Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

No matter what situation we may be in,
we can definitely change it into a "poison into medicine"* situation.
That is what the power of the Mystic Law is about!
Courageously and confidently,
cheerfully and positively,
let's challenge to overcome all obstacles
and become absolutely victorious!

Daisaku Ikeda

* changing poison into medicine:

http://www.sgi.org/english/Buddhism/more/more03.htm

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Changing Poison into Medicine

Changing Poison into Medicine

SGI members often speak of "turning poison into medicine" when they describe how their Buddhist practice has enabled them to transform a difficult, negative or painful situation into something positive.

In its most fundamental sense, "changing poison into medicine" refers to the transformation of deluded impulses into enlightenment. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, attributed to the third-century Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, compares the Lotus Sutra to "a great physician who changes poison into medicine." This is because the Lotus Sutra opens the possibility of enlightenment to people whose arrogance and complacency had caused them to "scorch the seeds of Buddhahood." In earlier sutras such people had been condemned as being incapable of becoming Buddhas. An important implication of this principle, thus, is that there is no one who is beyond redemption.

In his writing, "On First Hearing the Teaching of the Supreme Vehicle," Nichiren develops this idea, stating that by using the power of the Mystic Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, one can transform the three paths of deluded impulses, karma and suffering into the three virtues of the Buddha, i.e., the Dharma body, wisdom and emancipation.

This can be understood to mean that any unfavorable situation can be changed into a source of value. More fundamentally, it is by challenging and overcoming painful circumstances that we grow as human beings.

How we respond to life's inevitable sufferings is the key. Negative, painful experiences are often necessary to motivate us. One Buddhist scripture describes illness as awakening the desire to seek the truth. Likewise, people have been inspired to a lifetime commitment to peace and justice by their experience of war and injustice.

The process of changing poison into medicine begins when we approach difficult experiences as an opportunity to reflect on ourselves and to strengthen and develop our courage and compassion. The more we are able to do this, the more we are able to grow in vitality and wisdom and realize a truly expansive state of life.

Suffering can thus serve as a springboard for a deeper experience of happiness. From the perspective of Buddhism, inherent in all negative experiences is this profound positive potential. However, if we are defeated by suffering or respond to challenging circumstances in negative and destructive ways, the original "poison" is not transformed but remains poison.

Buddhism teaches that suffering derives from karma, the causes that we ourselves have created. The Buddhist teaching of karma is one of personal responsibility. It is therefore our responsibility to transform sufferings into value-creating experiences. The Buddhist view of karma is not fixed or fatalistic--even the most deeply entrenched karmic patterns can be transformed.

By taking a difficult situation--illness, unemployment, bereavement, betrayal--and using it as an opportunity to deepen our sense of personal responsibility, we can gain and develop the kind of self-knowledge from which benefit flows. Buddhism teaches that self-knowledge ultimately is awareness of our own infinite potential, our capacity for inner strength, wisdom and compassion. This infinite potential is referred to as our "Buddha nature."

The original meaning of the phrase "to turn poison into medicine" relates to this level of self-knowledge.

In the "Belief and Understanding" chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Subhuti and others of the Buddha's long-time disciples respond to the prophecy that another disciple, Shariputra, will attain the ultimate enlightenment. The disciples admit that they had long ago given up on becoming Buddhas themselves, but that on hearing the teaching of the Lotus Sutra they renounced their earlier stance of resignation and spiritual laziness. "[T]heir minds were moved as seldom before and danced for joy." Nagarjuna and T'ien-t'ai (538--597) therefore compare the Buddha to a good doctor capable of turning poison (the laziness and resignation of the aged disciples) into medicine (a sincere aspiration for the ultimate enlightenment of Buddhahood).

This teaching of the possibility of profound trans-formation makes Buddhism a deeply optimistic philosophy. This optimism propels Buddhists as they seek to transform the negative and destructive tendencies within their lives as well as those in society and the world at large.

(from: http://www.sgi.org/english/Buddhism/more/more03.htm )

 

[Bonzo]

Good to see ya TREE, glad you and scegy got to a meeting! Ill see ya in Chat soon.

Thanks for that last post T, i needed it.

peace and love

bonz






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

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"If you propagate it, devils will arise without fail. If they did not,there would be no way of knowing that this is the correct teaching."

(Letter to the Brothers - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 501) Selection source: The New Human Revolution, Volume 19, Seikyo Shimbun, November 28th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"...through the Mystic Law, we can transform all negative situations into something positive for our lives."

