Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eagle!data.nas.nasa.gov!news From: kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans) Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern Subject: Re: Why chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo? Message-ID: <1991Jan1.001724.8333@nas.nasa.gov> Date: 1 Jan 91 00:17:24 GMT Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Lines: 71 Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov In article <1990Dec21.072748.7002@nas.nasa.gov> ntm1836@dsacg3.dsac.dla.mil (Ken Burch) writes: >> [5] Nam-myoho-renge-kyo >> >> The core of Nichiren Daishonin's teachings, the expression of the >> fundamental law of the universe. It is often translated, "devotion or >> correct relationship to the mystic law of cause and effect through >> sound or vibration." The Daishonin stated emphatically that the >> recitation of this phrase enabled one to manifest his enlightened >> nature without fail. > > >Overall, I thought this 2-part article was very good. I still fail to >see, however, the special significance of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. One chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in front of the Gohonzon. The Gohonzon (the physical manifestation of all life's functions in their enlightened form) is the external cause, and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the internal cause that produces the effect of Buddhahood in the individual, instantaneously. So actually by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we are in the life-condition of Buddhahood. This is absolute freedom, as no matter what situation one is in, he can chant and gain the wisdom to extricate himself (or herself) and relieve their suffering. >In Summary: > I think Mantras are fine. > I think Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is fine. The Lotus Sutra makes no mention of mudras and mantras. > Having read the Lotus Sutra would probably help one who > chants "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo". I know several who chant > this and have not read the Sutra. Chanting this in order > to obtain a raise at work or drugs or a car or whatever > seems to be an exorcise in grasping and greed. For new believers, there is great value in that as it shows them the power of chanting and helps deepen their faith. On a deeper level, since once is in the state of Buddhahood when chanting, anything that makes one chant is good, as it lets them attain Buddhahood. So in this sense earthly desires leads to Buddhahood. Also, in another sense, it is fulfilling one dreams and desires. By fulfilling one's desires, and soon finding that the happiness is only temporary, one gains a better understanding of what true happiness is (or what it isn't). That's how Shakyamuni explained the true entity of life in the Sutra of Infinite Meaning, by using the 34 non-negatives, to explain what it isn't as a means of explaining what it is. Practice is more important than theory. It seems to me, that denying one's desires will only lead to a theoretical understanding of what true happiness is. Chanting to the Gohonzon is the means of seeing one's mind. Then, one can see that all the world's problems exist in you yourself. So, chanting to ovecome them, not only lets one attain Buddhahood, but is also the cause for solving the world's problems. I have heard of some people's experiences and how they started chanting for drugs and got them. But, if they continued chanting, something happened that made them realize that drugs was not the key to true happiness. I have also heard of experiences, where one starts to chant 1,000,000 daimoku (Nam-myoho-renge-kyo) for a personal desire, and after a while, they become less concerned about their personal desire and more concerned about others. Keith Evans (kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov)