Nichiren Shonin, the founder of the Nichiren Shu was born on February 16, 1222 in Kominato, in what is now Chiba Prefecture, Japan. At age eleven, his parents sent him to a monastery to study. From an early age, he began to wonder why there were so many schools of Buddhism, while the Buddhism expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha was but one? He was ordained a priest at Seichoji Temple at the young age of fifteen. After considerable study of all the Buddhist schools, Nichiren Shonin concluded that the Lotus Sutra indeed represented the perfect culmination of the true teaching of the Buddha.

Following a period of intense prayer during seven days of seclusion, he found that he was now ready to embark on his plan of reformation and proclamation of his new gospel. His grand declaration with a resounding cry of the Odaimoku took place atop the summit of a hill overlooking the wide Pacific; it was in the early moring as the sun broke through the morning haze. This was Nichiren's proclamation of his gospel to heaven and earth with the all-illuminating sun as his witness. The date was April 29, 1253.

Soon after, he left for Kamakura, then the seat of the government, and began preaching the Lotus Sutra. Discord prevailed among the governing clans and rumors were widespread predicting impending political coups. In addition, the people were suffering from a series of natural calamities; typhoons, flooding and earthquakes; and fear-provoking comet sightings compounded the impact of these events amidst famine and rampant plague. All of these occurrences drove the citizens into panic.

Witnessing these disasters Nichiren Shonin was motivated to write the Rissho Ankoku Ron,( Treatise on Spreading Peace Throughout the Country by Establishing Righteousness). In it he attributes the disasters to the foolishness of the government and the degeneracy of the people who were following superstition and misguided religious beliefs, He admonished the people to convert to Nichiren Shonin's faith based on the Lotus Sutra.

A copy of the treatise was presented to the government authorities and the message of that work was repeated in his preachings on the streets. The work drew a very hostile reaction from those people criticized by Nichiren Shonin. Fueled by the rage of the religious authorities whom Nichiren Shonin accused of false teachings, the treatise triggered a succession of persecutions. Notable among these punishments were the persecution at Matsubagayatsu, the exile to Izu peninsula, more persecution at Komatsubara and Tatsunokuchi and the nearly three years of lonely exile to Sado Island.

Throughout these adversities, Nichiren Shonin's missionary zeal was unrelenting. His subsequent writing of four more major works demonstrates his resolve. While in exile on Sado Island, Nichiren Shonin completed two works. The " Kaimoku Sho" ( Opening the Eyes to the Lotus Sutra) expressed Nichiren Shonin's state of mind as a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra. In the " Kanjin Honzon Sho" ( The Spiritual Introspection of the Supreme Beings), he expounds on the idea of unity between the Eternal Truths and the Eternal Buddha. To underscore this theses introduced in this latter work, Nichiren Shonin shortly thereafter rendered a graphic representation of his underlying theology. This representation is the Mandala Gohonzon.

In 1274, Nichiren Shonin entered Mount Minobu, which was to be his home of voluntary exile during the last nine years of his life. It was a period dedicated to the consummation of his mission and perpetuation of his religion. Two more major writings were created during this period. In his work entitled the " Senji Sho", (Selection of Time), he affirmed the righteousness of his propagating the Lotus Sutra and predicted the victory of his convictions. In March 1276, his old master, Dozen died. In his memory, Nichiren Shonin wrote the " Hoon Jo" ( Recompense of Indebtedness)

Wracked by failing health, in September 1282, Nichiren Shonin left his beloved Mt. Minobu with the intention of visiting a hot spring for its recuperative effects. His failing health, however, caused him to stop short of his destination. On October 13, 1282 at Ikegami, Tokyo, Nichiren Shonin, surrounded by his disciples and followers, ended his 60 years of eventful life. His will, " Please build my grave on Mt. Minobu where my heart resides forever," was faithfully carried out.

THE ODAIMOKU - NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO - NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO AS AWARENESS OF THE LORD BUDDHA

Prince Siddhartha of the Sakya Clan made a long, profound search for the Ultimate Truth, and He finally attained Buddhahood through his great wisdom and experience. He then revealed His awareness of the Supreme reality and taught The Way to those of us who are suffering in this Saha World. If we follow His teaching sincerely and faithfully, we will have the same awareness which The Buddha experienced.

