"You must be the change you want to see in the world".
Mahatma Ghandi
Mahatma Ghandi
-
As of today ICMag has his own Discord server. In this Discord server you can chat, talk with eachother, listen to music, share stories and pictures...and much more. Join now and let's grow together! Join ICMag Discord here! More details in this thread here: here.
Chanting Growers Group
- Thread starter PassTheDoobie
- Start date
- Status
Yes, I would and do much enjoy hearing how your lives have evolved in connection with our shared beliefs.
I speak about how I saw it all as if I think that I am fully enlightened but I don't. My journey has just begun IMHO and little of my past is even remembered. To me true enlightment can only happen when we look back on many lives.
In another out of body state it might be possible to review every lesson all our lives have taught us and I think this may be how it works for everyone.
Perhaps we reincarnate to live almost every type of possible life experience and one day we recall it all. Can you imagine the person you would be? Can you see how you would know the truth of every principle theorized?
Through this process all life must travel from the lowliest single celled creature all the way up the spiritual and evolutionary path to where? Buddahood? Enlightenment? GOD? Surely this road never began and will never end so when you think of it what can go wrong? Nothing.
So what to do? Enjoy life and cause no sufferring to any living creature. Isn't that right? Or am I wrong somehow?
I saw the process and it is the perfect diamond you see. BOG
I speak about how I saw it all as if I think that I am fully enlightened but I don't. My journey has just begun IMHO and little of my past is even remembered. To me true enlightment can only happen when we look back on many lives.
In another out of body state it might be possible to review every lesson all our lives have taught us and I think this may be how it works for everyone.
Perhaps we reincarnate to live almost every type of possible life experience and one day we recall it all. Can you imagine the person you would be? Can you see how you would know the truth of every principle theorized?
Through this process all life must travel from the lowliest single celled creature all the way up the spiritual and evolutionary path to where? Buddahood? Enlightenment? GOD? Surely this road never began and will never end so when you think of it what can go wrong? Nothing.
So what to do? Enjoy life and cause no sufferring to any living creature. Isn't that right? Or am I wrong somehow?
I saw the process and it is the perfect diamond you see. BOG
Welcome Hitman and thank him for his help. He chanted and so now he is one of us. He is helping us hold the Earth up like Atlas. I enjoy helping Atlas.
Nom Myoho Renge Kyo.... ROAR!!! X ...
Nom Myoho Renge Kyo.... ROAR!!! X ...
G
Guest
Human Revolution
Human Revolution
Hello All! I am with GordyP this week and we have been doing some studying together and found something that I think can bring us back to a point of return.
What is the "human revolution"?
The "human revolution" is a term used by Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, to describe the process by which an individual gradually expands his life, conques his negative and destructive tendencies, and ultimately makes the state of Buddhahood his dominant life condition. The idea of revolution as most people understand it usually refers to a political or economic revolution. Such a revolution usually imposes new ideas upon people at large, and thereby effects change. The idea and the goal of human revolution is very different.
Rather than changing society directly, through improving or reforming social or political systems, the object of change lies deep within the life of each individual. As Josei Toda states: "The human revolution' I am talking about...refers to the establishment of one's ultimate purpose in life and working towards the perfection of self. We carry out our daily lives according to our own views on life and society. However, "human revolution" refers to the change that we bring about in the way we view life, society and the world. A fundamental change occurs in the way one has led his or her life up until that point. The "human revolution" of an individual becomes apparent when he or she establishes an unwavering and absolute conviction in the eternity of life. Rather than focusing on short term goals which apply only to one's present lifetime, this conviction becomes the basis for the pursuit of loftier goals and greater good, in contrast to one's previous satisfaction with the accomplishment of lesser goals and good.
SGI Presiden Daisaku Ikeda wrote these words in the foreword to this novel the Human Revolution; A great revolution of character in just a single man will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of all humankind."
Could not find anything more appropriate than this for now. Best to all of you and still standing strong that NamMyoHoRengeKyo is all about personal growth and happiness. Southern Girl
Human Revolution
Hello All! I am with GordyP this week and we have been doing some studying together and found something that I think can bring us back to a point of return.
What is the "human revolution"?
The "human revolution" is a term used by Josei Toda, second president of the Soka Gakkai, to describe the process by which an individual gradually expands his life, conques his negative and destructive tendencies, and ultimately makes the state of Buddhahood his dominant life condition. The idea of revolution as most people understand it usually refers to a political or economic revolution. Such a revolution usually imposes new ideas upon people at large, and thereby effects change. The idea and the goal of human revolution is very different.
Rather than changing society directly, through improving or reforming social or political systems, the object of change lies deep within the life of each individual. As Josei Toda states: "The human revolution' I am talking about...refers to the establishment of one's ultimate purpose in life and working towards the perfection of self. We carry out our daily lives according to our own views on life and society. However, "human revolution" refers to the change that we bring about in the way we view life, society and the world. A fundamental change occurs in the way one has led his or her life up until that point. The "human revolution" of an individual becomes apparent when he or she establishes an unwavering and absolute conviction in the eternity of life. Rather than focusing on short term goals which apply only to one's present lifetime, this conviction becomes the basis for the pursuit of loftier goals and greater good, in contrast to one's previous satisfaction with the accomplishment of lesser goals and good.
SGI Presiden Daisaku Ikeda wrote these words in the foreword to this novel the Human Revolution; A great revolution of character in just a single man will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of all humankind."
Could not find anything more appropriate than this for now. Best to all of you and still standing strong that NamMyoHoRengeKyo is all about personal growth and happiness. Southern Girl
The Guide
The Guide
In the greatest sessions
One does not know that there is a guide
In the next best sessions
One praises the guide
It is worse when
One fears the guide
Or when one pays him
If the guide lacks trust in the people
The trust of the people will be lacking
The wise guide guards his words
And sits serenely
When the greatest session is over
The people will say:
"It all happened naturally"
"It was so simple, we did it all ourselves"
Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo
The Guide
In the greatest sessions
One does not know that there is a guide
In the next best sessions
One praises the guide
It is worse when
One fears the guide
Or when one pays him
If the guide lacks trust in the people
The trust of the people will be lacking
The wise guide guards his words
And sits serenely
When the greatest session is over
The people will say:
"It all happened naturally"
"It was so simple, we did it all ourselves"
Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo
FAQS on ND Buddhism
FAQS on ND Buddhism
I found this very interesting and insightful on the SGI-UK website. Thought I would copy it and paste it for everyone.
All religions are just a crutch, aren't they?
A crutch is very useful if you have a broken leg - and we all have 'broken legs' at some time during our lives. If this were to be all that religion gave us - that is, support in times of need then that in itself would be sufficient reason to have a religion. However, a religion should provide more than this. Fundamentally, all human beings are seeking happiness. Whether or not we can achieve happiness, while not denying the reality of life's inherent suffering, depends on our attitudes. Positive attitudes consist of such feelings as hope, confidence, energy and sensitivity to others. Whether we can sustain such positive attitudes to living depends on what we most value. The thing we value most can be called our 'religion'. With the swing away from spiritual values to materialistic ones, many people nowadays most value money and power. However, these things are obviously transient and provide no solid foundation for happiness in themselves. Of course, material needs are an important contributory factor to happiness, but they are not the whole picture - if we lose all our money, for example, where do we get our hope?
One of the most important things for people's happiness is to keep progressing, to keep searching for self-improvement and the betterment of society. The pursuit of truth may be unfashionable these days in some quarters, but this is what religion should provide. Religion should teach us truths and values to which we can aspire; values that are much more profound than those we would have thought of ourselves in our mundane, day-to-day lives, but which, very importantly, are not unattainable. In Buddhism, the truth of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the Gohonzon, with its limitless, profound philosophical basis, took over 2,000 years of Buddhist thinking and practice to crystallise into its essential form. In fact, one can spend a whole lifetime studying and practising Buddhism and find that the whole philosophy keeps expanding, becoming more and more profound.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, religion should provide us with a means to change from our limited habitual thinking and promote a wider vocabulary of humane thoughts and actions. In Buddhism, because chanting to the Gohonzon enables us to bring out our innate Buddhahood, we are able to break out of our habitual reactions formed, in a quite natural way, by the influences of the three poisons of greed, anger and stupidity in our lives. Instead, we can react with humanity, wisdom and justice.
