Chanting Growers Group

[EasyMyohoDisco]

Yeah bonz it was us, here in the thread, I think you mentioned putting the picture of a lotus flower in it. Someone named harry at a meeting suggested it a few months ago, I'm so low on funds I wish I could make a few for kosen-rufu. Can't do Gajokai because I need a uniform now, which sucks I used to use khakis and a blue shirt and I can't afford and don't want to wear that uniform. lol, Still on this positive high though, so I'm cool! Where's South and Eagles? Scegy, Tree, Leo, and Always Where did ya go? Come on back!

I had a hard test I studied for chanted for and it was amazing, I was the first one done (oldest guy in class) and I think I got an A+!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! I really needed that boost! Even if I didn't get a 100 I felt awesome and feel I did very very well.

"Got Daimoku?"

 

[Bonzo]

Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo!!! Right on Easy! Do it to it bro!

What is Gajokai? I dont like uniforns much myself, sorry to hear you couldnt do it cause of a uniform. Just does'nt sound right to me.

I will start talkin to my friends and get their input on the shirts. I know for a fact from lookin' through thier wholsale T shirt catolouges that they are very affordable when you buy 30 or 50 or whatever. Gettin the screens made is about 40 bucks apeice or so according to one of my friends, would need 2 or 3 of those, then of course, even though they are my friends i wouldnt expect them to do all the work for free. Little out of my budget at the moment but maybe one of these days we can get a design down and git er dun! I think it would be really fun.

And i second that Easy, Where is everyone? Hope to see them soon!

Time for Gongyo!

Goin surfin' today, Topanga or Malibu, prolly the Bu, more room to roam, little swell comin in, tide push is around 11:00 am, workday, less people in the water, im there.

I wish we could all go down to Baja or somethin and surf and camp and just have a blast, i know some great lil spots down there, a lil off the beaten path,,,,,,,someday maybe.........

ya'll have a day of days!!!!

peace

bonz






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

 

[SoCal Hippy]

A mind now clouded by the illusions of the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but when polished, it is sure to become like a clear mirror, reflecting the essential nature of phenomena and the true aspect of reality.

From The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin"On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime"

 

[Babbabud]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

On my way to a memorial for one of the most amazing women Ive ever met. Glory ..... what a wonderful love of living life she has Hope to meet up again with you soon sister !! Only person I ever met who actually seemed timeless and never aged. Its comes to us all.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[Babbabud]

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!!

 

[Bonzo]

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

Hope everything went well yesterday Babba and hope you and Mrs B are having a great day today!

peace allways

bonz







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

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hey Dudes! Just stuck my head in real quick and wanted to give everyone a wave.

Bonz, Gajokai is like an official rep function at the SGI centers and therefore a uniform for easy ID and coordinated image presentation, since these are public places--people are judged by how they present themselves; physical appearance is an aspect of that--it isn't completely out of line that they (SGI at wherever it is Disco is talking about) decided to go with uniforms.

Disco, if you spend the money to be able to do the activity--if you are so cool that all that matters to you is responding to your master; the coolest thing to do--you will get a benefit ten times greater than whatever you put out to do the uniform to be able to do the activity.

This is the cause and effect of the Gohonzon. Ask SoCal how many times we have seen sincere ichinen turn into solid tangible (coin) good fortune. But the benefit comes from your heart and no where else. It is in your heart that you will win or lose.

I have been more and more and more involved here with local activities and am happy that for right now anyway, I am back to chanting hours a day. My daughters are walking and beginning to talk! My oldest just got asked to audition for her first car commercial. My wife and I are conjugating our asses off--she got her groove back.

And I just got a very tanglible bussiness benefit that had my partner answering the phone before I could speak by saying' "It must have been some really powerful Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! This is unbelievable. The only thing that I can think of that could make this change so much so fast is your chanting!"

It was! <wink> Frankly I am happy and hope you are too!

I am going to start sharing the Sixteenth Chapter of the Orally Transmitted Teachings next week. You'll like it!

Much love and deepest respect to all!

Thomas

 

[PassTheDoobie]

It is when we have such a hectic schedule,
but earnestly chant daimoku and use all our wisdom
to make time and effort for activities
that we are able to really develop our life condition
and create value in life!
Let's never retreat, not even a single step
(from whatever situation we might be in)!