SGI Newsletter No. 7034, The New Human Revolution—Vol. 19: Chap. 2, Song of Triumph 3, trans. Nov. 27th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and urge others to do the same; that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world."

(Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 64) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, November 29th, 2006

 

[Guest]

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

whatcha waiting for!

 

[SoCal Hippy]

What is a Buddha?

What is a Buddha?

Reading "The Essential Lotus", a text originally written in Sanskrit by Shakyamuni Buddha who lived in the 5th-6th century, and later translated into Chinese in 406 by the Central Asian scholar-monk Kumarajiva. Burton Watson translated this version of the sacred text, published in 2002, into English at the suggestion of Soka Gakkai International’s President Daisaku Ikeda. The text explains the not only translates the Lotus Sutra, it also provides insight on the historical context of the sacred text and offers questions and statements for further consideration.

The introduction and translator’s notes are easy to read and provide a rather short, but detailed explanation of the Sutra’s history and how it came to be presented in its current form. The second chapter translates the “Expedient Means” chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The third chapter covers the “Simile and Parable” chapter of the Sutra.

An excerpt from chapter 2 explains one aspect of the nature of Buddhahood:

These World-Honored Ones
have all preached the doctrine of the single vehicle,
converting countless living beings
and causing them to enter the Buddha way.
And these great sage lords, knowing what is desired deep in the minds
of the heavenly and human beings and the other living things
throughout al the worlds,
have employed still other expedient means
to help illuminate the highest truth.
If there are living beings
who have encountered these past Buddhas, and if they have listened to their Law, presented alms,
or kept the precepts, shown forbearance,
been assiduous, practiced meditation and wisdom, and so forth,
cultivating various kinds of merit and virtue,
them persons such as these
all have attained the Buddha way.
After the Buddhas have passed into extinction,
if persons are of good and gentle mind,
then living beings such as these
have all attained the Buddha way.

“Single vehicle” pertains to the one method of achieving a state of enlightenment. In the SGI branch of Buddhism, we advocate the chanting of the invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which was established by Nichiren on 28 April 1253. To translate, the words mean:

Nam=Derives from Sanskrit, it means, “to devote oneself”
Myoho=the Mystic Law
Renge=lotus flower, which blooms and seeds at the same time. It represents the simultaneity of cause and effect.
Kyo=sutra, the voice or teaching of a Buddha

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the primary practice of SGI members. We chant this phrase repeatedly once in the morning, and once at night, along with the two chapters of the Lotus Sutra mentioned above.

The process of becoming a Buddha is not a finite one. It is a high standard that one hopes to achieve and maintain over time. Buddhahood is placed at the highest state of enlightenment above nine other states of being which include the following from the lowest to the highest: hell, hunger/craving, animality, angry warfare, human beings, gods–these six lower worlds tend to take place in an ever-changing, fluctuating way within individuals, and also the world at large. Continuing upward, the last four holy states include: the voice hearers (shravakas) who hear the Buddha’s teachings, self-enlightened ones (they learn on their own, but they do not teach the knowledge), the bodhisattvas (or people with great compassion, they support the Buddhas), and finally, the Buddha, or Buddhas.

From: sgiwomenschronicles.wordpress.com

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Encountering Richard Seager

"Encountering the Dharma: Daisaku Ikeda, Soka Gakkai, and Buddhist Humanism" is an exploration of the Soka Gakkai and its history through the eyes and mind of Richard Seager, an historian of American religion and Associate Professor of Religion at Hamilton College. With support from the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, Seager embarked on a journey in 2001 that began with a cool spring in Tokyo. From a quiet garden decorated with snowflakes and cherry blossoms, Seager begins his skeptical quest for what has variously been called a “cult,” a “philosophy,” and “an empire.” What is Soka Gakkai, this dynamic lay Buddhist organization that has grown to over 12 million since it was founded in 1930? What is its relationship with Nichiren, a 13th century monk? What are we to make of Daisaku Ikeda, the man responsible for shaping and globalizing Soka Gakkai over the past 45 years? And what do children learn in the numerous “Soka schools” that makes them so happy? BRC publications manager Patti Marxsen sat down with Richard to discuss these questions and explore his journey of writing this book.

There is a in-depth interview with Richard Seager, the author of
"Encountering the Dharma: Daisaku Ikeda, Soka Gakkai, and Buddhist
Humanism", at the Boston Research Center web site.

http://www.brc21.org/books_booktalk.html

(final paragraph excerpt below)

RS: "Part of the experience I had as I was trying to figure out Soka Gakkai was that people were so supportive of my work, so encouraging to me, so hands off in terms of what I was doing, so indulgent of me and my skepticism, so permitting of my creativity. I began to see that how they were treating me reflected the values they see in peace, culture, and education. I began to appreciate the optimism and freedom of that stance, and that is a sense of appreciation I will keep. One of my important insights into Buddhist humanism came to me as I watched how the people I encountered treated me and respected my work."

