Friday, January 13, 2017

Global peacemaker Daisaku Ikeda receives honorary degree from DePaul | Newsline | DePaul University | A Publication for Faculty and Staff

Global peacemaker Daisaku Ikeda receives honorary degree from DePaul | Newsline | DePaul University | A Publication for Faculty and Staff

Global peacemaker Daisaku Ikeda receives honorary degree from DePaul

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul University, (center) presented the honorary degree to Hiromasa Ikeda, who accepted the award on behalf of his father, Daisaku Ikeda. Jason Goulah (fourth from left), associate professor of Bilingual-Bicultural Education and director of the Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education at DePaul, also attended the ceremony. (DePaul University/Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education)

In late December, DePaul University presented an honorary degree to Daisaku Ikeda, a global peacemaker and president of Soka Gakkai International, a community-based Buddhist organization. The university honored Ikeda for his life's work, which focuses on finding peace, advocating for education and eradicating the fundamental causes of human conflict.

Inspired by Ikeda's work, in 2014 DePaul created the Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education, the first university-affiliated institute of its kind in the United States. The institute follows a Japanese education model called Soka, meaning "value creating," which complements the university's Vincentian values. Through its initiatives, research and programs, the institute aims to bring awareness to the ideas of Japanese educators such as Ikeda and his mentors.

Formed in the 1970s, Soka Gakkai International is a grassroots movement with more than 12 million members in 192 countries and territories around the world. The organization promotes peace, culture and education centered on respect for human life. As a nongovernmental organization with formal ties to the United Nations, Soka Gakkai International also collaborates with other civil society organizations and intergovernmental agencies in the fields of nuclear disarmament, human rights education, sustainable development and humanitarian relief.

Read more about the Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education in Newsline.



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CCL's Rendition Of Youth! Scale The Mountain Of Kosen-Rufu

Monday, January 9, 2017

Half-hour daimoku

On 3 obstacles and 4 devils

共勉之:
"There is definitely something extraordinary in the ebb and flow of the tide, the rising and setting of the moon, and the way in which summer, autumn, winter, and spring give way to each other. Something uncommon also occurs when an ordinary person attains Buddhahood. At such a time, the three obstacles and four devils will invariably appear, and the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat. I have long been waiting to tell you this, either through my own messenger or by some other means. So I greatly appreciate your sending these messengers to me. I am sure that, if you were about to abandon your faith, you would not have sent them. Thinking it may still not be too late, I am writing this letter. "

From Nichiren Daishonin, " The three obstacles and the four Devils".

加油, All justice will be proven. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I will pray that you will win thoroughly!✌


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Saturday, January 7, 2017

When we need to CHANT

Youth! Scale the Mountain of Kosenrufu

[16:9] 青年よ広布の山を登れ Youth! Scale the Mountain of Kosen-rufu!

https://youtu.be/q8Hc2AWmUTE


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学会歌「青年よ広布の山を登れ」作詞山本伸一池田大作)SGI

https://youtu.be/_7YmZUeMihk


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Nam Myoho Renge Kyo ~ Chant For Happiness: What Does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Mean and Why Do We Chant it?

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo ~ Chant For Happiness: What Does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Mean and Why Do We Chant it?

What Does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo Mean and Why Do We Chant it?


What does Nam-myoho-renge-kyo mean, 

and why do we chant it? 


By Jamie Lee Silver of ChantforHappiness.com

(You can subscribe by putting your email in the box to the right. 

Translate button is at the top right.)


The literal translation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is:


"I fuse my life 

with the Mystic Law of cause and effect 

through sound vibration (or sutra)." 


It is the title of the Lotus Sutra, 

the Buddha's highest teaching 

that declares  

ALL people possess the Buddha Nature...

all people ARE Buddhas...

and we can access our own Buddhahood ~ our inherent wisdom, determination, power to take the best action for our lives while benefiting others, sense of vitality, ability to make a difference, find fulfillment and happiness, and the strength to turn 

EVERY POISON INTO MEDICINE 

~by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. 


That's it. We don't need to change our diets, memorize lists of paths, change our lifestyles, shave our heads, wear robes, or "purify our desires." This form of Buddhism is radically different than most forms you may have encountered. SGI (Soka Gakkai Buddhism is accessible to ALL. 


