I am a house elf..

I feel like I am one.. I'd only managed to go home "early" for the first 2 weeks of Jan-2010.. thereafter, i'm back to my grueling schedule, ie reach home when the kids are fast asleep.. meaning, after 9pm or later.. and once i'm home, silently i try to eat my dinner.. tip toe-ing around ken/wenn's room to check on Ken's homework if any, check his wallet if still have $, check his school bag, check any communication from teacher, mark the work that i give him to do.. normally i give 2 pages of chinese, eng, maths.. most of the time, he finishes 1 subject only.. *sigh*.. day in day out, such mad rush.. :(.. when can i take a break?

What is karma? Why do we chant to the Gohonzon? Where is karma created?

By Dr. Yoichi Kawada

What is karma? Why do we chant to the Gohonzon? Where is karma created?

Karma is in the subconscious, specifically in the unconscious part of the subconscious. The subconscious is all our dormant potential. Happiness and unhappiness arise from there. All our images of life are collected there. It is a broad and expansive place. All our past is packed in there, everything. All the images from our previous lives are stored there; all our experiences, feelings, and sounds, everything. They are in our life and in our brain cells.

Everything from the moment you were born; from when you were in the womb even, all the sounds such as your mother singing, and experiences around you are images stored in the unconscious part of your subconscious. This also includes the images stored by your ancestors 1000s of years ago, these images and experiences are carried into yourself. It is your inheritance. It continues on into your offspring etc. These images become your life and they are what you are now experiencing. For example if you tend to get into car accidents you can naturally assume that your ancestors were prone to accidents as well. Likewise if you experience longevity, many of your ancestors also experienced longevity or if illness runs in your family, this will probably occur in your life. This is family karma and it is stored in your subconscious. Because of the connectedness of you and your family, you share this karma with them. When you chant to the Gohonzon you are changing not just your karma, but your whole family's karma at the same time. When one person changes their whole family can change.

Because you carry these images, you carry the same problems; illness, the way you die, poor finances, bad relationships etc. Unless you change these images, they persist in your life and in that of your offspring.

These images come out even if you aren't conscious of them. You are not deciding, but the unconscious image is in control; who you meet, what you do, when you die, if you get sick, etc. These are all results of the images you carry. All these unconscious images have led you to where you are right now. The scientific community is just starting to recognize this. Your unconscious images are your karma.

The right side of the brain has a huge impact on how we alter these images. Appreciation has a huge impact on how we alter that image. Using the words "Thank You" has an enormous impact on changing karma. The right side of the brain is happy to hear the words "Thank You" and responds accordingly. The words Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Indian Sanskrit are Namu Sada Ruma Fundareka Sotalon (this is the phonetic spelling) and are translated as "Thank You So Much!"

So then what is the correct way to pray? It is not "Please let this happen to me". It is not begging and not asking for anything. But because we are saying "thank you so much" whenever we recite Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, we should always be chanting with appreciation. Our minds/emotions need to match our words. The most basic human feeling or emotion is gratitude. It is first emotion we learn as an infant. Beyond the subconscious and unconscious is a very joyful life condition or world.

When we use the right side of our brain it is much easier to chant. We find that we can chant longer using the imagination side of our brain. Never say "please" when chanting. So many other religious practices teach asking for help etc, not Nichiren Buddhism.

You have to appreciate everything in your life, including everything from your past. You need to make a conscious effort to recall as much as you can from your past and appreciate it. Even the things that you don't think you can appreciate you have to find gratitude for them. Then you have to appreciate your current circumstances as well, even if you are in the midst of a huge obstacle, such as cancer, financial ruin, a divorce, whatever the situation; you still have to appreciate it. You have to thank Gohonzon (your life) for giving you this problem, because this is your chance to change negative karma to fortune.

What is the correct way to chant when you have a problem? You have to chant with the spirit of "Thank you so much for giving me this problem. Because of this I can change my negative karma and that of my family's." Pray sincerely from the bottom of your heart to appreciate your present circumstances. Because of this you can disconnect or alter your family karma; you break it and begin to project a new image. You should also set a specific date that you will no longer have this problem.

