Daily Gongyo

It's a ritual and somedays it's difficult to do. I don't have a problem with morning Gongyo but often I have to squeeze in evening Gongyo. I try to do it around 6pm as I usually go to bed around 8 or 8.30 because I have to get up at 4 am.Often things get in the way of evening Gongyo but it feels odd if I don't do it.

Words of Wisdom

It is important to keep the promises made to friends. This is the true meaning of friendship.

To become people who can do so, however, we must first learn to keep the promises we have made to ourselves.

The SGI organisation

Most of my life I have shunned organized religion , in fact I stayed away from organizations of any kind.On joining the SGI my idea was to simply chant and go to some meetings . I got hooked by the meetings and the energy when there are is roomfull of people all chanting NAM MYO HO RENGE KYO. Slowly I started participating in more activities and was finally asked to become an assistant district leader . I did so hesitantly and am still very leery of the organization but I do see the need for one .

La foi est la clé

Shuddhipanthaka ne parvenait toujours pas, au bout de trois ans, à mémoriser un enseignement de [seulement] quatorze caractères, et il atteignit quand même l’Éveil. Alors que Devadatta, qui connaissait par coeur soixante mille enseignements sacrés, tomba dans l’enfer des souffrances incessantes. Ces exemples illustrent parfaitement la situation du monde en cette époque des Derniers Jours de la Loi. N’imaginez en aucun cas qu’ils ne concernent que les autres et non vous-même.
« La prière pour la pluie des trois maîtres du Tripitaka », LTND-6, 133

Faith is the ultimate essence of intellect. Through the practice of correct faith, the intellect comes to shine. Intellect without correct faith lacks a firm anchor in the soil of life and eventually becomes disordered. This prompted the first Soka Gakkai president, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, to remark that many modern thinkers were suffering from what he termed "higher psychosis." Faith without intellect, meanwhile, leads to blind faith and fanaticism. Faith or intellect alone - one without the other - is unhealthy.

Words of Wisdom

It is not about how others are or how society is. The most important thing is to ask yourself, “What should I do?” and “What can I do?” One who stands up with moral courage and conviction can change society and create waves of transformation around the world.

L’endroit où nous résidons et pratiquons l’enseignement du Véhicule unique,
quel qu’il soit, devient la cité de la lumière éternellement paisible.
« Réponse à Sairenbo » (LTND-7, 34)
Nichiren Daishonin a écrit ces mots alors qu’il endurait les pires épreuves, en exil [sur l’île de Sado]. La Terre de la lumière éternellement paisible n’est pas une utopie lointaine. Elle existe ici et maintenant, là où nous agissons pour kosen-rufu avec le même esprit que notre maître bouddhique.
Aussi éprouvants que puissent être nos combats, si notre détermination dans la foi demeure inébranlable au plus profond de notre vie, nous sommes certains de triompher de tout. N’oubliez jamais que la Terre de la lumière éternellement paisible se trouve dans cette détermination.

Words of Wisdom----

“Nonviolence” does not merely mean to refrain from violence. Violence erupts when one person blames another for a problem or conflict. Conversely, nonviolence is a way of life in which one resolves, “Let me be the one to change first.” If this spirit were to be embraced, how much more at peace would our families and society itself be.

KOSEN-RUFU : UN GRAND FLEUVE QUI ENRICHIT L’HUMANITÉ POUR L’ÉTERNITÉ.

La puissante déclaration de Nichiren Daishonin sur l’égalité des genres est claire et sans équivoque. En tant qu’individus courageux vivant en accord avec la Loi bouddhique, chacun d’entre vous est le plus honorable « Ainsi-Venu », le bouddha le plus digne de respect. En nous respectant mutuellement, nous pouvons être à l’origine d’un essor harmonieux et significatif.
Il est essentiel que les hommes traitent les femmes avec le plus grand respect et la plus grande courtoisie. Créer et élargir de magnifiques réseaux fondés sur le respect de l’autre, tel est le coeur de l’humanisme du mouvement Soka.

