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Chanting Growers Group (2013-∞)

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
A woman who embraces the lion king of the Lotus Sutra never fears any of the
beasts of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals. All the offenses
committed by a woman in her lifetime are like dry grass, and the single
character myo of the Lotus Sutra is like a small spark. When a small spark is
set to a large expanse of grass, not only the grass but also the big trees and
large stones will all be consumed. Such is the power of the fire of wisdom in
the single character myo. Not only will all offenses vanish, but they will
become sources of benefit. This is what changing poison into amrita means.


(WND, 949)
The Drum at the Gate of Thunder
Written to the lay nun Sennichi on October 19, 1278
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
"This person as he advances through the world" means that the first five hundred
years of the Latter Day of the Law will witness the advent of Bodhisattva
Superior Practices, who will illuminate the darkness of ignorance and earthly
desires with the light of the five characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. In
accordance with this passage, Nichiren, as this bodhisattva's envoy, has urged
the people of Japan to accept and uphold the Lotus Sutra. His unremitting
efforts never slacken, even here on this mountain.


(WND, 993)
Letter to Jakunichi-bo
Written to Jakunichi-bo Nikke on September 16, 1279
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
The scripture known as the Nirvana Sutra lists the beings that have been able to
attain the way through the Lotus Sutra, and the list includes such filthy
creatures as dung beetles, vipers, and scorpions. To express the wonderful power
of the Lotus Sutra, Bodhisattva Nagarjuna says that it enables even such
creatures as dung beetles to attain Buddhahood.


(WND, 1082-83)
Great Bodhisattva Hachiman
Written to Nichigen-nyo on December 16, 1280
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
"Faith manifests itself as wisdom. The purpose of our faith is to become wise, so
that we can live wisely. The desire to save others becomes merely an abstract
goal if those who practice faith cannot communicate with their own children nor
build strong and happy families."


"Outward appearance is not important -- what counts is what is inside our hearts.
Are there heart-to-heart bonds? Some families may always be together physically
but are estranged at heart. Some families can only get together for brief
periods but manage to enjoy concentrated and lively heart-to-heart communication
when they do meet. Families that share bonds of closeness based on day-to-day
efforts are ones in which the members feel comfortable and at ease with one
another, no matter where they are or what they're doing."


"We are all human beings; in that regard, we are all the same. The only real
difference lies in people's life-conditions. Our life-condition continues beyond
death into eternity. Therefore, as the Daishonin says, 'Faith alone is what
really matters.'
"


Quotes: Daisaku Ikeda

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
 

PassTheDoobie

Bodhisattva of the Earth
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Just finished a long and sincere chat with Gypsy. He wanted to thank everyone for their continuing prayers and good wishes. He wants you all to know he is OK and missing his many friends at ICmag. Please keep sending him Daimoku! Happy New Year!

T
 

Babbabud

Bodhisattva of the Earth
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Thank You !!!

Thank You !!!

Thanks for everyones posting! THANK YOU BROTHER SOCAL!!!

Thanks to all that post here and keep us rolling along :) This thread is such a positive in my life .. Thank You All !!!!!!

Nam myoho renge kyo !!
 

easyDaimoku

Member
Veteran
Myoho-Renge-Kyo-Chanting Growers!

Myoho-Renge-Kyo-Chanting Growers!

We're the Buddhas!

Happy Year of the Horse! Whoa last year was expensive, big time life giving for the sake of kosen-rufu through our happiness and propagation of the law. I'm introducing friends consistently and learning to efficiently connect folks without being involved in leadership activities. Guess how I do that? Well PTD gave me this tip about 6+ years ago during an intense conversation and he basically told me then and told me again: "it is only through your daimoku (easyD) that you'll continue bringing people back to the Gohonzon and continue protecting them."

I'm truly a disciple of the Daishonin and have especially proven this through the persecutions and various attacks by the devil of the sixth heaven against my person. Some may attack us, others might even attempt to curry favor against us, but that will not change my determination to always be a votary of the Lotus Sutra.

