Chanting Growers Group

[PassTheDoobie]

"Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase."

(The True Aspect of All Phenomena - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 386) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 11th, 2008

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Even places that have been shrouded in darkness for billions of years can be illuminated. Even a stone from the bottom of a river can be used to produce fire. Our present sufferings, no matter how dark, have certainly not continued for billions of years-nor will they linger forever. The sun will definitely rise. In fact, its ascent has already begun.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Time is constantly passing, one moment following fast upon the other. That's why it's so important to press forward boldly, without complaining or fretting. The person who looks to the future and keeps moving ahead is eternally youthful. Such a person's heart is filled with flowers and shines brilliantly.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

I do not know whether these trials equal or surpass those of the Buddha. Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T’ien-t’ai, and Dengyo, however, cannot compare with me in what they suffered. Had it not been for the advent of Nichiren in the Latter Day of the Law, the Buddha would have been a teller of great lies, and the testimony given by Many Treasures and by the Buddhas of the ten directions would have been false. In the 2,230 and more years since the Buddha’s passing, Nichiren is the only person in the entire land of Jambudvipa who has fulfilled the Buddha’s words.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 997
On Persecutions Befalling the Sage
Written to all followers (and entrusted to Shijo Kingo on October 1, 1279)

 

[EasyMyohoDisco]

Whats up my family! Boy oh Boy have the challenges gone into high tide in my life! Just as expected from a diligent practice focused on Kosen-rufu, I'm really struggling despite everything courageously. Truly like never before is my faith resolute, I'm not missing Morning Gongyo and leaving without it any day rain or shine. It has been so tough lately when obstacles arise from all directions. Yet despite those problems we have been facing together on this thread, in my life my physical health, emotional, economical, educational, and overall state of mind has been in great shape.

Thanks to daimoku and my (our) Awesome Gohonzon, I'm really overcoming some wicked odds!! A leader wanted me to redirect the focus of my special Monthly Gosho Study meetings to something else centered around her preferences. Ironically, due to my school schedule I was only able to make a couple meetings in September and the meeting at my home was so great and encouraging I'm still fired up from it! In fact, I had a pretty painful medical treatment scheduled after the Gosho study meeting and I felt no pain, and feel great today! So many in attendance shared some great personal words and I really felt that The Gosho study on The Four Debts of Gratitude was so appropriate I gained immediate conspicuous benefit in pain management and also the huge benefit of increasing my faith in the amazing connection between Nichiren Daishonin and myself.

I'm stunned how much I'm totally in sync with Nichiren Daishonin, a person which shares a vision for world peace through action based on daimoku is like us. Fearlessly we will overcome obstacles if we are appreciating our daily practice sharing those aspects of our diligent practice that flow easiest from our lips. Time is a critical tool that should be used to your advantage in your pursuit of chanting and procuring results sooner than later. The more time I invest in my chanting the more often I go back and make strong deposits of faith which really help me more and more. At this point the momentum I'm accumulating is helping me swat away problems like flies.

Sure, like I said I'm dealing with some wicked shit, but if you know me well enough I'm chanting for my family here on the thread and really holding up the flag strong and high. Chanting growers and drudgereport.com are the two daily google searches that get my internet action started everyday. I like to go from World Peace Humanism to Conservative American Reporting with my cup of Joe! So lets keep growing our plants, keep growing as people, and keep growing as the amazingly strong community of Nichiren Daishonin's Chanting Growers!

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!

 

[EasyMyohoDisco]

"One who, on hearing the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, makes even greater efforts in faith is a true seeker of the way. T'ien-t'ai states, "From the indigo, an even deeper blue." This passage means that, if one dyes something repeatedly in indigo, it becomes even bluer than the indigo leaves. The Lotus Sutra is like the indigo, and the strength of one's practice is like the deepening blue."

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 457
Hell Is the Land of Tranquil Light
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu's mother on July 11, 1274

 

[PassTheDoobie]

The purpose of our movement is the happiness of all humanity. To successfully achieve our goals or overcome all the challenges we face, it's important that we start with daimoku! Let's all advance together with our fellow members around the world!

