The story of my path to Buddhahood through the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
28 Nov 2014 2 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Anger, Animality, Determination, Injustice, Reforms, Social Values
There are times when our anger can be used productively, providing it is used correctly.
Nichiren wrote that wrath can be both good and bad.
Self-centred anger generates evil, but wrath at social injustice becomes the driving force for reform.
Strong language that censures and combats a great evil often attracts adverse reactions from society, but this must not intimidate or deter those who believe they are right.
Remember, a lion is a lion because he roars.
06 Nov 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Practice, Chanting, Determination, Self Awareness, Self Determination, Self Improvement
Blogging is a labour of love, fun at times, less so at others and rather reminiscent of my Buddhist Practice.
I’m not saying that the Practice itself is a chore, but take today as an example. I seem to have contracted this bug that’s been going round for a few weeks, so chanting while trying not to cough, and concentrating while feeling less that 100%, was not as easy as usual.
So the fifteen hundredth post is here, and it marks another milestone on my path to Buddhahood. I started the blog as a record of that path and I’ve enjoyed revealing the rough and the smooth with you all.
Thank you to all those people who have commented on the posts and I look forward to writing the next couple of hundred. Who knows where we will all be then, geographically or spiritually.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
31 Oct 2014 4 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Chanting, Determination, Happiness, Life-Energy, Life-State
Well it’s taken a whole seven days to get here, but finally Friday has arrived again.
I know what you are saying, you were going to fill every minute, of every day, with sixty seconds of gainful employment, and I have.
But doing that doesn’t stop me being pleased that, arguably, the best day of the week has put in a much appreciated appearance at last.
The weather looks like it’s going to be a bit pants over the weekend, but that can’t stop us having fun if we are determined to make the most of our days off.
It was a funny old week up to Wednesday, but having realised that I was beginning to wish my days away, put me in a good place to boost my life-energies through chanting and that raised my life-state.
Being in one of the higher worlds really does put a sunny outlook on everything and everyone, so I hope you can manage to join me, and that you too are going to have a really great weekend.
25 Oct 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Challenges, Cycling, Determination, Fitness, Health, Losers, Weight Loss, Winners
Challenges we set ourselves can be easy, or they can be hard. Generally speaking, the challenges that are worth setting, take us well out of our comfort zone. So what is the secret of success in such a situation?
Well speaking from my own experience, it is all about confidence and determination. My weight loss ‘regime’, if you can call it that, was set in motion through a determination to get into shape, both physically and in terms of my own self image. Now there is a further challenge, to stay that way for good.
It’s easy to put off till tomorrow, that which you should start today, and to give in today, promising that you will put things right tomorrow. Feelings like that are normal. It is our Fundamental Darkness talking us into wrong thoughts and deeds. The only weapon we have against it, and we all have those thoughts, is our determination to succeed. By imagining that our Dark Passenger, as I prefer to call it, is actually something outside ourselves, we can mentally argue our case and, through determination, change our actions.
Success is sweet, failure is bitter and the only difference between the two is determination. Any goal, no matter how large or how small, is only unattainable if you lack the determination to go on.
No cause is lost until you decide that it is lost. So ignore, or better still defeat your Fundamental Darkness, have confidence in yourself, be determined, and never, ever give up. In that way, you will always be a winner, will achieve your goals, and be forever tasting that sweet taste of success.
11 Oct 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Buddhist Practice, Determination, Family, Goals, Love, Practice, Youth
If you allow the passing of time to let you forget the lofty vows of your youth, you stand to block the source of your own boundless good fortune and sever the roots of limitless prosperity for your family and loved ones as well.
Please never let this happen. Only by remaining steadfast to the vows we have made in our youth can we shine as true victors in life.
~ Daisaku Ikeda
10 Oct 2014 3 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Challenges, Connections, Daisaku Ikeda, Determination, Happiness, Positive, Possibilities, Sensei
It’s amazing how we and the rest of the Universe are so closely connected. The shoots of progress are suddenly showing through a fog of uncertainty, and I find myself running dozens of ‘what if’ scenarios through my head.
