Chanting Growers Group

[SoCal Hippy]

If you summon your courage to challenge something, you‚’ll never regret it. How sad it would be to spend your life wishing, “If only I had a little more courage.” Whatever the outcome, the important thing is to take a step forward on the path that you believe is right. There‚’s no need to worry about what others may think. It‚’s your life, after all. Be true to yourself.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The MIddle Way

The MIddle Way

From Buddhism in Daily Life, http://www.sgi.org/

The Middle Way is a Buddhist term with rich connotations. Most
simply, it implies a balanced approach to life and the regulation of
one's impulses and behavior, close to Aristotle's idea of the "golden
mean" whereby "every virtue is a mean between two extremes, each of
which is a vice."

While the word middle denotes balance, however, the Middle Way should
not be confused with passivity or a kind of middle-of-the-road
compromise. To tread the Middle Way rather implies ongoing effort.

In the broadest sense, the Middle Way refers to the correct view of
life that the Buddha teaches, and to the actions or attitudes that
will create happiness for oneself and others. Thus, Buddhism itself
is sometimes referred to as "the Middle Way," indicating a
transcendence and reconciliation of the extremes of opposing views.

All these ideas are exemplified by Shakyamuni's own life, as conveyed
to us by legend. Born a prince, Shakyamuni enjoyed every physical
comfort and pleasure. However, dissatisfied with the pursuit of
fleeting pleasures, he set out in search of a deeper, more enduring
truth. He entered a period of extreme ascetic practice, depriving
himself of food and sleep, bringing himself to the verge of physical
collapse. Sensing the futility of this path, however, he began
meditating with the profound determination to realize the truth of
human existence, which had eluded him as much in a life of asceticism
as in a life of luxury. It was then that Shakyamuni awakened to the
true nature of life--its eternity, its deep wellspring of unbounded
vitality and wisdom.

Later, in order to guide his followers toward this same Middle Way,
he taught the eightfold path: eight principles, such as right
conduct, right speech, etc., by which individuals can govern their
behavior and develop true self-knowledge.

Since then, at various points in the history of Buddhism, Buddhist
scholars have attempted to clarify and define the true nature of
life. Around the third century, Nagarjuna's theory of the non-
substantial nature of the universe explained that there is no
permanent "thing" behind the constantly changing phenomena of life,
no fixed basis to reality. For Nagarjuna, this view was the Middle
Way, the ultimate perspective on life.

Nagarjuna's ideas were further developed by T'ien-t'ai (Chi-i) in
sixth-century China. All phenomena, he stated, are the manifestations
of a single entity--life itself. This entity of life, which T'ien-
t'ai called the Middle Way, exhibits two aspects--a physical aspect
and a non-substantial aspect. Ignoring or emphasizing either gives us
a distorted picture of life. We cannot, for example, realistically
conceptualize a person lacking either a physical or a
mental/spiritual aspect. T'ien-t'ai thus clarified the indivisible
interrelationship between the physical and the spiritual. From this
viewpoint stem the Buddhist principles of the inseparability of the
body and the mind and of the self and the environment.

Nichiren (1222-1282), in turn, gave concrete, practical form to these
often quite abstract arguments. Based on the teachings of the Lotus
Sutra, Nichiren defined the Middle Way as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and
taught that by reciting this phrase one can harmonize and energize
the physical and spiritual aspects of one's life, and awaken to the
deepest truth of one's existence.

From this perspective, life--the vital energy and wisdom that
permeates the cosmos and manifests as all phenomena--is an entity
that transcends and harmonizes apparent contradictions between the
physical and the mental, even between life and death. SGI President
Daisaku Ikeda takes the same view when he states that it is life that
gives rise to DNA, not the other way around.

According to Buddhism, individuals and societies as a whole have a
tendency toward either a predominantly material or spiritual view of
life. The negative effects of the materialism that pervades the
modern industrialized world are apparent at every level of society,
from environmental destruction to spiritual impoverishment. Simply
rejecting materialism out of hand, however, amounts to idealism or
escapism and undermines our ability to respond constructively to
life's challenges.

The historian Eric Hobsbawm titled his volume on the 20th
century "The Age of Extremes." Indeed, the violence and grotesque
imbalances of that era drive home the need to find new ways of
peacefully reconciling apparent opposites. What is most essential, if
humanity is to find a middle way toward a creative global society in
the 21st century, is a new appreciation and reverence for the
inviolable sanctity of life.

