Seven Practices of the Sacred Title

by Rev. Shokai Kanai

There are seven practices for the Odaimoku, or the Sacred Title of the Lotus Sutra. They are to read, listen, chant, study, explain, copy, and keep it. The Odaimoku has seven characters, just as there are seven practices.

To chant and to write the Odaimoku, "Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo," is very easy for people who were born and raised in Japan; however, it is hard for many Americans. They cannot pronounce the words correctly. For them the practices of the Odaimoku starts by listening to someone else chant it. By listening, they can more easily learn to read the letters correctly. If once they can pronounce it correctly three times, they can continue to chant it daily.

After practicing it in these three ways, one may wonder why they feel better. They will then want to learn the meaning of the Odaimoku, and then wish to tell others. By then, one has already practiced it in five different ways: reading, listing, chanting, studying, and explaining.

For those who have never learned how to write Japanese, it is very hard to write the Odaimoku in Kanji. However, even a child can trace the seven characters of the Sacred Title. One more practice is added to the above mentioned five practices.

When we chant the Lotus Sutra and Odaimoku, we face the Mandala Gohonzon, or the most honorable one. The Sacred Title is written in the center of the gohonzon. So we read it, chant it, listen to our own voices, learn about it, explain it to others, and finally copy it. To continue these practices is to keep the Odaimoku. Thus, we should continue to practice the seven different ways of the Sacred Title.

ERECTING A DAIMOKU MONUMENT

Nichiren Daishonin chanted the sacred title of the Lotus Sutra for the first time on April 28, 1253 at Mount Kiyosumi, Japan. Next year will be the 750th anniversary of this event. In order to commemorate this happy occasion, we will erect an approximately 7 foot monument featuring the Odaimoku at the southwest corner of the temple. At the base of the monument, "Rissho Ankoku" (in Japanese) and "Establishment of Peace and Security by the True Dharma of the Nation" (in English) will be engraved as well. The phrase is for the life of St. Nichiren and also for all his followers. The stone will have black with white engraving. This will enable people to read the words from their cars as they pass by the front of the temple. It will help to cultivate the seed of their Buddha nature.

TIME CAPSULE FOR THE COPIED ODAIMOKU

Under this monument, a box containing copies of the Odaimoku will be buried in a time capsule. Many people have turned in their copies of the Odaimoku or the sutra during the last few years. There is still room for more copies. You can obtain the tracing paper of the sacred words at the temple; we also have a class for copying the sutra once a month. At the end of the tracing paper, please write your name and the date and turn it in by the end of February, 2005.

The cost of erecting the monument and rearranging the southwest garden will be taken care of by the 750th Pocket Change Donations and any of the donation that you may give. All will be greatly appreciated. Any amount of donation will be greatly appreciated. Please write your check payable to Nichiren Buddhist Temple and for the Monument.