Simples mortels que nous sommes, nous ne pouvons voir ni nos sourcils, qui sont
si proches, ni le ciel au lointain. De même, nous ne voyons pas que le Bouddha
existe dans notre propre coeur.
« Gosho du Nouvel an » (LTND-1, 305)

But in matters of Buddhist doctrines, one cannot jump to conclusions simply on the basis of the eminence of the person involved. The words of the sutras are what must come first. Do not make light of a teaching because the person who preaches it is of humble station.

Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man - WND-109

In response to the question, “What can I do for peace?” Dr. Urbain outlined a three-part framework: Inner Transformation (toward more courage, wisdom, and compassion), Dialogue (about anything!) and Global Citizenship (create a new culture together). These are not only the steps to individual peace but also the interdependence of these three concepts is fundamental.

"Daisaku Ikeda's Philosophy of Peace"--by Dr. Olivier Urbain

For Ikeda the fundamental transformation of the human "Psychosphere," by peaceful means, although long and winding, is the best and the surest path for lasting peace. For him, peaceful means for social transformation entails an intense struggle for self-transformation, consistent truthful dialogue, and elements of global citizenship. And his life-long activism and the quest for peace is guided by the innate optimism and faith in humanity, justice, and the sanctity of life—a Universalism that is not determined by "relativism." In giving an objective analysis of Ikeda's peace philosophy, the author himself exercised a form of Habermasian dialogue whose ultimate appraisal rest partly with the reader, and, perhaps, partly to posterity, which I believe is executed rightly and meaningfully.

taken from the review by READERS' CLUB OF MANIPUR

Faith means making a hundred percent effort ourselves - in our daimoku and in our actions. When we practice in this way, the Buddhist gods will lend us their protection. We mustn't have a complacent, dependent attitude in faith, chanting haphazardly without definite goals and making only halfhearted efforts in the belief that we'll automatically be protected. Depth of determination and unshakable character are vital. Those possessing these qualities are second to none in faith.

Focus on what you have not on what you haven't got.

Be grateful and give thanks for what you have.

Chanting for ourselves is easy but teaching others to chant is something many of us find extremely difficult. So why is this ? Perhaps when we talk to people about something we hold very dear to us we expect them to validate our belief .

Performing Gongyo gives one the focus to overcome lifes' daily problems and trials but we have to move beyond the personal and into the collective in order to fix the problems in our society . Of course Buddhism only represents one of the ways to realisation, there are others.

Helping

You see images of devastation on T.V , on the internet etc. and feel helpless. Yes , we can chant to end the suffering but what can we do in  a concrete way to further the cause of Kosen Rufu ?

There is a very famous Taoist story – I love it tremendously. The story is about
an old Taoist farmer whose horse ran away:

...That evening the neighbors gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, "Maybe." The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses, and the neighbors came exclaiming at the good fortune. He said, "Maybe." And then the following day, his son tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. Again the neighbors came to offer their sympathy for the misfortune. He said, "Maybe." The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to seize young men for the army, but because of the broken leg the farmer's son was rejected. When the neighbors came in to say how fortunate everything had turned out, he said, "Maybe."

This is the attitude of a man who understands what is accidental and what is
essential. The accidental is always 'maybe'; it is a 'perhaps'. You cannot be
certain about it, you need not be certain about it. People who become certain
about the accidental are going to be frustrated sooner or later; their certainty is
going to create much frustration for them. Their certainty will create expectations,
and they cannot be fulfilled – because the universe is not there to fulfill your
expectations. It has its own destiny. It is moving towards its own goal. It does not
care about your private goals...
                                                                                             --Osho

Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat, while secular authority is based on the principle of reward and punishment. For this reason, a Buddha is looked up to as the Hero of the World*, while a king is called the one who rules at his will. 

The Hero of the World - WND-835

A human being is a part of a whole, called by us a universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest … a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
-Albert Einstein

Mahhatma Ghandi's 7 Blunders of the World

Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.

This list grew from Gandhi's search for the roots of violence. He called these acts of passive violence. Preventing these is the best way to prevent oneself or one's society from reaching a point of violence, according to Gandhi.

