Gaia: The SGI: Applying Buddhism in Every Day Life

Re: Authors wanted

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:44:49 GMT

Thank you for sharing Jill.

Authors wanted

http://jilljj.gaia.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:29:11 GMT

Wanted: books and authors.
Posted on Feb 24th, 2009 by jilljj : just-being jilljj
I'm building a community that makes for a good way to market your books. I have a website from which I now sell my artwork, plus topics related to: spiritual, health, nature, & new age, etc....Author submissions being accepted.
This is no risk for authors as I am not charging a fee to list you on my site, just a percentage if your book sells. The more authors and books, the more the more of you network and promote,the moreeasily search engines will find you, and the more books will sell......................

The book storefront is at www.jilljj.com/ZenCart
in it would be your ebooks: descriptions, titles, pics, prices, etc……
As for legitimacy, it is, and both parties would need to sign:
the agreement which can be gotten at http://www.jilljj.com/ZenCart/author-agreement.pdf

my main site for your perusal is at www.jilljj.com

Now, I worked for a while as a cost estimator at a college text book company and I know what a tiny pittance goes for author fees. Instead of 6 to 10%, what I propose here is that you get to keep is 70%. I personally have had a hard time finding a central location for books of this subject matter, which means we could have a niche! The benefit for me would also be increased traffic to my site and hopefully you authors let me read your works while we are at it. Of course this is something to which we both need to agree, so please take a look at the pdf listed above.
Please email me at jilljjam@yahoo.com if you’d like to jump in or have ideas.
Thanks
Jill

Look for a new Group to be launched soon

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:31:12 GMT

Warmest greetings!!

I will soon be growing a new community group on Gaia. It will primarily be for those of us who have determined to practice Nichiren Buddhism and have chosen to become disciples of SGI President, Daisaku Ikeda. Without a mentor in life, we are destined to live out our lives from the limited realm of our lesser ego.

I plan to name this group "Soka: Transmitting the Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life." It will consist of a board on Gosho teachings, focusing on the Heritage of the Law; a board dedicated to Sensei's guidance and encouragement; a place to ask questions about the practice; and a place for sharing benefits.

If there are any SGI members who would like to help me administer this group, please send me an email. The group will be a dynamic work in progress...

All the best - in the spirit of 'Many in Body, One in Mind'
jaBuddha

SGI President Ikeda on happiness

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:08:37 GMT

"We each move forward secure on our own earth, not the earth of others. Happiness is something we must create for ourselves. No one else can give it to us." ~ Daisaku Ikeda

"Where can we find happiness? Happiness is not found in a tranquil life free of storms and tempests. Real happiness is found in the struggles to realize our goals, in our efforts to move forward." ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Warm Greetings from Connecticut

http://seedoubleyou.gaia.com — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:49:43 GMT

Warm...sounds kinda funny doesn't it?

My family's newest friendship, recently established with another family on the other side of the Atlantic, has led us down the path of building a sometimes difficult, yet comfortable line of communications between one another from across the sea. Regardless of the language barrier, we have, over the past seven months, successfully communicated with one another to the point that feelings are not just those of friends, but of family. One of the earliest bridges we built was in the closing of each letter. My wife chose the word 'warmly' as a kind way of finishing her notes with love.

The circumstances that brought upon this seemingly spontaneous and almost superficial friendship are not important to the story. What instead is important is that through the practice of loving kindness, compassion and understanding, my family and another on the other side of the Atlantic ocean has grown together based soley through these acts of trust, compassion, and love.

Only through the wisdom gained by practicing Buddha Nature have my family and I learned to live our lives with this love and compassion that has brought us down this path we now live. I can only hope that somehow, someway, people all over the planet can realize that their only true path to happiness lies in closing their minds to past misdeeds and mistakes and opening their hearts with love and compassion so that we can all peacefully co-exist with one another.

All of this is a strange introduction I know. Yet I want each reader who happens upon this particular post to know that yes, Buddhism works, yes chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo has an effect on one's life, and yes, it is possible to be happy in the present day. I'm still only a rookie in all of this, call me a complete loony, but I think it works!

I am not an SGI member yet and I have only been studying Buddhism for a tiny bit over two years, but we are all students. There is no end to learning. Wisdom is like the rings of a tree. With each new ring, we grow stronger, happier, and more confident where we stand on this Earth.

Warmly :)

-cw

What Can Cause Society and the World to Bloom Fragrantly?

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:08:11 GMT

A translation of President Ikeda's "To My Friends"

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
This Buddhism is a ray of hope for people.
It is the sun that dispels all the darkness.
Let's live out our lives with strong conviction that we
will definitely establish happiness no matter what
happens!

