Chanting Growers Group

[LeoNardoDaVinci]

You should not have the slightest fear in your heart. It is lack of courage that prevents one from attaining Buddhahood, although one may have professed faith in the Lotus Sutra many times since innumerable kalpas ago.

You should not have the slightest fear in your heart. It is lack of courage that prevents one from attaining Buddhahood, although one may have professed faith in the Lotus Sutra many times since innumerable kalpas ago.

You should not have the slightest fear in your heart. It is lack of courage that prevents one from attaining Buddhahood, although one may have professed faith in the Lotus Sutra many times since innumerable kalpas ago.

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

My friend I cannot explain what this meant for me right now. When I saw the quote the first time just once I read it and I related it to my life and my near ego loss experiences and the fear that consumes me on a daily basis despite my chanting everyday and my faith in Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra. Then you said it again...3 times and a chill went through me to my core(you know the ones the ones you cannot ignore and must think of the power of whatever it was that caused such a chill). I know you to be right and I sit here on the brink of tears...not from sadness but release and joy. My fear is gone and I love you, all of you. I called the activity center yesterday and they gave me a number of a "district leader" I am going to call him tomorrow and ask about activities and meetings(this is all I need to do yes?) What do you guys think the best time to call is? BTW I have gotten a new job delivering auto parts and I must say during the day I am much happier than I was in my old job. I chant alot throughout the day while I drive. I know the proper method for chanting but is there really a wrong way? I am feeling benefits from it anyways. Despite being completely broke right now. My family is doing their best to help so I see the light and I know this too will pass. My fear may return but I understand now that that is only if I let it.

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bonzo]

Hello Leonardo!

Thats awesome that you got the district leaders number as far as im concerned it seems ok to call anyone between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm, agian i want to make perfectly clear thet these are JUST MY OPININS, i am not trying to tell you what to do. If i were you and your activity center is anything like mine, they should have the equivalent of my "room D" where the doors never close as long as the center is open. Anyone can walk in and join in Daimoku and they should do Gongyo a couple set times during the day, its great if you want to chant with others RIGHT NOW, ya know what i mean? I still go to room D and i see people that have been chanting for fifty years there, its really cool.

In my personal humble opinon if you are not to far is to just go there and look around and ask questions. I am gratefull for room D, anytime of the day i can go chant with others and it feels great.

I really hope this helps, and definitly follow through with fiinding and talking to your district leader.

Your on your way bro, go for it!!!!!!

peace and my deepest love

bonz






>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Nam myoho renge kyo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[LeoNardoDaVinci]

There is definitely something extraordinary in the ebb and flow of the tide, the rising and setting of the moon, and the way in which summer, autumn, winter and spring give way to each other. Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood. At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat.

[ The Three Obstacles and Four Devils, WND Page 637 ]

Thank you so much for once again sending the chills...the chills that bring pure knowledge. I know my path and I am not afraid.

Thanks Bonz! From what I saw on the website this sgi activity center just opened earlier this year! I will go check it out it, I know this shouldn't matter because people like us aren't caught up on outward appearance we are all buddha but should I dress up, go casual? Seems weird to even ask lol.

 

[Bonzo]

Defenitly Casual, its funny dude but sometimes i go directly from work to ROOM D and im a carpenter so you can imagine my appearance. I think though that people actually respect that for the fact that they know im there to see and chant with the Gohonzon and not to impress anyone. So casual bro no doubt, and if its hot shorts and sandals are totally acceptable as well, just be yourself bro. You want to be comfortable , the more comfortable you are the more you can focus your attention on the Gohonzon, thats my opinion anyway and has been stressed to me by many people at the center. The Gohonzon does not judge a person by what he/she is wearing.The Gohonzon wants you to be as comfortable as you can be so your true self can come forth............from the heart!!!

peace and love my friend

bonz





>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Nam myoho renge kyo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Leo! Listen to Bonz! He knows!

Leo! Listen to Bonz! He knows!

But now you, born a woman in the evil world of the latter age, while being reviled, struck and persecuted by the barbaric inhabitants of this island country who are unaware of these things, have endured and are propagating the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha at Eagle Peak surely perceives that your surpass the nun [Mahaprajapate] as greatly as clouds do mud. The name of that nun, the Buddha Gladly Seen by All Living Beings, is no unrelated matter; it is now the name of the lay nun Myoho.

[ Reply to the Lay Nun Myoho, WND Page 1106 ]

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism teaches that embracing the Gohonzon is in itself observing one’s own mind, or attaining enlightenment. Therefore, simply by embracing the Mystic Law—in other words, believing in it with all our hearts and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo ourselves and teaching others to do the same—we can obtain benefit equal to practicing the six paramitas over countless eons and reach “the other shore” of Buddhahood. This is the manifestation of the tremendous power of the Buddha and of the Law of the great Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. And it is none other than the power of our own faith and practice that enables us to limitlessly tap this immense power of the Buddha and the Law."

SGI Newsletter No. 7026, ON “EAGLE PEAK”––PART 1 [OF 2], Continuous Daily Practice Is the Path to Enlightenment, translated Nov. 16th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

By the way....

By the way....