« Renforcez votre foi jour apres jour, mois apres mois »

« Gagner [une cause apparemment perdue], en dépit du destin, réchauffe le coeur »1, déclare l’héroïne du roman L’âme enchantée, de Romain Rolland (1866-1944).
La vie est une lutte tenace contre les tempêtes du karma. Serons-nous balayés par les vents du destin, ou resterons-nous debout afin de parvenir à la victoire ? La foi en la Loi de Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, quintessence du Sûtra du Lotus, nous permet de triompher de tous les obstacles.
En outre, le Sûtra du Lotus est l’enseignement qui a ouvert aux femmes la voie du bonheur éternel; la possibilité de révéler leur boddhéité leur était déniée dans les sûtras antérieurs. La nonne laïque Sennichi, de l’île de Sado, eut la bonne fortune d’être soutenue directement par Nichiren. Le fait de savoir que « le Sûtra du Lotus accorde la plus haute importance à l’atteinte de la boddhéité par les femmes »2 (LTND-6, 269) l’encouragea et l’inspira profondément.
Répondant au voeu sincère de Nichiren de voir toutes les femmes heureuses, Sennichi s’est tournée vers les femmes de son entourage qui souffraient pour les encourager ou leur parler avec conviction de l’enseignement correct du bouddhisme. Les liens forts de croyance qu’elle partageait avec la nonne laïque Ko-no-ama Gozen et d’autres disciples de Sado sont véritablement magnifiques (Cf. LTND-4, 161).
Nichiren fait l’éloge de la foi courageuse de Sennichi et de son époux Abutsu-bo qui, sans craindre les conséquences, l’ont aidé et lui ont porté secours tout au long de son exil. Il écrit à Sennichi que, vie après vie, il n’oubliera jamais leur gentillesse (Cf. LTND-6, 280).
Quand Nichiren fut installé au mont Minobu, Sennichi y envoya son époux afin de lui apporter des offrandes sincères et, après le décès d’Abutsu-bo, elle envoya, pour le remplacer, son fils Tokuro Moritsuna. Nichiren était ravi de constater que le jeune homme avait hérité de la foi solide de ses parents et était devenu un « pratiquant sincère du Sûtra du Lotus » (LTND-6, 334).

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Daishonin teaches the meaning of true happiness and the true purpose of life. Fame and momentary glories are no more than illusions. True happiness lies in cultivating the great state of Buddhahood within one's life. This is life's true purpose. By chanting daimoku, we can change all of our sufferings into the ingredients for attaining a Buddha's lofty state of life.

I have been having a lot of difficulty lately with understanding that everybody is potentially a Buddha . People do , and say , such stupid things ( there I go judging again ) that I have trouble believing in this fact. Reading President Ikeda's comment etc. on this subject have shown me that it is possible but I have a long way to go.

Qui est un bouddha?

Nombreux sont ceux pour qui le mot
« bouddha » évoque un être éthéré et détaché
des affaires de ce monde. Par la méditation, le
bouddha a atteint l’état de « nirvana », que l’on
associe souvent à une existence transcendante à
laquelle on parvient en éliminant tous ses désirs
(ceux-ci étant la cause des souffrances). C’est
du moins l’image que propose la littérature
qui prend ses sources dans les enseignements
antérieurs au Sûtra du Lotus.
Toutefois, cette image ne correspond pas à la
vie de Shakyamuni. Profondément bienveillant,
ce dernier a rejeté les deux extrêmes que sont
l’ascétisme et l’attachement. Poussé par son
désir de partager largement la vérité qu’il avait
découverte, il a consacré sa vie à interagir avec
les autres.
Le sens le plus communément accepté du
mot bouddha est « l’illuminé ». L’illumination
est un état d’éveil qui permet l’apparition
d’une sagesse infinie grâce à laquelle on
peut comprendre totalement la réalité et en
apprécier toute la complexité. Un bouddha est
un être humain entièrement éveillé à la vérité
fondamentale de la vie.

