Re: short gongyo -- SGI USA Washington

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Subject: Re: short gongyo

Author:
Sue Spencer

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Date Posted: 10:49:49 01/16/02 Wed
In reply to: Sue 's message, "short gongyo" on 14:27:31 01/04/02 Fri

In a "Q & A on Faith" titled "The Essential Nature of Gongyo," Study Department Senior Advisor Ted Morino writes: "Chanting daimoku and reciting the 'Expedient Means' and 'Life Span' chapters are the basic formula of Buddhist practice Nichiren Daishonin set forth for the people of the Latter Day of the Law. These essential elements are changeless. How we practice these essential elements is the crucial question. In pondering this question, I believe we should bear in mind the following points: First, a sense of challenge and self-discipline should always be present in our practice of gongyo, since practice is the way to overcome our inner weakness. Second, what matters is the depth of our prayer in chanting daimoku during gongyo. Ultimately, the Daishonin teaches that 'it is the heart that is most important' (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 1000). He also says, 'A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered' (WND, 1001). We can take 'heart' here to mean strong, sincere prayer.
"Are we courageously challenging ourselves in doing gongyo? Are we really offering a determined and heartfelt prayer while chanting daimoku? Are we truly refreshing and revitalizing ourselves through each gongyo? These are ultimate checkpoints. In this respect, whether we are doing a full gongyo or an abbreviated one is not a primary issue. If you are fully satisfied with an abbreviated version
of gongyo (whether A, B and C or A and C) at a discussion meeting you attend, you may consider yourself having done gongyo for that morning or evening. Of course, if you are not fully satisfied with such a simplified format, you can do a full gongyo or chant more daimoku later when you return home. The choice is yours. Again, diligence, strong prayer and spiritual fulfillment, not formality, are
the crucial ingredients in doing gongyo."

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: short gongyo	Steve Cavalier	17:22:41 06/11/02 Tue