Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō

Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō^[a] (南無妙法蓮華経) are Japanese words chanted within all forms of Nichiren Buddhism. In English, they mean "Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra" or "Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra".^[2][3]

An inscription of Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō by renowned Japanese artisan Hasegawa Tohaku. Toyama, Japan. Circa Momoyama period, 1568.

The words 'Myōhō Renge Kyō' refer to the Japanese title of the Lotus Sūtra. The mantra is referred to as Daimoku (題目)^[3] or, in honorific form, O-daimoku (お題目) meaning title and was first publicly declared by the Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren on 28 April 1253 atop Mount Kiyosumi, now memorialized by Seichō-ji temple in Kamogawa, Chiba prefecture, Japan.^[4][5]

The practice of prolonged chanting is referred to as Shōdai (唱題). Believers claim that the purpose of chanting is to reduce suffering by eradicating negative karma along with reducing karmic punishments both from previous and present lifetimes,^[6] with the goal of attaining perfect and complete awakening.^[7]

Early Buddhist proponents

The Tendai monks Saicho and Genshin are said to have originated the Daimoku^{[citation needed]}, while the Buddhist priest Nichiren is known today as its greatest proponent. The mantra is an homage to the Lotus Sutra. In Nichiren's writings, he frequently quotes passages from the Lotus in which the Buddha declared it to be his highest teaching. These passages include: "I have preached various sutras and among those sutras the Lotus is the foremost!;" "Among all the sutras, it holds the highest place,;" and "This sutra is king of the sutras".^[8][9]

According to Jacqueline Stone, the Tendai founder Saicho popularized the mantra Namu Ichijō Myōhō Renge Kyō "as a way to honor the Lotus Sutra as the One Vehicle teaching of the Buddha."^[10]

Accordingly, the Tendai monk Genshin popularized the mantra Namu Amida, Namu Kanzeon, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō to honor the three jewels of Japanese Buddhism.^[11] Nichiren, who himself was a Tendai monk, edited these chants down to Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō and Nichiren Buddhists are responsible for its wide popularity and usage all over the world today.

Nichiren

The Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren was a known advocate of this recitation, claiming it is the exclusive method to happiness and salvation suited for the Third Age of Buddhism. According to varying believers, Nichiren cited the mantra in his Ongi Kuden,^{[12][dubious ]} a transcription of his lectures about the Lotus Sutra, Namu (南無) is a transliteration into Japanese of the Sanskrit namas, and Myōhō Renge Kyō is the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese title of the Lotus Sutra (hence, Daimoku, which is a Japanese word meaning 'title'), in the translation by Kumārajīva. Nichiren gives a detailed interpretation of each character (see Ongi kuden#The meaning of Nam(u) Myōhō Renge Kyō) in this text.^[13]

Namu is used in Buddhism as a prefix expressing taking refuge in a Buddha or similar object of veneration. Among varying Nichiren sects, the phonetic use of Nam versus Namu is a linguistic but not a dogmatic issue,^[14] due to common contractions and u is devoiced in many varieties of Japanese words.^[15]

Namu — Myōhō — Renge — Kyō consists of the following:

• Namu 南無 "devoted to", a transliteration of Sanskrit námas lit. 'a bow'.
• Myōhō 妙法 "exquisite law"^[3]
  • Myō 妙, from Middle Chinese mièw, "strange, mystery, miracle, cleverness" (cf. Mandarin miào)
  • Hō 法, from Middle Chinese pjap, "law, principle, doctrine" (cf. Mand. fǎ)
• Renge-kyō 蓮華經 "Lotus Sutra"
  • Renge 蓮華 "padma (Lotus)"
    • Ren 蓮, from Middle Chinese len, "lotus" (cf. Mand. lián)
    • Ge 華, from Middle Chinese xwæ, "flower" (cf. Mand. huā)
  • Kyō 経, from Middle Chinese kjeng, "sutra" (cf. Mand. jīng)

The Lotus Sutra is held by Nichiren Buddhists,^[16] as well as practitioners of the Tiantai and corresponding Japanese Tendai schools, to be the culmination of Shakyamuni Buddha's fifty years of teaching.

However, followers of Nichiren Buddhism consider Myōhō Renge Kyō to be the name of the ultimate law permeating the universe, in unison with human life which can manifest realization, sometimes termed as "Buddha Wisdom" or "attaining Buddhahood", through select Buddhist practices.

