Why did Nichiren start chanting Nam myoho renge kyo?

In all the years I have practiced, I have yet to find an honest and direct reason for why Nichiren Daishonin chose 'nam myoho renge kyo' as the mantra for his spiritual practice.

Nichiren believed that by chanting nam(u) myoho renge kyo - to Devote my life to the wonderful lotus flower sutra, that we would invoke all the wisdom from within it, it's intent.

In the letter On the Four Stages of Faith, he states "The profound meaning indicates the heart of the text, and the heart of the text encompasses the whole of the theoretical and essential teachings.” And Miao-lo writes, “On the basis of the heart of the text of the Lotus Sutra, one can evaluate all the other various teachings of the Buddha."

He goes on to say: 

"Though muddy water has no mind, it can catch the moon’s reflection and so naturally becomes clear. When plants and trees receive the rainfall, they can hardly be aware of what they are doing, and yet do they not proceed to put forth blossoms? The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo do not represent the sutra text, nor are they its meaning. They are nothing other than the intent of the entire sutra. So, even though the beginners in Buddhist practice may not understand their significance, by practicing these five characters, they will naturally conform to the sutra’s intent."

So specifically it is ALL about intent, as he very clearly states above the words do not represent the sutra text, nor its meaning. What we are doing when we chant is making a declaration of intent based on the entire sutra and what it stands for.

Specifically it was his belief that through chanting and having faith in nam(u) myoho renge kyo, we can activate the wisdom of the entire Lotus Sutra simply by chanting its title.

It has always confused me, because if I chanted Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Wikipedia am I really invoking all the wisdom within Wikipedia. But I do not think this is what he means.

So as you can see in the final paragraph he specifically states "The five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo do not represent the sutra text, nor are they its meaning." and then "They are nothing other than the intent of the entire sutra. "

All this aside I do believe Nichiren was potentially listening to a deep intuition, from his many years of meditation. Others have chanted nam(u) myoho renge kyo before Nichiren did, but he was the first to base an entire spiritual practice around this specific mantra.

In the letter; "The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra" there is a clue as to what he felt when he first began to chant. The words chosen are quite interesting as many who have begun practicing this form of Buddhism likely feel the same, they chant as if in a dream not knowing what they were doing, if it was right or wrong or if it mattered.

Read of the passage below and then follow the link to study the letter in depth.

--
"I, Nichiren, am not the founder of any school, nor am I a latter-day follower of any older school. I am a priest without precepts, neither keeping the precepts nor breaking them. I am an ordinary creature like an ox or a sheep, who is neither particularly wise nor ignorant.

Why did I first begin to chant as I do? Bodhisattva Superior Practices is the one destined to make his advent in this world to propagate the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo. But before he had even appeared, I began, as though speaking in a dream, hardly aware of what I was doing, to utter the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and so I chant them now.

In the end, is this a good thing I do, or a bad thing? I do not know, nor can anyone else tell for certain."
You can read the rest of the letter here.
--


How did you feel when you first started chanting this mantra? Tell me in the comments below.

Using Buddhism to overcome OCD. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

By Simon Yeoman-Taylor

In 2008 I was diagnosed with cancer which I used medication and my Buddhist practise to overcome. 

What happened as a result of that was 5 years of battling a mental illness called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

As OCD is such a complex disorder I feel I need to explain a bit about it so you understand how hard it was. OCD is a very severe and crippling chronic illness that is often much misunderstood in popular culture. It is also very common, affecting around 1 in 50 people. It can manifest in an infinite number of ways and each case will be specific to each individual. The basis of the disorder is fear and anxiety that manifest in thoughts and worries that something bad might happen (obsessions) if you don’t do a particular thing (compulsions). For example you may think that you might get ill if you don’t was your hands exactly 3 times before dinner. OCD is a mental disorder but it behaves like a virus in that it can keep changing and adapting to trick you. It is as also as clever as you are and wants to stay alive. What the individual is worried about will be what is most valuable to them, such as family members or their health.

Chanting for love

When you are chanting to be with someone you love, always chant for their happiness first.

We are sometimes afraid to do so, thinking what if their happiness does not include you? What if their happiness means being with someone else? This is when we should realise that no matter how many strategies you make, how many prayers you write, the Gohonzon will always give you results based on your intent.

I can't concentrate when I am chanting Nam myoho renge kyo? Am i doing something wrong?

Your mind can be like a wild horse. But free your self from the illusion of the mind.  Chant daily and bring forth the power of the mystic law innate within all of us. 

Dear S
Thank you for your letter. Apologies for not getting back to you sooner.

What I would like to say in reply to you is very simple. What you are doing is perfectly normal. Chanting will not quieten your mind straight away. This is a lifelong practice and the process of "observing the mind" is a daily practice.

When you chant, you are tapping in to a wellspring of unlimited courage, wisdom and compassion. When you chant, you may have ideas and thoughts that come to you, in the form of ideas and images which could be solutions to the difficulties and struggles you have in day to day life.

Being along and practicing alone is difficult, but you must have a STAND ALONE spirit, realise that you can transform anything.

In summary, continue as you are and do not feel doubt, banish all doubt.