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"The devil king of the sixth heaven has roused the ten kinds of troops and, in the midst of the sea of the sufferings of birth and death, is at war with the votary of the Lotus Sutra to stop him from taking possession of and to wrest away from him this impure land where both ordinary people and sages dwell. It has been twenty or more years now since I found myself in that situation and began the great battle. Not once have I thought of retreat."

(The Great Battle - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume 2, page 465) Selection source: Gosho for June discussion meetings, Seikyo Shimbun, June 7th, 2007

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"The important thing is to be true to yourself and make the most of your potential....Those who can build a fulfilling sense of self are winners."

SGI Newsletter No. 7235, SGI President Ikeda's Acceptance Speech, True Happiness Resides in the Core of Our Lives, April 2nd, 2007, translated June 5th, 2007

 

[Bonzo]

Hey T dude!! Dang its good to see ya!!! Now that you have explained it i can see wearin' a uniform. Actually it would /could be kinda cool! Women like men in uniforms dont ya know! he he he!!!

For real though i would do the uniform for the purpose it serves.

Awsome to hear about your daughters! Your blessed BIG HOMIE!!! Walking, Talking, Comercials? Seems like yesterday they were just born! Unreal, so happy for you and yours T, cant get over it, wow!!!

Glad to see the extra Daimoku is workin' its magic in your business affairs as well, roll on!! Wooooooo Hooooooooo!!! Does your partner chant?

Lookin' forward to the Sixteenth chapter!

Give your hole clan a big hug for me!

Peace my brotha, all my love and deep respect to you and yours!!!

see you soon

bonz



Now, where is everyone!!!!!! Miss all of you!!!!

peace allways

Ill be chanting for you all to have a day of days!!!

bonz






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

 

[Bonzo]

"The important thing is to be true to yourself and make the most of your potential....Those who can build a fulfilling sense of self are winners."

SGI Newsletter No. 7235, SGI President Ikeda's Acceptance Speech, True Happiness Resides in the Core of Our Lives, April 2nd, 2007, translated June 5th, 2007

I read all 3 several times and this one seems to fit what i am striving for right now most, all apply but this one hit home.

peace

bonz






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

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Buddhist optimism is not the escapist optimism of those who throw up their hands and say, “Somehow or other things will work out.” Rather it means, clearly recognizing evil as evil and suffering as suffering and resolutely fighting to overcome it. It means believing in one’s ability and strength to struggle against any evil or any obstacle. It is to possess a fighting optimism.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Everyone born in this world has a unique role that only he or she can fulfill. Were this not the case, we would not be here. The universe never acts without cause; everything invariably has a reason for being. Even the weeds people love to loathe serve a purpose.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

It’s valuable to look for the strengths in others— gain nothing by criticizing people’s imperfections. In fact, it is helpful to take a step back, for even a moment each day, and try to consider the feelings and positive qualities of others of whom you are critical.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Book Review

Book Review

Buddhism Day By Day
Wisdom for Modern Life
By Daisaku Ikeda
ISBN 978-09723267-5-9

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Buddhism Day By Day: Wisdom for Modern Life is the latest book by Daisaku Ikeda, one of the world’s leading interpreters of their application to Buddhist practice and daily life. This hands-on and highly readable guide contains interpretations by Ikeda, as well as excerpts from the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra that can be read in brief selections over the course of a year.

The wide-ranging topics ranging from including establishing one’s identity, overcoming negative tendencies, the meaning of happiness, the importance of setting goals to persevering in the face of obstacles, and belief in oneself will resonate with Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

“Everyone has a right to flower, to reveal his or her potential as a human being, to fulfill his or her mission in this world. You have this right,” writes Ikeda, “and so does everyone else. This is the meaning of human rights.”

In this new book, Mr. Ikeda interprets the precepts of Nichiren Buddhism in brief easily absorbed entries on a wide range of topics applicable to daily life including overcoming obstacles and hardships, cultivating true friendships, the importance of dialogue, death, repaying debts of gratitude, character, equality, developing our wisdom, compassion, humanity and uncovering our Buddha nature, overcoming anger, the oneness of life and the environment, relations, karma, living a creative life, and world peace. This treasury of practical information and encouragement will appeal to those seeking a deeper understanding of how to apply the tenets of Nichiren Buddhism in their day-to-day lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Daisaku Ikeda is the author of more than 60 books, including UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF BIRTH AND DEATH, SOKA EDUCATION, FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, and THE LIVING BUDDHA.