Well I'm studying The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin on my app called "Chant Buddy" for ios. I'm also doing my gongyo using the app and doing a steady (unrushed) clear Gongyo. Let's keep chanting for our friends and our friend's friends! We're all winning together and I'm hopeful this year will bring us much progress and happiness. Although I still haven't earned any money in my business I'm fighting to make it a better business every chance I get. School is going strong with tough courses and work is seriously busy. I'm going to persevere with Daimoku!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
Suppose there is a ship that sails on the open sea. Though the ship is stoutly
built, if it is flooded by a leak, those on the ship are sure to drown together.
Though the embankment between rice fields is firm, if there is an ant hole in
it, then surely in the long run, it will not remain full of water. Bail the
seawater of slander and disbelief out of the ship of your life, and solidify the
embankments of your faith.


(WND, 626)
The Embankments of Faith
Written to the lay nun Sennichi on September 3, 1275
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
In kindling a fire, three things are needed: a good piece of steel, a good
flint, and good tinder. The same is true of prayer. Three things are required -
a good teacher, a good believer, and a good teaching - before prayers can be
effective and disasters banished from the land.


(WND, 880)
How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus
Sutra
Written to the lay nun Myoho in 1277
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a
tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror,
reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality.
Arouse deep faith, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should
you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.


(WND, 4)
On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime
Written to Toki Jonin in 1255
 

SoCal Hippy

Active member
Veteran
"True character is forged only through hardship and suffering. Moreover, it is
the mentor-disciple relationship, not organizational structure that builds
character. Many great scholars, pioneers and leaders of the world have come to
note how crucial the mentor-disciple relationship is."

"Worldly success and good circumstances based on luck can easily crumble. They
are as transient as an illusion. But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can
never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing
with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime."

"The Daishonin states, 'The voice does the Buddha's work' (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708).
To chant the Mystic Law is to praise the Gohonzon. Hearing the sound of our
daimoku, the heavenly deities will be set into motion and work to protect us. A
weak and unclear voice will not move the heavenly deities. That is why it is
important for us to chant daimoku with voices that are clear, strong and
brimming with joy."


Quotes: Daisaku Ikeda

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
 

easyDaimoku

Member
Veteran
THIS IS THE GREAT MEETING OF THE BUDDHAS (IN REALTIME)

THIS IS THE GREAT MEETING OF THE BUDDHAS (IN REALTIME)

"True character is forged only through hardship and suffering. Moreover, it is
the mentor-disciple relationship, not organizational structure that builds
character. Many great scholars, pioneers and leaders of the world have come to
note how crucial the mentor-disciple relationship is."

"Worldly success and good circumstances based on luck can easily crumble. They
are as transient as an illusion. But the state of Buddhahood, once attained, can
never be destroyed, not for all eternity. We will enjoy an existence overflowing
with good fortune and immense joy in lifetime after lifetime."

"The Daishonin states, 'The voice does the Buddha's work' (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708).
To chant the Mystic Law is to praise the Gohonzon. Hearing the sound of our
daimoku, the heavenly deities will be set into motion and work to protect us. A
weak and unclear voice will not move the heavenly deities. That is why it is
important for us to chant daimoku with voices that are clear, strong and
brimming with joy."


Quotes: Daisaku Ikeda

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo


Thank you SoCal, that post really hits home. Sensei is talking to all of us to varying degrees there, especially Desiderata and Me. I know Desi and I have felt constricted by the thoughts of organizational anything when it comes to anything, just like me and Babba actually. However, the three of us are very compassionate and merciful people that chant for the sake of kosen-rufu and overcoming anything in the path of sustaining a happy and immensely fulfilling existence. I also know from years of corresponding with you SoCal we're all family people that have the benefit of faith. Together through this site, year after year, I'm still chugging along like Bonzo. So many of the members that haven't posted in a while must still see this from time to time. I'm always in the old thread and have copied it multiple times, but never printed out the over 25,000++ pages worth of posted language.

I've been reading the Goshos from the SGI website through my phone app and love the accessibility to a daimoku clock and meeting like gongyo all the time. We need to make sure that when we're not connected, or at least when I'm not connected to the other local Bodhisattvas, the app can help keep us chanting, studying and chanting. Also great for shakubuku!

Wishing you all so many great things, please be well! Good luck with all the storms, calamities and problems. No matter what Spring will soon be here as the Daishonin reminds us so eloquently in our English translation of The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
 

pseudostelariae

Active member
glad to see this group still going. i hadn't thought of it in years and the other day i had a bad panic attack, super scrambled thoughts and hands all clenched up, freaking out...found myself chanting nam myoho renge kyo <3
 
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