I recall a gathering of our SGI-USA Chapter women's division members a few months ago. We had a guest speaker from "up the line" who spoke to us about the importance of "fighting daimoku" - that is to say, chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo with a "fighting spirit".
I raised my hand and said something to the effect that I didn't particularly enjoy chanting "fighting daimoku", as it tended to raise my blood pressure. I expressed my preference for chanting "hugging daimoku" or "washing daimoku". Hugging daimoku is where you use your chanting to embrace people, places, and things that seem to need a warm embrace. For example, I send hugging daimoku to the Middle East and the Sudan. I'm not endorsing the problems, it's more like I'm holding a screaming child and trying to comfort it.
Washing daimoku is when you think of your daimoku as a fresh, running stream, or maybe a waterfall. You hold your problem or difficulty in the stream and let the daimoku "wash" it clean. Then, you can see it more clearly. Some members of my Lotus Sutra study group (all of them women) tried the "washing daimoku" technique and found it effective and enlightening, as well as very encouraging in the housekeeping department.
Our very nice women's division leader responded to my comments with a sweet smile. She said that hugging daimoku and washing daimoku were very nice, but that we had to cultivate "fighting daimoku" anyway. Now, I can see using fighting daimoku if you or a loved one are facing a fatal illness, or if the wolf is at your door, but why fight for the sake of fighting? It doesn't seem like a path to world peace to me.
This theme of fighting daimoku is reiterated in the SGI-USA's current study material for the October Learning Review. As it says on page 15:
If we forget this fighting daimoku of courageous lion kings, our daimoku deviates from that of our mentors. In that case, the our chanting will not create the sound of the lion's roar created by mentor and disciple chanting together. And [sic] it will not be the daimoku of Nichiren, but rather become the practice of an inferior teaching that has no relation to the spirit of Shakyamuni.
So basically, we cultivate a fighting state of mind when we pray in order to unite with Daisaku Ikeda. "Fighting daimoku" is real mentor/disciple daimoku, and non-fighting daimoku (like hugging and washing, I presume) is not. This is interesting to me, since I think my proclivity for hugging daimoku and washing daimoku have to do with the fact that I'm a woman. If I cultivate a warm and non-confrontative state of mind in my prayers, does this make me less Buddhist than the person who marches in lockstep and wields a sword? Is the SGI-USA's message here that testosterone-driven values are more religiously valid than estrogen-driven ones? I wonder....
Or was this article just written by a Japanese man who didn't have any women of equal rank to bounce his rhetoric off of before sending it to the printer and from his printer out to the members of the SGI-USA? I'm hoping it's the latter.
Well, I for one, am a proud advocate of washing daimoku. What kind of daimoku do you have in your wallet?
Be well-washed, be huggable, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at September 10, 2007 02:05 PMThen of course their is "one-upmanship daimoku" and "what's in it for me? daimoku" and "I'm going to get what's mine daimoku" and the ever popular "every man out for himself daimoku" (see the movie A Fish Called Wanda), the "my sect is better than yours and is in fact the only one true school of Buddhism daimoku" and so on and so forth.
But let's be brutally real - one chant mouth the words Namu Myoho Renge Kyo with the views and attitudes of any of the ten worlds:
Hellish Daimoku: Of those who chant out of rage and vindictiveness to bring down their enemies or chant out of self-pity.
Hungry Ghost Daimoku: Of those who chant myopically focused on getting whatever it is they think they can't be happy without.
Animal Daimoku: Of those who chant for short-term materialistic gains without a thought to inner revolution or even humaness or common sense.
Fighting Demon Daimoku: Of those who want to prove that they or their tribe is better than all others.
Human Daimoku: Of those who just want to get their crap together and live a decent life.
Heavenly Daimoku: Of those who bliss out when they are chanting and/or who chant to stay in a pollyanna blissed out groovy frame of mind.
Shravaka Daimoku: Of those who are chanting to understand the Buddha's teachings so they can be free of suffering.
Pratyekabuddha Daimoku: Of those who are chanting to have some kind of insight or direct understanding of life so they can be free of suffering.
Bodhisattva Daimoku: Of those who chant to relieve all beings (including themselves) of suffering.
Buddha's Daimoku: Of those who chant because being awake and expressing the Dharma is freedom from suffering for all beings. This is not Daimoku to get something or get away from something but the direct Daimoku of practice-enlightenment.
So what Daimoku are you chanting? What Daimoku is your Sangha encouraging and pointing people to?
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
So, I guess my hugging and washing daimoku would be a combo of realization and bodhissattva daimoku. Well, that's all right, then!