Just chant with joy and realise that through this wonderful process of self realisation that you are changing as a person, and you are having an affect on the environment around you.

I would like to conclude with a excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda:
""Being human, it's quite natural for our minds to wander, for all sorts of thoughts and memories to surface. [. . .] There is no set form or pattern for how we should pray. Buddhism emphasises being natural. Therefore, simply chant earnestly without pretence or artifice, just as you are. In time, as your faith develops, you'll naturally find it easier to focus your mind when you chant. "It's natural for prayers to centre on your own desires and dreams. [. . .] By chanting very naturally, without affectation or reservation, for what you seek most of all you'll gradually come to develop a higher and more expansive life-condition. Of course, it's perfectly fine as well to chant with the resolve to become a bigger-hearted person or for the welfare of your friends and for kosen-rufu - the happiness and flourishing of all humankind."

Namaste my Buddhist sister
Robbie


Hi Bobby,

I keep following your blog.

I have a few questions and i thought you could be good to help me with these. I live in Dubai and have been following and chanting for sommetime..unfortunately i could not get in touch with any practicing Nichiren Buddhists here, hence it's been limited to practicing alone and reading online.

However, i have realized that my mind wanders off while im doing the Daimoku...generally i have thoughts about people around me, work and my ideas as i keep chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...i keep having doubts that i am not concentrating...do you think this is normal and it is bound to happen??

or do you think that i am really not concentrating or serious hence this is happening?? Because i believe in Daimoku and try to do my Gongyo twice a day no matter what and also tend to read as much as i can.

Can you please guide me on this...if what is happening with me is wrong..how can i keep myself focussed on the Daimoku while im chanting NMRK.

Please help.

Thanks,
S

Nam myoho renge kyo - 1 Hour daimoku.

1 Hour of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo -

I often get requests for an MP3 of the daimoku or chanting of Nam myoho renge kyo.

Many people like to chant at least 1 hour a day. Sometimes when you are alone or you don't have anyone to practice with, its nice to have this to chant with. You don't feel so alone.

Chant abundant daimoku and awaken to the vast potential that resides deep within your life.

Awaken to your true potential.

Namaste.
Bobby
x

Why do we chant Nam myoho renge kyo in Japanese and not English or our native tounge?

A member of Youtube asked me a very interesting question and I asked around a few people their thoughts.

His question was; If the Buddha, didn't speak in Japanese, they why do we chant Nam myoho renge kyo in Japanese. Wouldn't this be a deviation from the Buddha's teaching?

As much as I appreciate chanting can manifest wisdom, I didn't really feel "chant about it" was adequate, so I decided to answer the question myself.

Please let me know what you think of my response. Your feedback both positive and critical is always respected and appreciated.

Hi L, 

Thanks for getting these back to me. 

Unfortunately I do not feel they answer the question to the degree I think Jack would like, I think simply telling someone who has an enquiring mind to chant about it, is not enough in my opinion.

This is only from my experience as a young SGI member.

We live in an age where people ask questions, they want to know how? why? when? 

Centuries ago, life was simpler and people accepted things at face value.

There was no internet, no satellites, no mobile phones, no deep space exploration, no genetic engineering.

So the question asked by Jack; 

Why do we chant in Japanese, when the Buddha never spoke Japanese.

And would it work if we chanted in another language.

I already know the answer, but I wanted to see if someone who has been studying for longer may have a better way of answering the question.

This is what I feel is the answer; 

Since Shakyamuni expounded the teaching of the lotus sutra, he spoke of a Daishonin, who would appear in the latter day of the law, to teach and share The Lotus Sutra. He would appear in a time of great calamity and he would be persecuted with in an inch of his life.

He would teach from the Lotus Sutra, that all human beings have the potential for greatness, especially in the areas of love, compassion, wisdom and strength. And that these qualities come from a well-spring of infinite potential.

He taught that through the mindful chanting of the phrase nam myoho renge kyo, we would be able to summon up these wonderful aspects of our nature.

Human beings are all capable of these wonderful qualities, but most of us live lives that have been hard and difficult. These struggles or obstacles as we like to call them, often have an effect on us as people, we feel small, we feel stupid and we feel inadequate. Through these daily struggles, our sense of self and our sense of self worth, are often reduced to nothing.

This is where the daily practice of sitting and chanting comes in. Spending that time with your thoughts and working through your problems. Facing your problems. Is the key to your happiness.

As you know, most of human suffering is in the mind, or as the Buddha would call it, illusion. Our minds are clouded daily with anger, rage, jealousy, hatred, revenge, disgust and judgment to name a few.

These are all illusions. Illusions that we create. Through the sitting, and chanting, we learn to master our minds and take control of our fundamental darkness, our limiting self doubt, our destructive behaviour and our self sabotaging tendencies.

When we do this, we polish the mirror of our lives, that is often so clouded by these illusions that as time passes we begin to truly see... ? what do we see? As we polish harder and harder, day by day... what do we see? We, of course, see our selves. Our true nature as human beings. Loving, compassionate and filled with the deepest of respect for our lives and the lives of others.

