September 2008 1

T h e I m p o r t a n c e o f

SET TING
GOALS
HAVING THE COURAGE TO CHANT FOR OUR GOALS
By Karyn Harvey, Fallston, MD.
Life can be scary at times. Sometimes trying something new or going after a new
goal can be particularly scary! We might be worried about making a fool of
ourselves or about having a horrible letdown. We might even be afraid to chant
for what we really what. Some of us may just be chanting for the things we know
that we can get so we do not take many chances. We do not want to be
disappointed. It may be true that taking chances or striving for a goal that seems
out of reach is very scary and is just easier to do what we know we can
accomplish. But it is more important to become absolutely happy, to reach for
the stars! If we use the courage that we have deep inside to chant for our goals
we can see how wonderful chanting can be.

Throughout his writings, Nichiren Daishonin states with firm conviction that all
human beings can change any problem and accomplish their goals through
Buddhism teaches that
chanting. Nichiren states in his writings: “The wonderful means of truly putting
an end to the physical and spiritual obstacles of all living beings is none other our heart is like a skilled
than Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 842). SGI painter. Both art and our
President Ikeda recently said in a speech at a SGI Youth Training Course: “By lives are faithful
fusing our lives with the universe, we can tap from within the wisdom, courage expressions of what is in
and compassion of the Mystic Law. Because of this, we have our hearts. Everything, I
absolutely nothing to fear” (World Tribune, Oct. 25, p. 2).
When we challenge ourselves to chant for our true goals we believe, comes down to
realize that there is actually nothing to be afraid of. that.
Through our chanting we can find the courage and the ~Daisaku Ikeda
power we need to accomplish our goals.
[Friends for Peace 12/06/2002 p.4]

Ont. East • Scarborough Chapter • Majestic Cedar • Discussion Meeting

September 2008 2

HOP ES A N D DR E AM S

Fill Your Hearts With Dreams

Nichiren Daishonin states that “Nam-myoho-
renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion” (The Writings
of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 412). When you
chant Nam-myohorenge-kyo with the heart of a
lion king, you will develop the life-force with
which you can overcome the suffering of sickness
and problems of all sorts. Please advance boldly
and fearlessly, like the cubs of the lion king. Those
courageous in faith will never fail to experience
victory and glory. Never allow yourselves to be
defeated!

Beethoven, a hero in the world of music, called out: “Have hope! As
humans, you must have hope.” Strong is the person who never loses hope
under any circumstances. Faith is the source of infinite hope. I hope that
you have great dreams for the happiness of others and for the cause of
peace and justice. The power to challenge yourselves emerges
when your hearts are filled with dreams. No matter what,
please advance, one step after another, cheerfully and
courageously along the path of
your mission.

Daisaku Ikeda, SGI President. April 2007

Concrete steps to apply the “Strategy of the Lotus Sutra”

Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to accomplish your goals.
Step One Step Two Step Three Step Four

Chant to figure out Chant for the courage Keep chanting while Chant with
what causes we need and strength to make taking action (making appreciation and to
to make. those causes guided those causes) until we develop the wisdom
by faith, practice and overcome our to choose our next
study. problems. goal.

Ont. East • Scarborough Chapter • Majestic Cedar • Discussion Meeting

September 2008
DI LLI G EN C E
A Blue Deeper
Than The Indigo
Plant
“Strengthen your resolve
more than ever. Ice is made
of water, but it is colder
than water.
Blue dye comes from
indigo, but when something
is repeatedly dyed in it, the
color is better than that of
the indigo plant.
The Lotus Sutra remains the
same, but if you repeatedly
strengthen your resolve,
your color will be better
than that of others, and you
will receive more blessings
than they do”
(The Writings of Nichiren
Daishonin, p. 615).
Ont. East • Scarborough Chapter
When Five Minutes isn’t Enough.
BY KARYN HARVEY
Have you ever chanted about
something that didn’t happen or a
situation that didn’t change? It’s
happened to all of us. We may
have thought that five or ten
minutes of chanting should have
been enough to change our
problem, but then nothing
happened. Guess what? Sometimes
we need to make more effort than
we planned on making. Nichiren
Daishonin encourages us to keep
making up our minds and trying
harder until we see all the benefits
that we want to see. If we didn’t
get the result that we wanted, it
just means that it is time to try
again and try again, chanting and
taking action until we know that
we have won.
In one of his letters to a child and ourselves in, we must never forget
her mother, Nichiren Daishonin
writes:
“Strengthen your resolve more
than ever. Ice is made of water, but in our tracks, giving up, we cannot
it is colder than water. Blue dye
comes from indigo, but when
something is repeatedly dyed in it, 3).
the color is better than that of the
indigo plant. The Lotus Sutra
remains the same, but if you
repeatedly strengthen your resolve, until you see the results that you
your color will be better than that want. Always believe in the power
of others, and you will receive
more blessings than they do”
(The Writings of Nichiren
Daishonin, p. 615).
A piece of cloth soaked in the blue
dye from an indigo plant becomes
• Majestic Cedar
3
a more and more beautiful blue
each time it is soaked, just like each
time we make up our minds to
practice Nichiren Buddhism even
harder, chant more and make
more efforts we get more beautiful
results in our lives.
SGI President Ikeda often
encourages us to challenge
ourselves and keep trying, no
matter what, to change our
situation and accomplish our goals.
He explains that taking continuous
action in faith, and in our daily
lives as well, is the spirit of
Buddhism and the spirit of youth.
Recently, he said: “Youth means
‘taking action.’
It is important that we summon
our wisdom, bring forth our
thoughtfulness and compassion
and initiate action. No matter what
circumstances we may find
the spirit of challenge. Those who
embody this spirit remain ever
young. In contrast, when we stop
but age. This is an unchanging rule
of life” (Sept. 24 World Tribune, p.
Keep chanting, keep trying,
chanting more and trying harder
of your practice to the Gohonzon
and your own power to never give
up!
Friends for Peace 11/12/2004 p.4
(Nichiren Daishonin's Treasures)
• Discussion Meeting
September 2008 4

