Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism

In Buddhism, & Kabbalah too (as my fav speaker David Ghiyam says), I’ve heard that “everything can change in one single moment”. On the other hand, the popular adage is “Rome was not built in a day”. So which one is true? To believe things take time or that they don’t have to take so much time to manifest? I think: it depends on timing itself! Sometimes, the timing is so divine, & karmas so beautifully culminating, that everything does change in a single moment. However, at other times (& we have a deep knowing when), we instinctively know that it will take a looong time before things truly change. What do you think is true for you in this moment? That everything can change in a single moment, or that Rome was not built in a day, so it’ll take suuuuper long before anything truly changes in your life?

I am going to be leading introductions at the monthly Buddhist discussion meeting in my district tomorrow and performing my favorite SGI song “dare to believe” 💜🌟🙌 (I’ll be singing it & playing it on my guitar) https://youtu.be/gkloEa2382U?si=f_Tvwz61-aCVhTuf I couldn’t find the chords to this song online so I just figured them out by ear right now. Good start to the prep!

Daily Encouragement July 10 Humanism is not a special way of living; it’s the simple act of empathizing with others’ feelings—reaching out and encouraging those who are striving hard or suffering, and sharing the joys of those who are happy. —Daisaku Ikeda [The New Human Revolution, Vol. 26, “Banner of the Law” chapter]

Such a beautiful guidance on achieving your dreams!

Daily guidance June 29 The important thing is to advance brightly and strive to be victorious at each moment, right where we are; to begin something here and now instead of fretting and worrying over what will happen. This is the starting point for transforming our lives. Gosho of the day The fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra states, “[I will send . . .] men and women of pure faith, to offer alms to the teachers of the Law.” The meaning of this sutra passage is that the heavenly gods and benevolent deities will assume various forms such as those of men and women, and present offerings to help the persons who practice the Lotus Sutra. There can be no doubt that this refers to you and your wife being born as a man and a woman, and making offerings to Nichiren, the teacher of the Law. The Izu Exile (WND-1, 35)

JUNE 19, 2025 Buddhism enables us to concretely express our true dignity and recognize the dignity of others, making both a reality in daily life. It teaches the supreme practice of affirming the dignity of both oneself and others. From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 429

It felt deeply meaningful to start my Saturday morning this weekend by reading quotes at a Gosho study—a gathering of over 100 Buddhist practitioners from the Harlem district. The entrance to the venue was alive with the sound of a beautiful jazz band, setting a joyful and welcoming tone. I was honored to be one of four people on stage, serving as a reader alongside two lecturers who brought the Gosho to life with powerful examples from the modern day.

Lately, I have been feeling quite out of control in my life, especially with regard to a situationship that I’ve found myself in. A Buddhist leader visited me yesterday and told me “To have faith is to decide, and to decide is to not be swayed. How do you not get swayed? By chanting with clear determination on what you want and not settling for anything else.” I asked her- “how do I know if I’m being swayed or if something is right for me?” She responded by saying that “when it’s the right decision, you feel grounded and empowered, not weak and as if you have no control”. This cleared up a lot for me, and yet, I am unable to breakthrough completely. Chanting sincerely to feel that sense of anchor, control, and empowerment, so that I don’t get swayed.

I know that it’s a good day when I’ve chanted gongyo twice- morning and evening! The word “Gongyo” (勤行) literally means “assiduous practice” or “dedicated practice.” Excerpts from the Lotus Sutra are chanted—specifically, sections from chapters 2 (“Expedient Means”) and 16 (“The Life Span of the Thus Come One”). It is a daily Buddhist practice performed once in the morning and once in the evening, usually in front of a Gohonzon (a sacred scroll that symbolizes the enlightened state of life). My morning gongyo typically does not happen before noon, but when it does, I am happy! My evening gongyo usually only happens after 11pm. At first, it was hard for me to pronounce all the Japanese characters of the gongyo, but now I have become good & actually fluent at doing so! I mastered it within the first 3-6 months of practice.

Something beautiful happened recently. I’m at a point in my life where I’m truly rekindling my identity as a musician. And as always, the universe responds with the most perfect synchronicities. At my very first Buddhism meeting in my new district, I met a local leader who isn’t just a music producer—he’s also a coach for musicians. He supports artists in bringing their work out into the world, and even created a framework called the Metaphysics of Sound, which encourages producers to release music more frequently, even if it’s not “perfect.” It was exactly the message I needed to hear. Then, at our last monthly discussion meeting, where I happened to be the MC, this same leader brought in a rapper he works with—who turned out to be a deeply seeking spiritualist himself. Coincidentally, on my walk to the meeting, I had been listening to some of my old hip hop DJ mixes, completely immersed in a powerful current of rap energy—literally singing and dancing down the street. To top it off, two more musicians were present that day: a drummer in his 70s and his closest friend, who had played with him in their high school band. I’ve never been in a Buddhism meeting with so many musicians before. It felt like a clear, joyful sign to devote myself again to my artistry.