Back to the time of Nichiren;

From a young age, Nichiren felt that Buddhism had lost its direction, that the temples and the priests had missed the point. Rituals, money, dogma, was the name of the game.

The purpose of religion is quite simple, whether you are Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Scientologist or Jewish. It matters not what path you take. All religions have the same purpose.

To bring strength to the weak, and hope to the hopeless. Each religion may tell the story differently, but they were created to lift people from suffering and give men and women the tools they need to find happiness, a strong community spirit and of course limitless love.

Many of the teachings of Jesus, are very compatible with what Shakyamuni said, as well as many of the teachings of other saints and religious men.

So, as time passed Nichiren manifested this practice, or the idea of the practice. He took the wisdom the ideas of the Buddha and he taught that each one of us is capable of finding this strength from within.

He studied and he studied and he learnt from life, that the idea that all of us are equal, was indeed the jewel of the Buddhas teachings. 

He realised that this, was the fundamental truth and the law of life as a human being in this universe.

There is a reason we chant together, as singing together, brings people together.

When we are all singing one song, in unity, we are connected.

Many in body, one in mind. That doesn't mean mindless drones, that means a common goal, a common good. Together we are stronger. 

Humans in this world, have become so disconnected from each. This is our primary illness.

We sing the song of Nam myoho renge kyo daily, because we are a family, not by blood, colour or sexuality, but a family with a common goal.

We sing this song, together, daily, because we want the world to change. We want the suffering and the anger to end. We want to spread the truth that has been hidden from most of us for such a long time.

We are a family that wants the world to be a better place. We want our children to be safe and we want our sons and daughters not to have to go to war and kill each other.

Every single one of us on this green earth wants the same thing, love, security, food on our table, the safety of our children and a future.

Yet we all spend so much time trying to convince our friends, our families and our neighbours that our way is the better way.

In doing this we miss the point of why we practice a religion.

We practice to bring happiness and abundance to our lives and the lives of those around us, no matter if they are Christian, Mulsim, Jewish or Quaker.

So the simple answer as to why we chant in Sanskirt (Nam) and Japanese (myo ho renge kyo) is that, that is how Nichiren the teacher, taught it, and that is how we all connect together, through this mantra today. 

Let me paint a picture through, just to be a little more clearer or simpler depending on how you look at it.

Imagine a gospel choir, how wonderful they sound! They sing, filled with joy and happiness. The roof of the churches of gospel choices seem to lift up with the jubilation and the excitement. What a wonderful thing it is to be part of that family of people, together connected. Loving and supporting each other.

Now, for a minute, imagine that each one of the choir, was singing the same joyful song, but in a different language.

How would it sound?

I think quite simply we all sing in the same chosen language, because it allows us all, from many countries, and states, to come together and share a common goal.

The words may seem different, but they mean the same thing.

There are many of us who ask why, but until you, sit and chant and have faith, how can you tell if it works or it doesn't.

There comes a point, when you can ask questions and keep trying to rationalise it, but until you pick up your voice and chant for your life, you wont know if it works or if it doesn't.

I think that it is key, that we trust. And what is so wonderful about Nichiren Buddhism, is that this deep trust, is not in a priest, or in an idol, or a deity or an angel.

This trust, is in your self. Nichiren asked that you polish your life like a mirror, and how should you polish it? By chanting nam myoho renge kyo.

Namaste dear friend.

Robbie 

Where is my good karma? When will it arrive?

This is you. Waiting for your good karma to arrive!

Dear Robbie,

I hope you remember me from few weeks, I wrote to you a letter about how I have some difficulties over the job situation I have. Since receiving your letter I have looked in to the positive side of things and have started to chant.

Since then I did come across few challenges and few things that have disturbed me in somewhat ways. If you remember I mentioned in the previous video but didn't elaborate on so much about the people who have betrayed me but it has become a challenge for myself to overcome. I have helped many people over the last few years, somehow I have always ended up getting hurt by them.

I have helped people to find jobs as well as helping them to apply for Uni's by helping them write applications for these, over the past years the only people who have back stabbed me and said things to me, spread bad rumours about me and used me are mainly the people I have helped.

Long story short, today I finally decided to confront a person who I have helped I asked them why they did what they did by back stabbing and not even have the mildest consciousness in them to understand that treating bad is not the way to do things and when someone has helped them they should understand and recognise it, and yes I was not in the right mood and I did lash at the person when I confronted her. The person who I have helped said so many bad things back to me and called me names and said that basically I'm not worthy. Although the words didn't really hurt me the fact that I have helped this girl and she was saying things to me hurt me more than anything.

I spoke to my fiancé and told him that from here after I would not help any person, please understand that this doesn't mean that I'm going to be rude to every single person, I’m just going to stay away from trouble. My fiancé explained that this is not the way to go and we all should help people and once they have betrayed you, that’s when we should leave it at that and move on and never ever help these people again, because one day this person will need your help and that's how karma works in this life.

I never doubted that helping people will bring you bad and grief but I just don't understand why I keep attracting the wrong people to my life. Robbie please help me to understand how I can stay away from bad energy, bad people in this world. It’s just hurts as a Buddhist that waiting for good Karma never seem to arrive... and wondering why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people....

