April 20, 2008
Kito & Kanjin part two
See Also What is Consciousness? Part One: Vijnana
Q: Is chanting a form of meditation or is it positive thinking?
My Answer:
A: It is both. There are two main kinds of chanting in Nichiren Buddhism. These are kito prayer and kanjin chanting meditation. Both of these are found in the writings of Nichiren Daishonin. Moreover, prayer and meditation are aspects of most forms of Buddhism. Kito Prayer is something we can do either for ourselves or for others; and others can do for us. It can take many forms. In Soka Gakkai, members often get together to pray for someone who is sick, or for the success of an activity. In some schools of Nichiren Buddhism, specially trained minsters conduct something called kito blessings. The more general Kito Prayer Daimoku done by members should not be confused with that specific kind of highly focused Kito Blessing Prayer.
Prayer chanting is something that helps us cultivate the mind of faith, known as shinjin in Japan. In the beginning, our faith might be limited to some expectation that our prayers will be answered. Once we receive answers, our conviction grows, and we develop the mind of faith. This might be similar to positive thinking. Nichiren Buddhism teaches esho funi, or oneness of life and environment. We can influence the environment, or let the environment limit us. Once we develop the mind of faith, our cheerful, confident outlook is reflected in our surroundings.
However, that is still only the relative beginning. There is also kanjin chanting meditation. This is something we can only do for ourselves. In Buddhism, there is no single word for meditation. The Buddha taught Right Effort, Right Concentration, and Right Mindfulness. There are also many methods, such as silent breath meditation, mandala contemplation, mantra chanting, and more. There are also sitting, walking, reclining meditations, and so on. The Theravadin sage Buddhaghosa taught 40 Objects of Concentration. There are several stages and sub-stages of meditation such as calming the mind, concentration, absorption, attainment, cessation, 4 main frameworks of mindfulness; {body, senses, mind, and mental qualities} and insight. Mantra Chanting has an advantage, because it does not require a lot of training. Moreover, Kanjin chanting meditation is equal to the most advanced stage of insight. It also contains the merits of the others, so we do have to go through all of those steps or stages. Kanjin Meditation can be done by simply chanting and focusing the mind, senses, and body on the sound and rhythm of the Daimoku. We can also use the Scroll Gohonzon as a visual object of concentration. These practices, over time, help us cultivate discerning wisdom and all embracing compassion; as well as manifest our inherent Buddha Nature; which is pure, blissful, boundless, and selfless.
From SGI New Zealand: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers -
7) Is chanting a form of meditation or is it positive thinking?
Chanting is neither meditation, nor positive thinking, though it reaps the benefits of both these practices and much more. The essence of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is that in the very act of doing so we are expressing our Buddha nature. Meditation and positive thinking do not have Buddhahood as their objective. It is not possible to express Buddhahood through these means. Although meditation and positive thinking may have value they cannot change the fundamental element in our lives which makes us unhappy and unfulfilled as human beings — our karma, nor can they bring out the highest condition of life, Buddhahood.
Meditation is a more passive exercise than chanting; one usually calms one's mind by concentrating on a particular phrase or image. At first glance this may seem close to the practice of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, but actually the difference is apparent. The practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo enables us to express and experience our innate Buddhahood and release the powerful energy contained within that, rather than to calm our minds or negate certain ways of thinking.
Again, while it is true that our thinking does become more positive as a result of chanting, this is because chanting draws out our Buddhahood which, in turn, influences every aspect of our lives, both mental and physical. Therefore, chanting is not so much a question of "thinking positively" or exercising "mind over matter," which implies restriction; rather, through chanting, our highest state of life naturally influences our thoughts and actions towards the most valuable ends. -- http://sginz.org/faqs.html
Feel free to Post Your Answer
Posted by rbeck at April 20, 2008 04:02 PMCome on people. Pick up the Lotus Sutra and read it and make Nichiren proud:
You want to see prayer read the Jiga-ge not the Maltz jiggy-jive.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at April 29, 2008 09:36 AMRobin, I am sure you are more up2date than I am what the sects are doing and not doing, and yes if one visits Japan they are totally confused by all the trinkets, except if you visit a fujufuse temple.
I visited two of them in 2000, and saw nothing of the sorts. I visited a mental hospital on the outskirts of Tokyo, where the patients are put in nice rooms, and the medicine is to chant one million Namu Myohorengekyo, and recite the Lotus Sutra three times a day. Using the practice in this sense, in my opinion is not prayer, but that is my opinion.
Kempon in the past did a great deal to keep Nichiren's writings in tact. Hondo and Tanaka fought to preserve and protect the original writings from being altered by the sects because of oppression from the government. Stephanie and I were going to publish a book, about this, but lost interest, but maybe we can share with you someday our data. Many of Nichiren's original writings were changed by all the sects.
