The invocation of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was established by Nichiren on 28 April 1253. Having studied widely among all the Buddhist sutras, he had concluded that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate truths of Buddhism: that everyone without exception has the potential to attain Buddhahood. The title of the Lotus Sutra in its Japanese translation is Myoho-renge-kyo. But to Nichiren, Myoho-renge-kyo was far more than the title of a Buddhist text, it was the expression, in words, of the Law of life which all Buddhist teachings in one way or another seek to clarify. What follows is a brief and unavoidably limited explanation of some of the key concepts expressed by this phrase.
Nam
The word nam derives from Sanskrit, a close translation of its meaning
is "to devote oneself." Nichiren established the chanting of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a means to enable all people to put their lives
in harmony or rhythm with the law of life, or Dharma. In the original Sanskrit,
nam indicates the elements of action and attitude, and refers therefore
to the correct action one needs to take and the attitude one needs to develop
in order to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.
Myoho
Myoho literally means the Mystic Law, and expresses the relationship between
the life inherent in the universe and the many different ways this life
expresses itself. Myo refers to the very essence of life, which is "invisible"
and beyond intellectual understanding. This essence always expresses itself
in a tangible form (ho) that can be apprehended by the senses. Phenomena
(ho) are changeable, but pervading all such phenomena is a constant reality
known as myo.
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 circumstances and quality of our individual lives is determined by the particular of causes and effects, both good and bad, that we accumulate (through our thoughts, words and actions) at each moment. This is called our "karma". The law of cause and effect explains that we each have personal responsibility for our own destiny. We create our destiny and we can change it. The most powerful cause we can make is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the effect of Buddhahood is simultaneously created in the depths of our life and will definitely manifest in time.
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.
Kyo
Kyo literally means sutra, the voice or teaching of a Buddha. In this sense,
it also means sound, rhythm or vibration. Also, the Chinese character for
kyo originally meant the warp a piece of woven cloth, symbolizing the continuity
of life throughout past, present and future. In a broad sense, kyo conveys
the concept that all things in the universe are a manifestation of the
Mystic Law.
Primary Practice
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the primary practice of SGI members. Through
this practice, one is able to reveal the state of Buddhahood in one's life,
experienced as the natural development of joy, increased vitality, courage,
wisdom and compassion.
Gohonzon
Gohonzon is the object of devotion in Nichiren Buddhism. In Japanese, go
means worthy of honor and honzon means object of fundamental respect. Nichiren
defined the universal Law permeating life and the universe as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
and embodied it in the form of a mandala. In the Gohonzon, a scroll on
which are written Chinese and Sanskrit characters, Nichiren symbolically
depicted the life state of Buddhahood, which all people possess.
SGI members chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to a Gohonzon enshrined in their
own homes. The Gohonzon, together with a practitioner's faith and chanting
of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, acts as a stimulus to activate the life-condition
of Buddhahood innate in one's life.
Our inner life-condition changes constantly as we come into
contact with different external stimuli, everything around us--people, the
weather, a piece of music, the color of the walls--creates some kind of
influence on us. A painting can cause the viewer to feel enraptured, calm or
disgusted, and a letter can either cause joy or shock and dismay. In order to
bring out our highest potential condition of life, our Buddhahood, we also need
a stimulus. Nichiren's enlightenment to the law of life enabled him to create a
stimulus that would be able to activate the life-condition of Buddhahood within
us.
Gongyo
Gongyo Literally means "assiduous practice." In the SGI, gongyo
means to recite part of the "Expedient Means" (2nd) chapter and
the "The Life Span of the Thus Come One" (16th) chapter of the
Lotus Sutra in front of the Gohonzon. This is the supporting practice of
SGI members and is performed together with the chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,
ideally each morning and evening.
Key
Teachings
These two chapters of the Lotus Sutra contain its most essential message. The Expedient Means chapter reveals that there is no separation between the lives of ordinary people and the life of the Buddha. The Life Span chapter clarifies that the Buddha's life--all life--is eternal, and that his wish is for all people to attain the same life-condition as himself.
Human Revolution
Buddhist thought outlines a practical method for not
only helping individuals overcome various sufferings, but changing society as a
whole. Human revolution is the name Josei Toda, Second President of Soka Gakkai,
used to describe this process--the liberation of the spirit from within. It is a
continual process of renewal and invigoration, the development of one person's
boundless inner capacity to lead a creative and contributive life through his or
her own effort.
Inner
Change in a Single Person There have been
a number of different revolutions in recent centuries: political, economic,
industrial, scientific, etc. Toda's view was that, regardless of how external
factors are changed, society will not fundamentally improve as long as
people--the foundation of everything--fail to transform the inherent negative
and destructive tendencies of their own lives.
An inner change for the
better in a single person is the essential first turn of the wheel in the
process of making the human race stronger and wiser. Human revolution is the
most fundamental and most vital of all revolutions. This revolution--an inner
process of self-reformation--is completely bloodless and
peaceful.
Process of
Growth and Self-Realization
Every single person has tremendous potential which is largely untapped.
Through one's human revolution, this potential can be revealed and we can
establish an independent, unconquerable self; enabling one to deal creatively
with any situation that life has to offer. This process enables one to
keep growing and developing indefinitely.
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra is regarded as one of the most important and influential
sutras, or sacred scriptures, of Mahayana Buddhism. As Shakyamuni employed
a wide variety of means by which to transmit his enlightenment to people
of different capacities and circumstances, a broad range of interpretative
schools emerged after his passing. The Lotus Sutra was translated by different
schools and gained particular prominence as it spread through Central Asia
into China, the Korean peninsula and Japan, mainly because of the universality
of its message--that all people can attain enlightenment.
Lotus
Sutra's message of equality
The Lotus
Sutra describes the existence of an innate and universal truth, known as the
Buddha nature, inherent in all life. It teaches profound respect for the dignity
of life. The Lotus Sutra is unique among the teachings of Shakyamuni in that it
affirms that the attainment of enlightenment is a possibility open to all people
without distinction of race, gender, social standing, or
education.
Nichiren, living in thirteenth century Japan, studied the Buddhist sutras
in depth and emphasized the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra (myoho-renge-kyo,
in Japanese), defining the essence of its teaching as Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Practice For Self and Others--The Bodhisattva
Way
The Lotus Sutra, like many other Mahayana sutras, teaches the Bodhisattva
ideal as a model of human behavior. The Bodhisattva practice means to strive
for one's own enlightenment while working to relieve suffering and bring
joy to others.