I hope you could give some sense to my life...

K

My response:

Hey K

Thanks for your letter. Of course I remember you. It wasn't that long ago! :D

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing obstacles in your life and you feel that your good karma hasn't arrived yet.

I would challenge you on this, as having a fiance and being in love, is wonderfully good karma if you ask me.

Sometimes, we can become so transfixed by our problems that we forget about our blessings.

I would recommend that you write a list of all the things you are really and truly grateful for. Keep them next to you when you chant each morning and night.

You MUST focus on the positive things in your life. Because your life is like a mirror and your mind a magnet. The more you fixate on these people, pushing out the universe, "oh why me, oh poor me, why does all this happen to me, why do bad people always seem to find me?"

The more you put this energy out there each and every day, the more it will be reflected back to you. With out exception.

Each time you do this, you miss out the wonderful things you already have in your life and you dont show them the attention and gratitude they deserve.

Have a read of this post I did a while ago about why bad things happen to good people.

http://nichirenbuddhismlondon.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people.html

Then let me know what you think about what I have said above.

At the end of the day, I encourage you to chant for the wisdom to deal with this situation.

I would chant for the happiness of that person that let you down. Chant for their total and absolute happiness. That is what the Buddha would have told you to do.

Holding on to resentment in your heart is like poison. It will ruin your day, your life and your future.

With every passing moment, you lay down karmic ripples. With your thoughts, your words and your actions. Always be aware of what you think, say and do because these all have latent and manifest effects at some point.

Focus on your diamoku and focus on improving your life and your goals. Give your self clear and strong determinations and even put dates next to them. Have 6 month goals. 1 year goals. 5 year goals.

Forget about people who dont appreciate you. Let them go. You can not change other people. No matter how hard you try, and how loud you shout. They will not change. The only way to change them is to change the way you see them. This happens in your heart.

To give love, help and attention with true compassion is to give with-out any requirement for something back.

Think about it this way.

You have this belief deep inside you, that people will betray you, people will let you down, no-one is to be trusted.

When you go around doing good things for other people, you are setting your-self up. You are setting your own trap.

People dissapoint and let you down. And your inner mind and deep self goes.. AHHH HAAA YOU SEE I WAS RIGHT!!! NO ONE IS TO BE TRUSTED!

Human beings are selfish. That is how many people survive in this tough world. However... it is your job as a buddhist to see through the illusions of arrogance, anger and greed. To see beyond that and see and know that every human being is capable of compassion love and great wisdom. To honestly and truely see their Buddha nature.

Try to change your prayer and focus on the positive.

But ultimately, you must trust in your life and trust in your prayer.

namaste friend.

Robbie
nam myoho renge kyo


K's response a few days ago.

Robbie,

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. First of all I just want to say that I really highly appreciate all your help. After reading your e-mail it made sense to me that it's in my hands to see things that we can't change, I need to change the way I think about things.

Before I received your e-mail I was still in a very disturbed and hurtful mood, so I started to chant and chant and tried not to think about or force myself not to think about things, and then when I opened my e-mail there it was a message from you, I was so happy so I start to read with a smile on my face. 

 I read word by word slowly and again and again and again. I understood everything that's going in my life and realised what was happening is a reason of not seeing things clearly.  

I then went to your blog and started to read another article that you had posted on "How to Chant Nam Myo ho Range kyo " so I read both articles and realised so many things that I knew already but was hard to understand and put it in practice. 

I have started to chant again with a smile on my face, it's hard to forgive and forget people who has done bad to you but I'm trying little by little everyday and I'm a working in progress, I know this doesn't happen overnight since we are working with our hearts and mind, but I'm using the Gohonzon and working through this. 

I spoke to my sister about the whole issue and I also showed her your site and told her that Robbie is also a Nichiren Buddhist and I write to him seeking advice on a spiritual level.

She started to read your blog and said, "wow I felt really good reading these reply's and articles I should save this blog " 

So Robbie thank you so much again, you opened my eyes, I probably didn't say thank you much for the people who have always been there for me and appreciate them for being there for me, after your e-mail I have started to look for the good in people that I love and care and concentrate on good things that I have already in my life.

Thank you again for writing to me and thank you again for understanding me, there are few people who do this type of good deeds in the world but if we have more of you then I think the world would be a better place, but that's what we are trying to achieve by practicing Buddhism.

Thank you again,

Namaste &Take Care,

K

What is the correct way to chant nam myoho renge kyo? How to chant nam myoho renge kyo

Focus on your chanting. The rest will come to you in good time.

Hey Robbie

I enjoy your site but I have a question that has confused me.

It's not just in things I've read from you but from books and other chanters. Often in the same paragraph it will be suggested that one thinks of little if anything at all while chanting and then the encouragement to chant for one's happiness or some specific goal or goals. This has created a deadlock in my practice because I never feel like I'm doing it correctly. I've been chanting about four years now and I don't want it to be a useless austerity. Also, your view that chanting isn't a good cause in itself raises the question about how one's life state is when we chant. If one is a negative person, wouldn't the idea be to change that through chanting?

f one already has confidence, positivity and self-belief, then why chant at all. Any help on these questions would be appreciated.
Thanks
WR


My response:

How to chant nam myoho renge kyo?

