Guidelines to Strengthen Your Goal Setting

I had questions about how to chant for various issues so I am discussing some basic guidelines to the Nichiren Buddhist chanting practice. Hope they'll be helpful.

[@margaretblaine5367]

My husband, a 33 year practitioner, "Don't make it intellectual. It is from your heart straight out. This is from a hard ass."

[@debeshbarua3055]

Hi Margaret, whenever I hear you I get inspiration and encouragement. It’s like recharge my battery when it is little down. Thank you so much.

[@olufemihinsonyovo5836]

Thank you Margaret . I am discovering Nichiren Buddhism and started practicing this January . I am already grateful for you step by step guide to our goals . You answer so many questions I had. I hope I can come back soon with great result and learn to be patient . Once again thank you

[@margaretblaine5367]

I'm glad the videos have been helpful. You have embarked upon a life long adventure. Congratulations.

[@meenakuniyal5551]

Omg I was just thinking about you and saw in notifications your new guidance uploaded Thanks to you

[@Pommekiowa]

Heart to heart encounters spark assurance and joy. Let’s cherish and rekindle old friendships with friends from our hometown and our relatives, and cheerfully create a solidarity of hope!

[@adrianamirandabr]

Thank you for your encouragement.

[@Pommekiowa]

OHHH great to hear you today .... i wish you a very beautiful October 🍃🍁🍂🌰🌦☄

[@andykumar935]

Determination is a decision! That is gold! Thank you once again for the encouragement

[@nydiamarsella]

What a treasure is to have access to your wonderful videos. Thanks so much

[@zdoll12]

I like the tone and pace of your speaking. I can listen while I'm working 😁

[@pradnyaramteke2348]

Sooooo beautiful 🙏🙏🙏

[@roxannabishop9312]

Hello Margareth…. I am from the sunny island Curacao, near the Venezuelan coast. I have been practicing this Buddhism for a veryyy long time and experienced countless inconspicuous benefits in my life. I am living since 2005 in the Netherlands. I made a decision, for years to chant on my own, but now feel like I need to get back to the SGI organization again, because of the feelings of isolation and maybe, loneliness. I don’t know how, again!!! Stay safe and regards, Roxanna

[@margaretblaine5367]

Here is the link where you can connect with your national organization. There is one in the Netherlands. Good luck. www.sokaglobal.org/contact-us/general-inquiries.html

[@sebastianchin2199]

Hello Margaret, I am from Malaysia and a Buddhist member of SGM. I got inspiration whenever I watch your video. Thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward to more of your video. Nam myoho renge kyo.

[@icestar8514]

Love hearing you as usual, but I miss seeing you in your living room!!

[@kathycorey2836]

For reals this is why I am not getting the results I’m looking for. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I have been chanting and chanting and I do see benefits but because my goals are fuzzy or like you are saying you don’t believe it or you may be afraid to start in that direction which is my deal then you say it will never happen and it never will. Thank you so much for this insight. I of coarse need to seek out my chief priest for more direction but this put it in so simple terms that it was like the apple that fell from the tree and hit me in the head. 🙏🙏🙏😊

[@iamhere7629]

Hrllo Nichiren Shu priets are very kind and helpfull.🤗🙍Japan.

[@iamhere7629]

Hello..

[@alkamehta8898]

Thanks for the clarity. 🙏

[@jaynegorup9790]

Just what I needed right now. Thank you

[@shirleyniedzwiecki1104]

Perfect, Gorup! Good to find you here.

[@yashitagoswami9638]

WATCHING FROM INDIA ❤

[@bhuvana1972]

That was so encouraging, Margaret!! Thanks a ton..🙏

[@dharatoprani9068]

I so look forward to your videos! Have helped me so much! Thank you!!!

[@karenbraithwaite-yarn6744]

Always right on time, Margaret! Thank you!♡

[@illarraza]

“I, Nichiren, have never prayed for the benefit of this lifetime alone. I pray only for the realization of Buddhahood.” All one's goals will be realized singlemindedly praying as Nichiren, "for the realization of Buddhahood." in another writing he teaches: “Now, if you wish to attain Buddhahood, you have only to lower the banner of your arrogance, cast aside the staff of your anger, and devote yourself exclusively to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Worldly fame and profit are mere baubles of your present existence, and arrogance and prejudice are ties that will fetter you in the next one. Ah, you should be ashamed of them! And you should fear them, too!” - Embracing the Lotus Sutra

