Chanting Growers Group (2013-∞)

[SoCal Hippy]

"'Joy' means that oneself and others together experience joy."*

Together, let's chant and encourage each other.
Together, let's take action and praise each other.
With our discussion meetings as our starting point,
let's engage in a harmoniously shared struggle of our human revolution.

Daisaku Ikeda

* Gosho, Ongi kuden, Gosho Zenshu, page 761, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 146: "'Joy' means that oneself and others together experience joy." ... then both oneself and others together will take joy in their possession of wisdom and compassion."
__________________

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The first debt of gratitude in Buddhism is
"the debt of gratitude to be paid to one's father and mother."*
Let's always have a bright smile.
Let's resolutely grow and improve ourselves.
Let's walk along the noble path of being good sons and daughters to our parents.

Daisaku Ikeda

* Gosho, The Four Virtues and the Four Debts of Gratitude, WND-2, pg 636: "Next, the four debts of gratitude of Buddhism are (1) the debt of gratitude to be paid to one's father and mother; (2) the debt of gratitude to be paid to the ruler of the nation; (3) the debt of gratitude to be paid to all living beings; and (4) the debt of gratitude to be paid to the three treasures [The Buddha, the Law and the Order]."

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"A change in people’s underlying attitude is essential to revitalising the organisation and promoting kosen-rufu in our communities. When people’s hearts change and they arouse great courage, their voice, expression, behaviour, and spirit also change, and they can transform every aspect of their lives and environment. This is the principle of the oneness of life and its environment.

"The great poet Walt Whitman (1819–92) wrote: 'For so long as the spirit is not changed, any change of appearance is of no avail.'[1]"

SGI Newsletter No. 8742, The New Human Revolution––Vol. 26: Chap. 2, Banner of the Law 11

[1] Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas (New York: The Liberal Arts Press, 1949), p. 52.

 

[Guest]

Stewart, there is a quote in this buddhism that says, "Faith equals daily life."

So yes, I strive to be the best at whatever I am doing daily, whether that be work or whatever else I do after chanting morning and evening.

Each one of us must deal with our own karma each day. Having a high life condition allows me to deal with any challenge that confronts me and those close to me.

By chanting Nam myoho renge kyo, this puts me on the path to the ultimate goal of attaining enlightenment in this lifetime.

I have been posting different passages from the gosho's written by Nichiren Daishonin and quotes from sgi president Daisaku Ikeda. Anything I have posted here has had a significant inpact in my life recently as I have really had to face serious life challenges and I still have other negative circumstances that are atacking me now.

Hope this helps you in my answer to your question.

Its cool. I just wondered how this affects your work space and those around you. Sort of like people who practice other religious beliefs at work. Personally I dont care what others feel about their proscribed religion or other facets of their lives. I just prefer to keep it out of my work space. I dont push or proclaim my beliefs on anyone and like the golden rule says,,,

 

[SoCal Hippy]

oneness of life and its environment ［依正不二］ ( eshō-funi):

Also, non-duality of life and its environment. The principle that life and its environment, though two seemingly distinct phenomena, are essentially non-dual; they are two integral phases of a single reality. In the Japanese term eshō-funi, eshō is a compound of shōhō, meaning life or a living being, and ehō, its environment. Funi, meaning “not two,” indicates oneness or non-duality. It is short for nini-funi, which means “two (in phenomena) but not two (in essence).” Hō of shōhō and ehō means reward or effect. It indicates that “life” constitutes a subjective self that experiences the effects of its past actions, and “its environment” is an objective realm in which individuals’ karmic rewards find expression. Each living being has its own unique environment. The effects of karma appear in oneself and in one’s objective environment, because self and environment are two integral aspects of an individual. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom by Nāgārjuna (c. 150–250) introduces the concept of the three realms of existence, which views life from three different standpoints and explains the manifestation of individual lives in the real world. These three are the realm of the five components of life, the realm of living beings, each as a temporary combination of these components, and the realm of the environment. T’ien-t’ai (538–597) included this concept in his doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life. According to Miao-lo’s Annotations on “The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra,” two of these three realms—the realm of the five components and the realm of living beings—represent “life,” and, naturally, the realm of the environment represents “environment” in terms of the principle of oneness of life and its environment. These three realms exist in a single moment of life and are inseparable from one another. Therefore, a living being and its environment are non-dual in their ultimate reality. Nichiren (1222–1282) writes in his letter On Omens: “The ten directions are the ‘environment,’ and living beings are ‘life.’ To illustrate, environment is like the shadow, and life, the body. Without the body, no shadow can exist, and without life, no environment. In the same way, life is shaped by its environment” (644). He also writes in On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime: “If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds” (4).

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Its cool. I just wondered how this affects your work space and those around you. Sort of like people who practice other religious beliefs at work. Personally I dont care what others feel about their proscribed religion or other facets of their lives. I just prefer to keep it out of my work space. I dont push or proclaim my beliefs on anyone and like the golden rule says,,,

I pretty much keep my religion and practice to myself once at work.
There is always a right place and time to discuss, but I never push my beliefs on anyone unless I am approached or if it comes up in a conversation with someone.