Hi WR

Some very good questions there indeed. So you want to know how to make chanting nam myoho renge kyo effective? Well chanting is something that anyone can do.

These are all questions I have asked my self.

The idea with chanting is that there is no right or wrong way. As long as you are sitting still, with your eyes focused on either The Gohonzon or a blank space, then that is all you must do.

Anyone who has told you to formulate your chanting is incorrect.

When you "chant for specific" things, what is best is to write them down, and then sit and chant.

The process of chanting is deeply profound and all you need do is simply chant. It matters not what is going through your mind, but it simply allows you to focus with time. It takes practice, years of practice.

Chanting can become very boring if you have no motivation and what you mentioned at the end that if you are already a very positive person, why chant?

We are told that chanting alone, is not enough, that we must have faith, practice and study (learning, reading, developing our selves) this is Buddhism and the three pillars.

I can understand your point of view about deadlock, you feel like you have got to a point and then cant go further.

I think what is very important is your attitude to the chanting. You are doing it for your self and not for anyone else. No one is forcing your or expecting you to do it and there should certainly never be any guilt for NOT doing it.

It is a daily practice to help you become closer to your self, to know your self better.

It is advised to do it daily, on waking, to greet a new day, with a positive start, and then before bed as a way to thank the universe for everything you have received that day, as a sort of gratitude practice.

When you think about it, your day is really where you live your life. If you chant morning and evening, you surround your day with the positive and life affirming process of chanting.

The chanting is a good cause, as it puts you on the right track.

I know in my self that when I do not chant, I can get very angry, very easily. I have quite a temper on me and I can loose it easily.

When I have been doing a lot of diamoku (chanting) I am calmer and I tend not to over react and to revert to my old way of being, or the behaviour I have learnt from my father or mother.

It would be interesting to learn how much study you are doing, you should defiantly consider reading a book called The Buddha in Daily Life by Richard Causton. You can get a copy on Amazon.

(Amazon UK - Check out 'The Buddha In Daily Life: An Introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren...' by Causton, Richard G Causton ... http://amzn.to/dXOogr)

Now the next time you sit down and chant and feel like you are doing it wrong, just remind your self that this is for you and this is your time, alone with your thoughts.

If you dont feel like doing it, dont. If you feel like doing 2 minutes, do 2 minutes. If you feel like doing 30 minutes do 30 minutes.

There is no guilt or regret in what we do.

But, the more you do it, and the deeper the connection you have with your mind and body, the happier you will be as a person.

As the un-happiness that most people feel is an illusion, or its caused by a minded clouded by emotion.

We break through these clouds, when we spend time with our selves and connect with our true selves, our Buddha nature.

This is why there are other people (non-buddhists) who are able to manifest deep happiness as they are able to connect with this part of them selves, regularly.

Nichiren Buddhism is just one path of many.

Don't every let anyone tell you that, this is the only way to happiness. I believe there are many paths to wholeness.

It just so happens that this path is relatively free from dogma and rules and laws and temples etc

Its all about your daily life, your mind, your body, your community, and how the whole world fits together.

I do hope all this makes sense.

I am by no means a master at this stuff, but I feel I do have a deep and profound understanding of the practice.

So please just take my advice if you connect with it or feel right about it.

Never do something unless it feels right to you.

Just trust that when you are chanting, you are the Buddha and that you are able to manifest the Buddha nature in your daily life.

Namaste friend.

Robbie

Thoughts, matter, paper, ink... it has more power then you think.

I asked him, "What is the point of chanting to a piece of paper? What kind of benefit will that bring? To this Sensei Ikeda said, "What is important is what is written on that piece of paper. Take a £50 note for example, you are attracted to it aren't you? That's because you know the £50 note has power. It's the same with Gohonzon [scroll that nichiren buddhists chant to] you may not be able to read it, but it says that it will make everyone happy."

(testimony from Mr. Masaru Hiramoto)
[daily encouragement from Jason Swindle]




An excerpt from one of my favourite books about what information or knowledge is, and how material objects are knowledge locked in physical form. [matter]


As you read the words upon this page, you realize that the information that you are receiving is not an attribute of the letters of the words themselves. The printed line does not contain information. It transmits information. Where is the information that is being transmitted then, if it is not upon the page?

The same question of course applies when you read a newspaper, and when you speak to another person. Your actual words convey information, feelings, or thoughts. Obviously the thoughts or the feelings, and the words, are not the same thing. The letters upon the page are symbols, and you have agreed upon various meanings connected with them. You take it for granted without even thinking of it that the sym-bols - the letters - are not the reality - the information or thoughts - which they attempt to convey.

Now in the same way, I am telling you that objects are also symbols that stand for a reality whose meaning the objects, like the letters, transmit. The true information is not in the objects any more than the thought is in the letters or in words. Words are methods of expression. So are physical objects in a different kind of medium. You are used to the idea that you express yourselves directly through words. You can hear yourself speak them. You can feel the muscles in your throat move, and if you are aware, you can perceive multitudinous reactions within your own body - actions that all accompany your speech.