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"When we chant the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the deep conviction that we are entities of the Mystic Law, the fundamental law of the universe, we can bring forth the great life-force of the Mystic Law that is infused with wisdom and compassion. And we can use it to break through any painful difficulty or obstacle and establish a state of absolute happiness that nothing can destroy."

SGI Newsletter No. 7044, SGI President Ikeda's Study Lecture Series, LECTURES ON "THE HERITAGE OF THE ULTIMATE LAW OF LIFE," [3] Awakening to the Inherent Nature of Life and Death—Gaining True Hope and Freedom, from the October Daibyakurenge, translated Dec. 6th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Myo means to revive, that is, to return to life."

(The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 149 Selection source: Living Buddhism, Seikyo Shimbun, December 10th, 2006

 

[PassTheDoobie]

I have heard that you are suffering from illness. Is this true? The impermanence of this world is such that even the healthy cannot remain forever, let alone those who are ill. Thoughtful persons should therefore prepare their minds for the life to come. Yet one cannot prepare one's mind for the next life by one's own efforts alone. Only on the basis of the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, the original teacher of all living beings, can one do so.

[ Encouragement to a Sick Person, WND Page 76 ]

 

[Bonzo]

Howdy my friends!

Good news, i just talked to the guy i work for and he was feelin a bit down ,as i must admit i was as well, anyway i just took charge and siad dude, you have to come to a meeting with me period. So we are gonna meet at the Center on thursday. Believe me ya'll have no idea how much this guy needs this in his life and i need this meeting just as much. Im fuckin thrilled i tell ya!!!!

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

He wants this first meeting to be just me and him , without his wife, i said ok. I have no doubt than when he gets a taste of it he will be bringing the wife along. I hope so anyway cause i think it would be good for the both of them to do this together, waddya think?

peace and all my love

bonz







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

 

[Guest423]

whats going on in here? i see alot of happiness....i want to chant! what kind of meeting are you talking about bonz?

 

[Bonzo]

T2U, My Brotha , been expecting you, what the hell took ya so long? Were talking Buddhism bro. We chant for World Peace (Kosen Rufu) We chant for the betterment of our own lives and those around us and well those not around us! We chant for enlightenment T2U, we chant to live each day without fear, without doubt, with absolute courage and wisdom that we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way and turn it into a positive. Please take a little bit of time and just flip through some pages of this thread and you will see what i mean. Im prolly not the best person to give you your first introduction but im doin my best.

Just know this T2U, chanting Nam myoho renge kyo has changed my life in such a positive way, and continues to do so on a daily basis that im just constantly blown away!

Its called Nicheren Daishonin Buddhism.

"i see alot of happiness" Indeed T2U, imagine feeling all that happiness deep within your heart, its pretty damn cool bro.

Maybe someone else will chime in cause ive done my best explaining it but im sure i fucked up somewhere, just have a look around bro.

also google SGIUSA for more info.

Im stoked to see you here bro!!!! And i really hope you give it half a chance, you wont regret it!

woooooooooooo hoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

peace and all my deepest respect and love

bonz






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

 

[Bonzo]

"When we chant the daimoku of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the deep conviction that we are entities of the Mystic Law, the fundamental law of the universe, we can bring forth the great life-force of the Mystic Law that is infused with wisdom and compassion. And we can use it to break through any painful difficulty or obstacle and establish a state of absolute happiness that nothing can destroy."

SGI Newsletter No. 7044, SGI President Ikeda's Study Lecture Series, LECTURES ON "THE HERITAGE OF THE ULTIMATE LAW OF LIFE," [3] Awakening to the Inherent Nature of Life and Death—Gaining True Hope and Freedom, from the October Daibyakurenge, translated Dec. 6th, 2006

How does this grab ya T2U?

Beleive me, its for real!

peace

bonz






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

 

[Bonzo]

Hello again my friends.

as you noyiced in my post i said maybe someone else would chime in cause im sure i FUCKED UP somewhere. Well thats bullshit, thats one of the thinngs that contantly tries to bring me down, SELF DOUBT, its bullshit, what i said i said from the heart as best i know how and maybe it could have been done better or perhaps worse but if it comes from the heart with nothing but good intention its by no means FUCKING UP. Just thought i would let ya'll know how the darkness manifests itself in my life. I thought about just deleteing it but what would that do? It would still be with me and none of us would be able to see and learn from it.