DET E RM I N A T I ON
Fresh Determinations
“Anyone who has ever made a
resolution discovers that the strength
of that determination fades with
time. The moment you feel that is
when you should make a fresh
determination. Tell yourself: ‘OK! I
will start again from now!’ If
you fall down seven times, get
up an eighth. Don’t give up when
you feel discouraged—just
pick yourselves up and renew your
determination each time. The
important thing is not that our
resolve never waver, but that
we don’t get down on ourselves
when it does and throw in the
towel. The fact that we realize
we’ve become lazy is evidence we are
growing”
Discussions on Youth by SGI President
Ikeda. (vol. 1, p. 186–87).

Faith, Practice and Study &

Taking Action
Mr. Toda often said that attending
lectures, reading the Gosho, and
understanding the teachings
intellectually are all still the realm of
theory; the important thing is to
embody those teachings in one’s faith
and practice. Action is the essential
spirit of Nichiren Daishonin’s
Buddhism. What matters is to put
what we learn from the Daishonin’s
writings into practice. Those who
can do so will be true victors in faith
and study.
I hope you will all continue to
advance vibrantly along the great,
undamental path of Buddhism, the
way of faith, practice, and study.
Renewed Energy and Vitality “Myo”.
Nichiren Daishonin writes: “Myo
means to revive, that is, to return
to life” (WND-1, 149). We who chant
and uphold the Mystic Law are
constantly able to tap into a reservoir of
fresh, revitalizing life force, causing our
lives to pulse with youthful energy. If
we aren’t able to do this, we aren’t
really practicing the Mystic Law. I call
on you to demonstrate exemplary
leadership, imparting hope to all with
the cheerful, optimistic spirit to regard
each day as New Year’s Day and a
point of fresh departure.
Setting Fresh Goals Toward Soka
Gakkai's 80th Anniversary, Executive
Leaders Conf., May 3, 2006

Ont. East • Scarborough Chapter • Majestic Cedar • Discussion Meeting

September 2008 5

LE T ’S WR I T E T H E M DOW N
STEP 1. STEP STEP 2. SMART goals must be Example: I will be more
BE TRUE TO BALANCED GOALS written in the present tense physically active.
and follow these guidelines: NOT SMART
YOURSELF. FOR A BALANCED
• Specific—be clear and I am running 3 days a week
To achieve goals you must LIFE. specific about your goal. and doing yoga twice a
be passionate about them. Set your goals in all areas • Measurable—if you canʼt week. SMART
You will be passionate of your life: measure it, it is difficult to
about your goals if they • Career achieve.
have meaning for you. • Health • Attainable—make sure STEP 4.
Consider the following • Personal SHARE YOUR
you are able to achieve the
before you begin: • Faith goal. GOALS AND BUILD
• What are your core • Practice
values?
• Realistic—is this goal SUPPORT.
• Study feasible given your effort Whether itʼs your friends,
• Where do you want to be
levels and tendencies? family or colleagues, the
in 10 years?
STEP 3. • Timely—write a specific more people are aware of
• What do you want for your
date so when it comes, you your goals, the more they
life? SET SMART GOALS
can check off completion of can support you.
• What difference do you TO ENSURE the goal.
want to make SUCCESS. {from Lululemon website}
in the world?

“The difference between a dream and a goal is writing it down.”

Health By Career By Personal/Faith By

(for a long, vibrant and When (goals for beauty, When (for self, friends, family, When
value creating life) benefit & good) community & the world)

Today

1
week

1
month

6
month

1 year

5
years

10
years

Ont. East • Scarborough Chapter • Majestic Cedar • Discussion Meeting