A Buddhist Podcast – Prayer
Thanks to Jessica Miller who not only did the wonderful artwork for tonights show but also came up with the idea of asking Kevin Robinson to give tonights lecture. Kevin originally gave this lecture at the North London Area Course at Trets in September this year (2008). I travelled up to London and we recorded this lecture at Kevin’s wonderful home. Its about Prayer and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording and putting it together! I know that Kevin is passionate about supporting an organisation called Reprieve, so if you get a moment, please take this opportunity to have a look at the work of Reprieve, they do really human work in what sometimes seems a very inhuman world.Great shoutouts from the wonderful Karen and some wonderful music from Mark Erelli singing The Only Way and Bob Gentry singing Goldie Hawn! Both tracks are available from the Podsafe Music Network. Again we had planned to play the second half of William Woollards Chapter 1 tonight. However, we wanted to include an interview that we are working on but we did not manage to get it done in time! Bear with us and we hope the next show will include the second half! Thank you so much for listening and for your encouraging comments and emails. Enjoy the show and have a great week.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (47.0MB)
Hi,
I loved your podcast. This time I decided to listen to it very early in the morning before my chanting and it made a huge difference. I don’t normally have so much time to attend meetings regularly, so I was so thrilled to have come across your podcast. Thank you for that gift.
You mentioned a member in Buffalo who was looking for other members to chant with in the area. Well, I live in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), but I googled and in 10 seconds found some info on a new SGI center that opened in Buffalo in April 2008. Here is the link: http://tiny.cc/gtmTz
Best regards and many blessings,
Deborah Carter
Comment by Deborah Carter — October 6, 2008 @ 7:38 am
Cheers Kevin, Karen and Jason for all the work involved with publishing this podcast.
For me, Kevin’s lecture was one of the highlights of the course – so to be able to hear it again and pass it on to my friends is a real gift.
J x
Comment by Jess — October 6, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Hi Jason & Karen,
Was listening this morning about the power of pray and it really hit home about the galloping horse style of pray and to really put myself into the chant and chant correctly. I am from USA Boston Massachusetts and just started practicing and hope to be receiving my Gohonzon really soon. I chant for my depression to lift that has not been in my life cycle for over 12 years now when I attempted suicide back then after a painful divorce and business loss and chant to stay out of that lower world that life can change for anyone and put people in a bad state. I chanted with my leader to go and get medical help and did it’s taking effect and stabilizing me. I continue to chant for my happiness and peace and for my new family of over 10 years now friends and the people of the world and for you guys too. I also chant for a new direction in my career and really put my suicide and prevention program i wrote 12 years ago to work to help others not go down that dark road. Will be listening again and enjoying the program keep up the good works.
Thanks Dan
Comment by Dan Pelly — October 6, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Well Guys,
What can I say, yet again a wonderful attempt for Kosen Rufu!!!
My practice is getting larger and larger, I’ve started a translation activity for the Volo Continuo italian SGI magazine, and have been assigned my home group in Fossano (Cuneo) – Italy as a Group Leader…Me and responsabilities don’t get on to well, so there you, Gohonzon said about time you face them, and more important, you win!
From the bottom of my heart Jason and Karen, this podcast has really made an enormous amount of difference in the way I practice and has helped me study while commuting to and from work, transforming the “poisonous” wasted hours in “medcine” precious hours.
Thank you.
Paul Flint – Italy
Comment by Paul Flint — October 6, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
thanks to u guys and also kevin robinson
awesome podcast. thank you guys immensely. was feeling a lil no buddhist and ur podcast was a nice pick up
Comment by William Wey — October 7, 2008 @ 3:31 am
i meant a lil non buddhist- i.e i had failed to feel the power of the law in my life.lol.
thanks guys awesome and fantastic work
Comment by William Wey — October 7, 2008 @ 3:32 am
Yet another fantastic lecture, and many thanks to you, Karen and Kevin for his time and wisdom! His words provided me with a wonderful reminder on the importance of chanting, as well as how combining chanting with mindfulness is a sure way to get the results you seek in performing daimoku.
Thanks too for the shout-outs for myself (still no word on if 10/12 is a go) and everyone in my newly discovered district! Alicia and I plan on burning about 12 copies to bring up there for Thursday night!
I hope you all have a great week and do your best to stay healthy.
Peace!
-Christian
Comment by Christian Williams — October 7, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Everyone congratulate Jason on a successful upgrade of his website!
You may not notice it, but that’s the point!
Lets also throw him lots of daimoku to ensure the spam baddies don’t pay him too many more, if not any visits!
