Open your heart – Manifest your dreams: Nichiren Buddhism 4.2 Paperback – December 10, 2023

For those who need to know how and why the Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon works, not just from a doctrinal perspective, but from a contemporary scientific one, this book is for you! This is the fifth book in a series explaining how Nichiren Buddhism positively affects you mind, body, self and environment. In this book, the authors tackle the heart in physical, metaphysical, and religious terms. There is a lot of information here about the heart, along with many scientific experiments backing up the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and its positive effects on one's heart, body, mind and environment. To say the least, this book was eye opening. It took me by surprise, as so much of the information it contains was totally new to me. This book was published/released and came into my life while I was recovering from congestive heart failure and has had a huge impact in strengthening my faith, study and practice. I cannot thank the authors enough!!!On a side note, I really appreciate the author's non-sectarian approach to the topic. The authors do practice within a Nichiren Buddhist denomination (the Soka Gakkai International/SGI), but they do not let that keep them from going wherever their research takes them, such as to Nichiren Shu's head temple, Kuon-ji, and others, to practice at the grave of Nichiren, and to genuine Great Mandala Gohonzons in Nichiren's own hand. Their fearlessness of breaking sectarian barriers and superstitions is most respect worthy.

I am taking a moment to share my thought even though I've not quite finished reading. I first learned to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo around 1972. Since that time my practice has seen many chapters.One of the cool things over the years has been to observe how easy it is to have a childlike faith.. in other words... open and growing. I have been "reasonably" studious over the years.. bearing in mind the admonition to exert ourselves in the ways of practice and study as NIchiren outlined in the 13th century. I have been savoring the pages as it brings science in that supports certain suppositions, I have maintained over the years.This may not be the best analogy but: I have a very nice road bicycle...as a means of transportation there is no comparing riding my racing bike and walking. Getting on that bike is akin to chanting the Daimoku... Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.. said daimoku being the vehicle for the transportation of my life.This book is a serious key... riding my bike is great but it's not my Harley Davidson... this book provides one with tools by which one can get Mr Brain to shut up... opening the eyes to the realization of the potential for expanded experience that the motorcycle has when compared to the bicycle.I will have to return with updated thought when I finish...it's something I can tell I will be revisiting over and over..it's simply too much to take in with only one pass. This book will seriously enhance the practice of anyone who is willing to open their mind. I'll have to return and edit upon finishing.Buy the book... you will be glad you did!-db

This book is a revelation! So good.n their fabulous new book, “Open Your Heart, Manifest Your Dreams,” Susanne Matsudo-Kiliani and Yukio Matsudo, 2023, they write, “We need heart coherence… a paradigm shift from a head-centered practice to a heart-focused practice to go beyond our analytical mind and personal willpower… “Chanting Daimoku brings our brain and heart into coherence. Coherence is the magic word here. Coherence is the psycho-physiological state in which the heart, mind and emotions are balanced and in sync, resulting in numerous mental and physical benefits.”The Lotus Sutra references “single-mindedly” 16 times throughout the Sutra, and “transforms” 122 times. This transformation occurs naturally when one achieves “coherence,” or “single-mindedness.” This coherence, singlemindedness or integration of our heart, mind, and emotions, is what the Mutual Possession of the Ten Realms and a Single Thought Moment in Three Thousand Realms is all about.Such important advice for all of us and hope that we too can awaken and so too can there be peace, love and joy in the world.

It’s very interesting to learn how chanting Daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) influences our brainwaves and biorhythms in the direction of coherence, as much of this book explains. But beyond that, I am a person who has repeatedly been advised by seniors in practice to “get out of my head.” I think I know what that means but I could never figure out how to do it. This book has shown me how, making it clear that the essence of this Buddhism, faith, is a matter of the heart much more than the head. That when Nichiren’s words are translated as “mind” the word “heart” is often closer to his meaning. Nichiren does say, more than once, “It is the heart that is important.”I believe that whether your practice began in 1969 or 2019 you will be very happy to have read this book. It will help you to open your believing heart.

I have been SGI member for 11 years and have received numerous benefits. I must say that this book explains the details on logic of the law. I highly recommend this book to new members and also those members who have been chanting but have not yet received or doubted benefits. The authors disclose a fundamental shift in method of chanting and I am not joking but I have encountered two new benefits in past three months.

An absolute brilliant read full of fantastic studies that merge the scientific and the metaphysical. Excellent information on Heart Rate Variability and the effects that meditation and chanting have on it. A real page turner and can’t wait for the next book by the Authors

An excellent book! I too heartily recommend this for not only study but also for living a fulfilling life! I cry tears of deep joy and profound gratitude for the wonderful insights offered here.