And as if to focus my own thoughts on just what situations might be possible, I stumble across this Thought For Today from Sensei …
“When we plant the seeds of self-doubt, only noxious weeds sprout. When we limit ourselves with low expectations, the growth of the tree of happiness immediately ceases.
The power of growth, of improvement, the power to overcome all stagnation and break through every obstacle and transform a barren wasteland into a verdant field—that unstoppable power of hope resides right there in your own heart.
It will well up from the rich earth of your innermost being when you face the future without doubt or fear: “I can do more. I can grow. I can become a bigger and better human being”—life and faith are a never-ending struggle to grow.”
This is my last day before I set of with Jacqui for a week afloat. The posts may be delayed due to the lack of connectivity, but rest assured, they will be worth the wait once they arrive.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
02 Oct 2014 2 Comments
in Buddhism Tags: Challenges, Daisaku Ikeda, Determination, Effort, Self Improvement, Strength
There is no self-improvement without effort.
Without taking action, happiness will never come, no matter how long you wait.
A life without peaks and valleys is a fairy tale. Reality is strict, because it is a win or lose struggle.
This is the way it is for human beings. Therefore, you should not allow yourselves to be battered about by reality but rather willingly rise to its challenges and use them as opportunities to train and strengthen yourselves.
~ Daisaku Ikeda
30 Sep 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Anniversary, Determination, Enlightenment, Learning, Mindfulness, Patience, Posts, Practice, Wisdom Courage and Compassion
Yet again, today is the anniversary of my blog, and there’s been a post of some description each and every day.
As it says in the About it is the story of my path to enlightenment, but it also logs the past four years highs and lows of life.
I would like to think that you can see the progress, gradual though it may be, that I have made since last September.
It’s a fascinating journey as many of you know, and everyone’s is different. I would really like to thank all the people who have left comments on here or on Facebook or Twitter, they are all greatly appreciated and very often show that we are all learning as we go along.
When I wrote the first post, I was determined to keep it up. Whilst I cannot, hand on heart, say that there haven’t been days when I’ve though ‘Oh bum, it’s late, I’m tired and I still haven’t written today’s post’ but I have always made the effort.
As with my practice, it’s the routine of it that makes the difference. It’s the discipline needed to keep going that adds to the progress through the practice, so when you feel like giving up on something, don’t !!!
Barring fire, pestilence or flood, I’ll still be here, blogging away this time next year, and I hope that you are all still reading the posts too.
28 Sep 2014 Leave a comment
in Buddhism Tags: Challenges, Cycling, Determination, Fitness, Health, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Poison Into Medicine, Problems, Self Awareness, Self Determination
Four of us set off from Wimborne this morning on a fifty mile bimble around Dorset.
Now cycling in a group is fun, we work for each other and try, where possible, to warn the others about the frequent and numerous potholes along the way.
If you ride a bike on UK roads, you’ll know how lovely it can be to find yourself on a stretch of nice smooth new tarmac. The lumps and bumps of our older repaired roads really can rattle your bones, so the new surface is a real treat.
Life is like that too. It’s the lumps and bumps of everyday life that make you realise just how comfortable the smooth untroubled times are. But without the rough times, we would never recognise the comparison and enjoy the easier times all the more.
We all know that as we move through life, it is impossible to stay on the smooth untroubled path. The bumpy times are a simple fact, just as they are out on the road. So when they come along, just be determined, hold on tight, keep pedalling and look forward to the smoother times ahead.
Here’s a record of how we did today … Click Here
03 Sep 2014 1 Comment
in Buddhism Tags: Challenges, Criticism, Determination, Focus, Goals
When you truly devote yourself to achieving your goals, you will not be bothered by shallow criticism.
Nothing important can be accomplished if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking.
The key to achievement is to move forward along your chosen path with firm determination.
The Search For Enlightenment 
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