7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

AboutAmericanGongyo GongyoExperiences PresentationForLeaders PhotoGallery Bob'sArt GongyoLinks

GongyoTestimonial 10GoodReasonstoChantNammyohorengekyoandtheLotusSutraofGongyo JoinBuddhaCampat
BurningMan2012 Contactme GreatBooksonNammyohorengekyoandthebenefitsofGongyo PlannedGiving

10GoodReasonstoChantNammyohorengekyoandtheLotusSutra(thePracticeofGongyo).
UsetheUltimateLawoftheUniverseforYourRealHappiness(a.k.a.,Enlightenment
orBuddhahood).
GetRidofBadKarmaandBuildGoodKarma.ChangeDefeatintoVictoryLossinto
GainPoisonintoMedicine.
OvercomeYourFears,PainfulMemoriesandPhobias.
UnderstandYourLifeConditionWithanEnlightenedMind.
RelatetoPeopleinYourEnvironmentontheHighestLevel.
ControltheLowerFourWorldsofHell,Hunger,Dominant/SubmissiveAttitudesand
Anger.
FindandKeepActualLove.
UnderstandandGetWhatYouReallyNeedforYourHappiness.(WhatDoIwantoutof
life?)
IncreasetheSpanofYourLifeOvercometheSufferingsofBirth,OldAge,Sickness,
DeathandRebirth.
10.GetStuffYouMayWant,IncludingFreedom,Wealth,Love,Friends,Work
SatisfactionandJoyByBuddhafyingYourself.

1.UsetheUltimateLawoftheUniverseforYourRealHappiness(a.k.a.,Enlightenmentor
Buddhahood).
backtotop

ThereisanUltimateLawoftheUniverseanditisNammyohorengekyo.ItexistsineveryoneandeverythingintheUniverse.Itis
workingwhetherweunderstandoracknowledgeit.YoumaybelieveinGodorGoodWorksorNothing.That'sfine.Justthankyoufor
takingthetimetoconsiderthestuffonmywebsite.
Let'sassume,forthemoment,thatNammyohorengekyoistheUltimateLawoftheUniverse.Asanaturallawasopposedtoaman
madelaw,Nammyohorengekyomustbebasedoncauseandeffect.Infact,themeaningisNam(devotionto)Myoho(thewonderful
law,whichis)Renge(causeandeffectthrough)Kyo(sound,vibration,sutra).Thus,Buddhismsaidthatcauseandeffectwasthe
cornerstoneofuniversalnaturallawthousandsofyearsbeforeWesternscience.
Let'stakeanothernaturallaw,THELAWOFFAT.Whenpeopleoranimalseatmore(especiallycarbohydrates)thantheirbodiesneed,
fataccumulates.Somefatisnecessarytosustainlife.Toomuchfatcancausevariousdiseases,dissatisfactionwithone'sappearance
butalsoatruedeterminationtobefit.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
Iwasoncemarriedtoagoodcook.Shehadadeliciousmeal,withrice,waitingformewhenIcamehomefromwork.In
acoupleofyears,Igained40pounds,goingfrom140to180.ItoldmywifeofthaterathatIwasn'tgoingtoeatthe
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

1/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

mealssheprepared.Thisandotherissuesendedthemarriage.Aftersomestartsandstops,Imanagedtocutdownon
carbsanddoresistanceexercises(Bowflexandpushups).I'mat160withalotmoremuscleandonly5poundsofflab.
Mywifenow,Jann(my1968collegesweetheart)eatsinahealthymannerandexercises.Neitherofuspayshomageto
thedinnerritual.

