Chanting Growers Group

[SoCal Hippy]

"Nothing is wasted in faith. One never loses out. Please be confident
that all your efforts to help others and promote Buddhism are
accumulating immense treasures of good fortune in your life. This is
what is meant by inconspicuous benefit."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Daily life can seem all too drab and unexciting. Living itself can
sometimes seem a strain, and few of us realistically expect what joy
we feel to last forever. But when we fall in love, life seems filled
with drama and excitement. We feel like the leading character in a
novel. But, if you get lost in love just because you are bored, and
consequently veer from the path you should be following, then love is
nothing more than escapism. What you are doing is retreating into a
dream world, believing that what is only an illusion is actually real."

D. Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

In describing the first, second, and third of the five stages of
practice, the Buddha restricts those at these stages from practicing
precepts and meditation, and places al emphasis upon the single factor
of wisdom. And because our wisdom is inadequate, he teaches us a
substitute faith for wisdom, making this single word "faith" the
foundation.

(WND, 785)
On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice
Written to Toki Jonin on April 10, 1277

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"The Daishonin's words are guiding principles that have universal,
eternal relevance. It is important to study his writings. And it is
especially crucial that the members of the youth division gain a solid
grounding in Buddhist study. The two ways of practice and study are
important. A halfhearted attitude will not allow you to complete these
two paths. That would be a truly sad thing."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[Hitman]

Since I read your writings quoted from great people, SoCal, I have been able to tell myself that it is a miracle that I'm able to chant for a few brief minutes a day. I am soaring in my mind, not getting mixed up in yesterday and tomorrow. I take that time to cruise up over the mountain tops and out into eternity. The faith that I'm supposed to feel is coming back around. This week my work has been an obstacle. My boss says things that I can't believe. All negative and no positive. His miserable self needs shakabukued so bad it's unreal. He would rather be my enemy than my friend and guide. It's sad because we go back pretty far and it doesn't even mean anything. He wants me to feel as bad as he does. He doesn't want to acknowledge anything that is positive. I want a new job. I have to chant to be able to allow my virtues to be used in the best way. I'm smart enough to know when to turn back, I see flames up ahead, need to take cover.

You are my only friends, Chanters. I only have you and I'm going to let you know this every time I click on these keys.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Into the darkness we run - fearlessly attacking our personal demons of fear, anger, frustration. Let us be warriors on our path and let our roars be heard in unison, echoing through eternity!

 

[Desiderata]

I Too rely on this thread.

I Too rely on this thread.

That was spot on, right on time, Hitman. When I need balance, or feel negativity building inside, I chant with you all and attain instant correction of my senses, towards a brighter horizon. Your devotion and faith carries over into my heart and soul. You all care. Thankyou!

Desi

 

[Babbabud]

Timing was perfect guys thanks. Been a bit quiet here lately and your post are very appreciated. The encouragement we recieve from one another is what keeps us moving forward. Hope the others can find the time in their busy lives to take a few minutes to post and tell us how things are going for them ... Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

 

[GeorgialouWho]

Hi Hitman, thanks for saying hi!
always moving forward.....

have a good week everyone...

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo,

GeorgialouWho

 

[Hitman]

Hi GeorgialouWho, good Great to you and everyone else!

 

[SoCal Hippy]

Although I, Nichiren, am not a man of wisdom , the devil king of the
sixth heaven has attempted to take possession of my body. But I have
for some time been taking such great care that he now no longer comes
near me. Therefore, because the power of the heavenly devil is
ineffectual against me, he instead possesses the ruler and his high
officials, or foolish priests such as Ryokan, and causes them to hate
me.