THE FAT LADY SANG TODAY!!!!











I'm off for a week-long holiday. I hope you all stay well and keep posting. When I get back I'll tell you about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and chanting for money when you really need it; or the "How we turned a $150,000 short, into a $250,000 long and came out debt free in just nine weeks", story.

The power of the Law is infinite if your faith is sound.

I bow in obeisance to you all,

Thomas

 

[Bonzo]

WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REMEMBER I TOLD YOU I COULD HEAR HER SINGIN'????? YOU REALLY GOT HER SINGIN'!!!!!!!!!!!! WWWWWOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INCREDIBLE T!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Babbabud]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Wooohooooo wonderful news T. Enjoy yourself friend you deserve to take a breath and relax a bit. Hope all you buddhas in the southland get together and have a good chant. Ill be there in spirit . Much love to you all
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[Guest]

I had no doubt.


Gosho Excerpt:

"You absolutely must not lament over my exile. It says in the "Encouraging Devotion" chapter and in the "Never Disparaging" chapter [that the votary of the Lotus Sutra will meet with persecution]. Life is limited; we must not begrudge it. What we should ultimately aspire to is the Buddha land."

Aspiration for the Buddha land,
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pg# 214)
Written to Toki Jonin on 23 November 1271 from Sado - Tsukihara
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/wnd/concord/pages.view/214.html




Daily Encouragement:

If I were to make an allegory, thought and philosophy would be like the heart or respiratory system of the human body. When the heart is sound, the whole body can maintain healthy activity. This same principle applies to both the individual and society. The SGI has a mission to serve as the heart that ensures the healthy functioning of society. Consequently, taking good care of the SGI, (the heart) allows the fresh life-giving blood of humanism to flow to and nourish all areas of society, including culture, politics and the economy.
Lectures and articles about Nichiren Buddhism: http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/


Gosho Excerpt:

"A person of wisdom is one who, understanding the time, spreads the teachings of the Lotus Sutra accordingly; this is his most important task. If a person's throat is dry, what he needs is water; he has no use for bows and arrows, weapons and sticks. If a person is naked, he wants a suit of clothes but has no need for water. From one or two examples you can guess the principle that applies in general."

Letter to Horen,
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pg# 518)
Written to Soya Kyoshin in April of 1275 from Minobu
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/wnd/concord/pages.view/518.html




Daily Encouragement:

Rosa Parks wrote in her book Quiet Strength: "I find that if I am thinking too much of my own problems and the fact that at times things are not just like I want them to be, I do not make any progress at all. But if I look around and see what I can do, and then I do it, I move on." Youth, and indeed life itself, flashes by in the blink of an eye. That is why it is important for you young people to ask yourselves what you can do for those who are suffering, what you can do to resolve the contradictions that plague society and to boldly take on these great challenges.


Lectures and articles about Nichiren Buddhism: http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The pre-Lotus teachings of Shakyamuni had the power similar to the moon. At night, it is profound and has merit; when the sun rises in the East the moon then disappears.

Nichiren Daishonin's buddhism of Nam myhoho renge kyo from the Lotus Sutra is like the sun. In it contains all the the previous teachings and therefore all is needed is to chant Nam myoho renge kyo; no other understanding is necessary. Those of us who are practicing the buddhism of Nichirens' is proving this daily, showing actual proof in our lifes - spiritually, materially and physically.

Those seeking the path to true happiness in this lifetime, please check it out and see for yourself. This is what this thread is all about and I appreciate everyone who contributes. Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Be safe.

 

[LeoNardoDaVinci]

Ever since last night my perspective on life and my role has changed drastically for the better and I am fearless! I called my district leader today and he was a very very nice man and I let him know that I have been self practicing Nichiren Buddhism for a short time and would like to get more involved and chant with others and attend meetings etc. He seemed as excited as I and wanted to meet with me at my home. I told him this would be fine and we settled on friday at 6. He also let me know that Sunday they are having a big after thanksgiving group chant at 1pm which I will be attending like no tomorrow. Things are looking up my friends, I am rid of my delusions and I no longer feel helpless, my possitivity knows no bounds anymore and I am ridding my mind of any evil thoughts or any thoughts of the world being inherently evil, I do not believe this anymore and I see the good all around me! Today was a good day, everyday is a good day, with Nam Myoho Renge Kyoin your corner, NOTHING can stand in your way! Now here is where I need advice on how to handle the meeting with my district leader. He mentioned he is retired and from the sound of it a bit old. My worry is that I share a house with 7 other young adults such as myself who all love marijuana...bongs, pipes, bubblers, vaporizers, etc litter every room in the house... Maybe agreeing to a meeting at my home was hasty but this is a good man, a Bodhisattva of the Earth just as myself and my brothers here. So what is the protocol here, I am going to let my roomates know tonight as soon as I see them and I am going to make the living room look like a normal living room with no bongs etc around. Here is where I worry even more...about what to say about how I came to find Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. I told him I have an online support group who turned me to the SGI and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. I want to go further though. I want to tell him it all started when I was raised a Christian and always told to not ask questions and just have faith and I regetted this around the age of 10-13 and never attended church regularly again. I have a seeking spirit some say...this is why I could not just accept. I asked questions and I kept asking questions and sucking up knowledge like a sponge in my quest to understand my place on this Earth and why I am this man I see in the mirror. I want to talk about taking philosophy in college and touching on Buddhism and feeling a profound calling and interest in it and how it changed the way I treated animals and insects and people how it shinned true without being preachy. In highschool and up to now I turned to mind altering substances for enlightenment and I have been plagued by ego death struggles in the recent year and not understanding properly and being plagued by bad karma from this and past lives I was thrust into delusions when realization of the lack of seperation between myself and all my surroundings. I want to talk about how these struggles brought me to the Tibetan Book of the Dead and how it was a shinning light to me in a box of darkness my mind had enclosed me in. The Tibetan Book of the Dead allowed me to understand that I was a Buddha becoming and not an insane person falling apart. Because this all leads me to this moment in time it all led me to NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO and no matter the conceptions on drugs etc they were a VERY important sign post on my path to Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and my realization of the Buddha Nature in me! What do you guys think? I cannot explain how I have come to believe in Nam Myoho Renge Kyo without speaking of these things...