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"If I remain silent, I may escape persecutions in this lifetime, but in my next life I will most certainly fall into the hell of incessant suffering. If I speak out, I am fully aware that I will have to contend with the three obstacles and four devils. But of these two courses, surely the latter is the one to choose."

(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 239) Selection Source: Soka Gakkai President Harada's encouragement, Seikyo Shinbun

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'Those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are themselves the treasure tower, and, likewise, are themselves the Thus Come One Many Treasures' (WND-1, 299).

"None of us can escape who we are. We always stay ourselves. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, however, we can polish our lives, causing them to shine as treasure towers of unsurpassed magnificence and brim with the infinitely noble 'power of the Buddha.'

"The only way to successfully navigate life’s treacherous paths is to forge a strong self that won’t be defeated by any hardship and to cultivate an expansive state of life. That is the purpose of faith directed toward realising our human revolution and transforming our negative karma. Stopgap measures won’t suffice; we must start with earnest prayer, bring forth courage and wisdom, and then make honest and sincere efforts."

SGI Newsletter No. 8753, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, Advance towards a Spring of Hope—Part 1 [of 2], from the Seikyo Shinbun

 

[Babbabud]

Thanks SoCal
Nam myoho renge kyo

 

[Weird]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Nichiren Daishonin writes: 'Those who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo are themselves the treasure tower, and, likewise, are themselves the Thus Come One Many Treasures' (WND-1, 299).

"None of us can escape who we are. We always stay ourselves. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, however, we can polish our lives, causing them to shine as treasure towers of unsurpassed magnificence and brim with the infinitely noble 'power of the Buddha.'

"The only way to successfully navigate life’s treacherous paths is to forge a strong self that won’t be defeated by any hardship and to cultivate an expansive state of life. That is the purpose of faith directed toward realising our human revolution and transforming our negative karma. Stopgap measures won’t suffice; we must start with earnest prayer, bring forth courage and wisdom, and then make honest and sincere efforts."

SGI Newsletter No. 8753, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, Advance towards a Spring of Hope—Part 1 [of 2]

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"... become the master of your mind rather than let your mind master you."

(Letter to the Brothers - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 502)

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Nothing comes from dwelling on the past. Nothing changes from sitting passively in silence.

On the other hand, taking vibrant action gives rise to hope, and speaking out with courage rouses inner strength."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[Weird]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Buddhism primarily concerns itself with victory or defeat."

(The Hero of the World - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 835)

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"(Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbour doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. Do not have doubts simply because heaven does not lend you protection. Do not be discouraged because you do not enjoy an easy and secure existence in this life.) This is what I have taught my disciples morning and evening, and yet they begin to harbour doubts and abandon their faith. Foolish men are likely to forget the promises they have made when the crucial moment comes."

(The Opening of the Eyes- The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 283)

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Come, now is the time for the great expansion of kosen rufu. What creates history is for each one of us to have the stand-alone spirit. It's to have the tenacity to carry through with all of our challenges, today. Let's forge ahead purposefully with the power and momentum of a charging lion!*

Daisaku Ikeda

* Gosho -Reply to Kyo'o - WND-1, pg 412, "The lion king is said to advance three steps, then gather himself to spring, unleashing the same power whether he traps a tiny ant or attacks a fierce animal. In inscribing this Gohonzon for her protection, Nichiren was like the lion king. This is what the sutra means by 'the power [of the Buddhas] that has the lion's ferocity.'"

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"The Lotus Sutra describes the mission of a Bodhisattva of the Earth as follows:
"'As the light of the sun and moon can banish all obscurity and gloom, so this person as he advances through the world can wipe out the darkness of living beings.' (LSOC21, 318)

"A deep darkness shrouds contemporary society. That is precisely why it is time for us, as practitioners of the Daishonin’s Buddhism of the sun, to take action.

"I call on all of you, the lionhearted successors to our movement, to set forth! With confident prayer, courageous action, and voices dedicated to truth, please brilliantly illuminate all humanity!

"My disciples, may you advance resolutely along our shared path."

SGI Newsletter No. 8756, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, Eternal March 16th, from the March 20th, 2013, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Our daily practice of gongyo and chanting daimoku also has a significance linked to the Ceremony in the Air. The Daishonin writes:

"This mandala [the Gohonzon] is in no way my invention. It is the object of devotion that depicts Shakyamuni Buddha, the World-Honoured One, seated in the treasure tower of Many Treasures Buddha, and the Buddhas who were Shakyamuni’s emanations as perfectly as a print matches its woodblock. (WND-1, 831)

"As this passage indicates, the Gohonzon is a depiction of the Ceremony in the Air.

"Through chanting earnestly before the Gohonzon, we make a vow for kosen-rufu, and then take action in society. Because of that vow, limitless power wells forth within us as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, filling us with courage and wisdom.

"'I will open the way for kosen-rufu! I will challenge this task today! I will lead the way to victory!'"

SGI Newsletter No. 8756, Our Brilliant Path to Victory, Eternal March 16th, from the March 20th, 2013, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"(It also states that, if the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land.) There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds."

(On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 4) Selection Source: Kyo no Hosshin, Seikyo Shinbun