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 The inocation of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
was established by Nichiren on 28 April 1253. Haing 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 unaoidably limited explanation of some of
the key concepts expressed by this phrase.
Nam
The word nam deries from Sanskrit, a close translation of its
meaning is "to deote oneself." Nichiren established the chanting of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a means to enable all people to put their
lies 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 deelop in order to attain
Buddhahood in this lifetime.
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Myoho
Myoho literally means the Mystic Law, and expresses the relationship
betweven the life inherent in the unierse and the many different
ways this life expresses itself. Myo refers to the ery essence of
life, which is "inisible" 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
perading 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 indiidual lies 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 oice or teaching of a Buddha. In
this sense, it also means sound, rhythm or ibration. Also, the
Chinese character for kyo originally meant the warp a piece of woen
cloth, symbolizing the continuity of life throughout past, present
and future.
In a broad sense, kyo coneys the concept that all
things in the unierse are a manifestation of the Mystic Law.
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