Robin Beck

I think it was Myo is the head, Ho is the throat, Ren is the heart, Ge is the stomach, and Kyo is the extremities {legs & arms}.

When on Tozan in 1988, our group was given a tour of the SGI Headquarters because our flight had been delayed, causing us to miss a meeting with Pres. Ikeda.

As we were leaving the Headquarters after the tour, we ran into Vice President Tsuji. It was five o'clock and he was walking home from work. He broke into an impromptu lecture on how Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is related to various parts of the body. I don't remember which parts corresponded to which syllables, but I do remember it was top down.

"Let me make a confession before you write your piece."

I fully understand. I think it was better to present Myo as the brow, rather than skipping over it. Some in Nichiren Shoshu are now teaching that the correct chant is Nan Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo.

They are intentionally skipping the mu character. The reasons are so arcane I do not really want to get into it. Part of it is they are ascribing meanings to kanji use to write borrowed words.

I have noticed that when two kanji are used to write a borrowed word, it is read with one beat.

Example: Sha ka mu ni = written with 4 kanji, read with 2 beats.

I have also noticed that Namah, Namo, Namas, in sanskrit, can be read with one or two beats; there is no rule like with the Chinese script. I have heard it read as Nam.

The 6 beat mantras have other implications too: the six worlds, the 6 {sense} faculties, the 6 objects of senses, the 6 paramitas, the word sad ...

Another thing, making myo the brow, the mystic 3rd eye; and ho {dharma} the voice, makes sense too.

I am also trying to sort out the svastika business. I had that wrong. There is a lot spinning going on to rationalize the Nazi's abuse of that ancient sacred symbol.

No one knows which way to spin the wheel is correct. The terms left facing and left handed are ambiguous. If I am facing a Honzon, my left is its right. Clockwise is more objective, but some sources have even that confused.

My instinct is to spin the chakra wheel, dharma wheel, 'greek cross,' or wave vortex; from my left to my right, clock-wise. And that is the direction right angle arms on the tilted Nazi symbol point. Regardless of which way is right, or left, the Nazi's curses boomeranged on them.

Robin:

"In the next entry, I shall look at the original Tsuji-Atkins method. In that one, Nam = crown, Myo = Third Eye/brow. It is the root and 6th C that are collapsed into one."

Let me make a confession before you write your piece. When the schematic of "myo" is the head, "ho" is the throat, "ren" is the chest, "ge" is the stomach, and "kyo" is the lower extremities, I was confounded as how the two lower chakras needed to be compressed to accommodate kyo.

I knew that "Nam" was the crown. The not so secret, secret I realized is that "Mu" is the head or third eye. When the schematic is presented in this way, it corresponds perfectly with Eastern metaphysics that describe the chakras, meridians, and flow of chi.

Why did I present it the way I did? First, simplicity. It works. From a practical standpoint, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, visualizing healing energies is the greatest physician of all. Chanting "Mu" isn't necessary because it is transmitted just the same. Why? Because its all one inclusive vibration - there are no seven chakras - really. They're as temporary as a passing clowd.

I never wanted people to focus on chakras. Never. Most of all, at the time of publication, I felt unqualified to reveal that secret when Mr. Tsuji thought fit not to, perhaps didn't ascribe to, or was not aware of (I doubt that!) After all, my book was written to be SGI friendly.

I hope this gives you some insight into my quandary and ultimate decision to proceed the way I did, knowing full well the true schematic.

Charles

***Hey, does this mean if you chant nam-myoho-renge-kyo you will remain third eye blind? I've heard of this correlation with the chakras before, but I really liked your diagram so I copied it to my blog with proper accredation and link of course. ch***

Link? I can make it a hot link in the main body.

In the next entry, I shall look at the original Tsuji-Atkins method. In that one, Nam = crown, Myo = Third Eye/brow. It is the root and 6th C that are collapsed into one.

robin

"This probably sounds like a load of new age rubbish, and maybe it is, but it works for me, and it also helps to prevent the mind wandering during chanting."

There are several methods. IIRC, the one you mention uses the traditional kundalini yoga method? I think Donna may have mentioned that. Donna, are you out there?

I can no longer find the source, but the Dalai Lama once talked about similar schemes using the OMNPMH mantra. He talked about starting at the top, then at the bottom, switching back & fourth.