As the Daishonin's disciples when we have problems, worries, or sufferings, we see them as opportunities to challenge karma arising from the four universal sufferings of birth, aging , sickness ,and death.

Earthly Desires Are Enlightenment - WND-1, 317

Though the teaching that I am now propagating seems limited, it is extremely profound. That is because it goes deeper than the teaching expounded by T'ien-t'ai, Dengyo, and others. It is the three important matters* in the "Life Span" chapter of the essential teaching. Practising only the seven characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo seems limited, but since they are the master of all the Buddhas of the three existences, the teacher of all the bodhisattvas in the ten directions, and the guide that enables all living beings to attain the Buddha way, it is profound.

In Praise of Idleness --Bertrand Russell

EXCERPT---( To read the full article click here )Modern technique has made it possible to diminish enormously the amount of labor required to secure the necessaries of life for everyone. This was made obvious during the war. At that time all the men in the armed forces, and all the men and women engaged in the production of munitions, all the men and women engaged in spying, war propaganda, or Government offices connected with the war, were withdrawn from productive occupations. In spite of this, the general level of well-being among unskilled wage-earners on the side of the Allies was higher than before or since. The significance of this fact was concealed by finance: borrowing made it appear as if the future was nourishing the present. But that, of course, would have been impossible; a man cannot eat a loaf of bread that does not yet exist. The war showed conclusively that, by the scientific organization of production, it is possible to keep modern populations in fair comfort on a small part of the working capacity of the modern world. If, at the end of the war, the scientific organization, which had been created in order to liberate men for fighting and munition work, had been preserved, and the hours of the week had been cut down to four, all would have been well. Instead of that the old chaos was restored, those whose work was demanded were made to work long hours, and the rest were left to starve as unemployed. Why? Because work is a duty, and a man should not receive wages in proportion to what he has produced, but in proportion to his virtue as exemplified by his industry.
This is the morality of the Slave State, applied in circumstances totally unlike those in which it arose. No wonder the result has been disastrous. Let us take an illustration. Suppose that, at a given moment, a certain number of people are engaged in the manufacture of pins. They make as many pins as the world needs, working (say) eight hours a day. Someone makes an invention by which the same number of men can make twice as many pins: pins are already so cheap that hardly any more will be bought at a lower price. In a sensible world, everybody concerned in the manufacturing of pins would take to working four hours instead of eight, and everything else would go on as before. But in the actual world this would be thought demoralizing. The men still work eight hours, there are too many pins, some employers go bankrupt, and half the men previously concerned in making pins are thrown out of work. There is, in the end, just as much leisure as on the other plan, but half the men are totally idle while half are still overworked. In this way, it is insured that the unavoidable leisure shall cause misery all round instead of being a universal source of happiness. Can anything more insane be imagined?

The doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life is found in only one place, hidden in the depths of the "Life Span" chapter of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu were aware of it but did not bring it forth into the light. T'ien-t'ai Chih-che alone embraced it and kept it ever in mind.

The Opening of the Eyes - WND-1, 224

The relationship between a Buddha and his disciples and followers is that of a teacher and student.

One cannot expect to become happy without hardship or effort. Because we challenge ourselves we become strong. To become strong is to become happy.

Piano - a poem by D. H. Lawrence

Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.


In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song
Betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong
To the old Sunday evenings at home, with winter outside
And hymns in the cosy parlour, the tinkling piano our guide.


So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamour
With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour
Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.

What is success in life? Who are the truly successful? There are famous and powerful people who become pitiful figures in their old age. There are people who die alone, feeling empty and desolate inside. Just what is success? The English thinker Walter Pater (1839-94) wrote: "To burn always with this hard, gemlike flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life." The person who lives life fully, glowing with life's energy, is the person who lives a successful life.

Words of Wisdom

Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes.

As long as our mind of faith is connected to the Gohonzon, our benefits will never disappear. That's why it is vital for us to persevere in our Buddhist practice throughout our lives no matter what, even if on some days our physical condition or other circumstances prevent us from doing gongyo and chanting daimoku to our full satisfaction. Those who continue to challenge themselves to the end savor ultimate victory.