Dr. Kawada treated fourteen people with stage four cancer. Some were not even SGI members. Their doctors had given up on all of them. One even had to be brought in on a stretcher. All fourteen people joined the SGI. They all learned to chant following this guidance of using the right side of their brain to project an image of no cancer in their bodies. In the US last stage cancer patients are encouraged to draw a white cell eating a cancer cell. Though this has shown to help, practicing Buddhism has an even bigger impact. In two months the person on the stretcher overcame their cancer. Then his doctor joined. Eventually all fourteen overcame their cancer.

You can change any illness, even allergies and skin rashes, etc. If you are an abusive relationship, you can create a new and positive image and it will change the relationship, because you are connected to that person even on a subconscious level. Your unconsciousness is linked to another's unconsciousness. It doesn't matter if they chant or not, they will change. Who ever you have a problem with; you need to chant for them to help them change their unconscious image. You have to work on it over and over and eventually your image will be projected by them as well. This is really the truth. You can impact the images for your entire family. You have to use the right side of your brain to do this. That is the purpose and the function of the right side of the brain, so use it.

You should write a diary. Not a diary of what happened to you today, but how you want your life to unfold for the next 10, 20, 30 years etc. If you do, your life will change. You can literally write your own destiny.

Birth Announcement: Welcome Joshua

Announcing new baby to my lao phng you gang.. so handsome..

nice shot.. i didn't take ken/wenn shot like this..

aww..

See also:
1. Cookie n Eggy

Invictus

Invictus - William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of fate
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years finds
And shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

First day of primary school for Ken..

All ready at home.. so eager..

look at my still half asleep face..

With EM at school foyer..

Ken's form teacher..

Can you spot Ken?

In the canteen..

After food, Ken proceed to gargle his mouth..

Am so proud of Ken today.. we parents get to see the kids go to the canteen to buy food and eat.. I saw Ken just walked to the canteen table, placed his water bottle.. and then, proceed to buy food.. the buddy with him is from P2.. i see the buddy followed behind Ken and didn't really help Ken.. but Ken proceed to buy food himself and eat.. And, he also drink from his water bottle while eating.. i've reminded him not to buy drinks from school.. ahh.. with his new uniform and all.. he's so smart and cool.. well, a real milestone for him.. a new beginning.. let's hope his high spirit will remain throughout his education life and future..

See also:
1. Ken's First Day in School (N2)

First day of school for Ken tomorrow..

Can't believe how fast time flies that tomorrow, Ken will attend Primary 1 in Singapore.. seems like yesterday that i was struggling with him as my first born baby.. and now, he's all ready for Primary 1.. oh, I'm so NOT ready.. how am I able to supervise his work? His school is morning session. He is encouraged to be in school by 7:15am for silent reading. Their assembly will be at 7:25am.. that means, we have to leave our house before 7:00am.. and Ken has to wake up at 6:00am.. Those of you who know me well enough will wonder.. how will I wake up?!?!.. i'm such a sleeping beauty.. only my mom can wake me up that early!..

To be able to wake up early also means that Ken needs to sleep by 9:00pm.. For the past months, I reached home earliest at 8pm.. looks like i have to adjust.. my work performance will definitely affected.. already, for ken's first day in school, I'm taking 3 days leave to accompany him, whereas, my colleague from my team with her child starting P1 as well, only taking HALF day leave.. go figure.. *sigh*.. this is a dilemma for working moms, i guess..

Below, 6 and a half years ago, we welcome Ken to the world.. arggh.. time really goes by in a blink of an eye..

Just before ken sleep, he said he wanted to draw a picture of us..

Also, sidetrack, we balik-ed kampung during december and i bot a pair of school shoes from Bata.. Look what they included.. a timetable!.. EM said he never seen before.. meaning, Bata shops in singapore don't give out these i guess.. ahh.. this make me miss school very much..