Sacred Title is the Light

Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra states, "Those who expound on this sutra will be able to illuminate the darkness of living beings as the light of the sun and the moon illuminate all darkness."

The light of the full moon illuminates the darkness of night. The light of the sun takes darkness away completely. The small flame of a match will brighten its surroundings. Thus, in this degenerated world we need more light.

Nichiren's boyhood name was Rencho. At the age of 32, he changed it to Nichiren. We find the sun signified in "Nichi" of Nichiren. He chose his name from the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren's belief brightens the suffering of this dark world as the moon illuminates it in the night.

On the Mandala Gohonzon, the central item of the Nichiren Buddhist altar, the "Namu Myo-ho Ren-ge Kyo" is written in the center. The writing style of the sacred title is called "mustache" because the brush strokes appear like a man's mustache. The strokes are purposely done this way to signify rays of the light.

St. Nichiren states that we are brightened with the rays of the "Namu Myo-ho Ren-ge Kyo" to be more perfect beings. Thus, when we chant the Sacred Title and live in the faith, our Buddha nature appears in our daily lives, and all our lives are blessed with Buddha's compassion.

Light possesses the power to heat, to burn things, to kill bacteria, to purify, to illuminate, to brighten things, and to accelerate growth of plants and animals. When we put our faith in the Sacred Title and chant it, we are able to eliminate our sins or bad karma to purify our body and mind, to stimulate our growth and to give joy for living.

Please chant the Sacred Title. Only people who chant the "Name Myo-ho Ren-ge Kyo" are able to experience this joy.

May 1, 1987