Les "trois Domaines d'Existence ou "trois principes de différentiation"

1. Le domaine des cinq agrégats
2. Le domaine des êtres vivants individuels
3. Le domaine de l'environnement

Selon T'ien-t'aï, les trois principes de différenciation sont les trois dimensions du monde phénoménal dans lesquelles les Dix Etats se manifestent : un être vivant est une existence individuelle qui, à tout moment, manifeste l'un ou l'autre des Dix Etats.  Les cinq agrégats sont les éléments qui constituent un être vivant. L'environnement est le lieu où l'être vivant se meut et agit.

Les cinq agrégats sont :

1. La forme, ou l'aspect physique de la vie, doté de couleur et de forme.
2. La forme comprend également les cinq organes des sens par lesquels l'être perçoit le monde extérieur.
3. La perception, ou la fonction de recevoir des informations extérieures par les six organes des sens (les cinq organes des sens, plus «l'esprit« qui intègre les impressions des cinq sens).
4. La conception, ou conceptualisation, la fonction par laquelle la vie saisit et forme quelque idée ou concept de ce qui a été perçu.
5. La volonté, (volition) ou décision d'entreprendre une action quelconque en fonction de ce que l'on a perçu et dont on s'est forgé une idée.
6. La conscience, ou la fonction de la vie qui discerne, qui peut établir des jugements de valeur, distinguer entre le bien et le mal, etc. Elle intègre également les quatre autres éléments.

 - Le domaine des êtres vivants se compose des individus, formés par une union temporaire des cinq agrégats. Alors que le principe des cinq agrégats analyse les fonctions physiques et mentales qui composent un être vivant, le principe des êtres vivants désigne un individu dans son intégrité, capable d'agir en relation avec son environnement. Ce principe peut recouvrir également "un pluriel", c'est à dire un groupe d'êtres vivants.

-  Le principe de l'environnement désigne le lieu où les êtres vivants habitent et où se situent leurs activités. Les différences des Dix Etats se manifestent dans l'environnement en fonction de la condition de vie des êtres qui y résident. Ainsi, Nichiren Daïshonin écrit « il n'existe pas deux sortes de terres, pure et impure en elles-mêmes. Il n'y a que la pureté ou l'impureté de notre coeur ».(Sur l'atteinte de la boddhéité, L&T Nichiren Daishonin Vol 1 p 3 Edition ACEP).

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Wednesday, April 6, 2011

There is no retirement age in faith. Sincere faith never ages. Those who exert themselves for the sake of the Law are ever young. Our heart is what matters most. Let us strive to the end of our days for kosen-rufu.

Human revolution cannot be pinned down to one specific thing. It is any action that leads to positive change or improvement in the inner realm of a person's life. It is an ongoing process. The important question to ask yourself is whether you are on a path of continuous personal growth.Daisaku Ikeda

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Thursday, March 31, 2011

Position and appearances are irrelevant. The important thing is to carry out our personal duty, our commitment, no matter what anyone else may say. This is a life of true victory, a life of unsurpassed nobility and fulfillment.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, que nous appelons daimoku est le nom
de la Loi fondamentale sous-tendant la nature essentielle de
l’univers, Loi de la vie. Cette invocation se distingue donc des
formules magiques ou des mantras.
Ce terme représente la fusion de la vie d’un être humain avec la
Loi éternelle et universelle à laquelle le Bouddha s’est éveillé.

The Journey Towards Oneness
Watch Video

While controlling your mind, which is at once both extremely subtle and solemnly profound, you should strive to elevate your faith with freshness and vigor. When you do so, both your life and your surroundings will open wide before you and every action you take will become a source of benefit. Understanding the subtle workings of one's mind is the key to faith and attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Monday, March 21, 2011

Why is it that sometimes our prayers seem to not be answered? This is a manifestation of the Buddha's wisdom - so that we can deepen our prayers, become stronger people, live more profound lives and secure deeper, more lasting good fortune. If our slightest prayer were answered immediately, we'd become lazy and degenerate. And we couldn't hope to build a life of great dignity and substance.

