The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Thursday, June 7, 2012:

Thus, as we have seen, even those who lack understanding, so long as they chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, can avoid the evil paths. This is like lotus flowers, which turn as the sun does, though the lotus has no mind to direct it, or like the plantain that grows with the rumbling of thunder, though this plant has no ears to hear it. Now we are like the lotus or the plantain, and the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is like the sun or the thunder.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, May 27, 2012:

To accept, uphold, read, recite, take delight in, and protect all the eight volumes and twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra is called the comprehensive practice. To accept, uphold, and protect the "Expedient Means" chapter and the "Life Span" chapter is called the abbreviated practice. And simply to chant one four-phrase verse or the daimoku, and to protect those who do so, is called the essential practice. Hence, among these three kinds of practice, comprehensive, abbreviated, and essential, the daimoku is defined as the essential practice.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266

Daily Wisdom - The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, April 21, 2012:

Amber draws dust, and a magnet attracts iron particles; here our evil karma is like the dust or iron, and the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is like the amber or the magnet. If we consider these [analogies, we can see why] we should always chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266

Daily Wisdom - The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Monday, April 9, 2012:

And yet there is one river called the Sahaya that follows a course as straight as a taut rope, flowing directly into the western sea. A woman who has faith in the Lotus Sutra will be like this river, proceeding directly to the Pure Land in the west. Such is the virtue inherent in the single character myo.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; writen on January 6, 1266

Daily Wisdom - The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, February 12, 2012:

Thus faith is the basic requirement for entering the way of the Buddha. In the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice, the first ten stages, dealing with faith are basic, and the first of these ten stages is that of arousing pure faith. Though lacking in knowledge of Buddhism, a person of faith, even if dull-witted, is to be reckoned as a person of correct views. But even though one has some knowledge of Buddhism, if one is without faith, then one is to be considered a slanderer and an icchantika, or person of incorrigible disbelief.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra

Question: Is it possible, without understanding the meaning of the Lotus Sutra, but merely by chanting the five or seven characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo once a day, once a month, or simply once a year, once a decade, or once in a lifetime, to avoid being drawn into trivial or serious acts of evil, to escape falling into the four evil paths, and instead to eventually reach the stage of non-regression? Answer: Yes, it is. 31/10

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra
Recipient unknown; written on January 6, 1266