Chanting for transformation AMRITA SRIVASTAVA guides you through the process to obtain the manifold benefits of chanting

Amidst the turmoil of 13th-century Japan, Nichiren Daishonin, a Japanese sage began a relentless quest to revive Buddhism, which had lost its essence after Shakyamuni Buddha’s passing. He wanted to do this for the sake of multitudes of suffering individuals, and this inexorable expedition led him to get awakened to the fundamental law of life: Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. The transformative power of this mantra, he believed, would work as a practical tool to alleviate people’s suffering and help them navigate through the vicissitudes of life. This law was called mystic in the sense that it empowered ordinary people overwhelmed by delusion and distress to bring forth their inherent wisdom, compassion, courage and creative energy to resolve their own problems and help others do the same.

The chant

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is the sound and rhythm of the universe and elucidates the workings of life, its magnificence, wonder and splendour. The letter 'Nam' which means respect or devotion has its root in Sanskrit. 'Myo' literally means 'mystic' as it talks about concealed, dormant, and limitless potential that exists in every life. 'Ho' on the other hand refers to tangible, manifest and visible aspects of life. Together 'myoho' describe the unending and eternal cycle of life and death. While Myo corresponds to the latent period that life undergoes before birth and after death; 'ho' is linked with the manifest aspect of life right from the origin, through birth, development, ripening, degeneration and death before life again enters into the latent state and blends with the universe. Renge means lotus flower which is immaculate and sweet-scented, unblemished by the murky water in which it blooms. Likewise, humans too can bring forth the exquisiteness and dignity of their lives amidst day-to-day challenges. Also, Lotus is the only flower that blooms and produces seeds at the same time, which demonstrates the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect. ‘Kyo’ literally means sutra and indicates that all phenomena are indicators of the Mystic Law.

Abundant gains

Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo has manifold benefits...

Helps in the eradication of your fears, grief, and painful memories: Every human being has nine consciousness: 1. Sight 2. Hearing 3. Smell 4. Taste 5. Touch 6. Mind Consciousness 7. Subconscious 8. Karmic consciousness (Alaya) and 9. Buddha Nature (Amala). People who don't chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can reach the eight consciousness at best, which is the accumulation of all the causes and effects of their words, thoughts and deeds from the past lives. This consciousness determines all our fear, phobias and negative mindsets along with their perception towards life. Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo activates the ninth Consciousness that is pure and untainted and is a repository of virtues like courage, compassion, wisdom and creative energy. By chanting NMHRK, we can eradicate our negative mindset and replace it with these positive attributes.

Enables you to change your karma: Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo empowers one to take the reins of destiny in one’s own hands and steer one’s fate in the direction of happiness. The spiritual exertion one undergoes in an attempt to change one’s destiny and to unlock the highest potential.

Uplifts your life state: When you chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo you are able to uplift your life condition significantly. From the repressive and smothering world of hell, one can swiftly gain entry into expansive and liberating life state of infinite compassion and boundless wisdom.

Helps you in accumulating massive good fortune: When you chant, good fortune appears in your life in the form of intangible benefits like improved health, cheerfulness, meeting right people at the right time and general well-being.

Brings about inner transformation: This mantra has the power to help you change your negative tendencies and undesirable traits. This, in turn, transforms your inner life state by transmuting your grimmest suffering into ultimate happiness.

Purifies your six senses: Chanting this mantra leads to purification of one’s six sense organs by helping them develop a life state where one is able to see the true nature of any occurrence and cultivate a wise mind that clearly perceives things as they are.

This life-changing mantra has tremendous powers, which can change any unfavourable situation into a source of value creation and hurl us in the direction of our highest happiness.

Amrita Srivastava has eight years of extensive experience in the education industry. She has been practising Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism and chanting since the past 12 years.