 

[EasyMyohoDisco]

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Where there is water, fish dwell. Where there are woods, birds gather. On the mountain island of P'eng-lai there are many jewels, and on Mount Malaya sandalwood trees grow. There is gold in the mountains from which the river Li-shui flows. Now this place, too, is like that. It is the place of the cluster of blessings where the Buddhas and bodhisattvas dwell.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1070
The Place of the Cluster of Blessings
Written to Shijo Kingo on October 8, 1280

 

[SoCal Hippy]

It seems to me that on the path to attain Buddhahood it may invariably
be when on e has done something like lay down one's life that one
becomes a Buddha. I think that perhaps it is encountering such
difficulties as have already been explained in the sutra - being
cursed, vilified, attacked with swords and staves, shards and rubble,
and banished again and again - that is reading the Lotus Sutra with
one's life. My faith springs up all the more, and I am confident about
my next existence.

(WND, 202)
Banishment to Sado
Written to Enjo-bo in October 1271

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"As long as we are human, we are bound to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What distinguishes a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a dishonest one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to one's mistakes and take bold steps to redress them."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Likewise, without tribulation there would be no votary of the Lotus Sutra."

(A Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 33) Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's speech, Seikyo Shimbun, October 5th, 2008

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"When a tree has been transplanted, though fierce winds may blow, it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it up."

(Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 598) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 10th, 2008

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"Life is the foremost of all treasures. It is expounded that even the treasures of the entire major world system cannot equal the value of one's body and life. Even the treasures that fill the major world system are no substitute for life."

(The Gift of Rice - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 1125) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, October 8th, 2008

 

[SoCal Hippy]

When you encounter a wall, you should tell yourself, "Since there is a
wall here, a wide, open expanse must lie on the other side." Rather
than becoming discouraged, know that encountering a wall is proof of
the progress that you have made so far. I hope that you will
continually advance in your Buddhist practice with this conviction
blazing ever more strongly in your heart.

Daisaku Ikeda


Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Admirable Nichiro, because you have read the entirety of the Lotus
Sutra with both the physical and spiritual aspects of your life, you
will also be able to save your father and mother, your six kinds of
relatives, and all living beings. Others read the Lotus Sutra with
their mouths alone, in word alone, but they do not read it with their
hearts. And even if they read with their hearts, they do not read it
with their actions. It is reading the sutra with both one's body and
mind that is truly praiseworthy!

(WND, 204)
Letter to Priest Nichiro in Prison
Written to Chikugo-bo Nichiro on October 9, 1271

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Those who say “I‚’ll do it,” who are willing to take on a challenge even if they are alone, are true winners. The determination, the commitment to take action yourself, is the force that leads to victory. As Buddhism teaches in the principle of a life-moment possesses three thousand realms, our mind or attitude can change everything.

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[Desiderata]

The Beginning of a New Life

The Beginning of a New Life

I read Nichiren Daishonin's famous words regarding illness:"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of the lion. What illness can therefore be an obstacle?" ("Reply to Kyo'o," The WND, vol. 1, p. 412)

These are excerpts from a short story about Francesco Barbera who has a brain tumor, that finds out chanting could give him hope, strength and solace in a time filled with great fear and anxiety...........not a place I wanna be......

"I was 34 years old, and the diagnosis was devasting. I left work and went to the emergency room, where I learned that I would need brain surgery and that I would be made deaf in my right ear by the procedure. By the time I was discharged, I was in a state of shock, fear and disbelief.

Several weeks before, Kat Paterno, a friend and co-worker, had invited me to attend an SGI-USA meeting scheduled for that same evening. On my way to the emergency room, I had called Kat and told her what had happened. She listened and then gently encouraged me to attend the district meeting if I could. Feeling lonely, anxious and afraid, I listened to her advice.

At the meeting that night, I was welcomed and embraced by the SGI community. I learned to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and was given a copy of the book "The Buddah in Your Mirror" and other literature, so I could explore the philosophy underlying Nichiren Buddhism. I was also introduced to a fellow practitioner who had overcome breast cancer through the power of her faith in Nichiren Buddhism and in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

I gleaned constant encouragement from inspiring works of SGI President Ikeda. "Prayer is the sun of hope," he writes. "To chant each time we face a problem, overcoming it and elevating our life-condition as a result---this is the path of 'changing earthly desires into enlightenment,' taught in Nichiren Buddhism" (For Today & Tomorrow, p. 249).

