Nam-myoho-renge-kyoNam-myoho-renge-kyoNam-myoho-renge-kyoNam-myoho-renge-kyo

Based on the Basics of Buddhism by Pat Allwright

Presented by Linda Myring and Jay Williams

Based on the Basics of Buddhism by Pat Allwright

Presented by Linda Myring and Jay Williams

Goals of studying Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?

• To understand that it has a historical, doctrinal source in the Lotus Sutra and is its essence as well as its title.

• To convey a sense that it is the Law of Life.

• To stress the importance of having one’s own experiences of the power of chanting, rather than a theoretical understanding.

The Lotus Sutra

The essence of Shakyamuni’s highest teaching, the Lotus Sutra is encompassed in it’s title:

Myoho-renge-kyo

Nichiren

It was a young monk named Nichiren, about 2000 years later in Japan, who took the final all-important step to transform profound theory into a simple practice.

Nichiren•He added “Namu” (contracted to “Nam”) to the title of the Lotus Sutra to create “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo”.•Nichiren: “Everything has its essential point and the heart of the Lotus Sutra is its title, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.”

Nichiren

He brought it out of the realm of theoretical contemplation into an actual experiential practice when he first chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

• Is the basic invocation of Nichiren Buddhism.

• Is the name of the Mystic Law that governs life eternally throughout the universe.

• When we chant this, we attune our lives to the perfect rhythm of the universe.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyoLiteral Meaning

‘Devotion to the Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Wonderful Law’

Nam

• Derives from Sanskrit "to devote oneself"

• In the original Sanskrit, nam indicates the elements of action and attitude.

• Refers to the correct action one needs to take and the attitude one needs to develop in order to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.

MyohoHO• Law• All Phenomena• Everyday Life• Life• Seen• Manifest

MYO • Mystic• Mysterious Nature of Life• Ultimate Reality• Enlightenment• Death• Unseen• Latent• To Open• To Be Endowed and Perfect• To Revive

Renge• Renge means lotus flower. • The lotus blooms and

produces seeds at the same time, and thus represents the simultaneity of cause and effect.

• The lotus flower grows and blooms in a muddy pond, and yet remains pristine and free from any defilement, symbolizing the emergence of Buddhahood from within the life of an ordinary person.

Renge - Cause & Effect

• When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (cause) the state of Buddhahood (effect) immediately wells up form within us.

• Simultaneity of cause and effect significant.

• In earlier forms of Buddhisms, the effects of various practices were thougth to emerge later, future lifetimes.

Kyo• Kyo literally means sutra, the voice or

teaching of a Buddha. • In this sense, it also means sound,

rhythm or vibration. • Sound of the universe (space).

Prayer

Our prayers are communicated to the depths of our being when we invoke the

sound of the Mystic Law.

PrayerUnlike in most Western religions, when we chant we are not praying to an external deity invested with human qualities like judgment.

Meditation, Positive Thinking or Chanting?

• Meditation is passive exercise to calm one’s mind.

• Meditation tries to negate certain ways of thinking.

• Positive thinking is a tool to attempt to convince ourselves of our abilities.

Meditation, Positive Thinking or Chanting?

• Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is an expression of your Buddha nature.

• By invoking your Buddha nature at the ninth level of your consciousness, you affect all other levels.

• Buddahood becomes the positive basis of every aspect of our lives, both mental and physical.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

• “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the sound that awakens the Buddha nature of all human kind. It is the great teaching of supreme hope”

-Daisaku Ikeda, WT, 2/29/08.

Thought Provoking Questions

• Why chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?• Why not some other mantra?• Is chanting a form of meditation or is it

positive thinking?• Why do we have to chant?• Why not just meditate or think positively?• What about sign language?

Resources on Nichiren Buddhism

International Level:• sgi.org/media

National Level:• sgi-usa.org

Community Level: • sgi-usa-southbaycc.or

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• buddhainthehood.comBy Linda Delmar, SGI-USA

Long Beach

• abuddhistpodcast.comBy Jason Jarrett, SGI-UK