Physical objects are the result of another kind of expression. You create them as surely as you create words. I do not mean that you create them with your hands alone, or through manufacture. I mean that objects are natural by-products of the evolution of your species, even as words are. Examine for a moment your knowledge of your own speech, however. Though you hear the words and recognize their appropriateness, and though they may more or less approximate an expression of your feeling, they are not your feeling, and there must be a gap between your thought and your expression of it.

The familiarity of speech begins to vanish when you realize that you, yourself, when you begin a sentence do not know precisely how you will end it, or even how you form the words. You do not consciously know how you manipulate a staggering pyramid of symbols, picking from them precisely those you need to express a given thought. For that matter, you do not know how you think.

You do not know how you translate these symbols upon this page into thoughts, and then store them, or make them your own. Since the mechanisms of normal speech are so little known to you on a conscious level, then it is not surprising that you are equally unaware of more complicated tasks that you also perform - such as the constant creation of your physical environment as a method of communication and expression.

It is only from this viewpoint that the true nature of physical matter can be understood. It is only by comprehending the nature of this constant translation of thoughts and desires - not into words now, but into physical objects - that you can realize your true independence from circumstance, time, and environment.

Now, it is easy to see that you translate feelings into words or bodily expressions and gestures, but not quite as easy to realize that you form your physical body as effortlessly and unselfconsciously as you translate feelings into symbols that become words.

You have heard the expression before, I am sure, that the environment expresses a particular individual's personality. I am telling you that this is a literal and not symbolic truth. The letters upon the page have the reality only of ink and paper. The information they convey is invisible. As an object, this book itself is only paper and ink. It is a carrier of information.

Feeling Gratitude

Gratitude (Question & Answer from: UKE July 1995)
Barbara and Eddie Cahill and Ben Frow discuss gratitude from a Buddhist perspective with Howard Hill

Howard: Some years ago Dr. Yamazaki (deceased Honourary Chairman of SGI Europe) gave what I thought at the time to be rather mystical guidance. He said, ‘If we experience gratitude it will open a door to a realm of our life that we previously didn’t know existed’. I wonder if you could explain something about this guidance and what you see as the importance of gratitude in our lives.

Barbara: Gratitude does open up our lives. The more we experience Buddhahood through our practice the more grateful we are, so it must follow that if we experience gratitude as we practise it will open the door to Buddhahood in our lives.

Eddie: Even if we find it difficult to experience gratitude about some situation, if we try to express it in our chanting our minds will eventually follow and it opens up this door in our lives. In the West we tend to think that it is hypocritical to take action unless we feel sincere about it, whereas in the East they say that right thought will follow right action. So even if we don’t initially feel sincere, expressing gratitude creates the cause for it to appear in our lives.

Ben: Another element of gratitude is recognition: recognizing, maybe, that someone who has given us problems is a tool whereby we can change our karma. Therefore, sometimes we might initially find ourselves expressing gratitude through gritted teeth. Maybe we sometimes think of gratitude as being something flowery, whereas it often involves an element of struggle.

Eddie: This is the Buddhist principle of zenchishiki or ‘good friends’. It means that sometimes our worst enemies are our best friends because they force us to change something in our lives. Therefore, we should express gratitude for them. Gratitude isn’t ‘being thankful for small mercies’. There’s no depth in that. What we promote is gratitude at a deeper level where we struggle to discover the significance of various problems for our life’s development.

Ben: Trying to approach things in this way – seeing obstacles as an opportunity to change our lives – is a new learning curve.

Howard: But how can we develop an attitude of gratitude?

Barbara: Just by allowing ourselves to express it. Often when we are chanting we are thinking, ‘I can’t stand this situation’ or ‘Why did he do that?’ But if we just allow ourselves to introduce the idea of gratitude it has an immediate effect. That is what we chanting for – to change our minds away from one of judgement and slander. So gratitude is one of the things that we can try to feel. Just express it: ‘I am grateful that I’ve got you, Gohonzon’: or ‘I’m grateful that I’m alive’: or it may be just to say ‘I’m grateful’, without having to attach it to anything.

Eddie: Gratitude gives power to our lives. What’s the opposite of gratitude – complaint? Resentment? Imagine your life full of resentment and complaint. Then imagine a life of gratitude.

Ben: It’s very difficult to experience gratitude when, for example, you are surrounded by people who seem to be doing much better in life than you are – you know, they might be rich and successful. It’s so easy to get caught up in the trap of jealousy and then it’s very hard to feel any gratitude.

Barbara: That’s exactly the time to express it because it is a trap just to see life in those material terms. What we are not acknowledging is that the material aspect alone doesn’t make us happy. What makes us happy is our approach to life. A person could have nothing but be grateful for the fact that he’s had a floor to sleep on, or just that the sun is shining. He could just spontaneously feel that and that’s happiness. What we’re trying to get to is how we create happiness in our lives. If we see ourselves as having nothing – well, gratitude is one thing we could have. Everyone is open to that possibility.

