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PTD always posts quotes from Nichiren Daishonin that basically tell me "as soon as you slacken in your faith a little" those devils will have a chance to attack and by devils I mean that fundamental darkness we all must conquer. Boy oh boy did I get walloped tonight! Had a great positive streak, until tonight, but I only lost a couple hours upset and am getting back on track.
The most important thing for me during these critical moments is that I change my karma and do some human revolution. I can't keep repeating the same mistakes when similar issues come up, and I need to advance NO MATTER WHAT. Babba always tells me and shows me through his life to keep going forward NO MATTER WHAT. PTD is always encouraging me, Socal, Bonz, Desi, afro, forest, everybody to keep chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS)! Just like Nichiren Daishonin, and our friend President Ikeda.
Sounds like i need to chant hella quick.... Best way to make things happen is by chanting Daimoku. It's easy!
good morning i registered for school yesterday, going to start 65 hours of community service this morning, its a brisk 25 degrees! should be an invigorating bike ride! have a great day my friends!
nam myoho renge kyo
nam myoho renge kyo
nam myoho renge kyo
It must ties of karma from the distant past that have destined you to become my
disciple at a time like this. Shakyamuni and Many Treasures certainly realized
this truth. The sutra's statement, "Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled
here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their
teachers," cannot be false in any way.
(WND, 217)
The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on February 11, 1272
The mighty warrior General Li Kuang, whose mother had been devoured by a tiger,
shot an arrow at the stone he believed was the tiger. The arrow penetrated the
stone all the way up to its feathers. But once he realized it was only a stone,
he was unable to pierce it again. Later he came to be known as General Stone
Tiger. This story applies to you. Though enemies lurk in wait for you, your
resolute faith in the Lotus Sutra has forestalled great dangers before they
could begin. Realizing this, you must strengthen your faith more than ever.
(WND, 953)
General Stone Tiger
Written to Shijo Kingo on October 22, 1278
If a boat is handled by an unskilled steersman, it may capsize and drown
everyone aboard. Likewise, though someone may have great physical strength, if
he lacks a resolute spirit, even his many abilities will be of no use.
(WND, 614)
The Supremacy of the Law
Written to Oto and her mother, Nichimyo, on August 4, 1275
If you truly fear the sufferings of birth and death and yearn for nirvana, if
you carry out your faith and thirst for the way, then the sufferings of change
and impermanence will become no more than yesterday's dream, and the awakening
of enlightenment will become today's reality.
(WND, 130)
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265
"The Daishonin has taught us that through gongyo and chanting daimoku we can
reach an elevated state in which, while engaged in our daily lives we travel
throughout the entire universe. When you worship the Gohonzon, the door to your
microcosm is opened to the entire universe, the macrocosm, and you experience a
great, boundless joy, as if you were looking out over the entire cosmos. You
feel great satisfaction and rejoicing, a great wisdom, as if you held the entire
universe in your palm."
"The main point is to enable one member to stand up by imparting heartfelt
assurance and understanding. It is the explosion of faith in the microcosm of an
individual that causes the macrocosm of the organization -- a gathering of many
such individuals -- to commence its revolution. This is how the doctrine of a
life-moment possesses three thousand realms applies to our practice."
"There are cases when we wonder why merit doesn't reveal itself in spite of our
earnest and high degree of faith. At such times, rather than suspecting that you
may entertain doubt about the Gohonzon, it is better to ask yourself whether you
are guilty of a type of slander. Because a person who is contemptuous, hating,
jealous or holds grudges will realize no benefits."
"The purpose of faith is to become happy. I hope all of you will take this sure
path to happiness, never wandering onto byroads that lead to unhappiness. Please
walk the great path of kosen-rufu with confidence and pride."
I think SoCal is holding a spiritual volcano with those words of Daisaku Ikeda. Nothing speaks louder than the truth.
Chanting growers are still growing in mind, spirit, and body, looking to the future with hope, wisdom, and imagination!
Scientists are now saying that the universe is 12 billion years old, and that it's highly possible that the evoluntionary stream of life is at least a billion years old, and that makes us look like cave men to that life stream....just saying, don't despair, we still have a long way to go before we are perfect.
Just had an awesome phone call from our brother T Sounds like it might be tough for him to get on the thread. Everything sounds like its going great for him. Hopefully he will be in contact sooner then later.
So great to see you all posting up. Its a tough time of year and a tough economy. Lets continue to chant together through it all
Nam myoho renge kyo
The same is true of your attaining Buddhahood. No matter what grave offenses you
might have committed, because you did not turn against the Lotus Sutra, but
showed your devotion by accompanying me, you will surely become a Buddha. Yours
is like the case of King Possessor of Virtue, who gave his life to save the monk
Realization of Virtue and became Shakyamuni Buddha. Faith in the Lotus Sutra
acts as a prayer [to attain Buddhahood]. Strengthen your resolve to seek the way
all the more and achieve Buddhahood in this lifetime.
(WND, 946)
The Receipt of New Fiefs
Written to Shijo Kingo in October 1278
How long does a lifetime last? If one stops to consider, it is like a single
night's lodging at a wayside inn. Should one forget that fact and seek some
measure of worldly fame and profit? Though you may gain them, they will be mere
prosperity in a dream, a delight scarcely to be prized. You would do better
simply to leave such matters to the karma formed in your previous existences.
(WND, 955)
On Prolonging One's Life Span
Written to the lay nun Myojo in 1279