You're right,of course, Michael - the study material in question is just encouraging people to limit their prayer to a lower world. Why did't I think of that? I could've had a V-8!
Ha! Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at September 10, 2007 03:21 PMByrd & all -
Whatever happened to the Buddhist truism that hatred cannot be dispelled by more hatred, and that anger cannot be dispelled by more anger? Can fighting then be dispelled by more fighting? It wouldn't seem to follow.......which might explain generations of temple wars.
I also think that the Middle East is a very good example of what happens when people vow to never stop fighting. They accomplish their vow.
I also think "fighting for world peace" is an oxymoron, once you step away from all of the accumulated baggage and think about the concept from an uninvolved viewpoint. It's easy to get caught up and forget that
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at September 11, 2007 05:34 AMFighting daimoku - daimoku centered on fighting one's own fundamental darkness. Delusion.
Just as the Lotus Sutra illustrates, the ability to break through one's own fundamental darkness/delusion requires an internal struggle, hence fighting daimoku.
Human Revolution is a struggle between one's own good and evil desires alone and not the worlds stuggle or battles. Internal battle of wits.
Just as the story of Shakyamuni's own enlightenment under the boddhi tree was an internal struggle or fight to overcome his own delusions and realizze his own enlightenment. We can do the same through chanting nam myoho renge kyo, Nichiren encourges us to do so in many gosho passages.
The fight rages on internally between good and evil.
Nichiren says, "Both god and evil spring forth from the same mind." Hence a battle/fight of good and evil within oneself.
Just my view on this subject as the SGI does not encourage fighting or any other violent sports.
I am currently chanting daimoku of time before beginning daimoku; mentor/disciple daimoku of the essential teaching. Just as Nichiren says, "I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties.." (WND Opening of the Eyes)
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at September 11, 2007 12:12 PMHi, Patrick - this is interesting to me, as it bears a strong resemblance to the idea of the "Greater Jihad" sometimes discussed in Islam. This is an ongoing "Holy War" within the self, where good and evil are constantly vying for dominion. Christians have this idea, too, of an internal duality between good and evil. I wonder if this is how Nichiren Buddhism is going to adapt to the West? By adopting our good/evil religious dualities, and the Mentor will be like a savior of sorts? The only One who can truly help you win the battle with evil within yourself? That is an interesting thought.
I had thought that Buddhism stretched itself beyond the dualism of good and evil, and I was always attracted by the notion of illuminating and enlightening even my worst tendencies.
For me, having my prayer life in a constant state of fierceness is ultimately fatiguing, But that's me. Thanks for writing in. Byrd
I think lion's roar or energized daimoku is confused with angry daimoku. The Lion's Roar style can be captured with Chuck's Mantra Powered Chakra Visualization.
Your Hugging Daimoku makes me think of my compassion daimoku; and your Washing Daimoku seems to be same as mettawaves. These can be combined with the Lion's Roar or Chakra Wave style, I think.
gassho
robin
Posted by: robin at September 11, 2007 01:59 PMBTW, mettawaves or chakra waves are palpable waves of energy that spiral or spin like a prayer wheel. That is the lion's roar I think. Fighting is just a poor choice of words that evokes conflict & anger.
robin
Posted by: robin at September 11, 2007 02:05 PMByrd,
I do not do saviors or the like, just "good teachers" like the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren instructs.
I do not think human revolution can be called jihad or any other form of religious war as the struggle is "internalized" and not externalized as in most western religions.
In studying Nichiren I think you will find Nichiren explains the non-duality of good and evil as coming from the "same mind" and not different minds, which would be a duality of good and evil as you offer. Nichiren offers just the opposite.
Christains believe the duality of evil and good are separate external entities; i.e. you are good or you are evil, evil doers, etc.. This is inocrrect thinking from a Nichiren perspective.
I do not see daimoku as magic; i.e. washing, hugging, ten worlds oriented, etc.; just the ability to create courage to face my own problems with joy for me, by me and with me. simple.
The Lion's Roar refers to the sound that both mentor and disciple create; as Nichiren teaches in the Gosho; through their actions not necessarily their daimoku alone.
"Single-mindedly desiring to see the Buddha, never hesitating even if it costs them their lives." WND, LS.
Fighting for my own happiness and not waiting for someone esle to create a path of joy for me is what I see as fighting daimoku. No deities or false views of self or other. The path of mentor and disciple.
No anger, fighting, or other negative feelings or emotions, just the eternal desire to be eternally happy in the moment. Ichinen Sanzen.
I think you attempted to put a lot of words in my mouth that are not there, not where they intended to be there.
