Sacred Title of the Lotus Sutra
Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
南 無 妙 法 蓮 華 経
THE BUDDHA'S GREAT COMPASSION
Nichiren Shonin teaches:
"Sakyamuni Buddha's merit of practicing the bodhisattva way leading to Buddhahood, as well as that of preaching and saving all living beings since his attainment of Buddhahood, are altogether contained in the five words of myo, ho, ren, ge, and kyo (Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma), and that consequently, when we uphold the five words, the merits which he accumulated before and after his attainment of Buddhahood are naturally transferred to us." [Kanjin Honzon Sho]
NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO IS A GREAT MEDICINE TO SAVE PEOPLE
In the Lotus Sutra, Sakyamuni Buddha focused on one point: how to save all living beings in the Latter Age of Degeneration. The Latter Age of Degeneration refers to Mappo, the declining Latter Age of the Dharma, a time period more than 2,000 years after the death of the historical Sakyamuni Buddha. Mappo, the Latter Age of Degeneration, is a period characterized by continuous engagement in disuptes and concealment of the pure Dharma, as well as grudges, jealousy, and conflicts. Thus, people in Mappo are unaware of the correct way to practice Bddhism and do not have the wisdom to become enlightened. The present time is Mappo.
The Buddha does not give up on humankind. It is his great compassion which leads him to constantly determine to save the people who can no longer discern the path to enlightenment. The greater the suffering, the more the Buddha's compassion is aroused and the more he is determined to find the appropriate means of expounding the Dharma. The Buddha revealed the truth and the appropriate means to enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra. This revelation and intention was crystalized in the Odaimoku, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, which was given as the great medicine for those living in Mappo.
THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOTUS SUTRA IS CONTAINED IN THE ODAIMOKU
Nichiren Shonin teaches:
"Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is not only the true spirit of the Lord Buddha, but the heart, body and teachings of the Lotus Sutra." [A Letter replying to Soya Nyudo]
What is the Odaimoku? . . . The Lotus Sutra was expounded in accordance with the Buddha's true heart and intention. In Chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra,
"All the teachings of the Tathagata, all the unhindered supernatural powers of the Tathagata, all the treasury of the hidden core of the Tathagata, and all the profound achievements of the Tathagata are revealed and expounded explicitly in this sutra." [Murano, p. 294]
Thus, the Lotus Sutra is equal to the Buddha himself.
The Buddha is also included in the five characters of Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo which is the Chinese title of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Shonin said,
"A name has the virtue of representing its body." [Jissho-sho, WNS2, p. 4]
Therefore, the five [Chinese] characters of the Odaimoku are equal to the entire Lotus Sutra.
If the Lotus Sutra is equal to the Buddha himself, and the five characters of the Odaimoku are equal to the whole Lotus Sutra, then the five characters of the Odaimoku are equal to the Buddha. The five characters of Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo possess the entirety of the Buddha's great compassion, the power to save people, the wisdom of Buddhahood, and the Buddha's virtues. Nichiren Shonin said, "The virtue of the Odaimoku should be equal to the virtue of Sakyamuni Buddha." [Matsuno-dono gohenji] Thus, Sakyamuni Buddha is the Eternal Buddha.
"For those who are incapable of understanding the truth of the '3,000 existences contained in one thought,' Lord Sakyamuni Buddha, with his great compassion, wraps this jewel with the five characters of myo, ho, ren, ge, and kyo and hangs it around the neck of the ignorant in the Latter Age of Degeneration." [Kanjin Honzon-sho, WNS2, p. 164]
SEVEN CHARACTERS OF NA MU MYO HO REN GE KYO
Namu and the five characters become the seven characters of the Odaimoku, Na, Mu, Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo. Namu, derived from the Sanskrit "Namas," which means "to pay respect to, to revere." It is generally used with regard to the Buddha or the three treasures (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). It can be interpreted as a vow to the Buddha or as taking refuge. Namu means faith in the Buddha and oneness with the Buddha. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo means that faith in the Lotus Sutra is equal to the Eternal Buddha and becoming one with the Buddha. It is also a vow that one will strive to become one with the Buddha. By taking refuge in the Lotus Sutra, one can enter the infinite life of the Buddha. One's life merges in to the Buddha's life which is the Odaimoku, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
Material taken from Buddha Seed, Understanding the Odaimoku Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, available at NBIC.