With a crutch one hobbles along in pretty much the same way, but with this Buddhist practice we are actively seeking to change the old ways of behaviour which have made us suffer and find new and better ways which will bring joy and fulfilment to ourselves and others. Finally, a religion should contribute to both our spiritual and material welfare. In the past, many religions have been concerned only with spiritual needs. Buddhism, however, teaches that a person is inseparable from his environment. It is very difficult to be continually poor, cold and hungry and also be happy. Religion should never ignore this basic fact. In Buddhism the material and the spiritual are of equal importance, and this is why you often hear about people who practise this Buddhism chanting for jobs or places to live.
And it works! So, far from providing a crutch to hobble along with, the teachings of Buddhism are all focused on enabling each person to throw away all crutches and props, and stand alone as a fulfilled, wise, compassionate and creative human being, living life to the full, and creating value out of every situation, even seemingly hopeless ones. This is achieved by bringing out the inherent strength and wisdom which everyone possesses within themselves - their Buddhahood - by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon. As Nichiren Daishonin states:
In Buddhism, that teaching is supreme which enables all people, whether good or evil, to become Buddhas. So reasonable a standard can surely he grasped by anyone.
(Major Writings Vol. 4 p.45).
FAQS on ND Buddhism
I found this very interesting and insightful on the SGI-UK website. Thought I would copy it and paste it for everyone.
All religions are just a crutch, aren't they?
A crutch is very useful if you have a broken leg - and we all have 'broken legs' at some time during our lives. If this were to be all that religion gave us - that is, support in times of need then that in itself would be sufficient reason to have a religion. However, a religion should provide more than this. Fundamentally, all human beings are seeking happiness. Whether or not we can achieve happiness, while not denying the reality of life's inherent suffering, depends on our attitudes. Positive attitudes consist of such feelings as hope, confidence, energy and sensitivity to others. Whether we can sustain such positive attitudes to living depends on what we most value. The thing we value most can be called our 'religion'. With the swing away from spiritual values to materialistic ones, many people nowadays most value money and power. However, these things are obviously transient and provide no solid foundation for happiness in themselves. Of course, material needs are an important contributory factor to happiness, but they are not the whole picture - if we lose all our money, for example, where do we get our hope?
One of the most important things for people's happiness is to keep progressing, to keep searching for self-improvement and the betterment of society. The pursuit of truth may be unfashionable these days in some quarters, but this is what religion should provide. Religion should teach us truths and values to which we can aspire; values that are much more profound than those we would have thought of ourselves in our mundane, day-to-day lives, but which, very importantly, are not unattainable. In Buddhism, the truth of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the Gohonzon, with its limitless, profound philosophical basis, took over 2,000 years of Buddhist thinking and practice to crystallise into its essential form. In fact, one can spend a whole lifetime studying and practising Buddhism and find that the whole philosophy keeps expanding, becoming more and more profound.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, religion should provide us with a means to change from our limited habitual thinking and promote a wider vocabulary of humane thoughts and actions. In Buddhism, because chanting to the Gohonzon enables us to bring out our innate Buddhahood, we are able to break out of our habitual reactions formed, in a quite natural way, by the influences of the three poisons of greed, anger and stupidity in our lives. Instead, we can react with humanity, wisdom and justice.
With a crutch one hobbles along in pretty much the same way, but with this Buddhist practice we are actively seeking to change the old ways of behaviour which have made us suffer and find new and better ways which will bring joy and fulfilment to ourselves and others. Finally, a religion should contribute to both our spiritual and material welfare. In the past, many religions have been concerned only with spiritual needs. Buddhism, however, teaches that a person is inseparable from his environment. It is very difficult to be continually poor, cold and hungry and also be happy. Religion should never ignore this basic fact. In Buddhism the material and the spiritual are of equal importance, and this is why you often hear about people who practise this Buddhism chanting for jobs or places to live.
And it works! So, far from providing a crutch to hobble along with, the teachings of Buddhism are all focused on enabling each person to throw away all crutches and props, and stand alone as a fulfilled, wise, compassionate and creative human being, living life to the full, and creating value out of every situation, even seemingly hopeless ones. This is achieved by bringing out the inherent strength and wisdom which everyone possesses within themselves - their Buddhahood - by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon. As Nichiren Daishonin states:
In Buddhism, that teaching is supreme which enables all people, whether good or evil, to become Buddhas. So reasonable a standard can surely he grasped by anyone.
(Major Writings Vol. 4 p.45).
Guidance from VP Tsuji
Guidance from VP Tsuji
I typed this up for a friend to email it to him. It's something that I am really trying to put into practice as I am still trying to get over the 'holiday/NY hangover'. PTD, this attitude in faith is something that always impressed me about you and your ability to get to that place and 'get it'. Me? well, sometimes It takes me a bit longer and I am reminded by this guidance and continually chant about it. Hope all is doing well. :wink:
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Guidance from Vice President Tsuji
Once we make a determination that we are going to succeed with a wonderful opportunity…then we have to guard our inner, subjective world against the onslaught or the subtle insinuations of the negative voices. Nothing is going to change; it is always going to be the same. If we’re susceptible to that, which most of us are until we are strong enough inside to deflect those voices automatically, we listen to them, and we allow them to influence us. The longer we listen, the more it erodes our prayer. So internally we start replacing our prayer. At some point, we start to agree with the negative voice because that is what we have always done most of our lives.
At that point, our prayer becomes not to succeed. When you chant daimoku (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo), it is what you are thinking and feeling that’s being projected into the universe and because the Law is impartial, we have free will. It is like a mirror. So if we change our prayer unknowingly, then the Law accepts that as what we want. Its non-judgemental.
So our responsibility is that if we want something, to hold that prayer and not allow that negative voice to discourage us. Because we start compromising, and before we know it, we have given up on the prayer. Once we set our determination, do not compromise. Buddhism is win or lose. It is not compromise. Compromise is something we do all of our lives.
So set the determination and chant daimoku for that. Once you set the determination, how you get it and all that becomes the Gohonzon’s responsibility to work it our. Our responsibility is to hold to the prayer without being swayed internally or externally.
It is important every morning to chant to manifest buddhahood . That is the primary point, because if we cannot manifest buddhahood, then we cannot have much effect with our prayers anyway. If we do not understand this point, we spend time chanting for what we want.
What is important too is the concept that we have a Buddha nature. Life itself is Buddha; our whole life is Buddha. Everything born into this world is Buddha. We must not allow ourselves to think of this Buddha nature as something outside ourselves. It is one and inseparable. The Gohonzon is an external object but it is a catalyst to bring forth buddhahood from the depths of life. The buddhahood within us and that which embodies the Gohonzon is the same reality. It looks like two separate things but the unchanging, eternal truth is life itself. You are Buddha now. When you realize this, you start to appreciate and recognize the dignity and the power and the unlimited aspects of your life.
This means that you are a Buddha in charge of your own life. No one else. You can make it what you want it to be. Not what the environment would like it to be. When you realize that your life is Buddha, when you transfer that feeling…that is ichinen sanzen. Then you can draw forth that power to transform or create a buddha’s land where you stand. It is not some place else, or in the future.
The past is just a dream, no matter how good or bad it was….nothing more than a dream. The future is nothing more than imagination. Either positive or negative imagination. In and of itself it has no existence. The Essence of life, which is MYO , is eternal and unchanging. The more you realize your life is Buddha, then the more conviction you will have in your daimoku.
The ultimate ichinen of the Gohonzon is to make the people of any given world equal to themselves. That is why a Buddha appears. To allow all people to open the palace of their own enlightenment and wisdom. If we do not understand this, we are like beggars chanting. At some point the Gohonzon will cease to answer our prayers because if we continue this way we can not attain enlightenment. We are missing the whole point. What you feel about the Gohonzon you can feel about the living Gohonzon inside yourself.
Buddhism is vertical; this present moment is infinite and unlimited and eternal.
There comes a point where you consciously have to start working out your own enlightenment. You cannot just drift along. You could practice all your life still looking at it the wrong way. But by consciously being aware, you can perceive that your life itself is Buddha. You must perceive the nature of your own life. If you cannot realize that, then every time a problem comes up you suffer. You feel hopeless and helpless. But when we realize our life is Buddha, then whenever a problem comes up, great confidence and conviction arises: Because my life is Buddha, I can transform this into a great benefit.