THELAWOFFAToperatesregardlessofourbelieforunderstanding.UnderstandingisonestepinlivinginharmonywiththeLAWOF
FAT.Butunderstandingwithoutactionisnotthatuseful.Manypeople(usuallytheyoung)canliveinharmonywiththefatlawwithlittle
understanding.Livinginharmonywiththelawoffatresultsinbetterfitness.LivinginharmonywiththeUltimateLawoftheUniverse
resultsinabetterorevenyourbestlife.
Nammyohorengekyoisatthedeepestpartofyourlifealready.Tomakethislawuseful,youmusttakeACTION.Thenecessary
ACTIONistochantNammyohorengekyo,usuallyoutloud,whilecontemplatingyourlifeincludingyourneeds,aspirations,problems,
desires,mistakes,family,friends,tormentorsanddreams.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
SinceIdon'tlikeunresolvedproblems,Ichantfirstabouteverythingthatisbotheringme.Then,Iaskthequestion,what
doIwantoutoflife?Iseektodiscoverwhatitisaboutmyselfthatpreventsmefrombeinghappier,moresuccessful,
andlessunwise.I"send"Nammyohorengekyotothoseclosetome,whether"living"or"dead."WhenIarriveatdeep
understandingthatIneedtochange,accomplishordosomething,itbecomesmy"constantdesire."Ichantaboutit
everyday.Ihavechantedaboutsomethings,everyday,for20or30years.
HavingtakentheactionnecessarytouseanddeveloptheUltimateLawoftheUniverse,Nammyohorengekyo,within
myownlifefor38years,IknowthetengoodreasonstochantaretrueformyselfandfellowNichirenBuddhists.My
understandingofNammyohorengekyocomesfromreading,discussionandpersonalexperience.Mypersonal
experiencesleadtomybeliefandunderstanding.Chantandhaveyourownexperiences.Sharethoseexperienceswith
others.StudytheabundantandinterestingNichirenBuddhistliterature.

Youcan'tattainenlightenmentwithouthelpingotherstoattainenlightenment.

2.GetRidofBadKarmaandBuildGoodKarma.ChangeDefeatintoVictoryLossintoGain
PoisonintoMedicine.
backtotop

TheonlypoweryouhavethatisstrongerthanyourownkarmaisyourownBuddhanatureorNammyohorengekyo.Nammyohorenge
kyoistheultimatelawoftheuniverseandiswithinyouandalllifeintheuniversalenvironment."Karma"maybetranslatedas"action."
Karmaiscreatedbythe"action"ofyourwords,thoughtsanddeedssincetimewithoutbeginning.Assuch,yourkarma(andeveryone's
karma)isverystrong.NichirenBuddhistsperformGongyotwiceaday.GongyoconsistsofsittingbeforetheGohonzon(orjustsittingif
youareonaroadtripanddon'thaveanOmamoriGohonzon),recitingpartsoftwochaptersoftheLotusSutra,andchantingNam
myohorengekyowhilecontemplatingyourdesires,problems,peopleanddreams.

GONGYOisyourENLIGHTENED,BUDDHAACTIONthatcreatesENLIGHTENED
BUDDHAKARMA,becauseitrequiresyourENLIGHTENEDWORDS,THOUGHTSAND
DEEDS.

Bycontrast,let'screateapersonyoudon'tlike.Youthink"thatguy'sarealbitch"(thoughts).Onedayyoubumpintoeachotherandyou
tellhim"you'rearealbitch"(words).Ascufflebreaksoutandyoubitchslaphim(deeds).YouhavecreatedkarmainyourlifethatWILL
comeoutinsomemanner.Perhapsyouarearrested.Peoplemayseeyouasahotheadortroublemaker.Theguyyouinsultedbeatsyou
downbecauseyoucan'tactuallyfightverywell.Ayearlaterahitandrundriverrunsyouover.Perhapsnothinghappensinthislifetime.
Youarerebornonplanetnextandoutofthebluesomeonecallsyouabitchandbitchslapsyou.

WhyisChangingMyKarmaImportanttoMe(andothers)?
YourKarmadetermineswhatyouthink,whatyoudo,whatyousay,whathappenstoyouinlife.Ifyouarerichorpoor,goodlookingor
otherwise,fatorslender,respected,despisedorignored,abletouseyourtalentsorcontinuallyfrustrated,luckyorunlucky,inloveand
lovedorisolated,abletogetthingsdoneoraccomplishnothingmuch,prettyhealthyorsick,selfcenteredorhelpfultoothersDEPENDS
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