You obviously misunderstand me with your response.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at September 11, 2007 03:20 PMByrd:
Fabulous take in an important nuance. Compassionate daimoku is the spirit of Lotus Sutra. I understand the gakkai zeal of fighting through your negative karma.
It's also a historical fact that the rise of a great teaching will meet with great opposition. A fighting spirit - one to engage or previal over oppressors, is the way of the warrior.
With that in mind, true and noble warriors walk in peace, and do not utter fighting prayers.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at September 11, 2007 03:36 PMHi, Patrick - sorry you feel I misinterpreted you. The Greater Jihad is an internal struggle, as is the interpretation of many Christians regarding the battle between good and evil. I know a number of Moslems who are frustrated by the common Western misunderstanding that jihad only means fighting external enemies - they feel that it's primary meaning has to do with an internal struggle (the word "jihad" means "struggle", I believe). I have always thought that this gave us some common ground with other faiths - many of them have something like the "human revolution" concept, but express it differently.
The washing is not so much a magical act for me, as it is a sort of visualization exercise. Charles here at the Phantom City blog on FWP is a great proponent of visualization. This one has worked for me. It's an approach to problems which recognizes that they can be "cleaned up" and seen more clearly. It works for me (and for a lot of other people, too). No obligation for anyone else to try. The hugging daimoku is more like an emotional state that I cultivate while chanting. Again, it is not intended to be magical in any way. Maybe it's a girl thing.
Oh well, thanks for writing in everyone. As Robin said on the SGIUnofficial board, this may simply have been a case of crummy translation.
Talk to you all later, Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd i n LA at September 11, 2007 03:55 PMHi Byrd,
I just wanted to tell you that I do like the idea of illuminating and washing Daimoku. I can even see the need, occasionally, for "fighting Daimoku" in order to overcome one's own sansho shima (obstacles and devils within oneself). None of these are about magic. They are different attitudes that one can bring to one's chanting. These attitudes can help motivate us to chant and direct our chanting to the cultivation of a more wholesome and awakened way of living.
But there are unwholesome attitudes and impoverished views that can be brought into our practice which tend to undercut it. That is why I mentioned the ten worlds. Nichiren himself warns us about those who praise the sutra with their lips but slander it in their hearts.
Something that should not be forgotten is that ultimately the teaching of bonno soku bodai (the defilements are themselves enlightemnet) means that we do not need to fight ourselves. There doesn't need to be an eternal battle. Rather, one's Buddha-eye recognizes and embraces the true nature of the defilements and afflictions they bring about in our lives. Through mindfulness and insight (which come about through Daimoku practice) we bring about an internal peace wherein all parts of ourselves are reconciled, which is revealed to actually be the eternal peace of eternal buddhahood that chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra celebrates:
"The deluded people think, 'This world is in a great fire. The end of the kalp is coming.'In reality this world of mine is peaceful."
This describes the world of the Buddha, the Pure Land of Tranquil Light. And how long has the Buddha been residing there - without beginning or end, birth or death, or appearance or disappearance according to chapter 16. So what is described as the true essential teaching of the Lotus Sutra is not an eternal fight or struggle, but an eternal peace that we can access through faith.
It is certainly my hope that Nichiren Buddhism in the West will not propagate the attitudes, ideas, and worldviews of more limited provisional teachings (whether Apocalyptic monotheism or Hinayana eradication) under the gloss of Nam'Myoho Renge Kyo.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
"Fighting" daimoku: Poor choice of words on SGI's part. "Jihad" is even worse. And on 9/11--how convenient. Sorry, I'm from NYC and personally lost friends that day. I may never be enough of a gold star buddhist to make light of it, either.
Posted by: Poi at September 12, 2007 12:48 PMJihad is a religious conversion process for Muslims. if you do not convert to Islam you will be killed. Jihad.
Shakaubuku/Shoju the process of conversion with Nichiren's intent.
Fundamental darkness the negative tendancies of an individual.
Fighting one's own fundamental darkness is an emotional state as well.
Fighting daimoku works for many people as well.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at September 12, 2007 12:50 PMBtw, usually I really enjoy your posts, this one comment just irked me
Posted by: Poi at September 12, 2007 01:03 PMHello,Poi - I am so sorry - you're right that my use of that term on 9/11, however much I did NOT intend for it to be about acts of terrorism, was thoughtless. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends. That day will always be a sad one for many people.
Best, Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at September 12, 2007 05:20 PMDear Byrd --
I am really appreciating your site and all the thoughtful comments..refreshing stimulus to my chanting. As you know, I want to see a Buddhism that is understandable and aceptable to all cultures, a philosphy that might ultimately abolish all kinds of uncompassionate aggression. Maybe we need some post-patriarchal redefinitions of value and value creation.
Barbara