On the Practice of Faith and the Community of Believers
Nichiren Daishonin teaches that the power of the Mystic Law is absolute and impartial. The efficacy of chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo originates from the Law itself and the faith of the individual. In "On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime," Nichiren Daishonin states that if one wishes to free oneself from the sufferings of birth and death, one must awaken to the mystic truth within one's life. He explains that this truth is Myoho-renge-kyo. Therefore, chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo enables one to grasp the mystic truth within. This passage indicates that the fundamental connection exists between the practitioner and the Gohonzon. It does not explicitly state that one must belong to a specific corporate body to receive a benefit. A person who chants with deep conviction that Myoho-renge-kyo is their life itself will unlock their Buddha nature.
However, Nichiren Daishonin also emphasizes the extreme difficulty of sustaining faith alone. The practice of Buddhism is a battle against the fundamental darkness of life. In "Letter to the Brothers," he cites the Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai to warn that as practice progresses and understanding grows, the three obstacles and four devils emerge to interfere. He instructs his followers that they should be neither influenced nor frightened by them. These obstacles often manifest as internal doubts or external opposition. Without the support of "zenchishiki" or good friends in faith, a solitary practitioner easily falls under the influence of these devilish functions. Nichiren Daishonin writes that if one befriends an evil person, he will lose his mind. This means that without the protection of a correct community, one risks losing the heart of faith and falling into evil paths.
The concept of "itai doshin" or "many in body, one in mind" is central to Nichiren Daishonin's teaching on the transmission of the Law. In "The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life," he declares that all disciples and believers of Nichiren should chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo with one mind. He states that they should transcend all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. He asserts that this spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate law of life and death. This teaching suggests that the heritage of faith flows most powerfully through a united community of believers dedicated to the widespread propagation of the Law.
Nichiren Daishonin further warns that isolation can lead to negligence and error. In "The Embankments of Faith," he uses the analogy of a ship on the open sea. He warns that even if a ship is stoutly built, should it leak even a bit, the passengers are certain to drown together. He urges his followers to bail the sea water of doubt and slander out of the ship of their life and solidify the embankments of their faith. A community acts as this embankment. It corrects errors and encourages consistent practice.
Therefore, while the act of chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo produces benefit for any individual with faith, Nichiren Daishonin teaches that the full practice requires the support of fellow believers. The community serves to protect the practitioner from the three obstacles and four devils. It ensures the correct transmission of the teachings. It allows for the fulfillment of the great vow for kosen-rufu through unity. To practice apart from the body of believers is to walk a dangerous path alone. One risks being defeated by one's own weakness or the functions of evil. The Daishonin concludes that the heritage of the Lotus Sutra flows within the lives of those who never forsake it in any lifetime.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.
