Re: short gongyo -- SGI USA Washington

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Subject: Re: short gongyo

Author:
Steve Cavalier

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Date Posted: 17:22:41 06/11/02 Tue
In reply to: Sue Spencer 's message, "Re: short gongyo" on 10:49:49 01/16/02 Wed

>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."It comes down to the Sincerity of the Heart, whether you do Short Gongyo, it's from the Heart.......

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