Howard: I remember an experience that bears that out. Some years ago I travelled with former General Director of SGI-UK, Dick Causton to visit some regional members. At lunch time our hosts provided us with some food; nothing elaborate – sliced bread, processed cheese and some supermarket pickle. I was hungry though and busied myself filling my face with this rather ordinary fare. I was surprised then to notice Dick thoroughly enjoying his repast. ‘I’ve not had any cheese and pickle for ages’, he enthused. ‘Can I have a little more?’ Dick and I were both eating the same food but our responses were a complete contrast. The difference was that Dick ate with gratitude, and was gaining a lot more than I was from it.

I realized then that in one sense gratitude is our ability to taste life and all its treasures. Even if we have all the wealth in the world it is of little value if we are not grateful for it. In the same way, even a simple meal can become a banquet if we are full of appreciation and gratitude.

I resolved then that I would try to open my life to gratitude so that I would be able to taste the full potential, not just of food, but of life itself.

Eddie: Gratitude is a completely alien concept to some people, though. To plant that concept in someone’s life so he or she can start feeling gratitude, rather than dwelling on complaints and problems, is a totally new thing. If someone suggests that you try to develop gratitude I think you should consider it deeply because maybe they’ve seen that your life is full of complaint and slander.

Barbara: I think many religions tell people to feel gratitude. And often people know they should feel it but they don’t have a way of making it happen. That’s where our practice is so vital. It helps us to change – if we will just introduce the idea of gratitude into our thoughts.

Ben: Making a conscious effort to express gratitude eventually changes our attitude to life; we approach it in a different, more positive way.

Howard: Do you think it is a struggle to feel gratitude?

Barbara: Initially, yes, but then I think it starts to come more naturally. I do think we have to make a struggle in our practice. That’s what the practice is for – to change our minds, to change our approach to life.

Ben: You have to be able to look at the wider vision rather than just concentrating on the tiny minutiae of day-to-day problems. If you can understand that Buddhism is about changing your karma then you can start to feel grateful, because you are starting to look at your life on a much broader scale.

Barbara: I agree. Rather than concentrating on the narrow focus of benefits and problems, we should try to see the very wide focus of kosen rufu – which is about transforming the world – and also the inner focus of our lives, our ‘human revolution’. If we do this we are much more likely to experience gratitude because we will be able to see the significance of various events in our lives.

Howard: Thank you.

Nam myoho renge kyo - Where to begin?

Honest and sincere prayer/meditation/chanting - Our Buddhist practice is a gift not an obligation.

John Shelby speaks candidly about prayer. He speaks about how prayer has become a practice or an austerity to many Christians.

In Nichiren Buddhism we are taught that prayer or chanting should never become an austerity or a chore, prayer is about focusing on being sincere and honest.

We never pray to beg for help, we pray and chant to ask for courage and strength to resolve our own problems and issues in life.

John Shelby is an inspirational man, who clearly leads the way for a new movement in Christian belief, I just hope that there are many more young men and women out there in the US that are spreading this word of love, compassion and honesty.

Our Buddhist practice, is a gift, not an obligation.

Part 1


Part 2

Nikko Hansen - Nam myoho renge kyo - free your mind, connect with your subconcious, manifest your dreams and the happiness of all humanity.

I found this today, its a wonderful recording of the gongyo chant, a selection from the lotus sutra.

When you listen you can almost hear the sacred OM. The vibration of the universe and source of all things, manifest and un-manifest.

We chant nam myoho renge kyo daily, as a way to connect to the subconcious mind, the universe and the supreme source of all creation. It has many names, and is worshiped and connected to in many differnet ways.





DOWNLOAD THE CLIP as an MP3...
http://www.bluedomers.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/NikkoHansen-TheGroupChant.mp3

In response to a heated conversation about which school of Buddhism is correct. Is SGI a cult? Is Disaku Ikeda a honest man or not...

I have been observing this rather heated conversation and am reminded of what happens across other faiths when people argue and try to convience that the other is correct.

Buddhism was created to lift people out of suffering, it was developed and nurtured so that ordinary people could look in the mirror and KNOW that they had the power to change their lives and the lives of others for the better.

You are wasting precious time arguing about this text and that letter, this gosho and that gosho.
What matters is what is in your heart.

Judge a man by his actions, not by his words. If you with your own eyes have seen evil deeds by IKEDA then judge him accordingly, but as Buddhists it is not our place to cast judgment on others.
Karmic law will create an outcome for any evil doings.

Just like the Christians and the Jews and the Muslims, everyone killing each other, fighting and arguing about who is right.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

Food on our tables, love in our hearts and the safety of our family and children.

If Siddhartha Gautama, was listening to this conversation, I do believe that he would shed a tear at the level of arrogance and ignorance.

It is not our place to correct others, but to show them a path we have walked to achieve unshakable happiness.

Your life is your life, and you can choose how you live it.

If you wish to share your experiences for the good of man kind, it should be able helping others altruistically not demanding that they practice, said teaching, in the way written down in stone.
Every life is different, every life is unique.

You are missing the point of Buddhism if you continue to demand others follow the same path of you.

Namaste

Nichiren Buddhism is not about simply chanting, and nothing more.