 

[Guest]

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

Hey Leo,

JUST DO IT!

Have no shame man, your LEO icon from the movie blow, your like me and socal and hitman and always *where are ya bro* and scegy and respect and meds and bonz and fallen and babba and mrs.babba and Thomas and StoneGirl.....

BODHISATTVA OF THE EARTH! GUNS OF FAITH A-BLAZING!

Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, your words are so powerful I'm feeling like some of your roommates will be so fortunate to have you chanting in the house!

Just go to that meeting if inviting him over is an issue, or meet at a nearby culture center. If you have more questions and want to keep chatting with anyone invite them to join you for lunch or a drink.

JUST DO IT!

It all begins with you!

Please chant about this meeting you will attend, just keep the good vibrations flowing.... LEO I'm WITH YOU DUDE!

Hey, KEEP AT IT!

Tomorrow is another day, enjoy it, chant with appreciation my friend tonight and tomorrow take that momentum with you to the next meeting. Keep at it!

My message to you is clearly, just keep chanting my friend. Just keep chanting.

The best is yet to come for you, this step your taking is HUGE! I was apprehensive too before my first meeting, I thought "what the fuck am I getting myself into now..."

Dude, it was the best thing I did this year (Get to my 1st meeting), besides recieving Gohonzon AGAIN (feels like I GOT GOHONZON BACK!! strange but true).

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

Respect and Meds and Bonz, I'm chanting for you very much!

Socal Happy Holiday thanks for your continued presence its an honor my brother, everytime, its an honor to share in your thoughts, THANK YOU.

Mrs.B and Babba Feel Better we love you very much!

Safe holiday and travels and good times and vibes for all.

Thanks to DG and Gypsy for this site. I thank them in my prayers this SITE helped change my life. wow

 

[Babbabud]

Leo my backround is very much the same in many repects. Including the study of the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the Tao Te Ching. We now know it is not nameless ...it has a name and it is Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Leo tell your story man no one will judge you. Its all brought you to your buddhanature and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo... its all that matters Leo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[Babbabud]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

At this present moment, we are creating causes while at the same time receiving the results of the causes we have created since the infinite past. It is Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, which embodies this wonderful single Law, which simultaneously possesses both cause and effect in the name of the Mystic Law. Therefore, through chanting
daimoku to the Gohonzon, we are able to create the fundamental cause, which enables us to become closer and closer to enlightenment or absolute happiness. That is why we need to do gongyo and chant daimoku.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[Dignan]

Very inspiring, Leo.

This thread gives me yet another thing to be thankful for on this day.

Peace-

Dig

 

[LeoNardoDaVinci]

Very inspiring indeed! On this Thanksgiving I am so thankful for icmag and this thread and for all my Bodhisattva brothers! I am so glad I can be inspired while inspiring others. This is like a wonderful chain reaction...a tidal wave of love and inspiration and I will make sure it washes over everyone leaving them soaked in the beauty of the Clear Light. Thank you again brothers.

 

[Bonzo]

Hope everyone had a killer thanksgiving!!!!

THANK YOU , Leo!!!

peace and love

bonz






>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Nam myoho renge kyo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Guest]

"Strive ever harder in faith, and never give in to negligence. All the people appear to believe sincerely when they first embrace the Lotus Sutra, but as time passes, they tend to become less devout; they no longer revere nor make offerings to the priest, giving themselves up to arrogance and forming distorted views. This is most frightening."

Letter to Niike,
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pg# 1027)
Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February of 1280 from Minobu
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/wnd/concord/pages.view/1027.html

 

[Guest]

"Even if we should gather all the water of the four great oceans to wet inkstones, burn all the trees and plants to cinders to make ink, collect the hairs of all beasts for writing brushes, employ all the surfaces of the worlds in the ten directions for paper, and, with these, set down expressions of gratitude, how could we possibly repay our debt to the Buddha?"

The four debts of gratitude,
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, pg# 44)
Written to Kudo Yoshitaka on 16 January 1262 from Izu
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/wnd/concord/pages.view/44.html