When you can deepen the conviction that your life itself is the entity of Buddha just as we are now, not when we become some perfect being, then when something comes up we can feel no fear or anxiety; it’s just another opportunity to transform it into a greater benefit and transform suffering to joy. Supreme optimist, he or she has no fear of the future, no regret of the past. Their life is Buddha; they can transform anything and make any situation manifest its latent buddhahood. So even in a situation of hell, because they have this deep conviction that their life itself is Buddha, they manifest that conviction and the buddhahood innate within that phenomena or situation rises up to match that.
Guidance from VP Tsuji
I typed this up for a friend to email it to him. It's something that I am really trying to put into practice as I am still trying to get over the 'holiday/NY hangover'. PTD, this attitude in faith is something that always impressed me about you and your ability to get to that place and 'get it'. Me? well, sometimes It takes me a bit longer and I am reminded by this guidance and continually chant about it. Hope all is doing well. :wink:
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Guidance from Vice President Tsuji
Once we make a determination that we are going to succeed with a wonderful opportunity…then we have to guard our inner, subjective world against the onslaught or the subtle insinuations of the negative voices. Nothing is going to change; it is always going to be the same. If we’re susceptible to that, which most of us are until we are strong enough inside to deflect those voices automatically, we listen to them, and we allow them to influence us. The longer we listen, the more it erodes our prayer. So internally we start replacing our prayer. At some point, we start to agree with the negative voice because that is what we have always done most of our lives.
At that point, our prayer becomes not to succeed. When you chant daimoku (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo), it is what you are thinking and feeling that’s being projected into the universe and because the Law is impartial, we have free will. It is like a mirror. So if we change our prayer unknowingly, then the Law accepts that as what we want. Its non-judgemental.
So our responsibility is that if we want something, to hold that prayer and not allow that negative voice to discourage us. Because we start compromising, and before we know it, we have given up on the prayer. Once we set our determination, do not compromise. Buddhism is win or lose. It is not compromise. Compromise is something we do all of our lives.
So set the determination and chant daimoku for that. Once you set the determination, how you get it and all that becomes the Gohonzon’s responsibility to work it our. Our responsibility is to hold to the prayer without being swayed internally or externally.
It is important every morning to chant to manifest buddhahood . That is the primary point, because if we cannot manifest buddhahood, then we cannot have much effect with our prayers anyway. If we do not understand this point, we spend time chanting for what we want.
What is important too is the concept that we have a Buddha nature. Life itself is Buddha; our whole life is Buddha. Everything born into this world is Buddha. We must not allow ourselves to think of this Buddha nature as something outside ourselves. It is one and inseparable. The Gohonzon is an external object but it is a catalyst to bring forth buddhahood from the depths of life. The buddhahood within us and that which embodies the Gohonzon is the same reality. It looks like two separate things but the unchanging, eternal truth is life itself. You are Buddha now. When you realize this, you start to appreciate and recognize the dignity and the power and the unlimited aspects of your life.
This means that you are a Buddha in charge of your own life. No one else. You can make it what you want it to be. Not what the environment would like it to be. When you realize that your life is Buddha, when you transfer that feeling…that is ichinen sanzen. Then you can draw forth that power to transform or create a buddha’s land where you stand. It is not some place else, or in the future.
The past is just a dream, no matter how good or bad it was….nothing more than a dream. The future is nothing more than imagination. Either positive or negative imagination. In and of itself it has no existence. The Essence of life, which is MYO , is eternal and unchanging. The more you realize your life is Buddha, then the more conviction you will have in your daimoku.
The ultimate ichinen of the Gohonzon is to make the people of any given world equal to themselves. That is why a Buddha appears. To allow all people to open the palace of their own enlightenment and wisdom. If we do not understand this, we are like beggars chanting. At some point the Gohonzon will cease to answer our prayers because if we continue this way we can not attain enlightenment. We are missing the whole point. What you feel about the Gohonzon you can feel about the living Gohonzon inside yourself.
Buddhism is vertical; this present moment is infinite and unlimited and eternal.
There comes a point where you consciously have to start working out your own enlightenment. You cannot just drift along. You could practice all your life still looking at it the wrong way. But by consciously being aware, you can perceive that your life itself is Buddha. You must perceive the nature of your own life. If you cannot realize that, then every time a problem comes up you suffer. You feel hopeless and helpless. But when we realize our life is Buddha, then whenever a problem comes up, great confidence and conviction arises: Because my life is Buddha, I can transform this into a great benefit.
When you can deepen the conviction that your life itself is the entity of Buddha just as we are now, not when we become some perfect being, then when something comes up we can feel no fear or anxiety; it’s just another opportunity to transform it into a greater benefit and transform suffering to joy. Supreme optimist, he or she has no fear of the future, no regret of the past. Their life is Buddha; they can transform anything and make any situation manifest its latent buddhahood. So even in a situation of hell, because they have this deep conviction that their life itself is Buddha, they manifest that conviction and the buddhahood innate within that phenomena or situation rises up to match that.
You are immortal!
You are immortal!
All said here is so true and I see Buddhism as the truth that can encompass all religions. The Human Revolution intregues me because this is what I see too. We can't expect the churches to get together and teach the way to enlightenment when they try and dominate each other. Gradually more and more people come to believe the peaceful way but how do they realize their immortality?
The truth about enlightenment not needing a church has been repressed. I feel that young people are supposed to have a rebirth experience because this is when I knew my immortality to be a fact. No one can really convince you of this without this out of body-like experience in my opinion. This knowledge changed my view and made me a different person over night. My wife was there with me and she saw the change in me.
Funny how you mentioned the futility of political systems to affect the human nature because all eutopian societies fail to live up to expectations due to the human nature we seek to change. From stupid animalistic thinking to more enlightened understanding. Surely this will happen eventually but Buddah's need to keep coming and showing by example how they achieved this transformation.
I swear if I were allowed to teach a group of open minded teenagers that in a month many could be led to have this experience. Perhaps it is the vision quest of the native americans. The being reborn of Christians or the nirvana of Buddhists and Hindu's. But for any religion I think the experience is the same and it comes from somewhere.
There is some sort of plan to make this happen with increasing frequency as the latter days pass. Signs are being seen that the time grows short and so I believe there is some urgency in my mission. So far all I have managed to do is create an audience online, teach growing and a humane attitude. Now I feel this is leading me to do more and I see a place or rebirthing. If only there is time enough many could be brought to the state that would allow them to be a part of the new earth.
Remember the kid smothered in a rebirthing process? This seems to me to be another attempt to repress the value of even being born again. But, what were they doing to that kid at that age? It wasn't nirvana. BOG
You are immortal!
All said here is so true and I see Buddhism as the truth that can encompass all religions. The Human Revolution intregues me because this is what I see too. We can't expect the churches to get together and teach the way to enlightenment when they try and dominate each other. Gradually more and more people come to believe the peaceful way but how do they realize their immortality?
The truth about enlightenment not needing a church has been repressed. I feel that young people are supposed to have a rebirth experience because this is when I knew my immortality to be a fact. No one can really convince you of this without this out of body-like experience in my opinion. This knowledge changed my view and made me a different person over night. My wife was there with me and she saw the change in me.
Funny how you mentioned the futility of political systems to affect the human nature because all eutopian societies fail to live up to expectations due to the human nature we seek to change. From stupid animalistic thinking to more enlightened understanding. Surely this will happen eventually but Buddah's need to keep coming and showing by example how they achieved this transformation.
I swear if I were allowed to teach a group of open minded teenagers that in a month many could be led to have this experience. Perhaps it is the vision quest of the native americans. The being reborn of Christians or the nirvana of Buddhists and Hindu's. But for any religion I think the experience is the same and it comes from somewhere.
There is some sort of plan to make this happen with increasing frequency as the latter days pass. Signs are being seen that the time grows short and so I believe there is some urgency in my mission. So far all I have managed to do is create an audience online, teach growing and a humane attitude. Now I feel this is leading me to do more and I see a place or rebirthing. If only there is time enough many could be brought to the state that would allow them to be a part of the new earth.