Your Attitude in Front of the Gohonzon From Dr. Yamazaki

       Your attitude in front of the Gohonzon is like being on a holiday.

It is necessary to cut yourself off from work, from daily life.

This is important in order to regenerate, to be free of tension and relaxed.

If your practice is a prolongation of your social life, it will not be effective.

     In the ceremony in the air (Gongyo), you cut yourself off from the earth

rising above. If you are dominated by your problems in front of the Gohonzon

nothing good appears. It is necessary to rise above, to make it a special moment

relaxing. This is a ceremony of " Ku". I am a Buddha in front of the Gohonzon!

    The Gohonzon is like a mirror, it is not necessary to be either imprisoned,

nor attached, nor dominated, nor guilty, nor worthless, nor have arrogance

in order enter the world of the Gohonzon.

It is necessary to be indifferent to your own thoughts. You do not fight in front

of the Gohonzon. Be relaxed as though being in the air without limits.

With this kind of ichinen for 15 minutes........this is enough.

      From your first daimoku, change the world, feel the universe, realize

" Ku", "Ke", and "Chu"!

      ("Ku" is the world of the Buddha; "Ke" is oneself, "Chu" is all the

strength and wisdom of the universe.)

       You can recuperate all the forces of the universe. The wisdom to listen,

to believe, to meditate, and to decide. Reject your own arrogance in order

to allow your own wisdom to appear, going beyond time and space to

Detoxify yourself in front of the Gohonzon. Nothing is too far away in the morning and in the evening.....this is when you are Buddha.

You must have confidence to find a sense of the Ceremony in the Air and

declare your conviction to be the Buddha of eternal life, the Buddha of

Ichinen Sanzen, and the Buddha of confidence and joy!

Taking responsibilty

It's amazing how owning up and taking responsibility can change your life . I have a tendency to blame others for a lot of little things , especially my children . I thought I had overcome it by chanting and hearing the various experiences of members who have started to take responsibility for their own lives . However , it's not a one time thing .i.e you take responsibility then it's done . I was reminded of this the other morning when I went to make myself a soymilk/fruit shake . My blender has a spout at the bottom so you can open it up and let out the liquid . I had washed the blender the previous day and left it on the dish rack to dry . When I poured in my soymilk it all came pouring out from the bottom. My immediate response was to blame my daughter because she hadn't replaced the cap . Of course , it had been me , not her that hadn't replaced the cap . It hit me like a ton of brisks , it had been me that had not replaced the cap.Now ,I'm always keeping track of who I blame.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Without courage we cannot be compassionate. Courage and compassion are inseparable, like the two sides of a coin. Faith is the wellspring of courage. The Daishonin says, "Nichiren's disciples cannot accomplish anything if they are cowardly".  A cowardly person cannot realize victory in life. Unless we have the courage to really dedicate our lives to kosen-rufu, we cannot construct true happiness for ourselves and others.

Happiness held is the seed.....Happiness shared is the flower

excerpted from  Lotus Flower http://lotusflowersgi.blogspot.com/

Words of Wisdom

A person who cannot genuinely empathize with others can never excel as a leader. So much of what ails society today is the result of too many people in leadership positions who do not or cannot identify with the plight of their fellow men and women. It is in enduring pain and struggles that the earth of our humanity is cultivated. And it is from this earth that a capacity to be genuinely concerned for the welfare of others blossoms.

Beliefs are nothing to be proud of.

Believing something is not an accomplishment. I grew up thinking that beliefs are something to be proud of, but they’re really nothing but opinions one refuses to reconsider. Beliefs are easy. The stronger your beliefs are, the less open you are to growth and wisdom, because “strength of belief” is only the intensity with which you resist questioning yourself. As soon as you are proud of a belief, as soon as you think it adds something to who you are, then you’ve made it a part of your ego. Listen to any “die-hard” conservative or liberal talk about their deepest beliefs and you are listening to somebody who will never hear what you say on any matter that matters to them — unless you believe the same. It is gratifying to speak forcefully, it is gratifying to be agreed with, and this high is what the die-hards are chasing. Wherever there is a belief, there is a closed door. Take on the beliefs that stand up to your most honest, humble scrutiny, and never be afraid to lose them.
Excerpted from raptitude.com

