March 11, 2008
Nichiren Buddhism 101
Nichiren Buddhism begins and ends with chanting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. This is usually done as Mantra Chanting or Chanting Meditation, called Shodai; which is a form of mindfulness meditation. Usually, it takes about 20 minutes of chanting to get in a mental state of concentration. At that point, mindfulness sort of arises on its own. Some sanghas combine shodai with silent sitting called za-zen or shika taza.
As an aid to chanting, we often use a mandala as a focus of concentration. There is a long thread at the E-sangha Nichiren Forum on What is a/ the Gohonzon / Honzon / Omandara, Primary Object of Veneration. One can chant without one though. If someone wants one, and plans to join a Sangha, it is best to obtain it through them. There are a couple ways to obtain one independently. There are other things to learn, such as how to hold the hands {mudra} and sitting posture while chanting. We also often use a rosary called ojuzu or japamala. The Mandala is usually enshrined as the center of an altar, which can be simple or fancy.
There is also another way of chanting called prayer daimoku. This is more like the use of dharanis or invocations. This is chanting for our needs and wishes. Some Sanghas stress this, others downplay it. The advantage of prayer chanting is that our chanting becomes highly motivated, especially if we have pressing needs or ambitious goals. The disadvantage is that can lead to a faith like fire, which burns brightly and flames out.
So it is best to balance prayer chanting with chanting as mindfulness meditation. This can involve reflecting on the condition of our mind, body, and environment. Those who have been practicing a while often develop new goals, such as wishing to cultivate deeper wisdom and compassion. In this context, three things I see that Nichiren Buddhism offers; which many people in our modern society need, are:
1. Basic self reformation.
2. The cultivation of intellectual / cognitive skills.
3. The healing of both mental and physical disease.
One other comment: Self Reformation involves changing from a life centered on ignorance, greed / avarice, and anger / hared; to one centered on wisdom, generosity / equanimity, and kindness / compassion.
Posted by rbeck at March 11, 2008 11:51 PM