Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: Meaning and Significance | Nichiren Buddhism
What Is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the essence of Buddhism and the fundamental law that pervades the entire universe and all life.
Nichiren Daishonin perceived this Law as the means for resolving the suffering of all humanity .
From his early days, Nichiren Daishonin possessed a very strong seeking spirit. He made it his mission to study Buddhist scriptures in order to discover the real truth and the true aspect of all phenomena.
He continued researching and studying Buddhist teachings extensively.
After 20 years of extensive study , he came to the conclusion that the Lotus Sutra is the supreme teaching of Gautam Buddha and that the essence or benefits of the Lotus Sutra can be obtained by chanting its title.
He placed "Nam" before the title of the Lotus Sutra.
Nam means to devote oneself and to be respectful .
In this way, the phrase Nam-myoho-renge-kyo came into existence.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and Buddhahood
The Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the essential principle, or means, for attaining Buddhahood .
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the enlightened life state of Buddhahood, or the true identity of Nichiren Daishonin .
When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith , we can manifest the life state of Buddhahood.
Nichiren Daishonin made the Gohonzon for our Buddhist practice so that ordinary people can manifest Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in their own lives and attain Buddhahood.
When we believe in the Gohonzon and accept that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is inherent in our own lives, we can tap the Mystic Law that resides within us and manifest our inherent Buddhahood.
Through our practice of the Mystic Law, we can bring forth wonderful benefit and good fortune in our lives and triumph over hardships .
Understanding the Meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
To understand Nam-myoho-renge-kyo more deeply, let us look at the meaning of each element of the phrase:
Nam + Myoho + Renge + Kyo
Nam
Nam means to devote oneself and to be respectful .
It expresses the attitude of dedicating oneself to the Mystic Law.
Myoho
Myoho consists of two characters: Myo and Ho .
Myo
Myo refers to the mystic nature of life —that which is unseen or latent and is beyond intellectual understanding.
Myo also corresponds to the enlightened world of Buddhahood .
It has the meanings of opening, reviving and being fully endowed with the qualities we need to develop our lives .
Ho
Ho refers to tangible phenomena—things that are concrete, manifest and visible .
Ho corresponds to the other nine worlds , which, unless they are experienced from the perspective of Buddhahood, are a source of delusion and fundamental darkness.
Myoho: The Mystic Law of Life
Thus, when Myo and Ho are combined as Myoho , they express both:
The enlightened nature of a Buddha
The deluded nature of an ordinary person
They also express the fact that these two aspects are essentially one .
Renge
Renge means lotus flower .
The lotus has the unique property of blooming and seeding at the same time .
This property symbolizes the law of cause and effect .
As soon as a cause is created, its effect is also seeded at that very moment.
The blooming of the lotus can be seen, while the seed may not be visible. Similarly, the effects of our causes may not be immediately visible, but the seed will sprout sooner or later.
The Lotus and the Power of Life
The lotus also symbolizes the power inherent in all human beings .
Just as a lotus can bloom in muddy water, we too can bloom and become prosperous amid difficult circumstances and challenges .
The lotus therefore provides a powerful image of the ability of life to manifest its inherent potential even amid challenging circumstances.
Kyo
Kyo means sutra, voice or teaching of the Buddha .
It refers to the teaching that communicates the Buddha's wisdom and understanding.
The Meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a Whole
When we bring the meanings of the individual elements together:
Nam — to devote oneself and be respectful
Myoho — the Mystic Law encompassing the unseen, enlightened nature of life and its manifest phenomena
Renge — the lotus and the simultaneous nature of cause and effect
Kyo — the sutra, voice or teaching of the Buddha
In a literal sense, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can therefore be understood, according to the material presented here, as:
I devote my life to the Mystic Law of cause and effect that permeates all life and throughout eternity.
Key Points to Remember
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is presented as the essence of Buddhism and the fundamental law that pervades the universe and all life.
Nichiren Daishonin spent approximately 20 years studying Buddhist scriptures in his pursuit of the truth.
He identified the Lotus Sutra as the supreme teaching of Gautam Buddha.
Nam means to devote oneself and to be respectful.
Myo refers to the mystic, unseen or latent nature of life and corresponds to Buddhahood.
Ho refers to tangible, concrete and manifest phenomena.
Myoho expresses the relationship between the enlightened nature of a Buddha and the deluded nature of an ordinary person.
Renge means lotus flower and represents the law of cause and effect .
The lotus's ability to bloom and seed at the same time symbolizes the simultaneous nature of cause and effect.
The lotus also symbolizes the potential inherent in human life.
Kyo means sutra, voice or teaching of the Buddha.
Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith , we can manifest the life state of Buddhahood.
The Gohonzon is used in Buddhist practice so that ordinary people can manifest Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in their lives and attain Buddhahood.
The Mystic Law is presented as inherent in our own lives.
Through the practice of the Mystic Law, we can bring forth benefit and good fortune and triumph over hardships.
From Nam to Kyo
The phrase Nam-myoho-renge-kyo brings together devotion, the Mystic Law, the principle of cause and effect and the Buddha's teaching.
Understanding each element— Nam, Myoho, Renge and Kyo —provides a foundation for understanding why Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is central to the Buddhist practice taught by Nichiren Daishonin.