2/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

ONLYonYOUROWNKARMA.Blamingothersortheenvironmentmaybejustifiedbutisessentiallyuseless.
Nothingcanhappentoyouunlessyouhavethekarmaforit.Sayyouwanttobewealthyrightaway.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
Ionceaskedthelate,greatTedOsaki"I'vebeenchantingtobeamillionaireandI'mnot.Why?"Hesaid"maybeyou
don'thavethekarmaforityet.WhenyoucontinueyourBuddhistpracticeanddevelopwisdomandgoodfortune(good
karma)youwillbeamillionaireautomaticallyandhappyinothernonmaterialways."Mr.Osaki'swordsweretrue.Ittook
me15yearstoreachmyinitialgoalandrequiredmanychangesinmyhabits,thinking,determinationandcharacter.Of
course,allthoseinternalchangesgreatlybenefitedeveryaspectofmylife.NOTE:AsIamworkingtochangemy
karma,mylifeisNOTsaddrudgery.Lifeisandhasbeenaprettyrewardingandexcitingadventure.

Aslivingbeingswewillsufferloss,defeatorhavepoisoninjectedintoourlives.Chantinginthefaceoftheseeventswillpropelustoa
betterlifeandbettercircumstances.NichirenBuddhismcallsthis"HendokuIyaku."

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
Oneday,fiveyearsago,IwasdrivingtotheBurningmanArtsFestivalheldeachLaborDayattheBlackRockDesert.
Thedaywasclearandsunny.Theroadwasstraightandwellmaintained.Iwaswellrested.Ilefttheroadandrolled
overfivetimesinthedesertat70m.p.h.MyMitsubishiMonterowascompletelydestroyedalongwithmostofmy
campingequipment.Isufferedcutsonthetopofmyheadandnearmylefteyeandlotsofsoremuscles.Ihavelittleor
nomemoryoftheactualevent.Naturally,goingtoBurningmanwasoutandaonedayhospitalstaywasrequired.
Objectively,thiseventisloss,defeatandpoison.Continuingtochantunderthesecircumstanceswasthekeytobettering
mylife.Becauseofthecutnearmyeye,IhadtogotoanOphthalmologist.Hediscoveredatearinmyretinathathad
nothingtodowiththeaccident.Hesaidithadbeendevelopingforsometimeandwouldhaveleadtoseriousproblems.
Hefixeditwithalaser.IfoundoutthatmywreckedSUVwasTHEmostunsafecarevermade.Theinsurancecompany
paidmemorethatIhadoriginallypaidforthecarayearbefore.InowhaveaToyotaTundra,thesafesttruckever
made.IevendiscoveredthatBurningmanhadminiregionalBurningmanevents20milesfrommyhouseinLasVegas.
Thesehaveonly1,000halfnakedhippiesratherthat40,000.Igettherein40minutesinsteadof10hours.
FromaNichirenBuddhistpointofview,theaccidentitselfwasmybadkarmacomingout.Ihaditcoming.Thatiscalled
"Karmaticretribution."Isurvivedtheviolentwreckwithminor,nonpermanentinjury.Thisiscalled"tenjukyoju"orthe
lesseningofKarmaticretribution.ThepoliceandrescuemedicssaidthattheyweresurethatIhadtobeeitherdeador
crushedwithseriousinjurieswhentheysawthedamagetomyvehicle.Mycarhadtobecutapartinordertogetmeout.
Oneoftheofficerssaidhewasreadytospeeddialeitherthecoronerorflightforlife.Iaskedtheinsuranceguyifmy
vehiclecouldberepaired.Theadjusterlaughedandsaidthathehadneverseenmoredamagetoavehicleintwenty
yearsofadjusting.ThisiscalledprotectionfromtheBuddhistShotenZenjin,forcesintheenvironmentthatserveto
protectpeoplewhochant.ThefactthatIwasn'tkilledisthebenefitof"extensionoflife."Nichirensaidthathismother's
lifewasextended4yearsbecauseofhispractice.PresidentIkedasaidthatthegreatSpanishdancer,PasqualOlivera,
extendedhislife30yearsbecauseofhispractice.

3.OvercomeYourFears,PainfulMemoriesandPhobias.
backtotop

Wheredoourfears,painfulmemories,phobiasliveandwhyaretheysodifficulttoovercome?Buddhismhastheconceptofthe"nine
consciousnesses"or"Kushiki."Hereisthediagramoftheninelayersofyourhumanlife:

15.Consciousnesses:
1.Sight
2.Hearing
3.Smell
4.Taste
5.Touch

6.MindConsciousness
7.Subconscious
8.KarmaStorage(Alaya)
9.NammyohorengekyoorYourBuddhaNatureorYourEnlightenmentorYourPermanentSourceofHappiness
(Amala)
PeopleWhoDon'tChantNammyohorengekyoCanOnlyReacttoTheirOwnKarmaStorage.
Level8isKarmaStorage.Allofyourpastcausesandeffectsofallofyourwords,thoughtsanddeedsfromtimewithoutbeginningare
storedasKarmainLevel8.ThecontentofKarmaStoragedeterminestheworkingsofalltheotherlevels,exceptLevel9(Buddhahood).
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

3/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

Assumeyouhavelowselfesteemkarma.ItisstoredinLevel8(KarmaStorage.)Let'ssayitweights100tonsandismolten.Lowself
esteemkarmaconstantlygushesupintoLevel7Subconscious.Nowyourfeelings,dreams,values,urgesandhopesareinfusedwithlow
selfesteem.LowselfesteemgushesintoyourLevel6MindConsciousness.Nowmanyofyourconsciousthoughtsareofyourlowself
esteem.I'llneverfindagoodpersoninmylife.I'llneverbenormalbecausemyunclemolestedmeasachild.Thingsneverworkout.
Eventuallyshe(he)willabandonme.I'llneverlosethisweight.IdoalltheworkbutI'mneverpickedforthatgoodjob.I'llalwaysbe
broke.PeoplenaturallydislikemebecauseI'm...black,Hispanic,Asian,whitebread,female,male,young,old,uneducated,too
educated,ajock,anerd,toosmart,dumb,liberal,conservative.Levels15Sensestransmitdatatoyourotherlevels.Thesedataare
interpretedinthelightofyourlowselfesteem.Youseepeopleatworklaughingandtalking.Theyneverincludeyou.Ormaybethey're
talkingbadaboutyou.
LowSelfesteemKarmaProducesMoreLowSelfesteemKarma.Asareactiontoyourlowselfesteemvisionoftheworld,yourwords,
thoughtsanddeedsmakenewlowselfesteemkarma.Youstoptryingtogetfitandbecomemoreflabby.Yourdressbecomesless
careful.Youareangryattheworld,yourself,andtheenvironmentandletpeopleknowit.Theyshyawayfromyouevenmore.Youare
jealousofother'sgoodfortuneandluck.Oryoutrytobesuperniceandpeopletakeadvantageofyou.Thesenewlowselfesteem
KarmaticeventsarestoredinLevel8KarmaStorage.
WorkingonthisprocessaretwootherBuddhistconcepts.Shikishinfuniistheonenessofbodyandmind.Whateverisreallyonyour
mindordwellsinyourspiritualselfisautomaticallyandaccuratelyshowninyourbody.Yourfacialexpression,posture,movements,
physicalconditionandcomplexiondepictwhateverishappeninginyourmind.Eshofuniistheonenessofyouandyourenvironment.
Whateveryouareisreflectedinyourenvironment.
Ifyouaredepressedandglum,youlookandactdepressedandglum.Yourenvironmentreflectsyourdepressionandglumness.People
avoidyouorareuncomfortable.Yourhomemaybedatedandshabby.Yourcarmightbeoutofrepair.
PeoplewhomChantNammyohorengekyoRevolutionizeTheirKarmaStorageandTransformTheirSubconscious,Conscious,and
WorldOutlook.
ChantingNammyohorengekyoactivatesLevel9Consciousness.The9thLevelofConsciousnessisNammyohorengekyooryour
BuddhahoodorEnlightenment,thesourceofyourhappiness.Level9cannotbecorruptedbyyourkarma.Itisalwayspristine,powerful
andpure,likegoldordiamonds.WhenyouchantNammyohorengekyo,itsurgesupfromthedeepestpartofyourlifeintoyourkarma
storage.Itbeginstodiluteyourbadkarmawithhappinessandwisdom(enlightenment)andexpelitfromyourlife.
Lowselfesteemkarmabecomeslessofaninfluence.Dilutedlowselfesteemkarmastillhastobeexpelledfromyourlife.However,it
comesoutinalessstressfulformthatyoucanhandle.(TenjuKyojuorthelesseningofKarmaticretribution.)TheKarmaattackismuch
lessbutstillnegative.BycontinuingtochantNammyohorengekyowhenthedilutedbadkarmaisexpelled,youcanturnpoisoninto
medicine,lossintogain,defeatintovictory.(HendokuIyaku.)
Beforechanting,yourlowselfesteemkarmamayhavecausedatendayoffunk.Ifchanting,itmightbetwodays.Yourcontinued
chantingletsyouseethatit'snotsobadandyouaretougherthanyouthink.
Youwillknowthatyourkarmaischangingbecausethebadkarmaeventsarelesssevere,lastforshorterperiodsoftime,andappearat
longerintervals.
Buddhawisdomeventuallywillcauseyounottocreatenewlowselfesteemkarma.Oneday,thelowselfesteemkarmaisgone.
However,manypeoplereportthatbadkarmahasonelastflareupbeforeleaving.Thebulbburnsbrightestbeforeitgoesout.Thatbad
personinyourlifehasabigscreamingsessionbeforedisappearing.Nothing,GOODorBADcanhappentoyouunlessyouhavethe
karmaforit.