Remember the kid smothered in a rebirthing process? This seems to me to be another attempt to repress the value of even being born again. But, what were they doing to that kid at that age? It wasn't nirvana. BOG
Last edited:
Well I made it
Well I made it
I effectively avoided committing ha-wagoso, one of the five cardinal sins of Buddhism. My heartfelt thanks to my buds, Babbabud, BOG and SoCal. SoCal is the only one that posts here that really knows me, but BOG and Babba were standing tall in the vibes that they sent and the things that they helped me contemplate. I think all three of you know what this was about. I appreciate you all from the depths of my life.
If you can wait two hours before you react to something, do so. If having made it to two hours, see if you can go two days. If you can make it to two days, see if you can make it to two weeks. Many times, silence is golden; and being silent the most appropriate thing to be. Thanks to my brothers!
Thomas
Well I made it
I effectively avoided committing ha-wagoso, one of the five cardinal sins of Buddhism. My heartfelt thanks to my buds, Babbabud, BOG and SoCal. SoCal is the only one that posts here that really knows me, but BOG and Babba were standing tall in the vibes that they sent and the things that they helped me contemplate. I think all three of you know what this was about. I appreciate you all from the depths of my life.
If you can wait two hours before you react to something, do so. If having made it to two hours, see if you can go two days. If you can make it to two days, see if you can make it to two weeks. Many times, silence is golden; and being silent the most appropriate thing to be. Thanks to my brothers!
Thomas
G
Guest
Thanks SoCal
Thanks SoCal
I so much appreciate your guidance from VP Tsuji. It so much applies to what I needed to hear today and releases the doubts that had entered my heart. I know what my prayers are and this time I will win. I know it. The greatest benefit of my life thus far. Once you learn to do this naturally, your life becomes the prayer. With kindest regards, Southern Girl
Thanks SoCal
I so much appreciate your guidance from VP Tsuji. It so much applies to what I needed to hear today and releases the doubts that had entered my heart. I know what my prayers are and this time I will win. I know it. The greatest benefit of my life thus far. Once you learn to do this naturally, your life becomes the prayer. With kindest regards, Southern Girl
More guidance
More guidance
I just found this. Author is unknown but I am assuming it is sgi Pres Daisaku Ikeda. Some real good points for me to remember in my quest of attaining Buddhahood. :smile: My hope that it will help others also. Excuse any typos and if some terms are not understandable please ask and I will find the meaning or you can go to: http://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/sgdb/
Buddhism is always action and practice.
In the Latter Day of the Law, earnest faith, the will to understand and live up to the Law, is the cause for attaining Buddhood.
Although we are all Buddha's, we are born as common mortals. This is so that, through our human revolution and showing proof of the Mystic Law, we can accomplish kosen rufu.
Dialogue is the lifeline of Buddhism. Sincere dialogue is the sunlight that can soften and melt hearts that are thoroughly frozen over.
The causes of our happiness and misfortune all exist within our own lives. The fundamental cause of people's unhappiness lies in their attachments of various kinds. The spirit of the Lotus Sutra is not to eradicate, but to transform desires, just as they are, into enlightenment.
Buddhism is a religion of wisdom. Buddhism teaches the supreme way to live. The Daishonin's Buddhism teaches "substituting faith for wisdom". The Buddha is earnest. He racks his mind and excercises ingenuity.
In any age, understanding the hearts of the people is the basis for victory. A genuine leader, a true leader of Buddhism makes the greatest efforts to understand people's hearts, to understand their thoughts and to understand their struggles.
It is not necessary to go far away or to become someone special. Regardless of whether we experience suffering or joy, as long as we sincerely continue to pray to the Gohonzon and take action for kosen rufu, then, just as we are, we will definitely become Buddhas and will fulfill our own unique mission.
Ours is a struggle to brighten and illuminate the place where we are. The purpose of life is to construct and solidify a state of absolute happiness, a condition in which to be alive is itself a great joy.
More guidance
I just found this. Author is unknown but I am assuming it is sgi Pres Daisaku Ikeda. Some real good points for me to remember in my quest of attaining Buddhahood. :smile: My hope that it will help others also. Excuse any typos and if some terms are not understandable please ask and I will find the meaning or you can go to: http://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/sgdb/
Buddhism is always action and practice.
In the Latter Day of the Law, earnest faith, the will to understand and live up to the Law, is the cause for attaining Buddhood.
Although we are all Buddha's, we are born as common mortals. This is so that, through our human revolution and showing proof of the Mystic Law, we can accomplish kosen rufu.
Dialogue is the lifeline of Buddhism. Sincere dialogue is the sunlight that can soften and melt hearts that are thoroughly frozen over.
The causes of our happiness and misfortune all exist within our own lives. The fundamental cause of people's unhappiness lies in their attachments of various kinds. The spirit of the Lotus Sutra is not to eradicate, but to transform desires, just as they are, into enlightenment.
Buddhism is a religion of wisdom. Buddhism teaches the supreme way to live. The Daishonin's Buddhism teaches "substituting faith for wisdom". The Buddha is earnest. He racks his mind and excercises ingenuity.
In any age, understanding the hearts of the people is the basis for victory. A genuine leader, a true leader of Buddhism makes the greatest efforts to understand people's hearts, to understand their thoughts and to understand their struggles.
It is not necessary to go far away or to become someone special. Regardless of whether we experience suffering or joy, as long as we sincerely continue to pray to the Gohonzon and take action for kosen rufu, then, just as we are, we will definitely become Buddhas and will fulfill our own unique mission.
Ours is a struggle to brighten and illuminate the place where we are. The purpose of life is to construct and solidify a state of absolute happiness, a condition in which to be alive is itself a great joy.
musta been busy weekend for all
musta been busy weekend for all
For the inquiring minds on this thread...found another interesting FAQ on Nichiren Buddhism that helps answer the question about chanting the words: Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo....its on the SGI-UK website: http://www.buddhalife.org/FAQ/faq.htm
(a little British humor in the last line)
Why chant 'Nam-myoho-renge-kyo' and not, say, 'bacon and eggs'? Do the words themselves have power?
There are two parts to this question: the first concerns the fundamental Law of life, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the second our relationship to it. We could ask 'why?' of many things we don't fully understand; indeed, why do we call the universe, 'universe' or Great Britain, 'Great Britain'? Of course, every word has a history, but exactly why particular sounds were chosen to designate particular objects or ideas is very difficult to see, even when those objects and ideas are familiar to us. Then again, the process by which the sounds of words conjure up images of their meaning in our minds is itself obscure and difficult to understand, and the effect they can have on us is even more incredible.
In short, all words have power. Words can make people happy or sad, angry or loving, and so on. Even the innocent words 'bacon and eggs' can send you off to the shops to buy some. Language has a more profound effect on our lives than we know. Nichiren Daishonin says: "They say that.... if you so much as hear the words 'pickled plum', your mouth will begin to water. Even in everyday life there are such wonders, so how much greater are the wonders of the Lotus Sutra." (Major Writings, vol.3, pp.34).
Historically, Myoho-renge-kyo is the title and essence of the Lotus Sutra, the highest of Shakyamuni's teachings, as translated from Sanskrit into ancient Chinese characters. Nichiren Daishonin placed 'nam', a Sanskrit word meaning 'devotion', in front of these characters; so that in simple terms Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means to devote one's life to the ultimate Law of the universe. Each of the characters themselves contain extremely profound principles of life, however, and together they express how everything in the cosmos works in one harmonious relationship.
Of course this is extremely difficult to believe and understand, but that does not mean it cannot be understood, or that chanting this phrase does not have a profound effect on our lives.
Scientists and mathematicians use formulae and language which are quite incomprehensible to most other people, but they can convey even the most difficult concepts to each other with accurate use of these expressions. Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), says: "In the same manner, when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...with faith in the Gohonzon, even if we don't understand its profound meaning, we can tap the condition of Buddhahood. Our voice chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo permeates the cosmos and reaches the life condition of Buddhahood and all the Buddhas in the universe. It also penetrates our lives, enabling us to unlock the palace of Buddhahood, or the supreme life condition of eternity, happiness, true self and purity. It is the same as music that, without any explanation, reaches and filters into people's hearts, calling forth a sympathetic response from them."
