2. DAIMOKU
The term “Daimoku” means the title of a sutra. In Nichiren Shoshu, there are three levels of interpretation of the term “Daimoku.”
The first level is the title of the Lotus Sutra in Contrast to the titles of all other sutras. Daimoku represents Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the title of the eight volumes of the Lotus Sutra, which includes the core meaning of all sutras.
Titles are essential to convey the contents of a scripture, be it superior or inferior… The five characters of Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo, needless to say, are the essence of the eight volumes [of the Lotus Sutra], the heart of all sutras, and the most supreme and correct Law revered by all Buddhas, bodhisattvas, people of the two vehicles, heavenly beings, ashuras, dragon deities and so on.
(Gosho, p.1031)
The second level of interpretation is the Daimoku of the Buddhism of the harvest. This signifies the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra that was taught in order to lead the people to enlightenment during Shakyamuni’s era, and the subsequent Former and Middle Days of the Law.
The third level of interpretation is the Daimoku of the Buddhism of the sowing hidden in the depths. Nihchiren Daishonin starts in the Gosho, “On the Three Great Secret Laws”
(“Sandai hiho-sho”):
Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, the Daimoku that Nichiren chants is different from that of previous ages. It is the Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the practice for oneself [for Nichiren Daishonin himself as the True Buddha], and the practice for others [enabling others to attain enlightenment as well].
(Gosho, p.1594)
In contrast to the Daimoku that was chanted only as practice for onself, as done by Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tiantai and others prior to the Latter Day of the Law, the Daimoku of the Buddhism of the sowing hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra is, itself, the enlightenment of the Daishonin, the True Buddha of the infinite past of Kuon-ganjo. This Daimoku enables all people to attain Buddhahood.
Moreover, “The Meaning Hidden in the Depths” (”Montei hichin-sho”) written by the High Priest Nichikan Shonin refers to the Daimoku of the Essential Teaching of the Three Great Secret Laws:
The Daimoku of the Essential Teaching must invariably accompany both faith and practice. Thus, the Daimoku of the Essential Teaching means to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo with faith only in the True Object of Worship of the Essential Teaching.
(Six-Volume Writings, p.70)
This clarifies the significance of chanting the Daimoku in the Latter Day of the Law.
(BASIC TERMINOLOGY OF NICHIREN SHOSHU, p.26, 27)クリックしてください。