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 AS WISDOM OF THE LORD BUDDHA

Buddha means The Enlightened One who has Perfect Wisdom. The Buddha revealed the Ultimate Truth to us as wisdom in Odaimoku, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Therefore, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is not different from the identity of the Lord Buddha.

NAMU MYOHO RENGE KYO AS COMPASSION OF THE LORD BUDDHA

Odaimoku is the Buddha's great compassion. It is warm and lively. When we recite Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, we will receive the great Compassion of the Lord Buddha. Since we will be happy when we receive someone's compassion, everyone who receives the Lord Buddha's great Compassion will feel full of new power, physically and spiritually. We will not be afraid of anything whenever we face difficulty, and we will overcome it.

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)

ODAIMOKU IS THE ESSENCE OF THE LOTUS SUTRA

It is said that there are about 84,000 Buddhist scriptures in the compilation called Issai-Kyo (All Sutras) or Daizo-Kyo (Great Storage of Sutras). The Lotus Sutra is the sutra which unifies all of the other sutras and expounds the Ultimate Truth. In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha revealed his origin as the Eternal Original Buddha. The Buddha says in the Sutra, "Once I vowed that I would cause all living beings to become exactly as I am." That is, He tried to relieve us from suffering and make each of us like Him. Although we might think that it is difficult to be saved no matter how much we might wish it, we will be saved by the Lord Buddha, and can save others as well. This is His great compassion. And this great Truth is taught in the Lotus Sutra.

The Lotus Sutra is composed of 28 chapters, so it takes some time to read it through. It is also more difficult to understand than many of the sutras. In this modern society, called the Mappo Period, or Declining Latter Age of the Dharma, we are all so busy that we don't take the time to read the Sutra. Nichiren Shonin found the most important and sacred Dharma, which had been sung by the Eternal Buddha in Ch. 16, "Duration of Life of the Tathagata", and revealed it to us. This Dharma is Odaimoku, Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, which has the same merit as reading and understanding the whole Lotus Sutra.

LET US PRACTICE ODAIMOKU

Namu" means adoration. "Myoho Renge Kyo" is the formal title of the Lotus Sutra. So when we recite the Odaimoku, we can leave behind our own selfishness and unify with the Lotus Sutra, which is the Buddha himself. Therefore, through reciting the Odaimoku, we are able to receive the Buddha's benevolence and approach Buddhahood. Even though Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is a short phrase, it contains the Buddha's wisdom, awareness and compassion, and contains the same merit as the whole Lotus Sutra.

However, some people may wonder how it could be beneficial to them without knowing the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. A baby drinks milk and grows naturally without knowing why the milk is good. When you are sick, you take medicine prescribed by a doctor and get well even though you don't know what the ingredients are.

RELIGION IS NOT NECESSARY IN THE REALM OF REASON, BUT IS IN THE REALM OF EXPERIENCE

It is the state beyond explanation by words. Although we may explain the shape, color, and texture of a banana to someone who has never tasted one, we can never completely describe the exact taste. But if we show the same person a banana, peel off its skin and let him eat it, he can learn first-hand what a banana is. In the same way, we can be aware of the realm of faith through the experience. The Buddha's teaching is not theory of life, but A WAY OF LIFE. Therefore, we should practice reciting Odaimoku as part of our experience of life. And we will open up a new world of faith.

It is ideal if you can face the Great Mandala, put your hands together in Gassho and chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. But since the Odaimoku contains all of the Buddha's wisdom and compassion, even while walking or working, whenever and wherever we recite Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, we will sense an "AWARENESS" of the "WISDOM" and "COMPASSION" of the Lord Buddha.

THE GREAT MANDALA - GOHONZON

The Great Mandala, is the Gohonzon for the faithful. Whereas the inspiration of the Odaimoku comes from a verbal display, the Gohonzon provides for a visual interaction as well. The Gohonzon is the graphical representation that expresses the oneness between the Great Truths ( Dharma) and personage of the Eternal or Primeval Buddha.