The Meaning of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo
This is an excellent explanation of the meaning of Namu myoho renge kyo, from Nikko's "Orally Transmited Teachings". The authenticity of this work is disputed, in the sense that it has been put into question that it may not had been composed by Nikko but by someone else in a latter time. Regardless of the case it gives great insight on the meaning of our main practice. The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings (Ongi kuden) says: Namu is a Sanskrit word. Here it means to dedicate one’s life, that is, to the Person and to the Law. In terms of the Person, one dedicates one’s life to Shakyamuni Buddha; in terms of the Law, one dedicates one’s life to the Lotus Sutra. “Dedication” means dedication to the principle of eternal and unchanging truth of the theoretical teaching, and “life” means that one’s life dedicated to that principle bases itself on the wisdom of the truth of the essential teaching that functions in accordance with changing circumstances. In essence, o...