Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

[Guest Precious L]

Whenever I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, I always feels this sense of happiness and peace. I suffer from anxiety and chanting always helps me with that. The world is more beautiful in my eyes. It also helps accept my transgenderism. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is a beautiful chant that helps people achieve peace in their mind and in their spirit.

[Guest]

Hello Precious,

I am glad that you can find solace with that chant. There are many who say it has mystical power.

In Zen, we tend not to follow those same beliefs - but nonetheless have very powerful chants that can alter one's mind. The power comes from building focus and giving all energy to the chant. It doesn't matter so much what's being chanted as how a person practices it.

Thank you for sharing!

Love, Megan.

[Guest Juniper Blue]

Yes ... I like that chant as well. Some chants resonate and bring true peace and transformation. I like the Dalai Lama's Om Mani Padme Om as well. Or just Aum.

[Guest Precious L]

I love Om Mani Padme Hum.

[Guest Heron]

Precious, are you SGI-USA? The LGBT conference is this weekend at the Florida Nature and Culture Center. My 16 year old child just came out last weekend as transgender, FTM, so it's a little early to attend, but we are looking forward to him going as a male in 2013.

Glad this is here -- my child is involved with Buddhist youth activities!

[Guest otter-girl]

I tried chanting once a long time ago. I'm still recovering

Seriously though, it was very interesting and I think a good way to develop inner peace if you can find the space. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, was the chant I tried and I sat cross legged for about two and a half hours. Far too long for starting out. I really should start meditating again as there are some comforting spaces to be found within.

Rachel.

[Guest miss kindheart]

I use to go to meetings in the late 80's

went to a gogikai ceromony and was gonked on the head with a scroll by a priest

Guess that makes me Buddist as well as many other religons

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo means to dedicate ones life to the mystic law of cause and effect

the think that which most impressed me from the Lituragy of Nichiren Shoshu was the fifth and final prayer where it says

I pray for peace and happiness to all mankind and the entire universe

vanna

[Guest Heron]

Right on, Vanna!

I love the word "renge" and find it so a propos for here -- it stands for cause and effect because it literally means "lotus," and the lotus flower is the only flower that seeds and blossoms at the same time; in other words, you are creating your own effect by the causes you "seed" today.

Also, it is transformative -- it grows with its roots deep in the muck and mud, yet produces a beautiful flower. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo isn't about chanting and blissing out, it's about actively changing poison into medicine. What so many here are doing.

You are all lotus flowers!

Blue

[Guest Juniper Blue]

Nice.

[Guest miss kindheart]

well said Heron

<<< hug >>>

vanna

[Guest ren.ge]

I heard that "back in the day" the SGI-USA had problems with LGBT. From what I have heard, there were alot of things in the 70's and 80's that would have kept me from joining. My life condition upon arrival in the SGI, after slowly focusing on the one practice more and more for a couple years, was one of distrust and unhealthy competetiveness. But I started chanting alot, like 20 hours a week alot, and began to radically transform my life.

I appreciate all the struggles, with members, with family, with whatever, even more now that it appears that something really deep has transformed, and I was able to come out, to myself recently.

But, from where I am coming from, it is all about your personal practice and study and helping others practice and study to win in there daily lives. Organizations are organizations, and sometimes people project their stuff onto them and find falt, or attack them the way I did. But I will say, and I am sincere to a fault, if you practice this Buddhism correcly, which includes developing the bravery to face your stuff, you can become truly happy, and realize your most cherished dreams.

But it is a constant battle between your lesser self (read - ego), and your greater self, your Buddha Nature.