Chanting Growers Group

[DreamsofTesla]

What About Me?

What About Me?

"One’s underlying attitude when facing a predicament can make one weak or strong. For example, the impulse to protect only oneself can be relatively weak and fragile, but a mother’s impulse to protect her child from danger is very powerful. The spirit to support others makes people strong.

"Kosen-rufu is an effort of supreme good and the greatest way to benefit others. The determination to protect the Soka Gakkai, for the sake of kosen-rufu, is a driving force for maximising one’s potential."

SGI Newsletter No. 8623, The New Human Revolution Vol. 25: Chap. 4, Bastion of Capable People 27, translated 19th Sep. 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDSAAlrqAHM
(Video of Mipham Rinpoche's excellent music video)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Hey y'all

Mahayana here. Good to see you all. Playing sutras and overtone chanting in my grow room

<3Tesla

That includes everybody!

 

[Payaso]

WoW! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

New life surges thru this thread... springtime of the soul and Nichiren is smiling?

Always good to stop in and chant while reading the daily words.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo!

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"In the eighth volume of The Annotations on 'Great Concentration and Insight' it says, 'The stronger one's faith, the greater the protection of the gods.' This means that the protection of the gods depends on the strength of one's faith."

(General Stone Tiger - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 953) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, February 8th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"When devilish functions are recognised for what they are, they lose their power. Mr. Toda said: 'No matter how great the obstacles you encounter, once you realise that they are devilish functions, you’ll feel emboldened and be easily able to overcome them.'[1] The first step in vanquishing devilish functions is seeing them for what they are."

SGI Newsletter No. 8713, Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory. [44] “The Workings of Brahma and Shakra,” Fostering Youth of Genuine Commitment Who Can Change History, translated 7th Feb. 2013, from the September 2012 issue of the Daibyakurenge.

[1] Article in Daibyakurenge, February 1952 issue.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The mission of a practitioner of Buddhism
is to widely spread the bonds of friendship.
Let's treasure the opportunities we have
to mix with others in our local community
and let's always be the ones radiating enthusiasm and hope.
Let's become the people who are responsible for the happiness
and prosperity of our local neighbourhood!

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"The foundation for gratitude and appreciation is a recognition of who helped make us the person we are today, what causes and conditions led up to our present circumstances. Acknowledging and acting upon this gratitude is the basis of honourable behaviour as a human being."

SGI Newsletter No. 8529, Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory, [38] “Flowering and Bearing Grain”, Achieving Kosen-rufu through the Shared Commitment of Mentor and Disciple, from the March 2012 issue of the Daibyakurenge, translated 4th June 2012

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month. Should you slacken in your resolve even a bit, devils will take advantage."

(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 997) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, November 7th, 2011

 

[PassTheDoobie]

My dear friends,
be brave, be fearless.
Whatever you have decided to try,
give it absolutely everything you've got!
It's your bold courageous challenging spirit
that will change and develop your whole life for the very best.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Making it possible for someone to receive the Gohonzon is an act of the greatest good. Let’s do our utmost to actualise such good, which is an unfailing source of strength. Nichiren Daishonin explains that the Gohonzon is 'a cluster of blessings' (WND-1, 832). When we chant and spread Nam-myoho-renge-kyo based on faith in the Gohonzon, our life itself turns into a 'cluster of blessings.' The good fortune and benefit we derive through our Buddhist practice also extends to encompass our family, our community, and society at large."

SGI Newsletter No. 8355, This series introduces occasional guidance, encouragement, or messages from SGI President Ikeda for various individuals, groups, divisions, or events., from the Oct. 1st, 2011, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, translated Oct. 13th, 2011

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Since the Law is wonderful, the person is worthy of respect; since the person is worthy of respect, the land is sacred."

(The Person and the Law - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1097) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, October 14th, 2011

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"My mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, often used to say: 'Approach life with confidence and courage!'

"When someone was ill, he would repeatedly encourage them with warm care and concern. Sometimes his guidance could be strict and emphatic, because remaining steadfast in aith as a practitioner of the Daishonin's Buddhism is so vital when waging a life-and-death struggle against illness. He would say: 'Don't let anything shake you. Just chant with your whole life. Never lose heart! Activate the positive forces of the universe!'"

SGI Newsletter No. 8347, Learning from the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin: The Teachings for Victory, [31] 'The Good Medicine for All Ills.' Turning All Adversity into an Impetus for Unceasing Progress, from the August 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, translated Oct. 5th, 2011

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Today there are people who have faith in the Lotus Sutra. The belief of some is like fire while that of others is like water. When the former listen to the teachings, their passion flares up like fire, but as time goes on, they tend to discard their faith. To have faith like water means to believe continuously without ever regressing."

(The Two Kinds of Faith - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 899) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, October 10th, 2011

 

[easyDaimoku]

Happy New Year EVERYONE!!!!

Happy New Year over here to over there! Thank you! Good fortune, Good Health and Good times to all my beloved and most admired Bodhisattvas of the Earth (and your families)!