[@illarraza]

@Andre Leite da Silva Hi again. Look Andre, there are millions of millionaires, successful physicians, lawyers, businessmen, musicians, who never chanted one Daimoku. There are certain qualities of successful people (discounting for a moment, karma). Generally, people who succceed are industrious, studious, contemplative (unfortunately, too often ruthless and corrupt). I could be wrong but having spoken to you for a couple of years, I don't feel that you have self-reflected regarding your failings in achieving your goals. I have seen quite a few people die, both the poor and the wealthy. Most people die miserably, suffering greatly, appearing to have the weight of the world pressing down on them at the moment of death. Thanks to the Daimoku, we can die with a smile on our face knowing that we gave life our very best, be we rich or poor, ugly or handsome. as Nichiren taught, fame and profit are mere baubles.

[@illarraza]

@Andre Leite da Silva Not from my experience with the dead and dying.

[@iamhere7629]

@@illarraza Hello. May i ask from where you practice?

[@iamhere7629]

Hello. Yes that is Nichiren Shonin taught.🤗Japan.

[@illarraza]

@@iamhere7629 I practice in Oklahoma. And you?

[@sanakanwar2509]

Thankyou so much Margaret for your guidance..it definitely helps bring a lot of clarity..your videos are very insightful..deep gratitude for this👍😊🙏

[@bvk2013]

That's what the doctor ordered.Thank You .

[@veruschkadebenedetti2581]

Grazie!

[@margaretblaine5367]

My pleasure.

[@jayathakur6731]

Hi margaret i just get motivated whenever i see ur videos thanku for ur guidance

[@veronicacruz6204]

Everything is very true thank you!🙏🙏🙏

[@leechisingh9170]

Thank you for sharing & gratitude dear🙏

[@kiransharma7848]

What a beautiful inspiring guidance . Thanks so much deat

[@vinayakjain7018]

Thank you so much again, i like your videos verrrrrrrrrŕrrrrrry much 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@margaretblaine5367]

Glad it's helpful.

[@garimajain201]

Hello Margaret, Thank you so much yet again for sharing such wonderful guidance. As much as i love it, i still have a question that when you say that even if when doubt arise then even during the day time we still have to imagine having already received it. Don't you think that if we keep thinking about what we want, we might end up getting too attached to our goal ? Is attachment good?

[@reginaldmartin3034]

I think it has to do with when doubts arise as they often do because we are human. We may have some things that we want to achieve in life no matter what it is and we may doubt if it's going to happen for us so when the doubt arises, immediately see yourself as having achieved that goal or dream. This is a way to diffuse the doubt from your mind. If we allow the doubt to continue in our minds, day by day, we will become more doubtful and the universe will only respond to the doubt by giving you more doubt. I know this personally in my life. I think the question about attachments is a great one! and maybe Margaret can shed some insight on this, but I believe attachments have to do with obsessions. An obsession has to do with something that continually preoccupies our minds to the extent that we can't see or have balance in life. We can be attached to money, people or things which is never good because the universe will once again give us that continual feeling of attachment. But I must defer to the scholars and teachers of Buddhism to determine and distinguish clearly when a goal becomes an attachment rather than a simple prayer out of need.

[@ronbocanegra2662]

👍

[@margaretblaine5367]

Absolutely you can do that. But then see yourself as getting the goal.

[@lifechoices6643]

I think one reason behind so many deadlocks is that we all need to grow all the time

[@margaretblaine5367]

I agree.

[@margaretblaine5367]

You don't want to dwell on doubt. If you can think of another way to get your mind off of it, try it and see what happens.

[@rashmisharma7093]

You talked about the goal remaining in future if you think it in to be future. What about if we fix a date in future? Like that member who fixed 30 days for the job?

[@margaretblaine5367]

I agree with your leaders not to advise him to chant. I. used to be a mental health counselor. From that point of view I would encourage him to take his medications. Then you have to decide. If you have given up, chanting won't work. But, people have achieved amazing shifts when they have chanted from the core with everything they have. But it would have to be a family member to do that.

[@Ribarine]

Dear madam, all your speeches are very good. As you said to imagine that it already happened. It is very hard to feel the happiness during that time. It works when we are totally unattached to it. But the problem is because of the attachment then how does the imagination work? And if i push my mind to be happy, and use the imagination method, it sometimes works but that doesnt seem to be a permanant solution when i see it in practical. Again the confusion begins. I also understand if we are unattached things just happen the way we want. But it is not possible. About chanting: i have been chanting for long time but things are the same. I have a goal to achieve but the situation does not allow to do it completely. Because there are lot of things to do at the same time. If attached to a material goal, the rest gets messed up. And without a material goal the mind gets messed up due to poverty. Pls advice

[@margaretblaine5367]

Make it simple. Just chant for what you want and don't worry about anything else.