I have 3 more of these. One that the DL mentioned is similar to Christian crossing. Crown-third eye-throat-left arm-right arm-heart is how I recall it.

I am going to post several more entries on this general topic. I have done some more research on the wave-vortex idea and the Greek-Aryan Cross. I think I shall do that last. I am ambivalent to schizoid on just dumping the swastika as a Buddhist symbol in the west; or rehabbing it to the original intent. It is complex with some mininfo out there.

gassho

robin

Hey, does this mean if you chant nam-myoho-renge-kyo you will remain third eye blind? I've heard of this corelation with the chakras before, but I really liked your diagram so I copied it to my blog with proper accredation and link of course.
ch

"Myo is at the navel. This is the great mystery, the umbilical connection by which we are given life, the most profound mystery."

Here's a bigger mystery. The mantra is all one sound and all the chakra centers, are not the centers at all, but like pistons in an engine. There is only one center - and that isn't really a center at all. At the deepest level you are indistinguishable from the rest of energy.

Charles

Thanks Robin. I have been doing this for some time, but in the reverse order (Nam at Muladhara, etc) and have developed my own way of understanding it.

Namu begins at the base of the spine where, seated in cross legged fashion, we are in contact with the earth. Reverence is our groundedness.

Myo is at the navel. This is the great mystery, the umbilical connection by which we are given life, the most profound mystery.

Ho is at the heart chakra, the law written into our hearts, waiting to be discovered and activated.

Ren - the lotus blossom - is at the throat, our communicative opening to the outside world. The sound of chanting is our unfolding expression of our Buddhahood. The gentle rain of daimoku waters the plants which blossom and bring beauty and nourishment to the world.

Ge is the flower, the third eye, wisdom being the flowering of our practice of the law.

Kyo, the teaching, at the Sahasrara is the highest expression of truth. The sutra by which all Buddhas attain enlightenment.

This probably sounds like a load of new age rubbish, and maybe it is, but it works for me, and it also helps to prevent the mind wandering during chanting.

Cheers.

I have been varying speeds and rhythm. I was thinking it would be interesting to have the leader chant "Na Mu", with the congregation chanting "Myo Ho Renge Kyo," like call and response singing.

I am also working on something I call the Chakra Wave Vortex. This relates to the original ancient Aryan Cross called the Svastika. Since the German Nazis appropriated the reverse of that symbol for evil, I am nervous that people will react wrongly. My present take is that maybe western Buddhists should scrap it as a symbol. The connection with Nazis and racism might be too strong.

Anyway, while chanting that way, I have had some sort of creepy deja vu like experiences. It is like there is presence in the room. This might, in part, be the 4th hindrance -- Uddhacca-kukkucca.

If I can get past the creepiness, I experience an intense bliss I used to call the 'Glowing Gohonzon.' Someone else related to it as the Gohonzon going 3-d. The Nittatsu Mandala so many us started with seemed especially conducive to this experience.

I briefly discuss the technique I have used in "Om Mani Padme Hum & Four Armed Chenrezig" as follows:

"The hands start in Gassho, but can be dropped into the Dhyana Mudra. Press your palms together, slightly cupped, fingers joined, in front of your heart. Focus on intoning the Mantra for at least 20 minutes -- Om Ma Ni Pad Ma Hum. Feel the waves of Jihi (Metta & Karuna) spiral up from your heart, rippling outward, rotating like the prayer wheel, in a clockwise direction, eventually filling up the Universe."

"Next, try something different with this meditation. The clockwise rotation is the same. But now; Om is the Crown/Third Eye Chakra. Ma is the Throat and Ni the Heart. Pad the Gut and Me the reproductive glands. Hum is the root chakra and grounding to the Earth. Feel the Six Beat Mantra pulsate down through these Chakras, awakening hidden energies. Our body IS the Prayer Wheel."

This could also be used like the Tsuji method: Om as the Crown Chakra. Ma as the Third Eye and Ni the Throat. Pad the Heart and Me the gut. Hum as the pelvis/root chakra grounding to the Earth.

Also, Sine then, I have come across conflicting information on what is meant by left facing, right facing, clockwise, and counter clockwise. Whatever, a rotation that appears clockwise facing seems positive
to me. Supposedly, counter clockwise is connected with the moon, kali, and sorcery; such as casting curses.

gassho

robin

Love this! My chanting is much faster by design. However, THIS is how new folk should start.

Charles