Work wise things have picked up reasonably significantly which is good .. so just need to make sure that I don't rest back on my laurels which is always tempting.
Have been to two meetings at Taplow Court, our Buddhist centre as I'm now a vice district leader ... Technically shouldn't have gone to the second one as it was for chapter and HQ leaders but as I had to hang around a few hours for a lift back, I managed to blag my way into it which was good, though the lectures were pretty much the same at both but very inspiring anyway. I've posted relevant bits of notes I took at the end.
Also, on the second one, I received my Omamori gohonzon which is a mini one used for taking on home visits etc which I did one tonight .. my first .. ta da .... :-)
Jazz has been a bit iffy the last few weeks though as I really didn't enjoy the Works and missed Inner Noise as I was ill .. back to normal this week hopefully though. Had an e-mail from a Jazz Musician too Renato D'aiello .. turns out he's just started chanting too ... and might want me to re-design his web site .. cool.
mmm Think that's it .. sure we've managed at least one Mayfair meal in the last few weeks and I'm sure it was good .. just can't remember so it must have been a good night :-)
Notes from the meetings follow:
2007 designated the Year of Victory and Advance
A strong morning gongyo signals the start of a strong day
Seek the mentor/disciple relationship in our own way. This relationship created the initial cause for the formation of SGI and the progress to where we are today (Makaguchi/Toda/Ikeda). Each of us has this very same spirit within us.
Only inner transformation of ordinary people can transform the world.
Shakabuku is a practise to respect others life potential. When we respect others, respect responds back. Shakabuku means overcoming our small ego to talk to others about Buddhism.
'Year of Victory and Advance'
Advance means to do our Human Revolution and break through our fundamental darkness
Vistory is the important concept of win or lose.
Peace will be established only by study, dialogue and action
Courage brings forth our true compassion – We strengthen our courage by chanting in front of the Gohonzon
There is no separation between helping ourselves and helping others.
Realising the ‘power’ of our own lives is the way to transform the lives of others too.
At its essence, each day we seek to deepen our understanding of our Buddhahood and challenge ourselves to help others reveal their own Buddhahood.
By practising this Buddhism, we change our own lives and thereby change society.
Real happiness is not the absence of problems but the absolute conviction that any problem can be resolved.
To accept is easy – to continue is difficult but Buddhahood lies in the continuing.
Daimoku is very powerful – we need to understand and trust how powerful it is in our lives.
A joyful practise (ie not begrudging) will enable us to break through obstacles, but true joy can’t be generated intellectually. True joy lies in our own Human Revolution to reveal our Buddhahood and to see the Buddhahood in others.
Ikeda New Century Hall - Taplow Court
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