[@Ribarine]

@@margaretblaine5367 Thank you so much madam. You are the only person who replied me. Got tears in my eyes when i saw your message. I will follow what you said. Thank you.

[@Ribarine]

@@margaretblaine5367 thank you madam. There are many wishes which i want to be fulfilled. Should i chant for only one wish at a time or many wishes at a time..?

[@ivanabasic862]

🙏

[@iamhere7629]

Hello. Q. What do you think if some one is chanting and have deep faith will become sicker and bad things come up every day .? 🤗

[@margaretblaine5367]

I would say they need to use their practice to change their karma.

[@margaretblaine5367]

Have you been asking for how to set a goal What do you want to do in your life?

[@lifechoices6643]

It sounds like the Christian teaching, " whatever you pray for, believe you already have it"

[@hopeamaranthine1033]

Thank you very much for such a clear, encouraging video. I'd really appreciate clarification on determining v being realistic. For example in a medical / health scenario a person could chant and determine that a loved one's test results will be NOT confirm a serious / terminal illness (i.e. deciding in daimoku). Or in the same situation they could be realistic and accept the fact that a terminal illness could be confirmed and they can't influence the outcome. Taking this a step further if a terminal illness is confirmed they could determine that their loved one will not die despite the diagnosis and they will chant for their full health etc. Or on the other hand they accept that they cannot change the outcome - and that death is inevitable but chant for example to create value etc. In such a scenario is the person who has determined what they want the outcome to be in a state of denial? Or can our faith really actually change outcomes? Is it better to accept reality and not get attached to a particular outcome? Whenever I've determined an outcome that I've deeply desired and envisaged in my daimoku but then not achieved it I have felt that I failed despite massive efforts in practice, and then doubt in the practice sets in.

[@reginaldmartin3034]

Now this is a great discussion!!! I have heard from the teachings of monks that when you pray for an outcome whether it be illness or whatever, realize that another opposite outcome could be realized also. We have to accept first that one's death from an illness is one of many possibilities. I think that is important because this involves acceptance. So how do we pray about an ill person? I have been told that we must see them as healed which is what Margaret was talking about earlier when she said we must see that our goal has already been achieved. This is by far the greatest thing we can do. But I have also been told that you must understand that the individual you are praying for has their own individual life and the universe interacts with them also. So what you may think is a failed attempt on your part for them to be healed maybe in fact simply the universe reacting to their life force and not yours. As humans, all we can do is follow this type of prayer and accept the outcome whether we feel its good or bad as it plays out knowing that many possibilities could be realized. I have come to accept this type of understanding but would really like to hear from a Buddhist perspective.

[@minakshi5054]

Thank you dear Margaret.. but what to do if I can't set a goal at all for myself? I don't know what to ask for when it involves my career. I hv been asking for a way for a long time..still I can't set a goal for myself? How to chant for it?

[@ronbocanegra2662]

I have to let people who have subscribed to Margret Blaine know I don't get notifications like the other channels I have subscribed to. I have to look for her channel. I wonder what happened to Margret Blaine? Instead I just happened to look in my G-mail account I was surprised she sent me message! Well this is her ut channel not mine people would ask me questions instead of Margret I felt bad about that ! Also I apologise to the people I didn't reply to! I would get interrupted so much I couldn't believe it! It takes alot of prep to put her videos online. So Margret keep cranking your videos out there. NMRK

[@margaretblaine5367]

Ron, my name is spelled Margaret Blaine. I don't know why you aren't getting notifications. I apologize.

[@ronbocanegra2662]

@@margaretblaine5367 thanks for correcting me and I finally saw your reply in my notifications have a great day

[@neeluyadav6148]

I am preparing for a competitive exam for past 5 years and m not able to pass it even though I have been studying all these years and chanting daimoku as well. I don't understand why I am failing

[@margaretblaine5367]

Tell me how you are chanting.You can respond to [e-mail].

[@neeluyadav6148]

@@margaretblaine5367 sure

[@margaretblaine5367]

You can chant for as many as you want, but I personally would start with the most important and when you get those, work down the list.