Excerpt from "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime " Nichiren

Life at each moment encompasses
the body and mind and the self and
environment of all sentient beings in
the Ten Worlds as well as all insentient
beings in the three thousand realms,
including plants, sky, earth, and even
the minutest particles of dust. Life at
each moment permeates the entire
realm of phenomena and is revealed in
all phenomena. To be awakened to this
principle is itself the mutually inclusive
relationship of life at each moment
and all phenomena

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Because life is long, you should not be impatient. What matters most is that you embrace the Gohonzon throughout your life. It is vitally important to continually challenge yourself to chant even a little more daimoku and to pray before the Gohonzon for the fulfillment of your desires.

I have been practicing for 3 years now and I am very uncertain , at times , about just exactly what this practice brings to me and what I bring to it.
My financial situation has deteriorated but I am better able to cope with it. Overall I feel happier and more content .My health is good . My love love life has remained static i.e I don't have one .I'm dealing with work in a more holistic approach.But I still have a lot of trouble understanding many of the Buddhist concepts and still wonder why Buddhists are just as messed up as every body else.

Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda, Thursday, January 27, 2011

Viewing events and situations in a positive light is important. The strength, wisdom and cheerfulness that accompany such an attitude lead to happiness. To regard everything in a positive light or with a spirit of goodwill, however, does not mean being foolishly gullible and allowing people to take advantage of our good nature. It means having the wisdom and perception to actually move things in a positive direction by seeing things in their best light, while all the time keeping our eyes firmly focused on reality.

Your Attitude in Front of the Gohonzon From Dr. Yamazaki

       Your attitude in front of the Gohonzon is like being on a holiday.

It is necessary to cut yourself off from work, from daily life.

This is important in order to regenerate, to be free of tension and relaxed.

If your practice is a prolongation of your social life, it will not be effective.

     In the ceremony in the air (Gongyo), you cut yourself off from the earth

rising above. If you are dominated by your problems in front of the Gohonzon

nothing good appears. It is necessary to rise above, to make it a special moment

relaxing. This is a ceremony of " Ku". I am a Buddha in front of the Gohonzon!

    The Gohonzon is like a mirror, it is not necessary to be either imprisoned,

nor attached, nor dominated, nor guilty, nor worthless, nor have arrogance

in order enter the world of the Gohonzon.

It is necessary to be indifferent to your own thoughts. You do not fight in front

of the Gohonzon. Be relaxed as though being in the air without limits.

With this kind of ichinen for 15 minutes........this is enough.

      From your first daimoku, change the world, feel the universe, realize

" Ku", "Ke", and "Chu"!

      ("Ku" is the world of the Buddha; "Ke" is oneself, "Chu" is all the

strength and wisdom of the universe.)

       You can recuperate all the forces of the universe. The wisdom to listen,

to believe, to meditate, and to decide. Reject your own arrogance in order

to allow your own wisdom to appear, going beyond time and space to

Detoxify yourself in front of the Gohonzon. Nothing is too far away in the morning and in the evening.....this is when you are Buddha.

You must have confidence to find a sense of the Ceremony in the Air and

declare your conviction to be the Buddha of eternal life, the Buddha of

Ichinen Sanzen, and the Buddha of confidence and joy!

The Human Revolution

When people speak of wanting to be a success, they generally mean gaining status and prestige in society. But doing our human revolution is a much more profound aspiration, for it involves changing and elevating our lives from within. The transformation achieved as a result is everlasting and far, far more valuable and precious than social status or prestige.--From the Human Revolution by Daisaku Ikeda

Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.

Viktor E. Frankl (1905 - 1997) Psychiatrist & Author

What is Kosen Rufu ?