The most important point to remember is that everyone who chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, whether highly intellectual or totally illiterate, can draw out of themselves the state of Buddhahood which influences all the other states in our life and guides our actions in the very midst of our day-to-day struggles and problems. Although it is very difficult to believe at first, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the essence of everyone's life, and when we chant this phrase it affects us in countless positive ways, from the very core of our lives, from the inside out.
The extent to which we can benefit from chanting depends not on the power inherent in the characters Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is limitless, but entirely on how much sincere effort we make when we practise. The natural Law of life is in everything, but only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taking action in our daily lives can we tap or activate it, and so enable it to work for the happiness of ourselves and other people. Buddhism talks about the principle of the 'four powers': the power of the Buddha, the power of the Law, the power of faith and the power of practice. The first two are embodied in the Gohonzon, but are only activated by the powers of faith and practice of the person who chants to it. In other words it is the power of our faith and practice which determines the extent to which the power of the Gohonzon can appear in our lives. Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, said that it is vital to understand this point:
"I often hear new members complain that they have not yet received any benefit. I find the majority of those people are preoccupied solely with getting benefit and pay no attention to strengthening their own powers of faith and practice. The statement 'Knock and it shall be opened unto you' serves as a good illustration of the four powers. For example, if one exerts his powers of faith and practice to a factor of 100, the powers of the Buddha and the Law will also be manifested to the power of 100. Likewise, the powers of faith and practice exerted to a factor of 10,000 will manifest the powers of the Buddha and the Law to a factor of 10,000. We should fix this principle in our minds and dedicate ourselves to faith and practice without reservation."
Ultimately this means that we can see the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo only by putting it into practice - that is, by chanting sincerely, and taking action based on the wisdom gained from our chanting. What's more, if we do so while bearing in mind the principle of the four powers outlined above, we will begin to see that we can gradually reveal more and more of the power we inherently possess. And when we do this, we will understand that it really is much better to eat bacon and eggs - and chant only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
musta been busy weekend for all
For the inquiring minds on this thread...found another interesting FAQ on Nichiren Buddhism that helps answer the question about chanting the words: Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo....its on the SGI-UK website: http://www.buddhalife.org/FAQ/faq.htm
(a little British humor in the last line)
Why chant 'Nam-myoho-renge-kyo' and not, say, 'bacon and eggs'? Do the words themselves have power?
There are two parts to this question: the first concerns the fundamental Law of life, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and the second our relationship to it. We could ask 'why?' of many things we don't fully understand; indeed, why do we call the universe, 'universe' or Great Britain, 'Great Britain'? Of course, every word has a history, but exactly why particular sounds were chosen to designate particular objects or ideas is very difficult to see, even when those objects and ideas are familiar to us. Then again, the process by which the sounds of words conjure up images of their meaning in our minds is itself obscure and difficult to understand, and the effect they can have on us is even more incredible.
In short, all words have power. Words can make people happy or sad, angry or loving, and so on. Even the innocent words 'bacon and eggs' can send you off to the shops to buy some. Language has a more profound effect on our lives than we know. Nichiren Daishonin says: "They say that.... if you so much as hear the words 'pickled plum', your mouth will begin to water. Even in everyday life there are such wonders, so how much greater are the wonders of the Lotus Sutra." (Major Writings, vol.3, pp.34).
Historically, Myoho-renge-kyo is the title and essence of the Lotus Sutra, the highest of Shakyamuni's teachings, as translated from Sanskrit into ancient Chinese characters. Nichiren Daishonin placed 'nam', a Sanskrit word meaning 'devotion', in front of these characters; so that in simple terms Nam-myoho-renge-kyo means to devote one's life to the ultimate Law of the universe. Each of the characters themselves contain extremely profound principles of life, however, and together they express how everything in the cosmos works in one harmonious relationship.
Of course this is extremely difficult to believe and understand, but that does not mean it cannot be understood, or that chanting this phrase does not have a profound effect on our lives.
Scientists and mathematicians use formulae and language which are quite incomprehensible to most other people, but they can convey even the most difficult concepts to each other with accurate use of these expressions. Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), says: "In the same manner, when we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...with faith in the Gohonzon, even if we don't understand its profound meaning, we can tap the condition of Buddhahood. Our voice chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo permeates the cosmos and reaches the life condition of Buddhahood and all the Buddhas in the universe. It also penetrates our lives, enabling us to unlock the palace of Buddhahood, or the supreme life condition of eternity, happiness, true self and purity. It is the same as music that, without any explanation, reaches and filters into people's hearts, calling forth a sympathetic response from them."
The most important point to remember is that everyone who chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, whether highly intellectual or totally illiterate, can draw out of themselves the state of Buddhahood which influences all the other states in our life and guides our actions in the very midst of our day-to-day struggles and problems. Although it is very difficult to believe at first, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the essence of everyone's life, and when we chant this phrase it affects us in countless positive ways, from the very core of our lives, from the inside out.
The extent to which we can benefit from chanting depends not on the power inherent in the characters Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is limitless, but entirely on how much sincere effort we make when we practise. The natural Law of life is in everything, but only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taking action in our daily lives can we tap or activate it, and so enable it to work for the happiness of ourselves and other people. Buddhism talks about the principle of the 'four powers': the power of the Buddha, the power of the Law, the power of faith and the power of practice. The first two are embodied in the Gohonzon, but are only activated by the powers of faith and practice of the person who chants to it. In other words it is the power of our faith and practice which determines the extent to which the power of the Gohonzon can appear in our lives. Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, said that it is vital to understand this point:
"I often hear new members complain that they have not yet received any benefit. I find the majority of those people are preoccupied solely with getting benefit and pay no attention to strengthening their own powers of faith and practice. The statement 'Knock and it shall be opened unto you' serves as a good illustration of the four powers. For example, if one exerts his powers of faith and practice to a factor of 100, the powers of the Buddha and the Law will also be manifested to the power of 100. Likewise, the powers of faith and practice exerted to a factor of 10,000 will manifest the powers of the Buddha and the Law to a factor of 10,000. We should fix this principle in our minds and dedicate ourselves to faith and practice without reservation."
Ultimately this means that we can see the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo only by putting it into practice - that is, by chanting sincerely, and taking action based on the wisdom gained from our chanting. What's more, if we do so while bearing in mind the principle of the four powers outlined above, we will begin to see that we can gradually reveal more and more of the power we inherently possess. And when we do this, we will understand that it really is much better to eat bacon and eggs - and chant only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
An Experience
An Experience
I am a Buddha – a Woman of Unlimited Self Esteem
By Leah Bryant
Before I started practising Nichiren Daishonn’s Buddhism in 1990, I lived a very
hungry and angry lifestyle. I was working illegally in the US after completing
my studies there.
The pay was low because I was illegal. I lived from paycheck to paycheck. I
didn’t save the money I earned. I was depressed and angry. I went to movies,
discos, shopped, drank beers and smoked many cigarettes to fill the emotional
pain. By mid-month I never had money left to pay the utility bills or buy
groceries.
My mother had drummed into me that I was stupid and naïve and would never amount
to anything. I believed her and had no self-esteem. Whenever I had a problem at
work I was too scared to speak to the boss- my tongue would dry up and I would
cry because I couldn’t express or articulate my needs.
In 1990 I spoke about this to my travel agent in Miami, Heather Adir, and she
suggested I chant Nam Myo-ho Renge Kyo three times before I talk to my boss.
Suddenly I had power and conviction in myself. I got the raise and the terms I
needed. I never looked back.
Chanting gave me a new sense of self-worth and self-respect. From then on I have
had many wonderful experiences, humongous obstacles, but tremendous growth as a
human being.
I managed two record companies and worked with many world-renowned artists and
actors, mostly because of my training as a Byakuren and other responsibilities I
held in SGI-USA.
I always had a beautiful place to live especially since it was usually the
district or chapter meeting place. As a foreigner living abroad in the United
States, I had continuous protection from the Gohonzon. With the help of US
Immigration I even managed to overturn my illegal status by getting continual
business visas.
I returned to Kenya as a single mother to raise my young daughter and fulfill
the determination I made to Sensei that in the 21st Century that I would be a
leader for African kosen rufu. Living with my mother brought back all the old
fears and I began to lose my self-esteem all over again. Daily fighting made me
wish I could leave her but I felt guilty at the same time. My life condition
wavered as did my practice.
