What
is the Gohonzon?
The
Gohonzon is a paper scroll on which are printed Chinese and Sanskrit characters
that depict life in the state of Buddhahood. ‘Go’ means honourable; ‘honzon’
means object of devotion. Nichiren Daishonin explains that the Gohonzon is ‘the
object of devotion for observing the mind.’ He clarifies what this means by
comparing the Gohonzon to a mirror. Just as we cannot see our face without a
mirror, he explains, neither can we see our inherent Buddhahood without the
Gohonzon.
Nichiren
Daishonin’s sole desire was to enable people to experience the freedom and joy
of Buddhahood. He therefore inscribed the Gohonzon for individuals who believed
in his teachings. When a significant number for his followers demonstrated the
strength of their faith, the Daishonin realized the time had come to inscribe a
Gohonzon for all people in perpetuity. So, on the twelfth day of the tenth
lunar month, 1279, he inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon (‘dai’ means great) and
bestowed it upon the entire world.
What
does the inscription on the Gohonzon signify?
The
writing on the Gohonzon is composed mainly of Chinese ideograms, which express
very profound ideas in a very concise and economical way. The largest
characters, written down the centre from top to bottom, are
‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nichiren.’ This signifies the fusion of the universal law
of live and Nichiren Daishonin, the Buddha who realized and expressed this law.
The Gohonzon is therefore equivalent to Nichiren Daishonin’s life. Since the
universal law of life is also inherent in each one of us: when we chant to the
Gohonzon, our own Buddhahood is awakened and emerges.
Each
element of life is revealed in relation to the bold central characters of
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, indicating that all aspects of life can be transformed
into positive value.
To
be continued
Source: Gohonzon by James Rourke UKE
2000
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