Associations to cinema

• 1947 – It was used in the 1940s in India to commence the Interfaith prayer meetings of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by verses of the Bhagavad Gita.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}
• 1958 – The mantra also appears in the 1958 American romantic film The Barbarian and the Geisha, where it was recited by a Buddhist priest during a Cholera outbreak.^{[citation needed]}
• 1958 – Japanese film Nichiren to Mōko Daishūrai (English: Nichiren and the Great Mongol Invasion) is a 1958 Japanese film directed by Kunio Watanabe.^{[citation needed]}
• 1968 – The mantra was used in the final episode of The Monkees to break Peter out of a trance.^[22]
• 1969 – The mantra is present in original version of the film Satyricon by Federico Fellini during the grand nude jumping scene of the patricians.^{[citation needed]}
• 1973 – In Hal Ashby's film The Last Detail, an American Navy prisoner, Larry Meadows (played by Randy Quaid), being escorted by shore patrol attends a Nichiren Shoshu of America meeting where he is introduced to the mantra; the Meadows character continues to chant during the latter part of the film.^[22]
• 1976 – In the film Zoku Ningen Kakumei (Human Revolution) produced by the Soka Gakkai, a fictionalized religious drama featuring the struggles of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi who is showcased chanting the words during World War II.^{[citation needed]}
• 1979 – Nichiren is a 1979 Japanese film directed by Noboru Nakamura. Produced by Masaichi Nagata and based on Matsutarō Kawaguchi's novel. The film is known for mentioning Jinshiro Kunishige as one of the martyrs persecuted, claimed to whom the Dai Gohonzon was inscribed by Nichiren in honor of his memory.^{[citation needed]}
• 1980 – In Louis Malle's acclaimed film Atlantic City, Hollis McLaren's Chrissie, the pregnant, naive hippie sister of main character Sally (Susan Sarandon) is discovered hiding, fearful and chanting the mantra after witnessing violent events.^[22]
• 1987 – The mantra is used by the underdog fraternity in the film Revenge of the Nerds II in the fake Seminole temple against the Alpha Betas.^[22]
• 1987 – In the film Innerspace, Tuck Pendleton (played by Dennis Quaid) chants this mantra repeatedly as he encourages Jack Putter to break free from his captors and charge the door of the van he is being held in.^[22]
• 1993 – American-born artist Tina Turner through her autobiographical film What's Love Got To Do With It details her conversion to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in 1973.^[23] In a film scene after an attempted suicide, Turner begins to chant this mantra and turns her life around. Turner continues to chant this mantra in public venues and numerous publications.^[24] Turner recited these words again on 21 February 1997, through a televised interview with Larry King, by which Turner credits her continuing practice to the Soka Gakkai International.
• 1993 – In the December 9, 1993 episode of The Simpsons entitled "The Last Temptation of Homer", Homer Simpson attempts to read notes he had written on his hand to guide him during an awkward conversation with a colleague, but the notes have become smeared because of sweat. In his attempt to recite his notes, Homer unknowingly babbles the chant.^[25]
• 2019 – Actor Orlando Bloom appeared in a video interview for Soka Gakkai USA in January 2019, citing his practice of chanting Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō since the age of 16 in London.^[26]
• 2019 - The documentary film, Buster Williams, From Bass to Infinity, directed by Adam Kahan. Jazz bassist, Buster Williams, is a Buddhist practitioner and chants with his wife during the film.^{[27][better source needed]}

Associations to music

The words appear in songs including:

• "Welcome Back Home" — The Byrds^{[citation needed]}
• "Let Go and Let God" — Olivia Newton-John^[28]
• "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" — Yoko Ono^[29]
• "Boots of Chinese Plastic" — The Pretenders^{[citation needed]}
• "Concentrate" — Xzibit^{[citation needed]}
• "B R Right" — Trina (2002)^{[citation needed]}
• "Beyond" — Tina Turner (2015)^{[citation needed]}
• "Cleopatra" — Samira Efendi (2020)^{[citation needed]}
• "They Say" — Conner Reeves (1997)^{[citation needed]}
• "Creole Lady" — Jon Lucien (1975)^{[citation needed]}
• "Nam Myo Ho" — Indian Ocean (2003)^{[citation needed]}
• "Tribute to The Mentor" — Alan Smallwood (2008)^{[citation needed]}
• "No More Parties in L.A." — Kanye West (2016)^[30]
• "The Chant" – Lighthouse (1970)^{[citation needed]}
• "Spend a Little Doe" - Lil Kim (1996)
• "Sha" - Ugly (UK) (2022) ^[31]
• "Renge Kyo" - Takkra (2021)