I want to learn, i want to beat the darkness out of my life.

At least this way i will leave the door open for all your infinite wisdom and input.

peace and my deepest ,deepest love and respect to you all.

bonz






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

 

[Guest]

Time 2 Unite, your name says it all.

If you care to find out more about this I sincerely implore you to please read as much as you can. Perhaps you could go back a hundred pages and just read, otherwise read from page 1 going forward, like a Book. This thread/Book was constructed from the Heart of a Great Buddha via the teachings of the Buddha of Beginingless Time Nichiren Daishonin whom inscribed our sacred mandala known as the Gohonzon. We chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon as our way of invoking our Buddhanature, by saying Nam-myoho-renge-kyo we unlock our happiness.

Only one Major precept (The Diamond Precept) in this practice from my vantage point and that is chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

To know more about this Buddhism and Nichiren Daishonin, I will once again ask you to please read this thread, Learn about the Bodhisattva way, Learn about Nichiren Daishonin and the impact his life has on us, Find your Way to Gohonzon.

In my humble opinion the best way to explain this in the easydisco layman's terms for potheads is: DUDE before I was chanting I felt hopeless afraid upset depressed anxious guilty and pitiful, I had no faith in nothing, christianity let me down and so did my loved ones because I could not conform to untruth, I wanted to embrace reason but I could not find any, then I find this thread, read it about 2,000 times over and over and unlock the secret to my happiness; Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and letting others know within their unique exsistence they too can become Buddhas! Inherantly we all possess a Buddhanature, I always thought every man was equal this Buddhism proves it to me. This Buddhism is reason, its living a reasonable life day to day, we are members of a lay organization not affliated with any temple called the SGI or Soka Gakkai International. Our mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth is kosen-rufu or the propagation of The Mystic Law of Cause and Effect. Although this terminology may seem a bit foreign within this thread you will find thousands of definitions (literal and personal definitions) and the greatest treasures besides guidance to acquire Gohonzon and guidance to increase and maintain your faith and especially guidance to spread The Mystic Law throughout the world helping others find their individual happiness leading to world peace and especially my favorite is embracing the Treasure within your heart, Myoho-renge-kyo the title of the Lotus Sutra (The historical Buddha Shakymuni Buddha's last teaching/Sutra, in which he indicates that all humans have the potential for Buddhahood or the most enlightened heighest life-condition). I believe I am a buddha working towards attaining perfect enlightenment, join me Time 2 Unite and lets "BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!"

Hope this helps, Read the Thread and take part in the conversation going forward... Where's Leo.... Hi Meds, Fallen, Tree, Scegy, Respect!

Thanks alot Bonz and Socal for the great posts recently, really I do appreciate them. Thanks to all for inspiring me today to constantly embrace The Mystic Law and be strong enough to STAND UP FOR THE MYSTIC LAW! The Daishonin was tough enough to rebuke the erroneous teachers and I will do the same going forward by studying more and learning while living the Bodhisattva life.

With Love and Respect,
M

 

[Guest]

Have Faith YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT IN VAIN..

Have Faith YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOT IN VAIN..

NOW IS THE TIME TO MUSTER AN INDISTRUCTIBLE FAITH!

President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement:

We must put down firm roots; we must be strong. Inner strength is a prerequisite for happiness, a prerequisite for upholding justice and one's beliefs. One of the Buddha's titles is "He Who Can Forbear." To courageously endure, persevere and overcome all difficulties-the Buddha is the ultimate embodiment of the virtue of forbearance. The power of faith gives us the strength to weather and survive any storm. Perseverance is the essence of a Buddha.

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


I really like this quote, The Daishonin's Life was the Embodiment of Perseverance! He knew that as an Entity of The Mystic Law he was completely protected.

Here is a great article by Tariq Hasan:

A Place Where Everyone Counts
By Tariq Hasan

More and more, I’ve been hearing reports and stories of amazing growth throughout the SGI-USA. I’ve also had many people ask me if we’re ready to take care of all the new members that come into our organization. As I receive these questions, I am developing a deeper understanding of SGI President Ikeda’s guidance at our historic Feb. 13, 2004, meeting. He gave us profound encouragement about our mission and destiny as the SGI-USA, sharing: “Today the development of the SGI-USA movement is increasingly important. The world is watching in expectation. Let us strive even more energetically to expand our humanistic alliance. I dearly wish that every person without exception becomes happy and wins in life” (March 5, 2004, World Tribune, p. 1).