Kosen Rufu means that you chant Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo with the belief that you yourself are the Buddha and to teach other people to chant to realize that they are also the Buddha.and to refute slander when we encounter it .Literally we are chanting the affirmation that I am a Buddha and you are too and to challenge slander whenever we encounter it..This a definition of Kosen Rufu that you may not have heard before. It is common for Kosen Rufu to be defined as the establishment of peace , culture and education . Kosen Rufu means to take up the teaching that we each have buddhahood and to refute slander when we see it.This is a righteous struggle to transform our reality .This struggle is not easy ; it is a pitched battle and one in which we face overwhelming odds on every side except the human heart. When we allow our true selves to speak we are able to penetrate all barriers and communicate directly with peoples hearts. Nothing can stop our prayer. In many ways it’s easier to chant just for ourselves and we may feel that teaching others may be a bit embarrassing and could be seen as pushy and as for challenging slander that’s probably asking a bit much.We are under the constant bombardment of slander , gossip , rumours opinions based false information , malicious comments , personal attacks. If you listen to the news it seems that the world is going to the dogs with everybody blaming each other.
Chanting for ourselves is easy but teaching others to chant is something many of us find extremely difficult. So why is this ? Perhaps when we talk to people about something we hold very dear to us we expect them to validate our belief excerpt from Jason Jarrett's website

SGI Activities outline for 2011

1. Sharing our philosophy with our friends
2.Promoting and developing discussion meetings
3.Enhancing publications and expanding readership
4.Fostering capable successors

Jazz Solo Series for Trombone- get help learning how to improvise.

The Jazz Solo Series for Trombone by Mark Vega is a great instructional tool for musicians and music students to learn or improve their improvisational abilities in the jazz - swing idiom. There are 66 examples in the book, starting at a somewhat easy level and gradually increasing in difficulty throughout the book. This book is divided into four sections: Section one, tracks 1 through 36 cover all twelve keys using 11-V-1 and 11-V-111-V1-11-V-1 chord progressions. Section two, tracks 37 through 60 cover all twelve keys using 1-V1-11-V-111-b111-11-V-1 chord progressions. Section three, tracks 61 through 66 are complete worked out solos over the chord changes to the popular Jazz standards “Stella By Starlight”, “Take the A Train” and “There Will Never Be Another You.” There are two solos for each of these three examples, an easy version followed by a more difficult one. The first version being a prime example of how to approach medium swing Jazz and the second version covering the more complex and demanding style of Bebop Jazz with its faster tempos and more difficult melodic and harmonic note choices. Section four, tracks 67, 68 and 69 are repeated choruses of the chord progressions to the above mentioned songs for extended practice. Please refer to the end of the book for a selected discography of Mark's favorite Jazz albums featuring great soloists.

Exerpt from " Discussions on Youth-For the Leaders of the Future "

This took place between President Ikeda and Soka Gakkai youth leaders in Japan in the mid 1990's.
Question .When we recite the sutra twice daily, a strong life force comes welling forth. But why is this so ?.
President Ikeda " Reciting the sutra is a ceremony in which our lives commune with the universe. As we recite the sutra and chant Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo, through our faith in the Gohonzon, we vigorously infuse the microcosm of our individual existence with the life force of the macrocosm, of the entire universe. If we do this regularly each morning and evening,our life force--or engine--is strengthened. "

Can chanting "Nam myo ho renge kyo " really change your life.

The answer is that yes it can .There is a but ;--you will get what you chant for but it probably won't be exactly what you expected .Positive and negative are human constructs which the mystic law of cause and effect does not recognise.

President Ikeda's directive that it is time to pass on the torch to our SGI Youth group should be a wake up call to us to encourage all young people to find their spiritual path.

Quote from President Toda

" I am Josei Toda ! I am a Soka Gakkai member ! I don't care what anyone says I'm proud of what I am "

2011

It's a new year and time to apply some ,or as much as possible , of what we've learned as followers of Nichiren and the SGI..Personal responsibility is what I'm working on. Accepting my responsibility for my circumstances and changing those things that no longer work for me. I have a tendency to get sidetracked by what's going on in my own little world so I'll also be working on changing that so that I can be part of the bigger picture.If you haven't checked out this site yet I suggest you do today a buddhistpod cast