Daisaku Ikeda is a prolific writer, poet and peace activist, recognized as one of the leading interpreters of Buddhism, bringing its timeless wisdom to bear on the many contemporary issues confronting humanity. He is President of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a lay Buddhist association pursuing the values of peace, culture and education and committed to fostering within individuals a sense of responsibility for the shared global community. Today the SGI is one of the most dynamic and diverse Buddhist organizations in the world.

As president of the organization Ikeda has traveled widely and held dialogues with leading thinkers of the world, based on his belief that dialogue is the most basic starting point for peace. He has also written extensively, with over 50 publications to his name.

Ikeda is the founder of a number of independent, secular organizations to further the pursuit of peace, culture and education. This includes the Soka school system, the Min-On Concert Association, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, the Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.

He is the recipient of 200 honorary doctorates and numerous awards such as the recipient of the United Nations Peace Award, the Rosa Parks Humanitarian Award, and the International Tolerance Award of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

REVIEWS:

With brief, easily absorbed wisdom from the precepts of Nichiren, a 13th-century Buddhist priest, this collection of day-to-day musings can be enjoyed by casual readers and devoted followers alike. Covering a wide span of topics—from life and death to courage and winning—the practical information and encouragement are ideal for those seeking to find a deeper understanding of this ancient philosophy.

--Independent Publishers Online, THE Voice of the Independent Publishing Industry.

 

[Bonzo]

Buddhist optimism is not the escapist optimism of those who throw up their hands and say, “Somehow or other things will work out.” Rather it means, clearly recognizing evil as evil and suffering as suffering and resolutely fighting to overcome it. It means believing in one’s ability and strength to struggle against any evil or any obstacle. It is to possess a fighting optimism.

Daisaku Ikeda

Hiya So Cal!!! Thank you so much my friend for continuosly posting these. Everytime you post there seems to be one part or more that are right on the money in my life right now.

I was just going over this concept last night! All of the sudden it just isnt in my thought proccess to just say "Everything will work out" Anyhow i have been slowly realizing this change in my thinking to where now i know i have to get down and dirty and do Daimoku, Daimoku Daimoku in order to think and act exactly as stated in your post above.

Thank you So CaL!!!

peace allways

bonz







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

 

[SoCal Hippy]

You are so very welcome Bonzo!

You are so very welcome Bonzo!

My thanks and appreciation to all those who post and peruse this site for insights into life thru practicing Nichiren Daishonin's teachings of the Lotus Sutra - mainly, chanting Nam myoho renge kyo; especially thanks go to PTD, Babbabud, EasyMyohoD, Bonzo, Wamen, Fallenangel, grandmesajoker, theFlinstoners, and Purcellville and those unnamed who keep coming back to find just another reason to challenge their problems head on by chanting Nam myoho renge kyo.

You know Bonz, 9 times out of 10, those posts from passages from the gosho of Nichiren or quotes of Ikeda that I post are ones that when I read them that day is something that is just what I need to go back to the Gohonzon with the correct attitude to face my karma and not back down.

It doesn't matter whether you've been chanting a month, a year, 10 years or more the attitude of faith is so critical and we are so fortunate to have so much to connect to daily. A fellow SGI member shared a recent guidance from his trip to the Florida Nature Center in which they were told some keyes to success in your human revolution is 1. reading the complete Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (just 3pages/day = Volume1), 2. reading the series "Lectures on the Lotus Sutra" and lastly 3. have a profound understanding of the one Gosho: "The Opening of the Eyes". (for those not having the WND, PTD has graciously posted this Gosho on this site, not sure where it's at tho)

We are all connected, and this site is invaluable in my mind for many.

All have a great weekend!

Nam myoho renge kyo

 

[PassTheDoobie]

A fellow SGI member shared a recent guidance from his trip to the Florida Nature Center in which they were told some keyes to success in your human revolution is 1. reading the complete Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (just 3pages/day = Volume1), 2. reading the series "Lectures on the Lotus Sutra" and lastly 3. have a profound understanding of the one Gosho: "The Opening of the Eyes". (for those not having the WND, PTD has graciously posted this Gosho on this site, not sure where it's at tho)

We are all connected, and this site is invaluable in my mind for many.

All have a great weekend!

Nam myoho renge kyo

The profound understanding referred to in number three is to perceive and revere the Entity of the Law--it is to understand the entity whom is the Buddha of Beginningless Time*. This will allow you to perceive the truth expressed in the endeavor of number one, and the wisdom to absorb the Buddha Wisdom expressed in the dialogue that takes place in number two.

