“No Prayer Will Go Unanswered”
What is prayer in Buddhism? And is it true that any of our prayers will be granted as might be implied by the title, a quote so familiar to many practitioners within Nichiren Buddhism? We have found it remarkable that prayer, while so central to the practice of Nichiren Buddhism is at the same time so vaguely understood and explained. To us it has appeared to be a very mysterious issue that has at times seemed almost to resist deeper contemplation. This may particularly apply in the case of frustrated members who seem not to be having their prayers answered.
It may surprise some that the quote itself is actually not from Nichiren Daishonin, but rather from Nichikan Shonin (1665-1726), the twenty-sixth high priest of the Taisekiji branch of the Fuji School of Nikko’s lineage, now known as Nichiren Shoshu.[1] In its entirety it reads as: “The benevolence and power of the Gohonzon are boundless and limitless and the work is immeasurable and unfathomable. Therefore, if you take faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, even for a while, no prayer will go unanswered, no sin will remain un-forgiven, all good fortune will be bestowed, and all righteousness will be proven.”[1] Although these are not the Daishonin’s words, we outline below how Nichiren does write something somewhat similar, so it is still applicable in our minds. Hence, what exactly is the significance of this passage? What is prayer in Buddhism? Many practitioners that we have come across seem to interpret that by praying through chanting for whatever one desires, one will get whatever one prays for. At first glance such an interpretation is easy to form. Indeed, is a prayer being answered not the same as a prayer being fulfilled? Perhaps there is more to be understood than at first may appear.
Nichiren himself in his gosho On Prayer writes that “Prayer that is based upon the Lotus Sutra is a prayer that is certain to be fulfilled.”[2] In the same gosho he refers to prayers from other sects that are not based on the Lotus Sutra as: “such prayers do not simply go unanswered; they actually bring about misfortune.”[2] From this we can see that Nichikan and Nichiren are both trying to say something specific about prayer and that it is not simply wishing for something and getting it, but something far more profound. To interpret prayer as a “genie in a bottle” or a “wish granting device” is not only a limited perspective, but as Nichiren says of incorrect prayer, it will actually bring about misfortune.
How does this all work? What then is the purpose of prayer in Nichiren Buddhism if it is not to fulfill one’s wishes? What is meant by basing these prayers on the Lotus Sutra? Furthermore, what can truly be meant by “earthly desires are enlightenment”?
It is our current view that one must understand what is meant by prayer in Buddhism, the Gohonzon, faith and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo within the practice of Nichiren Buddhism to correctly understand what is meant by prayer. Questions such as these certainly bring attention to why study is one of the three pillars of Nichiren’s practice, an aspect without which one may easily fall into superstitious “magical thinking.” We will be looking at themes presented in the Lotus Sutra to clarify what prayer based on the Lotus Sutra might be suggesting. In this way we hope to reveal that prayer is actually a way of turning inwards to realize our own dormant Buddha Nature; a letting go of our own limited views/delusions and openly embracing the true nature of reality, which in turn empowers us to then bring about the change in our lives we truly wish to realize. Moreover, without going into ichinen sanzen specifically, we will be able to see how this aspect is reflected in prayer as well (read more on ichinen sanzen here).
from: chinensanzen.ca/no-prayer-will-go-unanswered
pic taken:https:
It may surprise some that the quote itself is actually not from Nichiren Daishonin, but rather from Nichikan Shonin (1665-1726), the twenty-sixth high priest of the Taisekiji branch of the Fuji School of Nikko’s lineage, now known as Nichiren Shoshu.[1] In its entirety it reads as: “The benevolence and power of the Gohonzon are boundless and limitless and the work is immeasurable and unfathomable. Therefore, if you take faith in this Gohonzon and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, even for a while, no prayer will go unanswered, no sin will remain un-forgiven, all good fortune will be bestowed, and all righteousness will be proven.”[1] Although these are not the Daishonin’s words, we outline below how Nichiren does write something somewhat similar, so it is still applicable in our minds. Hence, what exactly is the significance of this passage? What is prayer in Buddhism? Many practitioners that we have come across seem to interpret that by praying through chanting for whatever one desires, one will get whatever one prays for. At first glance such an interpretation is easy to form. Indeed, is a prayer being answered not the same as a prayer being fulfilled? Perhaps there is more to be understood than at first may appear.
Nichiren himself in his gosho On Prayer writes that “Prayer that is based upon the Lotus Sutra is a prayer that is certain to be fulfilled.”[2] In the same gosho he refers to prayers from other sects that are not based on the Lotus Sutra as: “such prayers do not simply go unanswered; they actually bring about misfortune.”[2] From this we can see that Nichikan and Nichiren are both trying to say something specific about prayer and that it is not simply wishing for something and getting it, but something far more profound. To interpret prayer as a “genie in a bottle” or a “wish granting device” is not only a limited perspective, but as Nichiren says of incorrect prayer, it will actually bring about misfortune.
How does this all work? What then is the purpose of prayer in Nichiren Buddhism if it is not to fulfill one’s wishes? What is meant by basing these prayers on the Lotus Sutra? Furthermore, what can truly be meant by “earthly desires are enlightenment”?
It is our current view that one must understand what is meant by prayer in Buddhism, the Gohonzon, faith and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo within the practice of Nichiren Buddhism to correctly understand what is meant by prayer. Questions such as these certainly bring attention to why study is one of the three pillars of Nichiren’s practice, an aspect without which one may easily fall into superstitious “magical thinking.” We will be looking at themes presented in the Lotus Sutra to clarify what prayer based on the Lotus Sutra might be suggesting. In this way we hope to reveal that prayer is actually a way of turning inwards to realize our own dormant Buddha Nature; a letting go of our own limited views/delusions and openly embracing the true nature of reality, which in turn empowers us to then bring about the change in our lives we truly wish to realize. Moreover, without going into ichinen sanzen specifically, we will be able to see how this aspect is reflected in prayer as well (read more on ichinen sanzen here).
from: chinensanzen.ca/no-prayer-will-go-unanswered
pic taken:https:
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