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the greatest of all joys."

(Ongi kugen - Gosho Zenshu, page 788, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 212) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 3rd, 2008

 

[SoCal Hippy]

At first only Nichiren chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, but then two,
three, and a hundred followed, chanting and teaching others.
Propagation will unfold this way in the future as well. Does this not
signify "emerging from the earth"? At the time when the Law has spread
far and wide, the entire Japanese nation will chant Nam-myoho-renge-
kyo, as surely as an arrow aimed at the earth cannot miss the target.

(WND, 385)
The True Aspect of All Phenomena
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on May 17, 1273

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Our individual circle of friendship is part of the global circle of friendship; it is one and the same. A drop of rain from the sky, a drop of water from the river, or a drop of water from the ocean are all just that-a drop of water-until they accumulate. The friends we make in our own small circle contribute to the spread of friendship around the world. Making one true friend is a step toward creating world peace.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Happy World Peace Day!

Happy World Peace Day!

World Peace Day
1960 President Ikeda lands in Hawaii on his first trip outside Japan, beginning his worldwide efforts for peace, culture and education based on Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, October 2, 2008 (Buddhism Day by Day)

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"My mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, often used to remark: 'When it comes to battling serious karma and doing our human revolution, huge obstacles and hardships can in fact serve as a powerful impetus, propelling us forwards. Just ambling along a level road won't help us change our karma.' The greater the difficulties and challenges we encounter, the greater the life-state we can develop. Therefore, we mustn't be intimidated by 'the three obstacles and four devils' --that is, the obstacles and hindrances that invariably arise in the course of our Buddhist practise. With wisdom derived from faith, we should see through such phenomena, recognising them for what they are, based on Nichiren Daishonin's teachings, and regarding their occurrence as an opportunity to change our karma. We should then stand up with even deeper conviction and courage, chanting daimoku with unwavering resolve and forging boldly ahead."

SGI Newsletter No. 7614, LEARNING FROM THE GOSHO: THE HOPE-FILLED WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, [10] "Letter to Misawa", translated Sep. 1st, 2008 from the July 2008 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Who, then, is the votary of the Lotus Sutra? Let us seek him out and make him our teacher."

(The Opening of the Eyes - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 278) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 4th, 2008

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Through battling great hardships, a person can establish an inner state of indestructible happiness. And their example can open the way for countless others to similarly free themselves from suffering."

SGI Newsletter No. 7614, LEARNING FROM THE GOSHO: THE HOPE-FILLED WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, [10] "Letter to Misawa", translated Sep. 1st, 2008 from the July 2008 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"In light of this, it is clear that those who now believe in the Lotus Sutra will gather fortune from ten thousand miles away."

(New Year's Gosho - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1137) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 6th, 2008

 

[EasyMyohoDisco]

"In the light of the above points, this shows, my followers, that you had better cut short your sleep by night and curtail your leisure by day, and ponder this! You must not spend your lives in vain and regret it for ten thousand years to come."

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 622
The Problem to Be Pondered Nigh and Day
Written to Toki Jonin on August 23, 1275

Please reference this webpage for a Daily Gosho Quote from Nichiren Daishonin:
http://www.sgi-usa.org/encouragement/dw.php

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Nichiren declares that the varied sufferings that all living beings undergo--all these are Nichiren's own sufferings."

(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 758, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings) Selection source: "Myoji no Gen", Seikyo Shimbun, September 14th, 2008

 

[Desiderata]

Great Posts Guys!

Great Posts Guys!

