When I chant will bad things happen?

Hi Robbie,

Thank you for the channel. I was a great believer and I chanted 10 years ago... I moved to Japan for studies and then for the lack of time and energy and also because I didn't see many ppl following Nichiren Buddhism I gave up on it ... I moved back to Australia ... and since the day I moved here things have been going the wrong way....I found your channel again and gave some hope to me ... I want to start chanting again... I like to talk to you more about the Gohonzon and the benefits...I'm in an out of jobs and for the past five years after I moved back to Australia from Japan it's been hard to find something that suites me and my qualifications ... I have an Australian MBA and a Bachelors Degree from Japan. Anyways my question is if I start to chant again will I encounter problems that I never had before ? because one of my friend told me that chanting to Gohonzon is like cleansing our souls ... so it gets rid of bad karma... and as a result we start getting bad things to our life's... is this true ? I want to turn my life around I think I was a happier and a positive person back then I would like to get good things to my life

Thank you ..
K

Hey K

Sorry I took so long to get back to you, I have been a bit busy at work.

I think the main thing to think about, is that you want your life to change. By chanting you are changing your thoughts and your mind.

Bad things happen to people in life all the time, it doesn't necessarily have anything to with chanting.

But if you study and read more about Buddhism, it will teach you that the struggles in life are there to help has become stronger and grow as people.

We can't escape them. They are part of life. Dark and light. Night and Day. Winter and Summer.

We chant and practice Buddhism not to escape from suffering, but to have the strength and courage and wisdom to deal with anything that life throws at us.

Chanting is changing what is in your mind, it then changes your thoughts, then your life, then your friends, family, community, country, world etc

We are all connected.

This practice is about everyday life, about happiness and being the best as a human being.

This is about human revolution.

Hope that makes sense.

Big love

Robbie

Should I pay 100 pounds for a course with my Buddhist temple?

i just want to say keep up the good work with your practise of meditation. if it wasnt for you and your videos i would have not got the info that i needed to taking my first steps to finding enlightenment :) well Robbie i hope your ok i aint seen any new video updates but would really like for you to talk more about on how it went on you camping the start of you journey. and have a question that i no you would be able to tell me so ere it goes lol in your temple do you have to pay for courses or are they free and did you have to pay for the camping you went to ??? if you could email me please i really need to no as my buddhist temple does courses 3 days long hours from level 1 on words but you have to pay sat least £100 for a level 1 course they say they aint out for profit but that money helps the temple stay open , whats your take on this and im practicing Tibetan Buddhism


Michael


Dear Michael

Thank you for your kind words. and your questions on Youtube about your courses.

All I can do is offer you my experience from my point of view. I practice the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, this is radically different from Tibetan Buddhism.

I do not believe there is any right or wrong path, every one is on their own path.

In our practice there are no temples, no statues of Buddha and no worship and certainly no dogma. We do not do long courses that cost 1000s of dollars and we do not expect or demand people attend meetings.

The Practice of Nichiren Buddhism is about daily life, and the happiness of your self and humanity. Nothing more.

We chant Nam myoho renge kyo daily, we study and read about Nichiren Daishonin and his life, and the life of Shakyamuni, and we have faith in our enlightened life state.

We focus on our lives and the happiness of our selves and the people around us.

I think what I would advise is for you to connect with how you feel about the people who teach this form of Buddhism. If you feel comfortable, and happy and you trust them, then do the course.

If it brings you joy and peace to spend time with these people and you feel you are growing as a person do the course.

But if you doubt them then spend some more time thinking about it.

Focus on your daily practice and ask for the wisdom to come to you to make the right decision.

You are a Buddha, don't ever forget that.

Fond wishes,
Robbie

How do I calm my thoughts.

Hey Shelja,

The mind is always like a young horse, wild and free.

When you chant just allow your thoughts to do what ever they like, do not try to create a formula for how you chant.

Just allow the thoughts to come and go.

When chanting you will often have ideas to problems you are facing, issues will arise in your mind and things are often "worked out" when you chant.

Do not worry about your thoughts being crazy, after much practice this will change and you will feel more at peace and more connected with who you are.

Enjoy the book and let me know how you get on.

Best wishes,
Robbie

How do I chant? What is chanting about? The Gohonzon? SGI - SOKKA GAKKI - Nicherin Buddhism

Hi Sam,

There are lots of questions there, and not something I can answer in 5 minutes.

Practicing Buddhism is a life long practice that takes time.

I would encourage you to read this book, it helped me get things started.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddha-Daily-Life-Introduction-Daishonin/dp/071267456X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270812048&sr=8-1

you could also try watch this. too:
http://www.sgi.info/mabl/sgi/popup/sgi_intro_en.html

To begin, I would recommend chanting 15 minutes every morning and every evening.

Sit quietly and face a blank wall and chant out loud for 15 minutes. Try and keep it constiantt to that and gradually increase the time.

The key is to be consistent every day. It is a bit like going to the gym, the more frequently you go, the better the benefits.

Going the gym once a week for 20 minutes is kind of ok, but you will see results if you go 5 times a week for 30 minutes at a time.

The same is with chanting. It brings focus to the mind, it calms the emotions.

But as with anything, when you begin, it wont be something you can just "get" in 5 minutes. You must persevere.

Bringing about change in your life takes time, and you have to focus on that change.

As far as the Gohonzon is concerned, did you watch my video about it yet?

The Gohonzon is just paper and ink, and there is no point getting one, if you don't fully understand what it is, and how it can help you.

The Gohonzon exists inside you, its the enlightened potential of all human beings.

The one we chant "with" is simply a reminder of what we are doing.

I practiced for a year before I got one, some people practice for several years before getting one.

Just have faith that your life will begin to change.

This form of Buddhism is about fostering a sense of self, about building up your sense of self and ultimately about mastering your mind.

Chanting is our tool, faith is our strength and study is our rock.

If you have any more questions I would be glad to help, please do buy that book and read it, it explains so much.

fond wishes,
Robbie