Daimoku, Nembutsu, and Zazen
How We Practice Buddhism
My practice is inspired by a little bit of Nichiren, a little bit of Shinran, and a little bit of Dogen. I start the day by lighting some candles and incense and chanting two chapters from the Lotus Sutra and, usually, the Heart Sutra, followed by a few minutes of chanting Daimoku, after which I chant the Nembutsu for a few minutes before finishing up with a few minutes of shikantaza (“just sitting”) in zazen.
Nichiren advocated just Daimoku chanting, Shinran advocated only the Nembutsu, and Dogen advocated zazen only. All three of them would all be horrified that I engage in “sundry practices” alongside the essential practice that they recommended. They disparaged each others practices but I believe in a more inclusive Buddhism that has room for various schools and practices. All three practices have been beneficial for me and have improved my life, so I find it hard to believe that it would be wise to abandon any one of them.
Nichiren Buddhism
We chant “homage to the Lotus Sutra” — Namu Myoho Renge Kyo — because the Lotus Sutra represents the highest expression of the Buddha’s Dharma. It is not that we necessarily believe in the historical accuracy of the text or that the words contained in it are authentically the words of the historical Shakyamuni. Though they may not be his words, they are his spirit. They represent the purest expression of his Dharma. The Lotus Sutra and similar Mahayana sutras present Buddhism in its most fully-developed and consistent form. While the letter of the texts may not be historical words of the Buddha Shakyamuni, the texts express the spirit of Shakyamuni in its purest form.
Pure Land Buddhism
“It is not that one is born in the Pure Land through the nenbutsu; the nenbutsu is birth in the Pure Land. Birth in the Pure Land signifies a new existence. Each day is a new life.” — Yasuda Rijin
We also chant Namu Amida Butsu — “homage to the Buddha Amitabha.” We don’t chant Namu Amida Butsu out of faith that we will be reborn in some far-off Pure Land after we die but in order to transform this world in which we live into a Pure Land. The Pure Land sutras tell us of the Bodhisattva Dharmakara who becomes the Buddha Amitabha. The truth is that we are all Dharmakaras, ordinary beings on the path to buddhahood, and we all look forward to becoming Amitabhas, enlightened beings. We chant the Nembutsu in order to purify our minds and wipe clean the mirror of consciousness so that it can reflect back our true nature, our innate buddhaness. In chanting the Nembutsu, we are cultivating our own Pure Land here and now.
Zen Buddhism
Finally, we practice sitting meditation, where we sit in an upright posture and simply focus on our breath. Whenever thoughts arise, we try to let them pass and simply refocus our attention on our breath. Personally, I find this type of meditation to be easier to do after having chanted Daimoku and Nembutsu, as chanting helps to still and focus the mind.
While the founders of the various schools of Japanese Buddhism strongly caution against mixing practices in the manner that I do, I find these practices to be very beneficial in combination.
P.S.
In addition to these practices, I have been considering adding loving-kindness meditation and the “six-syllabled mantra” (Om Mani Padme Hum) to my routine. The six-syllabled mantra is associated with Avalokiteshvara, or Quan Yin, a bodhisattva that represents the embodiment of compassion.