"My mentor, second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, often used to remark: 'When it comes to battling serious karma and doing our human revolution, huge obstacles and hardships can in fact serve as a powerful impetus, propelling us forwards. Just ambling along a level road won't help us change our karma.' The greater the difficulties and challenges we encounter, the greater the life-state we can develop. Therefore, we mustn't be intimidated by 'the three obstacles and four devils' --that is, the obstacles and hindrances that invariably arise in the course of our Buddhist practise. With wisdom derived from faith, we should see through such phenomena, recognising them for what they are, based on Nichiren Daishonin's teachings, and regarding their occurrence as an opportunity to change our karma. We should then stand up with even deeper conviction and courage, chanting daimoku with unwavering resolve and forging boldly ahead."

SGI Newsletter No. 7614, LEARNING FROM THE GOSHO: THE HOPE-FILLED WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, [10] "Letter to Misawa", translated Sep. 1st, 2008 from the July 2008 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal.

Hiya T!!!.....SoCal!!!!......boy have you been ripping me some good ones, making me feel empty, weak, and numb, especially from last week.........I'm just getting over it.........I guess it's "my" fundamental darkness........I haven't felt worthy to post, out of respect for you all and Nichiren because I'm still real green......I hope you all understand.

T, that was a great personal post a couple days ago! Very interesting, about you and your feelings & thoughts! Your post started making me feel better!

Foward ho, as "Easy" always go's!!!.............love, Desi

 

[Desiderata]

Friendship: Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda

Friendship: Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda

Friendship is the most beautiful of human bonds. It is a relationship that transcends gain and loss. It is not something superficial, nor is it merely to feel sympathy or pity for another person. It is a relationship where, no matter what happens to the other person, you still care about him or her from the bottom of your heart. Friendship is a precious, irreplaceable human treasure.

I hope that you will forge such friendship with one person after another. It may seem like a small thing, but war and violence can be banished from the earth when a network of such friendship enfolds the world.

Of course, efforts to control violence by external measures such as the elimination of weapons of destruction, the establishment of more adequate laws, and the signing of treaties between nations are also important. But violence stems from the animality that is inherent in life. Even if we eliminate all weapons from the face of the earth, violence will never disappear unless we succesfully control the animality within us. That is why transforming ourselves from within is so important.

(February 25, 2000, World Tribune, P.4)

How true, how true!.........Desi!

 

[Babbabud]

Nam myoho renge kyo

Nam myoho renge kyo

THE DAIMOKU OF NAM-MYOHO-RENGE- KYO

Selection Source: By Ted Mornio, World Tribune, 2001

What did Nichiren Daishonin have in mind when he introduced the
chanting of Nam-myoho-renge- kyo? We can get a sense of his thinking
in "The One Essential Phrase" (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,
pp. 922-924). One thing we can see from this letter is how the
Daishonin encouraged the lay believers, like the lay nun Myoho, the
recipient of this letter, to chant Nam-myoho-renge- kyo with faith
even though they did not understand its full meaning. He
states, "Even though one neither reads or studies the sutra,
chanting the title alone is the source of tremendous good fortune"
(WND, p.923). That we can instantly tap our inherent Buddhahood by
chanting Nam-myoho-renge- kyo is "[an incomparably greater wonder
than] fire being produced by a stone taken from the bottom of a
river, or a lantern lighting up a place that has been dark for a
hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years," the Daishonin explains
(WND, 923).

If we wait to chant Nam-myoho-renge- kyo until we completely
understand the depths of its meaning, we wait unnecessarily to light
up our lives. The 26th high priest, Nichikan, in talking on the
significance of chanting, stresses two aspects: faith and practice.
In other words, he treats Nam-myoho-renge- kyo as something that we
should first of all chant – with a conscious effort to trust in the
value of chanting -- before we go about analyzing its meaning.

The Daishonin also states that "within the title, or daimoku of Nam-
myoho-renge- kyo is the entire sutra...." (WND, 922). This passage
means that all the ultimate principles of life expounded in Buddhism
are contained in the phrase Nam-myoho-renge- kyo. Since Nam-myoho-
renge-kyo is such a vital phrase for humanity, the Daishonin's
simple yet profound teaching is that "one's voice does the Buddha's
work" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 708). In other words, use your voice --
chant Nam-myoho-renge- kyo -- to open and vitalize Buddhahood.