Never before had I been exposed to a spiritual philosophy that speaks of victory and triumph over life's obstacles. Never before had I felt so empowered to take responsibility for my happiness in the face of hardship and suffering.

Even in the face of these benefits, however, I still approached the SGI with skepticism. The chanting seemed strange and foreign to me, and I had learned over time to be suspicious of organized religions. Yet each time I chanted, read SGI literature or attended an SGI-USA function, I experienced anew the power of Nichiren Buddhist practice. Most of all, I was never asked to abandon my skepticism or to have blind faith. Fellow members asked only that I remain alert for "actual proof" in my life of the power of the Mystic Law.

Slowly but surely, that proof began to manifest. After an extenive research period filled with loving guidance and assistance, my tumor was treated with new technology that saved my hearing, and I began my recovery.

It goes on to say how he healed all over his being,....."I learned to stop slandering myself. I learned to open my life and my heart to others."......

damn good story, damn good example how all this stuff works.........Love, Desi!

Taken from LB, Nov-Dec 2008, p. 12

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The moon appears in the west and sheds its light eastward, but the sun rises in the east and casts its rays to the west. The same is true of Buddhism. It spread from west to east in the Former and Middle Days of the Law, but will travel from east to west in the Latter Day.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 401
Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man
Recipient unknown; written in 1265

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Shakyamuni taught that the shallow is easy to embrace, but the profound is difficult. To discard the shallow and seek the profound is the way of a person of courage. -Nichiren.

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Friday, October 10, 2008 (Daily Wisdom)

 

[SoCal Hippy]

It doesn’t matter in what area, just keep working on your personal revolution to transform and improve yourself in the way most natural for you. The important thing is that you change in some positive way. There is surely no more exhilarating a life than one in which we write our own unique history of human revolution each day. And the growth and transformation we achieve in this way can convince people of the greatness of the Daishonin’s Buddhism more eloquently than anything else.

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Friday, October 10, 2008 (Buddhism Day by Day)

 

[SoCal Hippy]

It is in times of adversity that one's spirit must blaze.
It is in times of adversity that one must fight with courage.
This is the way of the lion. Even if they are many in number,
cowardly people who are quick to start complaining cannot do anything.
When one is faced with the most difficult of circumstances,
one can make the cause to realise the greatest victory.

--Daisaku Ikeda --

 

[SoCal Hippy]

" A life lived without purpose or value, the kind in which one doesn't know the reason why one was born, is joyless and lackluster. To just live, eat and die without any real sense of purpose surely represents a life pervaded by the world of Animality. On the other hand, to do, create or contribute something that benefits others, society and ourselves and to dedicate ourselves as long as we live to that challenge-that is a life of true satisfaction, a life of value. It is a humanistic and lofty way to live.

" Daisaku Ikeda

 

[Babbabud]

Nam myoho renge kyo

A poem by President Ikeda.

Today again,let us sing songs of life that transform our hearts into bright oases of eternal happiness.

 

[PassTheDoobie]

"An important reason why fighting against evil in Buddhism is a part of our Buddhist practise is that if we fail to do so, we become accomplices to evil. In relation to this frightening reality, the Daishonin cites the Great Teacher Nan-yüeh, who says that those who turn a blind eye to evil will fall into hell along with those people who actually commit that evil (WND-1, 747). 'Failing to do good is the same as doing evil'--this is the undying credo of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, the founding president of the Soka Gakkai.

"Evil friends function to intensify others' ignorance or darkness--that is, heighten the workings of the three poisons of greed, anger, and foolishness in their lives. That is the fearful nature of such negative influences. Allowing evil to go unchallenged, therefore, ultimately spells suffering and pain for many people. As long as Buddhism is a philosophy that teaches the inherent dignity of human life, it is crucial that its practitioners fight resolutely against those tendencies that promote disrespect for human life, discrimination, and the destruction of life."

SGI Newsletter No.7640, LEARNING FROM THE GOSHO: THE HOPE-FILLED WRITINGS OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN, [11] "The Essentials for Attaining Buddhahood" The Great Path of Mentor and Disciple--Working Together for Kosen-rufu to Enrich Humanity with the Wisdom of the Mystic Law, from the Aug. 2008 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal, translated Oct. 3rd, 2008

 

[PassTheDoobie]

It is through putting our faith into action that we can
genuinely strengthen ourselves and experience a true sense of happiness.
By dedicating ourselves sincerely and wholeheartedly to
helping others to attain happiness,
let's continually develop our lives.

Daisaku Ikeda