Q: I know that when I have problems, I should chant to the Gohonzon about them. Still, I struggle to keep a consistent rhythm of chanting and doing gongyo regularly.
Ikeda Sensei: The spirit to seat oneself before the Gohonzon is in itself very important. Those who have the spirit to continue to challenge themselves in this way are most worthy of respect. You might decide, for example, “I’m going to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, even for just a few minutes” or “I’m going to chant to the Gohonzon every day.” Buddhism teaches the principle that “earthly desires are enlightenment.” To explain this very simply, “earthly desires” refers to suffering and to the desires and cravings that cause suffering, while “enlightenment” refers to attaining a vast and expansive state of absolute happiness.
Normally, one would assume that earthly desires and enlightenment are separate and distinct—especially since suffering would seem to be the exact opposite of happiness. But this is not the case in Nichiren Buddhism, which teaches that only by igniting the firewood of earthly desires can the flame of happiness be attained.
As a result, our lives are infused with the light and energy of happiness. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we burn the firewood of our earthly desires. …
When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our problems and sufferings all turn into energy for our happiness, into fuel for our advancement. …
The wonderful thing about faith in Nichiren Buddhism is its capacity to transform people’s lives from the direst suffering into the greatest possible happiness and turn the most daunting problems into a source of growth and a foundation for human greatness.
Problems come in all shapes and sizes. You may have some personal problem; you may be wondering how to help your parents live long and fulfilling lives; or you may be worried about a friend who is sick or depressed, wishing for that person’s recovery. On a different level, you may be deeply concerned about the issue of world peace and its realization or humankind’s direction into the coming century. These are very noble concerns.
Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, you can turn all these worries and concerns into fuel to propel yourselves forward—you can transform them into life force, into greater depth of character and into good fortune.
I hope you will seriously concern yourselves with many things, chant abundantly and strive in your personal growth as you do so. Faith means setting goals and working to realize each one. If we view each goal or challenge as a mountain, faith is a process whereby we grow with each mountain climbed. (Discussions on Youth, pp. 222–23)
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