Personally I don't think chanting is understanding or insight. People of course are free to practice chanting, but this is not any branch of Buddhism personally that I would associate with and my personal belief is that this is quite literally mind control , and not the original meaning of any aspect of Buddhism. Buddhism is a intellectual study for the development of the mind and spiritual insight, this practice does not fulfill either goal and misrepresents Buddhism.

My response:

Thank you for your honest comment.

I think that if the Buddha was alive today, he would say this... "do not cast judgement on beliefs and practices of others."

Nichiren Buddhism is a practice centred in daily life, there are three tenants for good solid practice.

1. practice/chanting

2. Study

3. Faith

We study the Lotus Sutra and align our lives for the greater good and happiness of others.

Through chanting Nam myoho renge kyo, and using the Gohonzon, we are able to observe our minds and emotions and make better choices and decisions in life.

Chanting is not a magic lantern, and we are quite aware that action is required to make changes in life and the world;

Devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect with the voice, is the meaning of this mantra, but primarily for people who practice Nichiren Buddhism, this is about becoming aware of all your actions, words & thoughts towards other people, your life and the world as a whole.

How do you feel about a Buddhism that forbid women that practised, how do you feel about Buddhism that said that only priests were allowed to practice, this was the case for what Buddhism had become in many parts of the world, and Nichiren Dishonan was a man who quite literally questioned these beliefs, as he felt that they were not true Buddhism.

Shakyamuni Buddah, gave birth this practice for the sole purpose of lifting people out of the three sufferings of life, birth, sickness and death. This practice meets that goal.

There are many paths to wholeness my friend, and you are correct when you say that this is some form of mind control, but I have to correct you and tell you that it is about controlling your OWN mind, not someone else, controlling it for you.

It is about mastering your thoughts, emotions and mind.

The mind is the root of most of our suffering as human beings, to master this human mind (which I liken to a wild horse most of the time) is the key to developing strong and unshakable happiness.

We generate positive karma by making and uttering the right choices, thoughts and words in our lives.

My Peace go with you Buddah.

Love and Light

Robbie

Saving my friends Marriage. The Gohonzon. What it means to be a buddhist.

Hi Robbie, I like the video you post in youtube. I am new with Gohonzon and haven't attended any SGI meeting. I would like to ask if they have something about marriage. In Christian, they would prefer fixing the marriage if it is failling. Is it also the same in Gohonzon religion? She is fully aware that the guy is in a relationship and she induced him to cheat on her. She got herself pregnant and forced him to marry her. The problem now is he never told his main gf and didnt break up with her. She is working in abroad that's why she never could possibly found out about it. This guy want his life back and marry his main gf. I told him to chant gongyo e daimoku to fix his life. Is it ok to pray their annulment to work? Is this her karma? Hoping you could give me some advice...

============================

Hi there,

Firstly, thanks for writing. I always love to hear from people all over the world, with their various life stories etc.

Secondly, The Gohonzon is not a religion, it is an object for observing the mind. Nichiren Buddhism isn't strictly a religion, it is a life philosophy.

In our practice we learn that we need to be aware of three things;

The things we think
The things we do or our physical actions
and the things we say.

With these three things, we generate karma.

So when you chant daimoku  it is up to you what you chant for, you could chant for world peace, you could chant for the death of someone you do not like, you can chant for the murder of another person, to give you an EXTREME example.

The point I am trying to make is that daimoku, or chanting nam myoho renge kyo can be likened to a knife, a knife is capable of saving life, as well as taking life, it can be used to sustain life, it can be used to create and it can be used to destroy.

Ultimately, through your thoughts, your words and your actions, you can affect your life and the lives of others.

The best advice I would give someone, is to chant for the other persons happiness, nothing more.

Do not formulate your chant, just chant and trust that life will guide you in the right direction.

But when you choose your determinations, choose them with love, honour and compassion.

Being Buddhist is about choosing your words, thoughts and actions, and realising the potential impact they might have.

The Gohonzon, and chanting are not a magic weapon, or magic lamp.

Chanting enables you to take action, based on a place of love, compassion and great wisdom.

Deception is never a good thing, and lieing and being false behind other peoples backs, almost always comes out at some point.

Be honest and open is often the best way forward.

However, if you friend doesn't know what to do, and is struggling, she/he should chant for the happiness of this person, or chant for the wisdom to help her self out of this situation.

Fond wishes and love to you friend.

Robbie

Chanting Nam myoho renge kyo? Download mp3 of Gongyo and Diamoku

Hi Everyone,

I have decided to post today about the MP3 downloads, of Diamoku and Gongyo. Many people ask me all the time for the files of people chanting, so that they can chant together with the recording at home in their spare time.

If you want to make a daily practice with these sounds, it is much more fun, rewarding and comforting to do with others, but if you do not have someone to chant with you, then these mp3 downloads are the next best thing.

Learn how to chant nam myoho renge kyo.


Below is a list of the files you need:

Click here to Download Chanting Diamoku in mp3

Click here to download the 1 hour nam myoho renge kyo - daimoku 

Click here to download Morning Gongyo

Click here to download Evening Gongyo

Click here to download Hoben-pon SLOW

Click here to download Jigage SLOW

1 Hour Daimoku