 

[easyDaimoku]

Excerpt on Point One from Chapter 16 (of the OTT) translated by Burton Watson

Excerpt on Point One from Chapter 16 (of the OTT) translated by Burton Watson

"The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings says: The title of this chapter deals with an important matter that concerns Nichiren himself. This is the transmission described in the "Supernatureal Powers" chapter. The Thus Come One is Shakymuni Buddha or, more generally speaking, all the Buddhas of the ten directions and the three existences. Or, more specifically, it refers to the Buddha of the original state who is eternally endowed with the three bodies.

Now it is the understanding of Nichiren and his followers that, generall speaking, the term "Thus Come One" refers to all living beings. More specifically, it refers to the disciples and law supporters of Nichiren.

This being the case, the term "eternally endowed with three bodies" refers to the votaries of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.

The title of honor for one who is eternally endowed with the three bodies is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. This is what the three great concerns of actuality*[indicates the Three Great Secret Laws of Nichiren's teaching, that is, the object of devotion (honzon), the invocation (daimoku) of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and the sanctuary (kaidan).] of the "Life Span" chapter refer to.

Speaking in terms of the six stages of practice, the Thus Come One in this chapter is an ordinary mortal who is in the first stage, that of being a Buddha in theory. When one reverently accepts Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, one is in the next stage, that of hearing the name and words of truth. That is, one has for the first time heard the daimoku. When, having heard the daimoku, one proceeds to put it into practice, this is the third stage, that perception and action. In this stage one perceives the object of devotion that embodies the three thousand realms in a single moment of life. When one succeeds in overcoming various obstacles of illusions, this is the fourth stage, that of resemblance to englightment. When one sets out to convert others, this is the fifth stage, that of progressive awakening. And when one comes at last to the realization that one is a Buddha eternally endowed with the three bodies, then one is a Buddha of the sixth and highest stage, that of ultimate enlightenment.

Speaking of the chapter as a whole, the idea of gradually overcoming illusions is not the ultimate meaning of the "Life Span" chapter. You should understand that the ultimate meaning of this chapter is that oridinary mortals, just as they are in their original state of being, are Buddhas."

(The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings {Soka Gakkai} Translated by Burton Watson pgs 123-124)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"In the same way, the Buddha dwells within our hearts. For example, flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have intrinsic value. We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts."

(New Year's Gosho - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1137) Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's message, Seikyo Shimbun, February 10th, 2013

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"What matters from the Buddha’s perspective is whether one practises in accord with his teachings. The Daishonin underscores this point when he refers to 'preaching the Lotus Sutra exactly as the Buddha did' (WND-1, 799), and '[acting] in exact accord with what the sutra teaches' (cf. WND-1, 799). He goes on to state that he is 'delighted' to have read the sutra with his life by encountering great difficulties in the course of propagating the Mystic Law.

"The joy of reading the sutra with one’s life—of putting its teachings into practice—is the joy of working to actualise the Buddha’s wish to lead all people to enlightenment. It is the joy of striving 'exactly as the Buddha did'—of carrying on the same struggle as the Buddha, as his emissary. There is no greater joy in life than practising the supreme teaching of Buddhism and enabling those around us to reveal their Buddha nature.

"For us, as members of the SGI, this is the joy of promoting kosen-rufu. Fulfilling our mission as Bodhisattvas of the Earth by creating happiness for ourselves and others through dialogue is a source of incomparable joy.

"Through the example of his own struggles, the Daishonin taught Tokimitsu the joy of propagating the Mystic Law. In other letters to his young disciple, we see him writing: 'If people try to hinder your faith, I urge you strongly to feel joy' (WND-2, 566), and 'Though others may slander us [Nichiren and his followers], we are teachers of the Law who take no heed of such a thing' (WND-2, 501).

"The important thing is what we do, not what others think. Everything depends on our own actions based on the Daishonin’s Buddhism. In our youth, we tend to be overly concerned about what others think about us, but what really matters is how we live our lives. Mr. Toda often said: 'You should seek to win favour with the Daishonin.'"[1]

[1] Translated from Japanese. Josei Toda, “Seinen-kun” (Guidelines for Youth), in Toda Josei Zenshu (Collected Writings of Josei Toda), (Tokyo: Seikyo Shimbunsha, 1981), vol. 1, p. 61.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

Let's give our newly joined members
all the warm heartfelt encouragement we can!
To study and take action together with them
is the very best way to help them develop and grow.
Let's do our utmost to look after each member with sincere care and concern.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Words of conviction backed by personal experience have the power to dispel the dark clouds of suffering obscuring a friend’s life."

SGI Newsletter No. 8613, The New Human Revolution––Vol. 25: Chap. 4, Bastion of Capable People 20, translated 12th Sep. 2012

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The Daishonin encourages us,
"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month."*
Each day is a chance to make a new start.
Each day is a chance to challenge things.
Let's build a history in our lives of never ending victory!

Daisaku Ikeda

*"On Persecutions Befalling the Sage" - WND-I, page 997