●The Way of Honmon Butsuryu Shu(HBS)
Part 1-3. ONE SESSION OF THE FINE DHARMA
Enactment of the One Session of the Fine Dharma (Myoko Ichiza)
The Myoko Ichiza is recited at the temple, at a parishioner's home, and during various ceremonial services. What are the significances and the objectives of reciting the Myoko Ichiza?
The Myoko Ichiza, authored by Nissen Shonin in 1878, is a ceremonial bible of HBS. Its contents are as follows:
†o. Summary Formula of Penitence (Sosange Mon)
†o. Invocation of the Buddha and the Saints (Kanjo Mon).
†o. Transfer of Merits (Eko Mon)
†o. Gratitude for the Buddha's Teachings/Vows (Zuiki Mon)
†o. Chapters of the Lotus Sutra (Hondai)
The above are the main six formulas. Added to them are the following:
†o. The Supernatural Powers of the Tathagata
†o. Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho
†o. A Verse from the Lotus Sutra (Nichigachige)
†o. Homage Formula to the Buddha and the Saints (Namukuon No Mon)
†o. Recitation of the Sacred Formula in slow rhythm.
Homage Formula to the Buddha and the Saints.
This formula was established in 1878, 20 years after the establishment of Hommon Butsuryu Shu (HBS) in 1858. It is presumed that the ceremonial practices of Hommon Hokkeshu Sect were followed in the interim period, however, unlike the Hokke Shu Sect's core of reciting sutras, HBS mainly chanted the Odaimoku. It is believed that the Formulas of Penitence, Invocation of the Buddha and Saints, Gratitude for the Buddha's Teaching, and Vow, were recited at ceremonial sessions even before 1878.
Reciting Attitude:
There are two basic (verbal) practices in Buddhism.
One is the main practice of chanting the Odaimoku, and the other,
a subsidiary practice of reciting sutras. What, then, is HBS's main
practice? Needless to say, it is the chanting of the Odaimoku. Therefore,
the Myoko Ichiza that starts with a Penance is a subsidiary practice.
What are the motivation and objective of reciting the Myoko Ichiza?
Nissen Shonin stated:ÅgThe formulas of the One Session of the
Fine Dharma is to support the Odaimoku, to understand the Chinese
characters as rendered into Japanese, and to prepare the practitioners
with a knowledge and understanding that the chanting is equivalent
to eradicating sins".
The Myoko Ichiza is recited to show gratitude to the Odaimoku that
was entrusted to Jyogyo Bodhisattva by the Buddha. Therefore, when
chanting the Myoko Ichiza, one should be very aware of its meaning.
For example, reciting the Formulas of ÅgMushiirai" and
ÅgNyorai Metsugo" is equivalent to a warmÅ]up exercise
before an athlete engages in the main event. It should be understood
that reciting the Myoko Ichiza alone without the Odaimoku would yield
no results (benefits and merits).
A prayer session 40 to 50 minutes long (equivalent to burning one
incense stick) commences with the reciting of Mushiirai and Nyorai
Metsugo formulas;the chanting the Odaimoku, then, reciting of the
Kuon formula, and ends by repeating, once again, the Mushiirai formula.
However, if only 10 minutes can be spared, recite only the Mushiirai
formula and the Odaimoku.
Composition of Myoko Ichiza:
The Myoko Ichiza that Nissen Shonin composed is an
original ritual (ceremonial) system of HBS, but it also follows the
basic Buddhiet teachings of ÅgRepentance" (Sange); Invocation
of the Buddha (Kanjo); Merit transferenco (Eko); The joy which follows
the act of hearing or seeing something good (Zuiki), and Vow (Hotsugan).
An ordinary person can recite them without guidance from a priest.
We first recite the Formula of Penitence by facing the Gohonzon to
atone for the various sins that we have accumulated from our past
life. This is Penance (Sange).
