It Is The Heart That Changes Everything

To My Friends & Daily Gosho April 27th + Daily Enc. April 28th


A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.


FRIDAY, April 27th, 2007 -- TO MY FRIENDS --

When we move on from one phase to another, major changes also occur in our surroundings.
Now is the time for us to earnestly chant daimoku. With our wisdom and all our strength,
let's create a surge of victories!


FRIDAY, April 27th, 2007 --- DAILY GOSHO ---

"Just as all the different kinds of plants and trees come forth from the earth, so all the various teachings of the Buddha are spread by persons."

(Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 61) Selection source: Soka Gakkai President Harada's encouragement, Seikyo Shimbun, April 27th, 2007


SATURDAY, April 28th, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The brilliant Venezuelan thinker Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906-2001) once said: 'It is this change of attitude, which occurs at a specific time and place, from which arises the great transformation that will change the panorama of the entire world.' Ultimately, one's heart decides everything. Whether one is taking care of parents, pursuing learning, or seeking happiness; one's attitude has a huge influence on the way things turn out. A heart that has
lost its bearings can lead one to commit serious wrongs and lose the trust and respect of others. As the Daishonin states: 'It is the heart that is important' (WND-1, 1000)."

SGI Newsletter No. 7187, Soka University & Soka Women's College joint graduation ceremony. Adorn Your Lives with Complete Victory and Fulfilment, translated April 20th, 2007

Buddhas are never defeated by misfortune or problems

MONDAY, April 23rd, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Buddhas are never defeated by misfortune or problems. They transform all
their sufferings into joy, expand their life-state, and do their human
revolution. And it is through this process that they change their karma."

SGI Newsletter No. 7185, The New Human Revolution--Vol. 19: Chap. 4,
Treasure Tower 20, translated April 19th, 2007

I Bought a New "Green" Car This Week

On Thursday, 20070419, I traded in my 2003 LandRover Freelander (LR2) [13MPG] for a 2007 Toyota Prius [52 MPG]. I am very pleased with this transaction. Todd Keith from Elite Auto Network (a car brokerage company headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA) got me the best deal with very little effort on my part. This new car will save me about two gallons of gas per day which equates to about $2,500 per year - not to mention what it will do for the environment...

20070421 Visit with Steven Chang

Steven and I got together this morning to chant an hour and compare note about astrology, careers, cars, aspirations, and, goals. We also talked about Steven's new shsakubuku and the meetings coming up this week. Steven is chanting to achieve a career breakthrough -- he wants to move up to the next level in his current career path.

To My Friends & Daily Gosho April 19th + Daily Enc. April 20th

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.


THURSDAY, April 19th, 2007 -- TO MY FRIENDS --

There is no strategy that surpasses the strategy of the Lotus Sutra. So that we can guide even those people who are opposed to our activities or who obstruct our advancement to become people who are understanding and supportive of our movement, let's sincerely and seriously chant daimoku, and take the type of action that will open up paths. Determinedly and with absolute earnestness, let's take courageous action towards great victories!


THURSDAY, April 19th, 2007 --- DAILY GOSHO ---

"If in a single moment of life we exhaust the pains and trials of millions of kalpas, then instant after instant there will arise in us the three Buddha bodies with which we are eternally endowed. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is just such a 'diligent' practice."

(Ongi kuden - Gosho Zenshu, page 790, The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, page 214) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, April 19th, 2007


FRIDAY, April 20th, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Nichiren Daishonin started his struggle for kosen-rufu with his call for the establishment of the correct teaching for the peace of the land. This means planting the seeds of a correct philosophy of life in people's hearts in order to realize a peaceful and prosperous society. The focus on bettering society that is at the heart of this principle is a basic requirement of humanistic religion."

SGI Newsletter No. 7183, The New Human Revolution--Vol. 19: Chap. 4, Treasure Tower 16, translated April 17th, 2007

I Am Learning Something Very Valuable Through This Campaign

Simply by making the determination to take responsibility for helping some else achieve a breakthrough and taking concreate action to support that determination two things happen:

1. That person breaks through
2. My life enters another dimension of joy, happiness, and, fulfillment

20070419 Relationship Breakthrough

Steven and I had an amazing telephone conversation today. This campaign is helping us to create bonds of friendship with each other.

To My Friends & Daily Gosho April 18th + Daily Enc. April 19th

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.


WEDNESDAY, April 18th, 2007 -- TO MY FRIENDS --

The Daishonin states, "Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions."* Behind our battle of words and our speaking out against lies and incorrect information is the spirit of "refuting the erroneous and revealing the true." Confidently, courageously and with unwavering conviction, let's all speak out (like roaring lions)!

