| Naitoku shinko is to practice without Gohonzon. In teachings that preceded and followed the Lotus Sutra, we , the common mortal, and the Buddha are separate beings. So we pray to Buddha, or we beseech Buddha to help us, to save us or to protect us. But when we come to the Lotus Sutra, we learn that the Buddha is within us, and that we have to develop our Buddha-nature,which we do by chanting. We must go inside ourselves for salvation, we must not seek outside ourselves for help and protection. Namu-myoho-renge-kyo includes ichinen sanzen (all worlds, all things, in one being--in one moment of thought). That means that the world of Buddha also exists within one being. So we need not search for Buddha or god outside ourselves. We must look inside and realize that we have Buddha-nature. This is how one practices naitoku shinko (seeking faith without Gohonzon). |
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| NAITOKU SHINKO By Reverend Raidou Hirota |
| Translated and edited by Udumbara Foundation staff. |
| This is NOT an official site of the Nichiren Shoshu Shoshin-kai |
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Never seek this Gohonzon outside yourself. The Gohonzon exists only within the mortal flesh of us ordinary people who embrace the Lotus Sutra and chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo. The body is the palace of the ninth consciousness, the unchanging reality which reigns over all life's functions. To be endowed with the "Ten Worlds" means that all the Ten Worlds without exception are contained in the one world of buddhahood. That is why the Gohonzon is called a mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning 'perfectly endowed' or 'cluster of blessings.' The Gohonzon is found in faith alone. As the sutra says, 'Only with faith can one enter Buddhahood.' Nichiren |
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