(my take anyway) T

*Opening of the Eyes, The
[開目抄] (Jpn Kaimoku-sho )

One of Nichiren's five or ten major writings. It consists of two volumes and was completed at Tsukahara on Sado, an island in the Sea of Japan, in the second month of 1272. According to Nichikan (1665-1726), the twenty-sixth chief priest of Taiseki-ji temple, in this work Nichiren reveals his identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law who possesses the three virtues of sovereign, teacher, and parent. Thus he says it reveals the object of devotion in terms of the Person, while The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, written in 1273, reveals the object of devotion in terms of the Law. The Opening of the Eyes begins with the words: "There are three categories of people that all human beings should respect. They are the sovereign, the teacher, and the parent" (220). In the concluding part, Nichiren says, "I, Nichiren, am sovereign, teacher, and father and mother to all the people of Japan" (287). Because in this statement Nichiren identifies himself with the three virtues the Buddhas possess, it is viewed as his declaration that he is the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law. He also states: "On the twelfth day of the ninth month of last year [1271], between the hours of the rat and the ox [11:00 .. to 3:00 ..], this person named Nichiren was beheaded. It is his soul that has come to this island of Sado and, in the second month of the following year, snowbound, is writing this to send to his close disciples" (269). "This person named Nichiren" means the ordinary person Nichiren. "It is his soul that has come to this island of Sado" is taken to mean that the individual who arrived alive at Sado was Nichiren in his true identity— the Buddha Nichiren.The title The Opening of the Eyes means to open the eyes of the people and awaken them to the three virtues of the Buddhism of the harvest and finally to those of the Buddhism of sowing, severing their blind attachment to the provisional teachings. In doing so, Nichiren discusses the relative superiority of the lifetime teachings of Shakyamuni (with the doctrine known as the fivefold comparison), determines the superiority of the Lotus Sutra over all other sutras, and reveals the Mystic Law, the teaching for attaining Buddhahood in the Latter Day of the Law. He says: "The doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life [i.e., the Mystic Law] is found in only one place, hidden in the depths of the 'Life Span' chapter of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu were aware of it but did not bring it forth into the light. T'ient'ai Chihche alone embraced it and kept it ever in mind" (224). Based on this passage, Nichikan later established the doctrine of the threefold secret teaching. In his work known as The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren writes: "I began to put into shape a work in two volumes called The Opening of the Eyes, which I had been working on since the eleventh month of the previous year. I wanted to record the wonder of Nichiren, in case I should be beheaded" (772). The Opening of the Eyes, which was intended for posterity, was given to Shijo Kingo, a lay disciple who had accompanied Nichiren to the execution site at Tatsunokuchi and resolved to die there by his side. See also five-fold comparison; threefold secret teaching.

fivefold comparison
[五重の相対] (Jpn goju-no-sotai )