*"Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion king and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion king fears no other beast, nor do its cubs. Slanderers are like barking foxes, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions." - "On Persecutions Befalling the Sage", WND, page 997


WEDNESDAY, April 18th, 2007 --- DAILY GOSHO ---

"The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by one courageous in faith. Then one will be as strong as a demon armed with an iron staff."

(Reply to Kyo'o - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 412) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, April 18th, 2007


THURSDAY, April 19th, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"The Chinese writer Ba Jin (1904-2005), ... wrote: 'If you take the first step, the second will be easier. If someone takes the lead, they will not be lacking in others to follow after them.'"

SGI Newsletter No. 7183, The New Human Revolution--Vol. 19: Chap. 4, Treasure Tower 15, translated April 17th, 2007

To My Friends & Daily Gosho April 17th + Daily Enc. April 18th

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.


TUESDAY, April 17th, 2007 -- TO MY FRIENDS --
"No prayers will go unanswered."* For the sake of the success of our kosen-rufu activities and all of our fellow members' absolute safety and accident-freeness,
it is vital that, when we chant daimoku,we set concrete and specific targets!

* "If you have faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo even for a short while, no prayer will go unanswered, no offence unexpiated, no good fortune unbestowed, and all righteousness proven."

(Commentary on "The True Object of Worship" by Nichikan Shonin)


TUESDAY, April 17th, 2007 --- DAILY GOSHO ---
"And yet, though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered."

(On Prayer - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 345) Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, April 17th, 2007


WEDNESDAY, April 18th, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"Perseverance is indispensable in achieving anything of importance. If we stop digging a well after a few feet because we find it too tiring, we’ll never hit water."

SGI Newsletter No. 7181, The New Human Revolution—Vol. 19: Chap. 4, Treasure Tower 13, translated April 16th, 2007

20070417 - My first major victory of this campaign

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is sooooo powerful. My appreciation knows no bounds! I have been battling my ex-wife and her attorney on a contempt motion they filed that had no grounds. I spent a lot of time, money, and, energy preparing my case as well as chanted many many many daimoku for a clear victory. This case has been going on for over 6 years and I have had many stunning victories along the way. This latest is one more for the record books. My attorney's email shown below speaks for itself:

---------------------------------------------------------

date Apr 17, 2007 4:12 PM
subject NEWS: CONTEMPT CANCELLED

Put on your dancing shoes and pop a cork! WS called me this afternoon and he is taking his motion for contempt completely OFF calendar on the basis that by our documents he now sees there is NO contempt. He thanked me for getting this case clarified for him. He will look over everything again to see IF there is grounds for a motion to increase support and then he may file a new hearing on that basis but he will let me know.

He was apologetic in tone. There was no apparent threat (an indecisive tone at best) to a new hearing. Taking into consideration that without contempt, Barbara has no positive expectation of getting attorney fees from you, she is going to have to pay her attorney for this last waste of time and pay him to go further with a motion for higher support because he will have to determine in advance that there has been a substantial change in circumstances to justify a motion for an increase in support.

WS also mentioned that he is in the process of retiring. He is partially retired now - working less than a full week and taking a lot of vacations.

He may still seek higher support but I wouldn't expect a new motion right away.

Take a breath. Put the file away. Smile. I am smiling too. We did a good job - great teamwork.

15 April TMF

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Shimbun and more.

SUNDAY, April 15th, 2007 --- DAILY GOSHO ---

"And yet, though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise in the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered."

(On Prayer - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 345) Selection source: "Myoji no Gen", Seikyo Shimbun, April 15th, 2007

MONDAY, April 16th, 2007 ---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----

"Sincerity touches the hearts of others."

SGI Newsletter No. 7180, The New Human Revolution--Vol. 19: Chap. 4, Treasure Tower 12, translated April 13th, 2007

SUNDAY, April 15th, 2007 -- TO MY FRIENDS --

To all of our dear youth, please create waves of expansion and development and stir up a wind for the sake of justice and truth!
Be the heroes and heroines of our times!
Your youthful strength and capabilities are as vast and boundless as the universe!

* The life of the Buddha wells forth powerfully in those who awaken to their original mission; whatever their personal or social situation, such people can realise victory in life with total composure. They can follow a joyful and meaningful path in life. Therefore, those who base themselves on the theme "kosen-rufu and my life" will never become deadlocked. The life of Nichiren Daishonin and the power of the Gohonzon are as vast and boundless as the universe itself. Our own lives also contain infinite potential. Whether we can actualise that potential depends entirely on the strength and depth of our determination in faith.

(Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters of the Lotus Sutra by Daisaku Ikeda, Volume 2, page 59)

Gary's Goals for this campaign

My goals for this campaign can be viewed by clicking here.