Next, we recite a portion of the most important teachings of Great
Master Nichiren's teaching, the Treatise Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation
and the Object of Worship (Kajin Honzon Sho) requesting the attendance
of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Guardian Kings of Heaven. It is
then followed by reciting the Formulas of Namkuonhonji and Namutomon.
This is to request the Great Masters Nichiren, Nichiryu, and other
Great Masters to watch over them (Kanjo Mon).
Then, the ÅgTransfer of Merits Formula" is recited. This
is to request that the power of virtuous merits be transferred to
our ancestors so that their spiritual soul is rescued;and that one's
merits of chanting the Odaimoku be shared with other practitioners
to improve the faith together. It can also be transferred to other
nonÅ]believers to awaken them to the religion.
Thereafter, the Formula of Gratitude for the Buddha Teachings (Zuiki
Mon) is recited. This is to express gratitude for being able to encounter
this religion and attain its merits.
Lastly, the ÅgFormula of Vow" (Hotsugan Mon) is recited.
This is to request that various people be converted into the HBS religion
so they can become Bodhisattvas.
As stated before, the Myoko Ichiza is easy to understand.
If one can understand the meaning of the various ÅgFormulas
of the One Session of the Fine Congregation" they can comprehend
the basic teachings of HBS.
Reciting Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho, Jinriki Hon, and Namukuon No Mon:
Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho
The Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho was written by Great Master
Nichiren in May 1273, at the age of 52, for his disciples and his
believers. The parishioners that uphold the Odaimoku, entrusted to
Jyogyo Bodhisattva, and practice the teachings of the Buddha in its
true form are the sincere persons of the period of the last Dharma.
It is a teaching that encourages its practitioners to carry out its
teachings despite any suffering or hardship that they may encounter.
Nissen Shohin proclaimed that the most important documents of Great
Master Nichiren are the following three manuscripts:a).The Treatise
Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation and the Object of Worship (Kanjin
Honzon Sho). b).The Four Types of Teachings and Five Types of Practices
(Shishin Gohon Sho). c). The True Way of Practicing the Teachings
of the Buddha (Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho).
The recitation of Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho is included in Oko services.
Nissen Shonin stated:ÅgAmong various types of teachings, there
is a way to practice the true teachings of the Buddha. That is the
Nyosetsu Shugyo Sho. Unless one constantly reads and understands this
teaching, it is difficult to spread it to help others". (HBS
Important Writings 4. HBS Document 817).
The Formula of the Divine or Supernatural Power of Tathagata (Nyorai Jinriki Hon):
The Formula of the Divine or Supernatural Power of
Tathagata is Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra. This chapter elucidated
that the Eternal Buddha's enlightenment wrapped in the Odaimoku was
entrusted to Jyogyo Bodhisattva, and is included in the ÅgThree
Thousand Realms in One Mind" (Ji no Ichinen Sanzen). It means
that all phenomena in this world (sanzen) are included in one thought
(ichinen). Later, Jyogyo Bodhisattva, in the name of Great Master
Nichiren, appeared in this world of the Last Dharma to spread the
Odaimoku that is attached to the Divine or Supernatural Power of the
Tathagata.
In that manner, Chapter 21 is the most important teaching among the
28 Chapters of the Lotus Sutra. Thus, it is important to know that
this formula contains the enlightenment of the Buddha's teachings
and we should recite it with gratitude.
The recitation of the Jinriki Hon is the utmost spreading of the Odaimoku.
This formula is not recited during ordinary Oko services. The most
important thing is the chanting of the Odaimoku.
Homage Formula to the Buddha and the Saints (Namukuon no Mon):
This formula was authored by Nichizo Shonin, a disciple of Great Master Nichiren. It is recited at the end of a ceremonial service. Nissen Shonin, after making two or three amendments to it, included it in the Myoko Ichiza. This passage asks that the merits of the Odaimoku be passed on to our ancestors and teachers and they be protected by the various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Guardian Kings of Heaven.
Next. [Way] Part 1-4. WHY IS WORSHIPPlNG IMPORTANT?