My boss was also shouting at me and I decided I had had enough and quit a
well-paying job with no idea how I would live but knew that I must become happy.
My fellow member Angelika and I decided to set up a mini-kaikan [Buddhist
Community Center] so that we could make the cause to have many members in
Mombasa.
I made a fresh determination on January 1 2004 that by December 31st, I would
have total victory in my career, my home and my relationships with my family. I
also determined that my daughter and I would become happy, and that I would do
my utmost for kosen rufu in Kenya. I started chanting consistently again,
studying the Gosho and Sensei’s guidance. I threw myself into activities.
Out of the blue in April I was called to Nairobi and informed by SGI Japan and
our Africa affairs leader Mr. Minai that I would be appointed as Vice National
Women’s leader, Chapter leader, Treasurer and on the Executive committee board
for SGI Kenya. I was shocked and scared but my training reminded me to accept
with courage and joy.
Now I had to really had to show actual proof of this faith not only to my family
and friends but also to my fellow members. How could I do that with no job, very
little income from my farming, and living with my mother at my age and with a
young daughter who would need to go to school soon?
Somehow I knew that I needed to take my self-esteem back and that it would mean
digging deep into myself to eradicate all the negative and destructive feelings
I held on to from childhood.
Mystically I started finding articles about women and self-esteem. The guidance
was to chant to have unlimited self-esteem, to awaken your own greatness, to
manifest the extraordinary side of you, to be outrageously successful, to
display your Buddhahood, to consistently manifest your Buddha nature and to
finally really respect, appreciate and value yourself because you are a Buddha.
It was so difficult and painful in the beginning. I realized I no longer
believed in myself and my Buddhahood.
I made goals half-heartedly and the results were equally minimal. Slowly but
surely, I started seeing concrete tangible benefits.
We helped organize a Women and Young Women’s training seminar in Mombasa in
September. The topic was “Peace Begins With Me”. The focus of the open, honest,
gut-wrenching emotional and passionate discussions was “Self-esteem and
Believing you are a Buddha”.
We all grew that weekend. I know that I did. When Mr. Minai, our SGI African
Affairs leader came from London in October for a leadership training we
organized, I asked him for guidance regarding attaining benefits. He said we
must make sure we are practicing correctly, making concrete goals with
deadlines, and that we must have pure faith.
I read from the Gosho Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon:
“Whether or not your prayer is answered will depend on your faith; (if it is
not) I will be in no way to blame…faith that is weak is like muddy water, while
faith that is brave is like clear water.”
I determined to muster up all my faith, and to engage the power of the mystic
law to show actual proof of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
I knew that I had to have a stable job again so that I could be independent,
give my daughter the education and opportunities she deserved to have, and move
to a wonderful home for kosen rufu.
With my WD leader Masumi Odari’s encouragement, I set a goal that I would have
my job for kosen rufu by November 18th with a certain salary figure. I also
wrote the guidance my best friend in the U.S. Judie Macalino had been given by
Sensei: chant for a job that would use my talents and skills, be financially
rewarding, and still have time for activities.
The day before Mr. Minai came down to Mombasa my ex-boss called my District
Leader to enquire about me because he had a project in mind for me. I was
shocked. I didn’t want to work for him again in that position of strict Clearing
and Forwarding. And I had left his job without proper notice! I used to even
hide if I saw him at the supermarket.
I chanted and realized I am a Buddha, a Lion King!
I read in The Drum at the Gate of Thunder: “ 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.”
I realized this might be the answer to my prayers and I should put my trust in
the Gohonzon instead of having fears. The least it would do would be to change
poison into medicine. I made the call. By November 15th after a bit of very
courageous, firm and confident negotiation I was employed as the Business
Development Manager for Spedag International, with my first account being
Clearing and Forwarding for Lafarge Kenya and Uganda (cement factories). I got
the salary I wrote down -- even after taxes! I have my own office and my own
staff and am now a Senior Manager in the company. In February I will receive my
company car which will help me get to Chapter activities.
Now at work I get to do what I enjoy doing-pushing, organizing, communicating
and keeping all the VIP’s happy- all traits learned from my training as
Byakuren.
The boss that I used to have so many problems with, whose happiness I chanted
sincerely for last year, has changed his character and is now my greatest ally
in the company. He comes to me for advice about personnel problems because he
says as a Buddhist I see through people and get the truth.
My job will be flying me to Nairobi a few times a month so that I can continue
to perform my duties as a SGI National leader for board meetings etc.
My relationship with my mother has improved as we have been able to have heart
to heart discussions and I have learned not to fight back but to appreciate her
for everything she sacrificed for me, as well as being my zenshi shiki [good
friend].
My daughter is enrolled in a good nursery school and has learned how to chant.
Again with Masumi’s encouragement I put another goal to have my house for kosen
rufu, near the beach, at a certain rent by December 31st. I have just signed the
lease- the cottage is beautiful, on a compound right next to the beach, and the
rent is exactly what I wrote!
My daughter and I will start moving our belongings in on Christmas Day! I am so
excited as this will be the first time I have ever rented my own place in Kenya!
I have renewed my faith and am filled with incredible joy that I had the
courage, determination and wisdom to believe in the Gohonzon, which meant I had
to believe in myself. I AM a BUDDHA! I AM manifesting the extraordinary side of
me. I AM a woman of unlimited self-esteem!!!
An Experience
I am a Buddha – a Woman of Unlimited Self Esteem
By Leah Bryant
Before I started practising Nichiren Daishonn’s Buddhism in 1990, I lived a very
hungry and angry lifestyle. I was working illegally in the US after completing
my studies there.
The pay was low because I was illegal. I lived from paycheck to paycheck. I
didn’t save the money I earned. I was depressed and angry. I went to movies,
discos, shopped, drank beers and smoked many cigarettes to fill the emotional
pain. By mid-month I never had money left to pay the utility bills or buy
groceries.
My mother had drummed into me that I was stupid and naïve and would never amount
to anything. I believed her and had no self-esteem. Whenever I had a problem at
work I was too scared to speak to the boss- my tongue would dry up and I would
cry because I couldn’t express or articulate my needs.
In 1990 I spoke about this to my travel agent in Miami, Heather Adir, and she
suggested I chant Nam Myo-ho Renge Kyo three times before I talk to my boss.
Suddenly I had power and conviction in myself. I got the raise and the terms I
needed. I never looked back.
Chanting gave me a new sense of self-worth and self-respect. From then on I have
had many wonderful experiences, humongous obstacles, but tremendous growth as a
human being.
I managed two record companies and worked with many world-renowned artists and
actors, mostly because of my training as a Byakuren and other responsibilities I
held in SGI-USA.
I always had a beautiful place to live especially since it was usually the
district or chapter meeting place. As a foreigner living abroad in the United
States, I had continuous protection from the Gohonzon. With the help of US
Immigration I even managed to overturn my illegal status by getting continual
business visas.
I returned to Kenya as a single mother to raise my young daughter and fulfill
the determination I made to Sensei that in the 21st Century that I would be a
leader for African kosen rufu. Living with my mother brought back all the old
fears and I began to lose my self-esteem all over again. Daily fighting made me
wish I could leave her but I felt guilty at the same time. My life condition
wavered as did my practice.
My boss was also shouting at me and I decided I had had enough and quit a
well-paying job with no idea how I would live but knew that I must become happy.
My fellow member Angelika and I decided to set up a mini-kaikan [Buddhist
Community Center] so that we could make the cause to have many members in
Mombasa.
I made a fresh determination on January 1 2004 that by December 31st, I would
have total victory in my career, my home and my relationships with my family. I
also determined that my daughter and I would become happy, and that I would do
my utmost for kosen rufu in Kenya. I started chanting consistently again,
studying the Gosho and Sensei’s guidance. I threw myself into activities.
Out of the blue in April I was called to Nairobi and informed by SGI Japan and
our Africa affairs leader Mr. Minai that I would be appointed as Vice National
Women’s leader, Chapter leader, Treasurer and on the Executive committee board
for SGI Kenya. I was shocked and scared but my training reminded me to accept
with courage and joy.
Now I had to really had to show actual proof of this faith not only to my family
and friends but also to my fellow members. How could I do that with no job, very
little income from my farming, and living with my mother at my age and with a
young daughter who would need to go to school soon?