4.UnderstandYourLifeConditionWithanEnlightenedMind
backtotop

Nichirenencouragesustocontrolourminds,ratherthanbecontrolledbyourminds.FromourlookattheworkingsoftheNine
Consciousnesses,theonlythingyoucanhaveonyourmind(Level6)comesfromtheSubconscious(Level7)andKarmaStorage(Level
8).Sincethegreatthemesofyourlifearealreadystoredthereinlargevolume,yourmindisstuckthinkingwhatyouhavealways
thought.
Ofcoursenotallkarmaisbad.Everyonehasgoodkarma."Bad"and"good"arewhatyoulikeordislike.Ifstudyingandlearningare
easyforyouandyoulikethat,that'sgoodkarma.Ifpeopleareattractedtoyouphysicallyandemotionally,that'sgoodkarma.Ifyouare
prettyupbeataboutlife,ifyoustayfit,ifyouaccomplishgoalsanddon'tgiveup,ifyouareabletoearnagoodlivingthat'sallgood
karma.
Evenwithanabundanceofgoodkarma,yourmindisstillstuckwithyourownKarmaticlimitations.I'mreallyagoodnurseandknow
morethatthedoctorsinsomecases.I'mhappywithmyjobandgetalotofsatisfactionfromit.IguessI'llkeepworkinguntilIretirein
20years.That'snotsobad.Yourmindmayhavelimitationsastowhatyouthinkyoucanaccomplishinthislifetime.Whynotbecomea
physician'sassistant,adoctororaprofessorinanursingschool?
BychantingNammyohorengekyoyouactivatetheflowandincreasethevolumeofthe9thLevelofyourconsciousness,yourBuddha
nature,yourenlightenment,yourriverofpurediamondwaters.Thisenlightenmentpurifiesyourkarmaandsubconscious.Whenthe
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

4/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

enlightenmenthitsyourbrain,youhavemoreBuddhawisdom.Themoreyouchantthemorewisdomisinyourthoughts,determination
andspirit.Itisimportanttochantwithanopenmindandbesensitivetothewisdomthatcomesforthfromyourownlife.Youwillknow
whentheBuddhawisdomisinyourmind.Yourbeliefswillchange.Youroutlookwillimprove.Youwillhavemorestrengthandcourage.
Youwilldevelopmoreeffectivewaysofdealingwithproblems.YouwillbelievethatyourhavetheBuddhalifeinyourlife.