Five successive levels of comparison set forth by Nichiren (1222-1282) in The Opening of the Eyes to demonstrate the superiority of his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo over all other teachings.
(1) Buddhism is superior to non-Buddhist teachings. Nichiren takes up Confucianism and Brahmanism, and concludes that these non-Buddhist religions are not as profound as Buddhism in that they do not reveal the causal law of life that penetrates the three existences of past, present, and future.
(2) Mahayana Buddhism is superior to Hinayana Buddhism. Hinayana Buddhism is the teaching for persons of the two vehicles, or voice-hearers (Skt shravaka ) and cause-awakened ones (pratyekabuddha), who aim at personal emancipation; its ultimate goal is to put an end to the cycle of rebirth in the threefold world by eliminating all earthly desires. It is called Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle) because it saves only a limited number of people. In contrast, Mahayana Buddhism is the teaching for bodhisattvas who aim at both personal enlightenment and the enlightenment of others; it is called Mahayana (Great Vehicle) because it can lead many people to enlightenment. In this sense, the Mahayana teachings are superior to the Hinayana teachings.
(3) True Mahayana is superior to provisional Mahayana. Here true Mahayana means the Lotus Sutra, while provisional Mahayana indicates the Mahayana teachings that, according to T'ient'ai's system of classification, were expounded before the Lotus Sutra. In the provisional Mahayana teachings, the people of the two vehicles, women, and evil persons are excluded from the possibility of attaining enlightenment; in addition, Buddhahood is attained only by advancing through progressive stages of bodhisattva practice over incalculable kalpas. In contrast, the Lotus Sutra reveals that all people have the Buddha nature inherently, and that they can attain Buddhahood immediately by realizing that nature. Furthermore, the provisional Mahayana teachings assert that Shakyamuni attained enlightenment for the first time in India and do not reveal his original attainment of Buddhahood in the remote past, nor do they reveal the principle of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds, as does the Lotus Sutra. For these reasons, the true Mahayana teachings are superior to the provisional Mahayana teachings.
(4) The essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra is superior to the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra. The theoretical teaching consists of the first fourteen chapters of the Lotus Sutra, and the essential teaching, the latter fourteen chapters. The theoretical teaching takes the form of preaching by Shakyamuni who is still viewed as having attained enlightenment during his lifetime in India. In contrast, the essential teaching takes the form of preaching by Shakyamuni who has discarded this transient status and revealed his true identity as the Buddha who attained Buddhahood in the remote past. This revelation implies that all the Ten Worlds of ordinary people are eternal just as the Buddha's are, and confirms that Buddhahood is an ever-present potential of human life. For these reasons, the essential teaching is superior to the theoretical teaching.
(5) The Buddhism of sowing is superior to the Buddhism of the harvest. Nichiren established this comparison based on the concept of sowing, maturing, and harvesting that T'ient'ai (538-597) set forth in The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra. In The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra, T'ient'ai cites the process by which the Buddha teaches, described in the "Parable of the Phantom City" (seventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the relationship of the Buddha and his disciples from the remote past explained in the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the sutra. All these ideas illustrate how the Buddha begins teaching his disciples by sowing the seeds of Buddhahood in their lives, helps those seeds mature, and finally harvests their fruit by leading them to the final stage of enlightenment or Buddhahood.The Lotus Sutra describes this process as ranging over countless kalpas. The sutra does not, however, explain the nature of these original seeds, though it is clear that the seed of Buddhahood is essential for attaining Buddhahood. Nichiren identifies the seed as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and states that it can be found only in the depths of the "Life Span" chapter. By implanting this seed in one's life, one can attain Buddhahood. From this viewpoint, Nichiren identifies his teaching as the Buddhism of sowing (the teaching aimed at implanting the seed of Buddhahood) and Shakyamuni's as the Buddhism of the harvest (the teaching aimed at harvesting the fruit of enlightenment borne from the seed planted in the remote past). He explains that Shakyamuni appeared in India in order to harvest the fruit of Buddhahood borne from the seed he had sown and caused to mature in the lives of his disciples until that time. The people of the Latter Day of the Law who have no such seed implanted in their lives cannot harvest its fruit. Nichiren states, "Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment. Only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can do so" (903).

threefold secret teaching
[三重秘伝] (Jpn sanju-hiden )

A doctrine Nichikan (1665-1726), the twenty-sixth chief priest of Taiseki-ji temple, established based on the passage in Nichiren's treatise The Opening of the Eyes that reads: "The doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life is found in only one place, hidden in the depths of the 'Life Span' chapter of the essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu were aware of it but did not bring it forth into the light. T'ient'ai Chihche alone embraced it and kept it ever in mind" (224). Nichikan interpreted this sentence to mean that the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life is found (1) only in the Lotus Sutra, not in any other sutra; (2) only in the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the essential teaching (latter half), not in the theoretical teaching (first half) of the Lotus Sutra; and (3) only in the "depths," not on the "surface," of the "Life Span" chapter. The first point corresponds to the comparison of the true teaching (the Lotus Sutra) and the provisional teachings (all the other sutras). The second point corresponds to the comparison of the essential teaching and the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra. The third point corresponds to the comparison of the "depths" and the "surface" of the "Life Span" chapter of the sutra, the former indicating the Buddhism of sowing, and the latter, the Buddhism of the harvest. These three levels of comparison reveal the ultimate teaching of Nichiren, or the Buddhism of sowing, as being Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws. Nichikan used the term "threefold secret teaching" because the Buddhism of sowing, hidden threefold in the depths of the "Life Span" chapter, was unknown to the other Nichiren schools.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

To further my point....

To further my point....

The profound understanding referred to in number three is to perceive and revere the Entity of the Law--it is to understand the entity whom is the Buddha of Beginningless Time*.

It is to "Nam", the "Myoho-renge-kyo (Thus Come One)"

Here is the link to The Opening of the Eyes:

http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=220