*The sun impartially illuminates everything. Likewise, the
Buddhism of the sun illuminates the lives of all people
equally: it turns the life of each person into a 'field of
good fortune' of the Mystic Law, and it causes society and
the world to bloom fragrantly with 'human flowers' of the
Mystic Law.

The goals of the Buddhism of the sun are human revolution,
the establishment of the correct teaching for the peace of
the land, the worldwide kosen-rufu.
(The World of Nichiren Daishonin's Writings, Volume 4, page 28)

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Let us discuss the question at length."

(On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the
Land - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 6)
Selection source: SGI President Ikeda's speech, Seikyo
Shimbun, July 22nd, 2008

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"True disciples are willing to take on hardship or
persecution in their mentor's stead. For instance, when
Mr. Toda accompanied Mr. Makiguchi to prison, he prayed:
"I am still young, but Mr. Makiguchi is old. May my mentor
be released from prison as soon as possible. It doesn't
matter how long I stay here, but let my mentor go free
right away!" This was his deep and fervent prayer day and
night. "

"The essence of Buddhism is found in the spirit of
striving with the same commitment as the mentor. If this
rigorous spirit is lost, the very foundation of Buddhism
will be destroyed. Therefore, those who genuinely seek to
carry on the correct teaching of Buddhism must always
remember to maintain this spirit and take action based on it. "

SGI Newsletter No. 7581, SGI President Ikeda's Special
Study Article from the May 2008 issue of the
Daibyakurenge. Translated on Friday, June 4, 2008

* The Japanese kanji for To My Friends is available by
clicking on Seikyo Shimbun's web-site address at
http://www.sokanet.jp/sg/sn/member_support_top.html

---WAGATOMO NI OKURU ---
KONO BUPPO WA
KIBO NO SHOKO
YAMI O YABURU TAIYO DA.
DAIKAKUSHIN NO JINSEI O!
DANJITE KOFUKU O HIRAKE!

-- KYO NO GOSHO --
"SHIBASHIBA DANWA O ITASAN"

(Gosho Zenshu, page 17)

Re: My Two Cents

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:02:53 GMT

Makes good "cents" to me!

Re: Hello from Virginia

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:41:34 GMT

Hey my friend; things ARE a bit slow here these days. You may enjoy just going through some of the older posts to find an interesting topic.

There is generally more activity at the "Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime" group...

All the best!
jaB

Re: Gee...where did everybody go?

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:39:09 GMT

Dunno know where all the people have gone.

An interesting questions, that about animals; my thought is that it is connected to the causes made by the animal(s)...

The state is beyond rational understanding; you have jumped to a high ledge of discernment!!

My Two Cents

http://doro.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:33:07 GMT

Question: What is the opposit of death?

Answer: Birth. Life has no opposit.

Gee...where did everybody go?

http://doro.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:29:36 GMT

This looks like a great discussion place. I'm pretty much Buddhist but here's my question; If the awakened state is beyond thought are animals awakened?

Hello from Virginia

http://doro.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:22:46 GMT

Hi, My name is Doro. I'm actually from New York but I've been living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for about 18 years. Applying Buddhism in every day life is what I (try) to do. I go to the Bhavana Buddhist monastery in WV regularly for 10-day retreats to recharge my mindfulness batteries. I make it a point to surround myself with wholesome Sangha. Thanks for being here. Metta.

A perspective on "Culture"

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:33:49 GMT

"Culture is knowledge applied with wisdom." ---- Josei Toda (2nd Soka Gakkai President)

Hello from NY!

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:34:48 GMT

I'm new
I'm 18
I'm a practicing Zen Buddhist in the Mountains and Rivers Order
I live in N.Y.
I do lots of things, write lots of things (including Poetry), and I'm fairly well versed in Western Psychology, and the Western Esoteric (Occult) Tradition.
I go to CUNY Hunter College.

And I'd like to meet some fellow Buddhists!

How do you do?

Re: How is everyone?

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:35:58 GMT

Just keep working on that percentage Kyuzo!

I believe I am over the 50% mark...

Please integrate chanting "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" into whatever other Buddhist discipline you have adopted. See you around; and please get familiar with www.sgi-usa.org.

Blessings my friend, and WELCOME!

jaB

How is everyone?

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:10:37 GMT

I just joined this pod. I've been working to apply buddhist philosophy in everything I do, though I'm probably only successful at 10%. I'm at a point where I want to take myself to a new level and am looking to surround myself with like-minded individuals. Well, that's brought me here.