(WND, 310)
Reply to Sairen-bo
Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on April 13, 1272

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"As long as our mind of faith is connected to the Gohonzon, our benefits
will never disappear. That's why it is vital for us to persevere in our
Buddhist practice throughout our lives, no matter what, even if on some
days our physical condition or other circumstances prevent us from
doing gongyo and chanting daimoku to our full satisfaction. Those who
continue to challenge themselves to the end savor ultimate victory."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Thoreau, a renowned American Renaissance thinker, wrote in his
journal: "Nothing must be postponed. Take time by the forelock. Now or
never! You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave,
find your eternity in each moment." We shouldn't put anything off but
seize the moment, living with all our being in the present. If we do
that, he says, each moment will become eternity."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The rice plant flowers and bears grain, but its spirit remains in the
soil. This is the reason the stalk sprouts to flower and bear grain
once again. The blessings that Nichiren obtains from propagating the
Lotus Sutra will always return to Dozen-bo. How sublime! It is said
that, if a teacher has a good disciple, both will gain the fruit of
Buddhahood, but if a teacher fosters a bad disciple, both will fall
into hell.

(WND, 909)
Flowering and Bearing Grains
Written to Joken-bo and Gijo-bo in April 1278

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The life-state of Buddhahood is not separate or discontinuous from
the other nine worlds. Rather, the wisdom, vitality and courage of
Buddhahood can infuse and transform the manner in which a tendency
toward, for example, Anger, functions in a person's life. When Anger
is directed by the compassion of the worlds of Buddhahood and
Bodhisattva, it can be a vital force in challenging injustice and
transforming human society.

Source: SGI Quarterly, Oct. 1999

 

[GeorgialouWho]

From Lectures on the Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life. SGI President Ikeda's Study Lecture Series. (12) Earthly Desires are Enlightenment and the Sufferings of Birth and Death are Nirvana. Transforming Illusion and Suffering Into Confidence, Joy and Hope. Page 72.


Enlightenment is nothing out of the ordinary..........To wake up each morning with a sense of physical well-being, to have a good appetite, to enjoy what we do each day and to not feel worried or anxious about life--to live in this way is enlightenment. It is nothing exceptional.


NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO

GeorgialouWho

 

[GeorgialouWho]

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"From the Buddha's perspective, everyone has a right to happiness. Everyone
has the potential to lead a life brimming with joy. We who uphold Nichiren
Daishonin's Buddhism, moreover, know how to tap the Mystic Law in our lives.
That is why we not only have a right to happiness but also have an important
mission to help others actualise true happiness in their lives as well.

"'Winter always turns to spring' means that ordinary people who triumph over
all challenges they encounter in the course of their Buddhist practise will
definitely become Buddhas. The Daishonin's words are a mighty lion's roar,
proclaiming that his disciples--whose lives are dedicated to enabling others
to awaken to and manifest the Buddhahood that inherently exists within
them--cannot fail to attain enlightenment."


SGI Newsletter No. 7521, LEARNING FROM THE GOSHO: THE HOPE-FILLED WRITINGS
OF NICHIREN DAISHONIN [6 ] 'Winter Always Turns to Spring.' Bringing Forth
the Great Power of Faith--The Inspirational Force of the Daishonin's
Towering Conviction, translated April 7th, 2008 from the February issue of
the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai study journal.


PEACE OUT....

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO

GeorgialouWho

 

[SoCal Hippy]

The Lotus Sutra offers a secret means for leading all living beings to
Buddhahood. It leads one person in the realm of hell, one person in the
realm of hungry spirits, and thus one person in each of the nine realms
of existence to Buddhahood, and thereby the way is opened for all
living beings to attain Buddhahood.

(WND, 512)
Letter to Horen
Written to Soya Kyoshin in April 1275

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"Material possessions cannot be enjoyed after death. But millionaires
rich in life force are able to freely make use of the treasures of the
universe in lifetime after lifetime and enjoy a journey of eternal
happiness. That is what constitutes proof of true victory in life."


Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no
matter how trying our circumstances."

Daisaku Ikeda

 

[SoCal Hippy]

"There is no means other than faith by which to open our lives and our inner state of Buddhahood. Faith is the most "open" state of mind of all. Infinite clusters of good fortune spill forth from this unbarred treasure house of life."



- From "Daily Encouragement" by Daisaku Ikeda