|
The
NAM-MYOHO-RENE-QUO Chant
Download the Chant
Nam "to devote oneself"
It's pronounced just as the last part of the word Vietnam.
Myoho "the Mystic Law"
Comes in two parts. Myo rhymes with go, and is pronounced
m' o. Ho also rhymes with go. The whole word sounds like
m' o-ho.
Renge "cause and effect"
Also is a two-part word. The first part, Ren, rhymes with hen
and sounds just like the last part of the word children. Ge is
pronounced exactly like the word gay, and rhymes with hay
and stay. The whole word sounds like ren-gay.
Kyo "the voice or teaching" The manifestation of the Mystic Law.
Also rhymes with go, and sounds just like the last part of
Tokyo.
NAM-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO is pronounced nam-m' o-ho-ren-gay-kyo. Turn up
your speakers to hear how Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is pronounced.
History: Nichiren
was born in Japan on the 16th February 1222. His father was a fisherman
and the family lived in a little fishing village called Kominato. At
the age of 12, he entered a local Tendai Temple, Seicho-ji, to study
under the Chief Priest, Dozen-bo. It is said that one day the young
boy, whose original name was Zennichi-maro, prayed to become the wisest
man in Japan. He was ordained at the age of 16 and took the name Zencho-bo
Rencho. Shortly after his ordination, he left on a prolonged journey
of study. He stayed at various temples where he studied all the sutras
and the teachings of all the Buddhist sects existing in Japan at that
time. As a result of his intense studies, he concluded that the Lotus
Sutra contained the highest teachings of Shakyamuni and that all the
other sutras should be regarded as preparatory or provisional.
He returned to Seicho-ji
at the age of 32. At daybreak on the 28th April 1253, Zencho-bo Rencho
climbed a hill, faced the rising sun and chanted Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
for the first time. At noon on that day a group of priests and lay people
gathered to hear him preach. What he preached in that first sermon amounted
to a rejection of all the existing sects in Japan and a declaration
that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo was the teaching valid for the latter day that
would enable anyone to achieve enlightenment in their present lifetime.
It was on this occasion that he assumed the name Nichiren (Sun Lotus).
The political and religious
leaders of the time were furious. The kind of self-reliance and independence
which Nichiren preached was seen as a real threat to the existing power
structures. The life-long persecution to which Nichiren was subjected
started immediately but this did not deter him. His great compassion
for the people demanded that he keep on teaching the truth which could
lead to peace and happiness for them and indeed for all mankind. His
brave denunciation of teachings which he perceived as keeping the people
in subservient misery and, instead, giving a teaching which had the
power to bring real joy into peoples' lives, whatever their circumstances
might be, brought him many converts but also powerful enemies.
The Beginner's Mind
One of the most profound
secrets of learning anything new is keeping what has been called a "Beginner's
Mind". What is Beginner's Mind? Well part of it is described very well
by the famous Zen story known as:
Empty Your Cup
A university professor
went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea,
the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup
to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing
cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more
will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master
replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
So to begin, we must all
empty our cups of all the preconceived ideas, concepts, techniques and
methods that prevent us from receiving the new. This seems like a simple
thing to do, but can be quite difficult in practice.
Another important part of
developing the beginners mind concerns getting rid of the "Been There,
Done That" concept that seems so prevalent in today's society. It may
be true that you have been there, and you may have done that, but perhaps
your conception of reality was not the whole concept, "the big picture"
if you will.
One final element of developing
the "Beginner's Mind" is a developing a sense of awe, a feeling of excitement
and wonder when approaching or re-approaching a subject of investigation.
That you can learn something new even if it is a subject you have already
explored. That if you keep looking your bound to see something new.
This in itself can be very exciting, wonderful, and awesome.
|