Somehow I knew that I needed to take my self-esteem back and that it would mean
digging deep into myself to eradicate all the negative and destructive feelings
I held on to from childhood.
Mystically I started finding articles about women and self-esteem. The guidance
was to chant to have unlimited self-esteem, to awaken your own greatness, to
manifest the extraordinary side of you, to be outrageously successful, to
display your Buddhahood, to consistently manifest your Buddha nature and to
finally really respect, appreciate and value yourself because you are a Buddha.
It was so difficult and painful in the beginning. I realized I no longer
believed in myself and my Buddhahood.
I made goals half-heartedly and the results were equally minimal. Slowly but
surely, I started seeing concrete tangible benefits.
We helped organize a Women and Young Women’s training seminar in Mombasa in
September. The topic was “Peace Begins With Me”. The focus of the open, honest,
gut-wrenching emotional and passionate discussions was “Self-esteem and
Believing you are a Buddha”.
We all grew that weekend. I know that I did. When Mr. Minai, our SGI African
Affairs leader came from London in October for a leadership training we
organized, I asked him for guidance regarding attaining benefits. He said we
must make sure we are practicing correctly, making concrete goals with
deadlines, and that we must have pure faith.
I read from the Gosho Reply to the Lay Nun Nichigon:
“Whether or not your prayer is answered will depend on your faith; (if it is
not) I will be in no way to blame…faith that is weak is like muddy water, while
faith that is brave is like clear water.”
I determined to muster up all my faith, and to engage the power of the mystic
law to show actual proof of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.
I knew that I had to have a stable job again so that I could be independent,
give my daughter the education and opportunities she deserved to have, and move
to a wonderful home for kosen rufu.
With my WD leader Masumi Odari’s encouragement, I set a goal that I would have
my job for kosen rufu by November 18th with a certain salary figure. I also
wrote the guidance my best friend in the U.S. Judie Macalino had been given by
Sensei: chant for a job that would use my talents and skills, be financially
rewarding, and still have time for activities.
The day before Mr. Minai came down to Mombasa my ex-boss called my District
Leader to enquire about me because he had a project in mind for me. I was
shocked. I didn’t want to work for him again in that position of strict Clearing
and Forwarding. And I had left his job without proper notice! I used to even
hide if I saw him at the supermarket.
I chanted and realized I am a Buddha, a Lion King!
I read in The Drum at the Gate of Thunder: “ 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.”
I realized this might be the answer to my prayers and I should put my trust in
the Gohonzon instead of having fears. The least it would do would be to change
poison into medicine. I made the call. By November 15th after a bit of very
courageous, firm and confident negotiation I was employed as the Business
Development Manager for Spedag International, with my first account being
Clearing and Forwarding for Lafarge Kenya and Uganda (cement factories). I got
the salary I wrote down -- even after taxes! I have my own office and my own
staff and am now a Senior Manager in the company. In February I will receive my
company car which will help me get to Chapter activities.
Now at work I get to do what I enjoy doing-pushing, organizing, communicating
and keeping all the VIP’s happy- all traits learned from my training as
Byakuren.
The boss that I used to have so many problems with, whose happiness I chanted
sincerely for last year, has changed his character and is now my greatest ally
in the company. He comes to me for advice about personnel problems because he
says as a Buddhist I see through people and get the truth.
My job will be flying me to Nairobi a few times a month so that I can continue
to perform my duties as a SGI National leader for board meetings etc.
My relationship with my mother has improved as we have been able to have heart
to heart discussions and I have learned not to fight back but to appreciate her
for everything she sacrificed for me, as well as being my zenshi shiki [good
friend].
My daughter is enrolled in a good nursery school and has learned how to chant.
Again with Masumi’s encouragement I put another goal to have my house for kosen
rufu, near the beach, at a certain rent by December 31st. I have just signed the
lease- the cottage is beautiful, on a compound right next to the beach, and the
rent is exactly what I wrote!
My daughter and I will start moving our belongings in on Christmas Day! I am so
excited as this will be the first time I have ever rented my own place in Kenya!
I have renewed my faith and am filled with incredible joy that I had the
courage, determination and wisdom to believe in the Gohonzon, which meant I had
to believe in myself. I AM a BUDDHA! I AM manifesting the extraordinary side of
me. I AM a woman of unlimited self-esteem!!!
Tom's, return is a positive sign to me...
Tom's, return is a positive sign to me...
First, So Cal Hippy I want to thank you so much for the relevent passages you placed in the thread recently. We all have doubts and problems with self esteem but faith is so important. Sometimes I wonder how those who haven't been shown what I saw manage to even believe.
Parents often unwittingly brand their children with negative labels for life. I think perhaps this is why with just some dialog we can bring a person back to their faith. Even without knowing as I do others who have had no special experience seem to display true faith not just belief.
I have had faith since age 15 and it doesn't seem hard for me to know what I knew then. But, I still doubt my self and I don't know why. I still fear making mistakes and find myself apolagizing all the time. I am certainly quite imperfect despite what I consider my unearned advantage.
Nothing could rock my faith especially after witnessing to this group. This thread always inspires me and I have been practicing my chanting a lot.
TOM, I missed you and this morning I said to Mrs. BOG that I was worried about you. Then today you had posted and all seemed better again. Have you ever noticed what I term, "the bad luck wave"? It seems everything keeps going wrong for a time then suddenly something happens to tell you that the future is bright! I expect good news soon my friend and I hope your day is the best. Your clear thinking and passion makes some days hard for you too I am sure. Your love and faith are an icon to us all as one who has studied and practiced for so long.
One night that summer a different ufo came and it was rectangular rather than triangular this time. It rotated on my dirt road and I had binoculars on it. Looked sorta like a Star Trek Shuttle craft or slightly bigger and suddenly as it rotated to face me from about 1/4 mile away a bright arc came up out of a sort of hood in the front. This arc was a headlight of unknown candlepower that shown all around lighting up the forests on all sides of the farm fields in the surrounding mile area.
Suddenly it moved quickly skimming the field across the road rapidly back and forth and it looked unreal because it was on the ground and moving in all directions so fast all over the field like a cartoon. Now I wonder if that's how Crop Circles are made. Anyways it then shut down the light and went down by the river for a while and it was on the ground. At this time we saw small lights going back and forth on a square perimeter around the craft. I believe it had remote eyes up as a security precaution while it was on the ground. This was the time we may have been temporarily abducted... BOG
More to come... I think they might be buddhists...
Tom's, return is a positive sign to me...
First, So Cal Hippy I want to thank you so much for the relevent passages you placed in the thread recently. We all have doubts and problems with self esteem but faith is so important. Sometimes I wonder how those who haven't been shown what I saw manage to even believe.
Parents often unwittingly brand their children with negative labels for life. I think perhaps this is why with just some dialog we can bring a person back to their faith. Even without knowing as I do others who have had no special experience seem to display true faith not just belief.
I have had faith since age 15 and it doesn't seem hard for me to know what I knew then. But, I still doubt my self and I don't know why. I still fear making mistakes and find myself apolagizing all the time. I am certainly quite imperfect despite what I consider my unearned advantage.
Nothing could rock my faith especially after witnessing to this group. This thread always inspires me and I have been practicing my chanting a lot.
TOM, I missed you and this morning I said to Mrs. BOG that I was worried about you. Then today you had posted and all seemed better again. Have you ever noticed what I term, "the bad luck wave"? It seems everything keeps going wrong for a time then suddenly something happens to tell you that the future is bright! I expect good news soon my friend and I hope your day is the best. Your clear thinking and passion makes some days hard for you too I am sure. Your love and faith are an icon to us all as one who has studied and practiced for so long.
One night that summer a different ufo came and it was rectangular rather than triangular this time. It rotated on my dirt road and I had binoculars on it. Looked sorta like a Star Trek Shuttle craft or slightly bigger and suddenly as it rotated to face me from about 1/4 mile away a bright arc came up out of a sort of hood in the front. This arc was a headlight of unknown candlepower that shown all around lighting up the forests on all sides of the farm fields in the surrounding mile area.
Suddenly it moved quickly skimming the field across the road rapidly back and forth and it looked unreal because it was on the ground and moving in all directions so fast all over the field like a cartoon. Now I wonder if that's how Crop Circles are made. Anyways it then shut down the light and went down by the river for a while and it was on the ground. At this time we saw small lights going back and forth on a square perimeter around the craft. I believe it had remote eyes up as a security precaution while it was on the ground. This was the time we may have been temporarily abducted... BOG
More to come... I think they might be buddhists...