AND the most important aspect of our prayer is to do our own human revolution...to change the very core of our lives...change our karma, and by doing so, change the world around us as well. 
We chant for "Kosen-Rufu," a world of respect for all life, and for all who are suffering to be happy. Through our own happiness, we create happiness for all. We can all win in life together. 

When we chant, we harness the energy that is our birthright. And we chant twice a day, every single day, to get and keep our lives in rhythm. 

When we are in rhythm we are in the right place at the right time... to find out about and get the job...or to meet the man of our dreams...or to protect our child from danger. When we are in rhythm, life isn't so much of a struggle as it is a joy...we see the beauty in everything and we feel our lives overflowing with appreciation. 

In fact, we view obstacles themselves as benefits, as strange as that may sound....because obstacles make us chant more, and when we chant more we draw even higher life conditions and deeper satisfaction into our lives. 

What can we chant FOR? 
Anything. Make sure to write your list, and rewrite it when you achieve those goals. Ultimately, our goal is to change our own selves...to overcome our doubt and negativity, and to experience life as the Buddhas we are. When WE change, our environment changes. We are all interconnected. 

We chant for others, we chant for our planet, our countries, and ourselves. 
We can chant for whatever our desire may be...even if it might not be the "right" desire for us. In the act of chanting, we will change our karma and our desires themselves will naturally begin to shift. We will open our lives to the deeper wisdom within...the deeper yearning, the REAL desires that we have forgotten or given up on. We will grow. We will prosper and we will blossom. 

We will gain the wisdom of the right action to take - because ACTION springs from wisdom. 

The challenge is...we need to DO it. We have to chant to bring all this rhythm and harmony out. And that's why we practice together as an organization, the SGI, The Soka Gakkai, our fellowship of friends who support each other, chant for each other, and create a new Soka family for each practitioner. We are so fortunate. 

We are in this life together...sharing our challenges and our successes. If you are not yet connected to the SGI please go to sgi-usa.com and find your local members. You will be so glad you did. 
If you live in or around St. Pete Beach Florida you can connect with me through chantforhappiness@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some Powerful Quotes from Daisaku Ikeda:

THIS moment, this instant, is important, 
not some unknown time in the future. 
Today, this very day is what matters. 
You must put your whole being 
into the time that exists now. 
For future victory rests in the present moment.

BUDDHISM holds that 

everything is in a constant state of flux. 
Thus, the question is 
whether we are to accept change passively 
and be swept away by it, 
or whether we are to take the lead 
and create positive changes on our own initiative. 
While conservatism and self-protection
might be likened to winter, night and death, 

the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize 
the ideals evokes the images of spring,
morning and birth.

Do gongyo and chant daimoku with a fresh spirit. 

And, filled with renewed vitality, 

build a history of accumulating fresh benefit.




All quotes from Ikedaquotes.org



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Sunday, January 1, 2017

Sensei's message at 19th HQ leaders' meeting 3/9/2016

Pure or impure mind determines if land is pure or impure

If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds.  It is the same with a Buddha and an ordinary being.  While deluded, one is called an ordinary being, but when enlightened, one is called a Buddha. This is similar to a tarnished mirror that will shine like a jewel when polished.

-Nichiren 
______
Buddhism Day by Day
Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, January 1, 2017

MD Lion Roar Daimoku Campaign, every Sunday and Thursday at 10.30 pm.

MD Lion Roar Daimoku Campaign, 
every Sunday and Thursday at 10.30 pm.

Let's chant and pray with great determination as "Starting fire from damp wood, extracting water from parched ground."

1. Breakthrough in every district propagation campaign to achieve 50,000 membership in SSA 50
2. Great growth and development of the Youth Division and the emergence of young Bodhisattvas of the Earth in every Distrct

壮年部狮子吼题目运动。

让我们以"湿木生火,干土出水"的莫大决意唱题与祈求。

1. 各个地区取得折伏运动的突破,达成SSA50的5万会员数。
2. 每个地区青年部的大成长,以及年青地涌菩的辈出。