See also

• Index of Buddhism-related articles
• Kotodama

Notes

1. Sometimes truncated phonetically as Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō.^{[1][better source needed]}

References

1. Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia - Five or seven characters^{[bare URL]}
2. SGDB (2002), Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law 2014-05-20 at the Wayback Machine
3. Kenkyusha (1991), p. ^{[page needed]}.
4. Anesaki (1916), p. 34.
5. SGDB (2002), Nichiren 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
6. http://myohoji.nst.org/NSTMyohoji.aspx?PI=BOP.5550^{[bare URL]}
7. "Soka Gakkai (Global)".
8. "The Teacher of the Law". The Lotus Sutra and its Opening and Closing Sutras. Translated by Watson, Burton Dewitt.
9. "Former Affairs of the Bodhisattva Medicine King". The Lotus Sutra and its Opening and Closing Sutras. Translated by Watson, Burton Dewitt.
10. Stone, Jacqueline, Original Enlightenment and the Transformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism
11. Payne, Richard, Re-envisioning Kamakura Buddhism
12. Watson (2005), p. ^{[page needed]}.
13. Masatoshi, Ueki (2001). Gender equality in Buddhism. Peter Lang. pp. 136, 159–161. ISBN 0820451339.
14. Ryuei (1999), Nam or Namu? Does it really matter?.
15. P. M, Suzuki (2011). The Phonetics of Japanese Language: With Reference to Japanese Script. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 978-0415594134.
16. "The Meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo | Benefits & Miracles". Angel Manifest. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
17. livemint.com (2008-04-16). "Exhibition of 'Lotus Sutra' in the capital". Livemint. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
18. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Gandhiji's Prayer meeting - full audio - 31 May 1947". You Tube and Gandhi Serve. Gandhiserve Foundation. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
19. Gandhi, Rajmohan. "Gandhi Voyage starts in world's largest Muslim nation". www.rajmohangandhi.com. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
20. Gandhi, Rajmohan (1 March 2008). Gandhi: The man, his people and the empire (1 ed.). University of California Press.
21. Gandhi, Rajmohan. "What gandhi wanted for India". The Week. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
22. "Myo in the Media". Ft Worth Buddhas. Soka Gakkai International-Fort Worth. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
23. "The Queen of Hope". Living Buddhism / World Tribune. Soka Gakkai International-USA. August 1, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
24. "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo".
25. "The Last Temptation of Homer". 20th Century Fox. 1993. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
26. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Orlando Bloom on Buddhism, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and Daisaku Ikeda". SGI-USA Media. Soka Gakkai International-USA. January 31, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
27. "Watch Buster Williams: Bass to Infinity | Prime Video". Amazon.
28. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Let Go and Let God". Grace and Gratitude. YouTube. November 30, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
29. Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "yoko ono namyohorengekyo music video". Namyohorengekyo. YouTube. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
30. West, Kanye. "No More Parties in LA". Youtube. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
31. "Ugly - Sha Lyrics | 1 review".

Sources

• Anesaki, Masaharu (1916). Nichiren, the Buddhist prophet. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
• Kenkyusha (1991). Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary. Tokyo: Kenkyusha Limited. ISBN 4-7674-2015-6.
• Ryuei, Rev. (1999). . Nichiren's Coffeehouse. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
• SGDB (2002). "The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism". Soka Gakkai International. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
• Watson, Burton (2005). The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (trans.). Soka Gakkai. ISBN 4-412-01286-7.

Further reading

• Causton, Richard: The Buddha in Daily Life, An Introduction of Nichiren Buddhism, Rider London 1995; ISBN 978-0712674560
• Hochswender, Woody: The Buddha in Your Mirror: Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self, Middleway Press 2001; ISBN 978-0967469782
• Montgomery, Daniel B.: Fire In The Lotus, The Dynamic Buddhism of Nichiren, Mandala 1991; ISBN 1-85274-091-4
• Payne, Richard, K. (ed.): Re-Visioning Kamakura Buddhism, University of Hawaii Press Honolulu 1998; ISBN 0-8248-2078-9
• Stone, Jacqueline, I.: . In: Payne, Richard, K. (ed.); Re-Visioning Kamakura Buddhism, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1998, pp. 116–166. ISBN 0-8248-2078-9