Themostunhappinesscomesfrombelievinginthewrongthings,illusions.Thebiggest
illusionisnotbelievingandunderstandingthatyou,rightnow,asyouare,havethe
BuddhaEnlightenmentinyourlifeandthatchantingNammyohorengekyoactivates
it.

Eventually,beliefsturnintowordsanddeeds.Youbelieve,andthenactofahotinvestmenttipanditgoessouth.Unhappinessfollows.
Youbelievethateducationisnotforyouanddon'tdevelopyourselfwhileyoung.At40youwillregretthatyoudidn'tdoallyouneededto
do.Eventually,yourbeliefswillbecomekarma.ThereforeitisnecessarytounderstandandbelievethatyouhaveBuddhahoodinsideof
younow.Please,activateitanddevelopit.

5.RelatetoPeopleinYourEnvironmentontheHighestLevel.
backtotop

Thenaturaltendencyhumanshaveistoblamepeopleandthingsintheirenvironmentfornegativeevents.Howeverjustifiedthismay
seem,ifithappenstoyou,yourkarmaisintimatelyinvolved.Yourkarmageneratestheseevents.Tryingtochangetheenvironmentis
uselessandfrustrating.Sayyourboyfriendisnogood.Everyoneagrees.Byeverystandard,heisnogood.He'sabusive,irresponsible,
andunfaithful.
Youdecidetochangehimbypointingouthisfaults.Thisprobablydoesn'twork.Inthishypotheticalsituation,therearesome
possibilities.YourkarmaqualityiscertifiedGradeD.AllofyourboyfriendswillbeGradeD.Supposeyournaggingandforcedcounseling
getshimtoseetheerrorsofhisways,andheactuallychanges.HebecomesGradeB.IfyourGradestaysD,hewillleaveyoufora
fellowGradeB.
Or,allofyourgoodworksandeffortsareshortcircuitedbyyourThreePoisons:Greed,AngerandStupidity.Relationships(andlives)can
beruinedbynotovercomingtheThreePoisonscirculatinginyourveins.Sayyouhaveaprettygoodpartner.He(orshe)iswellliked,
hasagoodjob,andtreatsyouwell.However,yourGreedcausesyoutothinkthatmaybethere'ssomeonebetterlookingandmore
excitingouthereforyou.Onedayyouhavealittledisagreementwithyourpartner.Angercausesyoutosaysomehurtfulthings.
StupidityluresyouinthedirectionofMr.orMs.NoGoodwhojustexploitsyouinsomemanner.Allthisdoesn'tmakeyouabadperson,
justanangry,greedyandstupidone.
Somepoisonshaveanantidote.TheantidoteforGreed,Anger,andStupidityischantingNammyohorengekyowiththedetermination
toknowyourselfandtounderstandthatgivingintoGreed,AngerandStupidityleadstounhappinessandthenullificationofyourgood
karma.Thisprocessissomewhatautomatic.Butbeinghonestwithyourselfreallyhelpstheprocessofbringingoutyourenlightenment.
Thisdoesnotmeanbeingrelentlesslyselfcriticaloradvocatebeatingyourselfup.
IfyourraiseyourlifeconditionthroughthepracticeofBuddhismtogradeB+orA+,yourenvironmentwillbeB+orA+,automatically.
Thusyoudon'thavetochangeyournogoodhusband,boss,girlfriend,father,children,dogorcat.Theywillchangewithrespecttoyou
orwillleaveyourenvironment.

6.ControltheLowerFourWorldsofHell,Hunger,Dominant/SubmissiveAttitudesandAnger.
backtotop

InBuddhism,lifeexistsinTenWorlds.Thehighestis(10)Buddhahood,orEnlightenment.EverythingdiscussedsofaraboutNam
myohorengekyoappliestothisworld.Nextis(9)Bodhisattvaorcompassion.Actuallyhelpingotherstoattainhappinessor
enlightenmentforthemselvesisBodhisattva.Accomplishmentthroughgreatconcentrationis(8)Realization.Realizationhasalsobeen
describedasunderstandingtheuniversebylookingwithinyourself.(7)Learningistheconditioninwhichyouaregatheringknowledge
andunderstandingofitemsyouarestudying,suchasabook.Itisunderstandingtheuniversebylookingatthingsoutsideofyourself.
Collectively,thesearetheFourNobleWorlds.
(6)HeavenorRaptureisaconditionofmomentaryjoy.(5)Humanityisjustbelazyorinneutralgear.

