This blog is dedicated to my fans, the loyal followers that are my ministry. Please my flock, keep chanting, and keep moving forward in your faith in the Gohonzon. Also to my Ninja friends, remember to leave no DNA evidence and accept no contract work involving US citizens.

A fan recently wrote me the following;

Greg, keep going! As a l7 year student of Nichiren I find the blogs the most exciting thing happening. My favorite topics at the moment are:
how do we transform evil thoughts & impulses in ourselves (after the 2millionth time we've chanted about it); in fact, all of this relates to
(after the 2millionth time); how do we continue to refocus on our goals - material & spiritual, even if they do seem impossible; how can we help family & friends who refuse to chant about their problems.....could you share your thoughts on some of this?

We as human beings seem to hold fast to this idea of good & bad, good and evil. In truth the two are inseparable. This idea represents the concept of ura and omote, yin and yang, dark and light. Remember that in the Judeo Christian traditions as they exist today believers in Christ must deny that which is evil. Unfortunately denial is more than a river in Egypt.

In Buddhism one cannot understand or truly recognize that which is truly good unless one understands evil. It's not enough to understand evil "in the world" we must recognize the evil that exists in each of us as human beings. We each have the potential to manifest evil as well as to manifest great good. Denial leads to the perversion of these impulses and soon you're running around cutting up people and storing them in your fridge. Not you personally of course.

What am I saying? Don't worry about chanting away evil impulses. Your mind is your sanctuary. What is important is the causes you make and the effects that become manifest in your life. In other words, don't sweat what's in your mind, enjoy what you are creating. Evil impulses are "transformed" through your daimoku, not in your mind.

As far as staying on track with your daimoku goals, write it all down. Keep goals clearly written down in your personal planner, PDA or on a card by your Butsadan. Unless you write down your goals you will invariably carry them in your heart, and after awhile they will weigh you down. You'll be surprised to find how easily and naturally you achieve goals you have written down and perhaps forgotten about.

And lastly, you can't shakabuku family. Just show actual proof.

Time for one more personal guidance;

Shidoshi Dilley, what are your ideas on how to construct effective bo shuriken? I'm being sent to Iraq in a month and wish to take some shuriken as back-up weapons. Any ideas?

Orchard Supply or other hardware stores carry "welder's steel", steel square rods used in welding. Use 1/4 inch stock. Cut the rods in 7 inch sections and machine the points using a belt grinder. Remember, even the best shuriken thrower only uses them for close range attack. Practice throwing shuriken from 3 or 4 feet. Good luck in Iraq.

Remember, while we can't destroy evil functions in our lives, we can manipulate the evil in others to destroy our enemies for us.

Rev. Greg, Shidoshi