At this meeting, he also gave us a practical point of action: He encouraged us to learn how to do statistics and to start a statistics program. To be honest, I wondered why he chose this subject amongst the many others he could have selected during this one hour of intense spiritual guidance.

Now, just more than one year later, it is as clear as day to me. This was President Ikeda’s tremendous wisdom and foresight in helping us open our eyes to what is essential to building a sustainable foundation for kosen-rufu in America: Belief in the value of each human life. President Ikeda shared his desire with us that “every person without exception becomes happy and wins in life,” and I believe it is our responsibility as SGI-USA members to make this a reality.

All members who joined the SGI-USA, regardless of how they joined—whether in a casual encounter on the street 30 years ago, or through heart-to-heart dialogue with a childhood friend—are all Buddhas. Once they have joined our organization, we can never let them miss the opportunity to fulfill their mission in this lifetime and become absolutely happy.

Nichiren Daishonin uses an example of how difficult it is to encounter the Lotus Sutra, sharing, “To illustrate the extreme rarity of encountering this sutra, the Buddha likened it to the difficulty of a one-eyed turtle encountering a floating sandalwood log with a hollow in it” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 957). He goes on to explain in the analogy that way at the bottom of the ocean lives a turtle with no limbs or flippers but who can rise to the surface of the ocean every thousand years. His belly is extremely hot and his shell is freezing cold, and his only desire is to cool his belly and warm his shell.

In order to do this, he has to find a sandalwood log with a hollow in it the right size for him to fit so that he can attain his desire. But the ocean is so vast, he is so small and floating sandalwood logs are so few that, even if he did find one, it’s not likely that he would find one with a hollow the right size. “If [the hollow is too large and] he falls into it,” the Daishonin continues, “he cannot warm the shell on his back, and no one will be there to pull him out. If the hollow is too small and he cannot place his belly in it, the waves will wash him away, and he will sink back to the ocean’s floor” (WND, 957).

In this analogy, the ocean represents the suffering of life and the sandalwood is the Gohonzon. The hole in the sandalwood is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Each of us is like the one-eyed turtle. How disappointing would it be if we found the sandalwood and then slipped off it and fell to the bottom of the ocean for another thousand years? This is how difficult it is to encounter the Gohonzon.



This is what our statistics program is about—making sure that no one who has found the sandalwood log falls back into the ocean of suffering; it’s about having happy Bodhisattvas of the Earth. When we fill out a membership card for someone, it’s our acknowledgement to that member that “you have found the sandalwood and we won’t let you fall off.” Every member of our organization should receive this acknowledgement and promise. As more and more of us acknowledge all of the precious Buddhas of the SGI-USA, more are appearing—and reappearing—and awakening to their Buddhahood. A friend of mine shared with me recently that, because he is ready to make this acknowledgement, he has encountered so many members that he had not seen in a long time. Now he is always carrying at least 10 membership cards with him and connecting these members with a district.

Especially for those supporting our movement as district leaders, having these cards gives us an opportunity to meet and discuss how to best support each member given their own unique situation and mission. This is what my district leaders have been doing since we began the statistics program. Through their diligent efforts, we went from acknowledging 37 Buddhas to finding and acknowledging 80. Without their efforts, these additional 43 people would have fallen back into the sea and would not have had others chanting for their happiness.

This process is the crucial element of developing a sustainable foundation for our organization. Without this care and compassion, there is no real growth. And without real growth, we cannot change this great land of America to be the haven the world is yearning for.

Let’s make this effort a part of our search for Buddhas. If they are locatable, even if they have not been that active in the SGI lately, let’s use membership cards to connect them to districts and acknowledge them as Buddhas. Let’s help ensure that they never fall off the sandalwood log.

For more on the SGI-USA’s statistics program, see Tariq Hasan’s article “Caring for Each Human Life” in the Nov. 12, 2004, World Tribune.

"To illustrate the extreme rarity of encountering this sutra, the Buddha likened it to the difficulty of a one-eyed turtle encountering a floating sandalwood log with a hollow in it" (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 957)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hi T2U! If you want to try, it's easy.

Hi T2U! If you want to try, it's easy.

But with all that said, what else do you want to know?

This Buddhism is all about cause and effect. Doing is understanding. Everything else is just words.

The proof is in the pudding.

The Power comes from you.


Great posts dear friends! Bonz, you are a great Buddha speaking! Well said!

I bow in humble obeisance! It is such an honor to know you all!

Thomas