In any case, I hope to chat with some of you in the near future.

Keep well,

Kyuzo

Buddhism and My Psychiatric Practice

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:32:58 GMT

Buddhist Practice : Experiences

Buddhism and My Psychiatric Practice
By Charles Byrne, Ireland

It has been said that the suffering caused by mental illness is worse
than that caused by physical illness. People suffering from severe
depression often view themselves, their surroundings and their future in a
very negative and sometimes hopeless way. The challenge a doctor
or therapist faces is to help the patient experience hope. This
includes hope that they will recover from the disorder, and hope from
the realization of the importance of their own life and hope in
relation to their family and their work.

I work as a psychiatrist at a hospital in the west of Ireland. The
types of disorders I see are the same as those seen by psychiatrists
around the world. From Africa to China to America, mental illness is
very similar. It is a global problem that afflicts all humanity. In
some types of mental illness, a person can completely lose touch with
reality as in cases of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In
schizophrenia, a person may feel that he is being persecuted and
become paranoid. Supportive therapy, medicine and rehabilitation are
needed for recovery. Most disorders can be treated effectively,
contrary to common assumptions.

Among the challenges faced by mental health professionals is to
maintain compassion and respect for, and inspire hope in, every
patient they treat. This can be quite daunting, especially if one is
seeing many patients every day. My Buddhist practice and the
humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism have been a tremendous
help. I began practicing twenty-three years ago after a doctor and
coworker introduced me to this Buddhism. At that time, I had no
religious belief nor life philosophy and my life had lost direction.
After taking up the practice, I found that gradually my compassion for
my patients increased. I realized that with my Buddhist practice, I
was able to approach each day refreshed and more revitalized. It also
helped me handle the stress and strain of the day. I was encouraged
and supported by the local SGI members and the philosophy of Buddhism
and Nichiren's writings were very inspiring and relevant to my daily
life. The practice gave me the courage and determination to take the
many professional examinations that I needed to advance my psychiatric practice.

At first I was concerned there might be some contradiction between my
Buddhist practice and my work in psychiatry. I later realized,
however, that fundamentally my work involves helping people and
therefore is fully compatible with Buddhism. I do not tell my patients
about Buddhism. But its philosophy helps me in my work and I tell my
friends in the profession about its humanistic ideals. Buddhist theory
has influenced the way I do therapy. I encourage a "start from now"
approach to problems rather than excessively looking back on or
regretting the past. I encourage action based on common sense and
wisdom rather than on emotion. These approaches are also in keeping
with the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which came from
the psychiatrist Aaron Beck. Additionally, I encourage patients to adopt a
compassionate and tolerant approach to problems with their families and others
wherever possible. I also always stress the importance of hope--that both they and
their situation can improve. Therapy is approached from the standpoint of
respect for every individual.

As I read more about Buddhism, I came to understand that it represents
a profound understanding of humanity and the human psyche on a level
different from that found in academic psychiatry and psychology.
Depression, anxiety and problems with anger are well described in
psychiatry and are similar to the worlds of hell, animality and anger
in the Buddhist doctrine of the ten worlds. There is nothing, however,
in psychiatry that corresponds to the other seven worlds of hunger,
humanity, rapture, learning, realization, bodhisattva and Buddhahood.

Also in psychiatry, there is no concept similar to that of the three
poisons. According to Buddhism, we live in a deluded state with our
perceptions clouded and distorted by the poisons of greed, anger and
foolishness. Through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism, compassion,
wisdom, courage and strong life force, the antidotes to these poisons,
naturally emerge in our lives. The attributes of our innate Buddhahood
surface imperceptibly as our practice progresses. Accompanying these
is also hope, which is central to Buddhism. This hope derives from the
confidence that we can fundamentally change for the better (human
revolution) and contribute to the betterment of society and the world.

Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders, with
large numbers of people affected. It is estimated that 16% of the
population will suffer from a very serious depression sometime in
their life. The percentage of individuals suffering from significant
anxiety is similar. It includes long term disabling anxiety and
shorter episodes of intense anxiety referred to as panic attacks. The
latter can be associated with fear of open or closed space. Some
people can become housebound because of this fear.

One of the most frightening consequences of severe depression is the
possibility of suicide. Suicide can also occur as a result of
emporary intense depression that may be associated with a loss, for
example a relationship break-up, or with alcohol or drug abuse.
Alarmingly, suicide has reached epidemic proportions among young men
in Europe. In my own country, Ireland, it is the most common form of
death for men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five. The rate
has approximately tripled in the last thirty years. It is also the
most common form of death in young men in many European countries. The
cause of this increase is unknown, although there are theories that
link it to rapid changes in society, the decline of religion and
changes in the role and status of men. I agree that religion is a
protective factor in relation to suicide and particularly Buddhism,
which is a religion of hope.

