The Lotus Sutra is the penultimate teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha. It was the very purpose of his advent as the Buddha. In this teaching, the Buddha revealed two great truths in life: that every human being is both potential and fruition at the same time, and that much in the same way as He, the Buddha, realized this truth, the capacity to realize the very same truth lies well within the grasp of every man and woman. It is a teaching of limitless self-respect that spurs every practitioner to fulfill his or her own dreams. For only a fulfilled happy individual can create a fulfilled happy family and thereon, a fulfilled, happy society. A fundamental question in the practice of the Lotus Sutra is this: What am I doing today towards my happiness and how am I contributing to the happiness of others? The simplest way to answer this question is to adopt the method of the 13th century Japanese monk, Nichiren Daishonin, the foremost practitioner of The Lotus Sutra in this age. Nichiren simply praised the absoluteness of this teaching by constantly repeating the words “Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo” or “I bow to the eternal Mystic Law of Cause and Effect”. A practice that followers of the Lotus Sutra continue to this day. From this simple mantra come the answers to Life’s purpose and our own place in the scheme of things. Contemplation of this fact can indeed redefine happiness for every person. And once we understand what really makes us happy, all we need to do is ensure we keep doing more of the same actions. The key of course being our definition of happiness. So as the song goes, “Don’t worry, be happy … and chant Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo!”