WHILE CHANTING DAIMOKU
by Reverend Yosai Yamada
(Nichiren Shoshu Monthly April1996)
While chanting Daimoku, I am continuously thinking the following things in my mind: (1.) I can be a Buddha while chanting Daimoku and will be able to become a Buddha by chanting Daimoku. (2.) I will be   able to accomplish all my prayers by chanting Daimoku. (3.) Chanting Daimoku is the only, supreme, absolute, initial, prime and perfect way to realize (turn into reality) all prayers.Sometimes, my prayers are very clear, concrete and detailed, at other times, my prayers are quite abstract. For example, the former ones for me are:
  "I want the deceased to attain enlightenment."
  "I want to shakubuku this or these people."
  "Everybody can maintain good health, especially the High Priest."
  "I will make the next Oko very successful."
Examples of the abstract prayers are:
  "I want to make this world peaceful."
  "I want to realize Kosen-rufu in this world as soon as possible."
Most importantly during chanting, I check my Daimoku and I ask myself the following questions: Is it sincere enough? Is the intonation correct? Is the tempo proper? Is the pronunciation correct? Is the rhythm  correct? Is each syllable monotone, and not too loud or too soft? Is posture correct? Are both my feet flat on the floor (when I am sitting in a chair)? Am I rubbing the Juzu beads? Since I know the importance of correct Daimoku, I am determined not to become lazy and let incorrect habits take over.
While chanting I am thinking and accepting various teachings of the Buddha as well as the interpretations of the High Priests. They are all related to Daimoku. For example:
   "If one befriends another person but lacks the mercy (jihi) to correct him, he is in fact my enemy."
   "You must be on guard against the fourteen evil causes (fourteen slanders)."
   "One who studies the teachings of Buddhism must not fail to repay the four debts of gratitude."
   "If you exclusively chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, then what neagative karma could fail to be eradicated?    What fortune could fail to come? This is the truth. You should believe and accept it."
   "Exert yourself in two ways of practise and study. Without practise and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practise and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if only a single sentence or phrase."
While chanting Daimoku, I aspire to have faith the Daishonin did, knowing that I have much to improve and develop. There are some people who say: "My faith is absolute." This is the attitude we, as Buddhist's should  avoid, because this is an indication of arrogance. The Buddha admonishes us by saying: "Strenghten your faith day by day and month after month." We have to polish our faith every day by chanting Daimoku until the very last moment of life.
While chanting, I know I should not think of anything other than Daimoku, and have my consciousness center on Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. However, to be honest on rare occasions, I think of what I must do that day, or what may have happened the previous day. At that moment, I try to restore my mental condition to the Daimoku. Sometimes while chanting, I remember or realize something very important I must do. This is  only natural, and I make a note to remember it after I finish my Daimoku. The more I study Nichiren Daishonin's teachings, the more I realize the importance of chanting correct Daimoku.    

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