My daughter
My daughter
For anyone interested in the challenges in South America/Nicaragua where my daughter lived and researched for her Junior yr at Redlands University:
http://www.geocities.com/nicaraguitalisa/
I am so very proud of her and her ambitions as a bodhisatva.
My daughter
For anyone interested in the challenges in South America/Nicaragua where my daughter lived and researched for her Junior yr at Redlands University:
http://www.geocities.com/nicaraguitalisa/
I am so very proud of her and her ambitions as a bodhisatva.
It's great to be a chanting gRower
It's great to be a chanting gRower
Haven't done the plant growing part yet but my life grows daily with infinite results. :wink: BOG, your encounters posted here sounds like it is right out of the movies! I would love to spend some time with you gazing into the heavens smokin on a mountaintop anticipating and waiting for the next one.
SGi Pres Daisaku Ikeda daily guidance:
"Buddhism teaches that one characteristic of a bodhisattva is being
able to perceive the world's sounds. The insight needed to correctly
discern and grasp developments in society and the times - even to
anticipate them before they happen - is indispensable".
It's great to be a chanting gRower
Haven't done the plant growing part yet but my life grows daily with infinite results. :wink: BOG, your encounters posted here sounds like it is right out of the movies! I would love to spend some time with you gazing into the heavens smokin on a mountaintop anticipating and waiting for the next one.
SGi Pres Daisaku Ikeda daily guidance:
"Buddhism teaches that one characteristic of a bodhisattva is being
able to perceive the world's sounds. The insight needed to correctly
discern and grasp developments in society and the times - even to
anticipate them before they happen - is indispensable".
Like reading the signs our intuitions show us also So Cal Hippy. I have the growing part down man so just come smoke out with me on my mountain. Your extremely wise input here always astounds me and we must spend some time together.
My story is far out but so true. I would never tell a story just to be cool or something. In fact I don't see the UFO's anymore because we thought them a last message late in that summer after many more sightings. We told them we knew they were there but that we wanted them to show themselves to many other people. We were quite convinced and you can see I am still quite certain that somebody is out there and watching us with love and concern.
I swear that man in the Kresge store did tell me the truth. We do have sky brothers who love us. We aren't alone to be forever persecuted by corrupted gov'ts and religions. There will come a day my friend when we will look down and see what has been accomplished by our work. We are among the old masters because we are old too. You and Tom with me and SouthernGirl could summon a UFO possibly but it would take faith. You see if we knew we could we would just do it.
A Great Buddhist may return to us the way he left and when this happens it won't be a secret. It will be called an invasion by our leaders. But, UFO's aren't filled with human eating monsters or butt probing perverts either. They are civilized and intelligent. After all they were smart enough to get here now weren't they?
Some may feel intelligence doesn't mean moral and I agree but don't forget that I met one as a child. He seemed nice to me and we were reading each others minds after all. I feel that my knowledge is to be shared but often I am afraid to share my beliefs.
My beliefs are my reasonings but my faith is unshakable and doesn't depend on anything but the life force within me. Now, back to the ufo story...
That night Mrs. BOG and I stared from the corner of our yard in disbelief. I told her that this time I was a little scared for the first time seeing a ufo because that zig zagging arc welder would run over anything in that field. I asked her if she had the guts to walk over there and we both knew. No friggin way...
Before it settled down by the river a light started back up and seemed to grow brighter. I told my wife "this could be it" and the light grew bright but then just faded away. The ufo sat on the ground out of sight by the river with the small remotes doing senty duty about 100 ft up. Were they getting water maybe or later we wondered if we maybe had been abducted.
We watched the ufo leave then and this was like Ezekials description. (I swear to my God on my fathers Grave that my wife and I witnessed this.)
We heard a loud noise building like jet engines winding up and then we saw it rise above the hill as 2 large red lights revolving around each other slowly. As the sound frequency and volumn rose so did the craft and the lights circled faster and faster as the sound rose to a loud level. The craft was hovering moving straight up slowly but building up huge power by the sounds.
We had moved back toward our house as there was no missing this thing. It was scary and really physical as hell as it rose it was like a wheel spinning and then suddenly a move happened that no human could have lived through. This thing shot like from a cannon and I know planes. This was abnormal as the field skimming earlier. It accelerated at a phenomenal rate and it just seemed to disappear but my eye caught one flash of it almost across the horizon as it vanished. I know it did what no man made machine could do even to this day and it was in 1974.
The sighting was actually of the 2nd kind as there was some evidence beyond the sighting. As it left it broke the sound barrier making 3 huge shock waves that hit us like large puffs of air in the chest. This sound wave series buckled my front window in and out 3 times almost breaking the plate glass in a warped frame. If it had broken this would have been physical evidenced but we did see it happen.
That thing went from standstill to speed of sound in a second and that would crush a human without some sort of damping field. We are fragile creatures so this wasn't anything else but other worldly. We know they are very real so you better hope I am right about them being Buddhists. BOG
My story is far out but so true. I would never tell a story just to be cool or something. In fact I don't see the UFO's anymore because we thought them a last message late in that summer after many more sightings. We told them we knew they were there but that we wanted them to show themselves to many other people. We were quite convinced and you can see I am still quite certain that somebody is out there and watching us with love and concern.
I swear that man in the Kresge store did tell me the truth. We do have sky brothers who love us. We aren't alone to be forever persecuted by corrupted gov'ts and religions. There will come a day my friend when we will look down and see what has been accomplished by our work. We are among the old masters because we are old too. You and Tom with me and SouthernGirl could summon a UFO possibly but it would take faith. You see if we knew we could we would just do it.
A Great Buddhist may return to us the way he left and when this happens it won't be a secret. It will be called an invasion by our leaders. But, UFO's aren't filled with human eating monsters or butt probing perverts either. They are civilized and intelligent. After all they were smart enough to get here now weren't they?
Some may feel intelligence doesn't mean moral and I agree but don't forget that I met one as a child. He seemed nice to me and we were reading each others minds after all. I feel that my knowledge is to be shared but often I am afraid to share my beliefs.
My beliefs are my reasonings but my faith is unshakable and doesn't depend on anything but the life force within me. Now, back to the ufo story...
That night Mrs. BOG and I stared from the corner of our yard in disbelief. I told her that this time I was a little scared for the first time seeing a ufo because that zig zagging arc welder would run over anything in that field. I asked her if she had the guts to walk over there and we both knew. No friggin way...
Before it settled down by the river a light started back up and seemed to grow brighter. I told my wife "this could be it" and the light grew bright but then just faded away. The ufo sat on the ground out of sight by the river with the small remotes doing senty duty about 100 ft up. Were they getting water maybe or later we wondered if we maybe had been abducted.
We watched the ufo leave then and this was like Ezekials description. (I swear to my God on my fathers Grave that my wife and I witnessed this.)
We heard a loud noise building like jet engines winding up and then we saw it rise above the hill as 2 large red lights revolving around each other slowly. As the sound frequency and volumn rose so did the craft and the lights circled faster and faster as the sound rose to a loud level. The craft was hovering moving straight up slowly but building up huge power by the sounds.
We had moved back toward our house as there was no missing this thing. It was scary and really physical as hell as it rose it was like a wheel spinning and then suddenly a move happened that no human could have lived through. This thing shot like from a cannon and I know planes. This was abnormal as the field skimming earlier. It accelerated at a phenomenal rate and it just seemed to disappear but my eye caught one flash of it almost across the horizon as it vanished. I know it did what no man made machine could do even to this day and it was in 1974.
The sighting was actually of the 2nd kind as there was some evidence beyond the sighting. As it left it broke the sound barrier making 3 huge shock waves that hit us like large puffs of air in the chest. This sound wave series buckled my front window in and out 3 times almost breaking the plate glass in a warped frame. If it had broken this would have been physical evidenced but we did see it happen.
That thing went from standstill to speed of sound in a second and that would crush a human without some sort of damping field. We are fragile creatures so this wasn't anything else but other worldly. We know they are very real so you better hope I am right about them being Buddhists. BOG
- Status