Comment by Christian Williams — October 9, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
Another great podcast!!
I was away for a work conference this past week and the day after I arrived and hooked up my laptop to the internet I immediately found your latest podcast. I listened to it non-stop before and after the conference each day.
I will be attending a district meeting this Monday and will encourage others to tap into your podcast. What is so great about the whole podcast approach is how it really does fit into our busy lives, being able to listen to it in the background if we have other inescapable responsibilities that need attention.
Thank you so much Karen and Jason, and to Kevin for your guidance on prayer and chanting. Dealing with a prolonged deadlock can be so very painful and discouraging, creating alot of doubt and despair. I loved what Kevin had to say about ‘prayer is battle!’ From this particular podcast my guidance summary that I recite to myself now while I chant is “Prayer is battle…Defeat is not an option…Have profound faith that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is life itself…Ichinen is to pray without doubt…Empower the universe with your ichinen, to support your prayer so that you will win and show undeniable proof for kosen rufu.” This is a summary combined from what Kevin has said, what the Gosho I selected based on Eileen Beckman’s guidance in a March 2007 podcast and from Linda Johson’s guidance about what Sensei says about ichinen and showing proof for kosen rufu. By making available all that you have through podcast I know that I am truly rounding out my practice in a way that will break through my deadlock and to help others do the same in their lives.
Again Karen and Jason, thank you so much for doing all that you guys do to encourage and connect members throughout the world so that each on of us wins and contribute to world peace.
Cindy
Comment by Cindy — October 12, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
I have already listen to this 3 times. Thank you for this excellent reminder.
à bientôt
Rachael
Comment by Rachael Hampton — October 14, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Hi,Jason and Karen.
I really enjoyed the show.
Best Regards.
Richard Hanson.
Comment by Richard Hanson — November 4, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
{A message from my kids–Elementary School Division members here in Minnesota, USA…they listened in to your podcast on Prayer tonight with Pete (my spouse) and me. Thank you for your fabulous podcasts! Now a message from our youth of the household…}
“We listened to the show and really liked it. We learned more about Buddhist prayer. Thank you!”
From, Madeline (age 9), Vaughn (age 9) & Emma (age 7–to be 8 on December 10th) Thomas in Minnesota, USA
Comment by Madeline, Emma, & Vaughn Thomas with help from their mom (Jen Thomas) — November 10, 2008 @ 1:48 am
Dear Kevin,
Your lecture on prayer is really spot on for me. I have been battling fundamental darkness, fighting the 3 obstacles and four devils and at the same time trying to lead my life as best as I can. My husband and I, we are going through huge challenges and I find myself drowning in fear and uncertainty. I double my efforts to strenghten faith, study ( am taking level 1 in dec) and dedicate myself to do as much as kosen rufu as I can. As I listened to your description on how we pray, it is as though you were talking about me. I am so not focus.
But I endeavour to refresh and energise my prayer ( will ask hubby to do the same) and to be victorious in solving all of our problems.
Dear Karen & Jason,
I am so very fortunate that I happened to chance upon your podcast while researching for a gosho in the internet which I have to give. I have downloaded almost all of your lectures and have been listening it in my car every opportunity I get. I can say you guys really help me in my darkest hour.
I do have problem downloading some of it though. Like the prayer, I cant download it for some reason.
Hope to learn as much from you guys as much as possible.
Take care!
Comment by Tracey Wong — November 19, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for a practice/life changing podcast.After eleven years my practice was running out of steam.Apart from Keibi at Taplow i hadn’t done morning Gongyo for about eight years.Now it’s full steam ahead!.Thanks,Jason and Kevin,for the inspiration.
Comment by Paul — December 6, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Hi, it was nice to hear this prayer podcast.
I wanted to share my experience and what I am feeling right now.
I started chanting in 2006 , one of my friend told me to do so , that time my life was changing i was planning to go to Canada for my masters .Chanting made everything every easy , I got the admission and the visa , then i left the chanting 🙁 . Then again i came back to my country and again my life was changing and I was getting married , again same thing happened i started chanting and things went well and i again left:( …after one yr of my married life as i settled in my new life , I wanna continue my practice but somehow i fail to do it regularly . and i feel bad that about the fact whenever i needed something i chanted and then i left as soon as i used to achieve my goals. I fail to follow a routine. I have no job and tried soo hard to chant regularly for my job and also to gain power to chant regularly but i fail.
The SGI meeting centre is also far away from my house. please help me .
I need a job in my field (graphic designer) , and chant regularly .
thank you.
Comment by shweta — October 12, 2010 @ 8:15 pm