you’re thinking strategies, you’re not changing your karma.*

Question: When I chant I often imagine what I want. I picture it in my mind. I see it happening in my mind. Is that OK?

Answer: Positive imaginations are a good thing, but not strategies. If you get to imagining how to make it happen, instead of the images of it, then you are strategizing.

Prayer should come from the heart! The Gohonzon knows your worries and desires. Keep them in your heart, focus on the Gohonzon and simply chant. If you can do simple, good daimoku and gongyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo goes stronger, deeper, to expand you, dissolve difficult karma and generate positive results. Daimoku should come from your core. If it comes from the brain, the brain becomes stronger and so does the confusion.

When you close your eyes or avert them from the Gohonzon, the power to fuse the core of your life with the Gohonzon weakens and the mind plays around. Chant clearly, confidently, comfortably.

* Don’t read while you chant!

* Don’t do anything while you chant.

* Just chant.

When you read, read. When you chant, chant. After good daimoku you may read or your schedule may require you to get right to work or do things you need to do. You may have a busy life, but don’t have busy daimoku.

Don’t be busy but focus! Through focused daimoku, you can melt away negative karma. Chanting is a time to cultivate your life, not think about your strategies.

Daimoku is the time to enrich your Buddha nature, not the time to have a Planning meeting for your life or day.

IN MY HEAD: POSITIVE IMAGINATIONS 

IN MY HEART: DEEP PRAYER

IN MY MOUTH: CLEAR CHANTING

Source: Lecture by Ted Morino - EX SGI-USA Vice General Director

CHANGING POISON INTO MEDICINE THROUGH FAITH

CHANGING POISON INTO MEDICINE THROUGH FAITH

Turning adversity into an opportunity to expand our state of life:

Life's course does not always run smoothly. There are days of deep sadness and times of great suffering. It is only to be expected, then, that young people who have taken on a noble mission will face many hardships. 

But the deeper the sorrow and the greater the hardships we face, the more profound our joy will be when we overcome them.

We practice Nichiren Buddhism, which enables us to change poison into medicine. 

Nichiren Daishonin writes: "Misfortune will change into fortune" (Reply to Kyo o, WND-1, 412).

We can transform all our problems and sufferings, moving everything in a positive direction - in the direction of happiness, human revolution and Buddhahood without fail. With the passage of time, this will become clear. 

Nothing is ever wasted in Buddhism. Times of adversity are opportunities to expand our state of life and accumulate benefit. 

PUTTING DAIMOKU FIRST IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY

Let's press forward with powerful optimism especially in times of difficulty. Bewailing our circumstances will not change anything. Looking back will not get us anywhere. The first thing to do is chant daimoku. Everything is contained in daimoku. 

Life is a struggle to the very end. That is why it is important that we chant with the determination to win no matter what. 

Faith in the Mystic Law is a source of limitless hope and self-confidence. Even though we may be in the midst of hellish suffering, the power of daimoku enables us to turn our environment into the Land of Tranquil Light. Please stand up based on faith, come what may. 

Source: Excerpt from SGI President Ikeda's Words of Encouragement. Value Creation, April, pg.65-66

Changing Poison into Medicine through Powerful Prayer

Changing Poison into Medicine through Powerful Prayer

  

Misfortune will change into fortune. Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?

From ‘Reply to Kyo’o’ (WND-1, 412)

  

The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin allows us to change poison into medicine and to transform our negative karma. There is no hardship or suffering that we cannot overcome, no darkness that we cannot break through. Now is the time to bring forth the vast and immeasurable power of the Buddha and the Law.

The more challenging the times, the more important it is that we take a step forward based on powerful prayer. Courageous faith is the very heart of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. 

   

Source: Value Creation, June 2016

PERSONAL PRAYERS

PERSONAL PRAYERS

  

I trust that the Gohonzon is the absolute means to me to transform my life.

  

I trust the power of my Daimoku.

  

I pray for myself, I pray to elevate my life condition. 

  

To attract happiness into my daily life.

  

From today on I chant to become a men / women of unlimited self-esteem.

  

I appreciate everything about me that makes me so wonderful and unique.

  

I pray to awaken to my greatness and everyday must manifest my Buddha Nature.

  

I pray for justice and wisdom in my life.

  

I must connect to sensei, my mentor and be one with his spirit.

  

I determine that my work/ business will create maximum value where I can tap my unlimited potential.

  

I want my job / business to be with beauty, benefit and goodness.

  

I pray for strength and courage to make me a good human being and work for others.

  

I determine to eradicate my negative karma in my relationship with (take names__________). 

My prayers must touch their lives. I pray for their utmost happiness. They must awaken to their Buddha nature and their mission. We must have the most beautiful relationship with each other through these inter actions. I must connect their lives to the Gohonzon. Give them courage to take up their responsibilities and challenges towards me .

  

I apologize for the negative causes of the past and start to build good fortune for my family.

  

As a MOTHER or FATHER

I determine to be a mother/ father how sensei would want me to be. Having patience Forbearance, endurance to raise capable wise children who could be leaders for Kosenrufu.

  

Thanks!

PRESIDENT IKEDA'S ENCOURAGEMENT

 PRESIDENT IKEDA'S ENCOURAGEMENT 

"There is no way that all of you, who chant daimoku to the Gohonzon and earnestly strive for kosen-rufu, will fail to become happy. You will not only enjoy happiness in this lifetime, but eternally throughout the three existences of past, present, and future.

"Real life, however, is filled with an unending series of problems, including such things as financial troubles, sickness, and family disharmony. But even though, at such times, your circumstances may seem unfortunate on the surface, if you keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo throughout, you will definitely be able to transform all that is negative into something positive in accord with the Buddhist principle of 'changing poison into medicine.' You can ride out every difficulty, turning it into an opportunity for growth. In this sense, it can be said that, on a fundamental level, you have already won.

"Your life could be likened to a play. You may be performing the role of someone suffering right now, but the play is certain to have a happy and triumphant ending. There is no way that it could conclude in misery. You will be able to enjoy happiness in lifetime after lifetime. You will be able to win eternally. So you have nothing to worry about."

Source: YOUNG WOMEN’S DIVISION COMMEMORATIVE GATHERING--PART 1 [OF 5] Be Cheerful Suns of Happiness, from the June 7th, 2009, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated July 3rd, 2009