Another epidemic, particularly among young people in Europe and other
countries, is alcohol and drug abuse. The problems of suicide and
substance abuse in young people point to a generation in which many
feel lost and hopeless. Psychoanalyst Carl Jung used the phrase
"modern man in search of a soul." He believed that religion is a
protective agent for people and encouraged his patients to have a
spiritual aspect to their lives. He had a deep interest in Buddhism. I
believe that Buddhism has never been more needed in the world and that
it is vital that young people in particular hear about it.

Depression is a disorder that can be treated very effectively and
those suffering from it should be encouraged to seek help from a
doctor or other qualified professionals. For other psychiatric
disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, an ailment
characterized by severe mood swings, there are now new ways of treatment that
are proving very effective and enabling sufferers to lead normal lives. Previously,
people suffering from schizophrenia often spent long periods of time, often years,
in mental hospitals as inpatients and led very restricted lives. This has changed
completely. I now have one young schizophrenic patient who has obtained a college
degree in art and design and another who is pursuing an engineering
degree. This was previously unheard of. They can instill a feeling of
hope in their patients. Continued efforts are needed to reduce the
stigma related to mental illness so that those affected are treated
with the respect they deserve.

Many outstanding psychiatrists and psychologists have made invaluable
contributions to this field, too numerous to mention. Carl Rogers exercised
unconditional regard and respect for his patients in relation to therapy. This mirrors Bodhisattva Never Disparaging and the recognition of everyone's innate Buddhahood. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl formulated his theories of treatment from his experience of
surviving a concentration camp in World War II. In his theory of
Reciprocal Inhibition, Joseph Wolpe showed that focusing on something
can block negative thoughts. Similarly, when I chant the daimoku,
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, I focus on the sound of my voice and the movement
of my mouth. In this way, I get less distracted by other thoughts.
Facing fears and difficulties with a determination to grow is part of
psychology's behavioral therapy and is also a part of one's human revolution.

In conclusion, I would like to quote the words of Swiss philosopher
Simone Weil: "At the centre of the human heart is a longing for the
absolute good" as well as the words of SGI President Ikeda: "I believe
that Buddhism is the supreme psychology of hope, the supreme life philosophy of hope."

[Translated and adopted from an article in the August 2005 issue of
Daibyaku Renge, Soka Gakkai]

Establish an eternally indestructible state of happiness

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:53:02 GMT

For Today and Tomorrow

Daily Wisdom

Buddhism Day by Day

Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda
Sunday, June 15, 2008

The joy of heaven is ephemeral like a mirage or a dream. A life spent in pursuit of a mirage is itself a mirage. The purpose of Buddhist practice is to establish an eternally indestructible state of happiness; not a fleeting happiness that perishes like a flower but an internal palace of happiness that will last throughout all time.

<< Yesterday Tomorrow >>

Hello to all the Buddhaful peeps in here ...

http://transformationzone.gaia.com — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:11:17 GMT

I am Sunshine and live in California, Venice. Practicing this Buddhism is a joy to me as my life unfolds moment by moment ... and my Buddha Nature ... get's to Shine.

Re: Tashi Delek Boddhis

http://gakkaiguy.gaia.com — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:31:50 GMT

Absorbing others' negativity can be a great obstacle to ones progress along the way. It is a great blessing to attract negativity so we can lend encouragement and empowerment; however, we must have qualities similar to our own cellular structure. A semi-permeable membrane is the thing. If we feel none of the other person's negativity, we may lack the capacity for extending true compassion. Empathic understanding is different than being enmeshed, however.

I can only surmise that your own life-condition needs to become higher. Nichiren Buddhism offers the model of the "Ten Worlds." At the http://www.sgi-usa.org/ website, you can explore the site map and find "Buddhism" and the "Library." There is a searchable dictionary that offers an explanation of this concept. Also related is the "Ten Factors." I would also recommend reviewing "The Nine Consciousnesses."

Nichiren Daishonin (1222-1282) oulined a totally "round" - complete life-philosophy. When we tap the essence of the True Entity of Life, another person's negative energy will no longer affect our life at the core. I hope your journey on the path of Bon Dzogchen Buddhism brings you all you seek and desire. Nichiren is my eternal mentor. I wish you well Mish! - jaB