Lamont's translations are very good, but when they explain the translations they spin them in an awkward way. Nichiren becomes Jesus the son of God, and Buddha becomes God, you have not been around them like I was, so you don't have a first hand experience. When you are in the same bath tub you ignore the bubbles that stink, but when you step out of the tub, you start to smell things that you just didn't pay attention to before. None of what they do is on purpose, it is part of the religion game.
I hope someday, we can talk about the Sutra outside of religion, outside of Nichiren's Japan, and we don't need the Gosho. All the teachings are in the Lotus Sutra, the Eternal Buddha is the teacher not Nichiren. Thanks for all your hard work, and again I apologize to you.
Maltz
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at April 24, 2008 10:34 AMBruce, of course kanjin meditation is at the core of the Lotus Sutra. However, kito prayer is part of the Lotus Sutra too. I think Nichiren Shu Temples focus too much on kito blessings because that is where the revenue comes from, and that is demanded in Japan. If they do not offer it, then merchants will go to the Shingon Temple.
It is in the West where I think people will tend to view kito as crass. An e-friend visited Japan and was turned off by all the trinkets and talismans that were sold at Nichiren Temples. Soka Gakkai too focuses a lot on prayer, they just cut out the minister and think that makes them superior. I know long term members who still think chanting for material gain is the main point.
I give Nichiren Shoshu credit for actually stressing to Hokkeko members that kanjin chanting is more important that kito chanting. I like the SGI discussion meeting format. I like the diversity of practices, doctrinal authenticity, and tolerance of Nichiren Shu. I like that Kempon Hokke keeps the literal meaning of the Gosho straight.
Engyo Mike, I think that would be kito prayer in the sense I take it. There is also talk about those beings we pray to bestowing material blessings and offering protection.
Posted by: robin at April 23, 2008 03:55 PMHi Mike,
Glad to meet you, the point of my question, was, I just don't think there is anything about Buddha saying to pray for anything that is in the Lotus Sutra. Even the Dharani's are spells that are a gift given to Buddha, he never says pray for enlightenment or parking spaces, new elephant or a good life, or to pray on a daily basis, and without prayer i also think the Object of Worship concept is out of line, there is nothing to worship in the Lotus Sutra, unless you read it from a Christian point of view. If you want peace, make it. If you want friends make them. If you want to be a bodhisattva then be one, if you want to spread the Lotus Sutra then do it, but don't pray for it. Buddha even says the Eternal will spread by itself. Eternal without saying, means, beyond time or without conditions.
Trying to get everyone off their knees,
Maltz
All -
"Is there anything about prayer in the Lotus Sutra?"
I'm not sure how different folks would characterize the instructions to call on various Bodhisattvas scattered throughout the latter part of the Sutra; would you call this "prayer" as intended in the question, or not?
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at April 23, 2008 02:53 PMRobin, that is wonderful you bring that up. First of all, lets bring that into context.
1. Was it instruction given to believers by either the Human Shakyamuni or the Eternal Shakyamuni to the Bodhisattvas or living beings?
2. Was it in the first half, middle, or end of the Sutra?
3. Is a "Magical Spell" presented as a gift to the Buddha a "Prayer"
Back to you Captain,
Maltz
"Is there anything about prayer in the Lotus Sutra?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dharani Chapter for starters.
Posted by: robin at April 22, 2008 11:07 PMIs there anything about prayer in the Lotus Sutra? Does prayer lead one to enlightenment or to become free of attachments, or does the prayer become an attachment? Can you visualize Sakyamuni Buddha chanting daimoku to a Gohonzon at an SGI meeting?
Maltz
"Meditation and positive thinking do not have Buddhahood as their objective. "
What a backasswards conclusion this statement is! Shakyamuni and Nichiren both realized Buddhahood through meditation, AND neither were chanting daimoku. Positve thinking is just the slutty sister of intention and desire. My suggestion with anything the SGI puts out there now, is to break it into little bits and hold it up to the light of the Lotus Sutra. People really need to think for themselves and not just accept well-plated tripe as high-end sushi. It's still shit.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at April 22, 2008 09:22 AMSGI should; I do not know if they do. Score one for Nichiren Shoshu!
r
Posted by: robin at April 21, 2008 06:34 PMHiya, Robin - and thanks for your posted response to my blog entry on thie same topic.
I have been exploring the benefits of what some mond/body types call "deep relaxation" - it is very refreshing, and not at all the kind of result I have gotten from chanting, or from just following the breath. Anyway, that's where I am right now, FWIW.
I know that the Nichiren Shoshu distinguishes the two types of chanting you have discussed, I don't know if the SGI does or not, do you?
Wahzoh
Posted by: Byrd in LA at April 21, 2008 01:21 PM