When facing the Gohonzon, our eyes should be fully open. We should steadily gaze at the character “Myo,” the third Chinese character from the top in the main inscription down the center of the Gohonzon.
If you have difficulty recognizing it, look at the very first Chinese character on page one of The Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu (Gongyo book). This is the very same character Myo.
“Single-mindedly, with hands together in reverence, they respectfully gazed up at the World-Honored One, without lowering their eyes even for a moment.”
A passage in the Juki chapter of the Lotus Sutra
“The most vital thing is to chant Daimoku* with the correct posture, reverently looking at the Gohonzon with your eyes wide open. If your eyes wander here and there, or your body is crooked, or you hold your hands in a slipshod manner, that is proof that you are already losing the spirit of Buddhist practice.”
Sixty-seventh High Priest Nikken Shonin
*Daimoku means chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Karma Introductory Lecture
Our Chief Priest will lecture about Karma this Sunday, March 1st. Rev Sakabe will teach us about Karma and the most important relationship we can have in this lifetime — our relation with the Buddha, the Gohonzon.
- Learn how to chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and properly use the Juzu Beads, Buddhist prayer beads.
- Q&A with our Chief Priest.
- The meeting starts at 2:00 pm and concludes around 3:15 pm. Open to the public and free.
- 310 University Blvd West, Silver Spring, MD 20901 entrance on Burnett Ave
If you have decided to become a Buddhist or are interested in learning how to become a Buddhist, after Sunday’s meeting (about 3:30 pm) Rev Sakabe will be performing the Acceptance of the Precept Ceremony, the ceremony where you become a Buddhist.