TheLowerFourWorlds
Theyare(4)Anger,(3)Animality,aconditionoffearingthemorepowerfulandpreyingontheweaker,(2)Hunger,astrongunfulfilled
desireand(1)Hell,sufferingwithnoclearwayout.
Eachofthetenworldscontainsalltheotherworlds.Thetenworldsareconnectedtoallthecauseandeffectinyourlife.Ofcourseyou
areinseparablefromyourenvironment.
Anyoneiscapableofbeinginoneofthelowerfourworld.Usuallysomeoutsidestimulustriggersthis.Someoneflipsyouoffandyouget
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

5/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

angry.Agoodlookinggirl/boyorhamburgercomesintoviewandyougethungry.Yourbossthreatensyoubecauseofsomemistake
someonemade.Youinturnthreatenthepeoplewhoworkforyou.That'sAnimality.Yourdogof15yearsdies.That'sHell.

HowchantingNammyohorengekyototheGohonzoncontrolstheLowerFourWorlds.
IntheTVseriesSouthPark,theboyswereupsetbecausetheSparkythedogwasgay.Theiranswerwastoyellatthedog,"Sparky
don'tbegay."Inthehumanworld,yellingdon'tbeangry,hungryormiserableisthesamethingastellingSparkynottobegay.Self
controlisafineattributetohave.Buddhism,however,isfarmorethanmereselfcontrolorpositivethinking.
JustasyourinteractionwithastimulantintheoutsideworldcausedoneoftheLowerFourWorldstoemerge,theinteractionofchanting
totheGohonzoncausestheworldofBuddhahoodtoemergefromyourlife.AsBuddhahoodbecomesmorethecentralworldinyourlife,
allofthelowerfourworldsrecede.Eventheworldofhellisreplacedwithanunderstandingoftherebirthoflife.TheTENWORLDSwill
alwaysbepartofyourlifesodon'ttrytobegoodytwoshoes.Hunger,forexample,canbeastrongdesiretounderstandBuddhism.

7.FindandKeepActualLove.
backtotop

Ashumanbeings,weneedtruelove.Sometimeswhenthevicissitudesoflifebeatusdown,wemaygiveup.Ithinkthisisamistake.
FindingandkeepingtrueloveinvolvesbothcommonsenseandusingandunderstandingthepowerofNammyohorengekyo.

COMMONSENSE
Buddhismandeverydaylifearenotdifferentorseparate.Sotherearepersonalandsocialattributesthataregenerallyadmiredor
valued.Totheextentpossible,youmustdevelopandenhancetheseattributes.
Fitness:People,especiallyfitpeople,areattractedtofitpeople.
MoneyResponsibility:Beingirresponsiblewithmoneygreatlyreducesyourattractiveness.
Style:Becool.Beingcooldoesn'trequirespendingalotofmoney.Beingcoolrequiresaninterestinkeepinginharmonywithapersonal
styleofdressandbehaviorthatitconsideredandthoughtful.Beingcoolisnothaphazard.Beingcoolisnotconformitybutanexpression
ofyourinnerself.
SeekingImprovement:Thekindsofpeopleyouwanttomeetaretryingtoimprovethemselvesinmanydifferentways.Theyread,
travel(totheextenttheycan),haveinterests,perhapsgotoschool,dooutdooractivitiesorpaint.Developingandimprovingyourskill,
knowledgeandaccomplishmentsinyourareaofinterestmakesyoumoreattractive.
Neatness:Evensloppypeople(likeme)likeneatpeople.
ThingsYouMustNOTDo:Becomehysterical.Beanaddict.Becomeadragbynotdoingyourpart.Makedecisionsforothers.Make
decisionsthatinvolveotherswithoutadetaileddiscussion.Allowpeopletomakedecisionsforyou.Assumepeople(ortheUniverse)owe
yousomethingforsomethingyoudid.Lendorgivemoneytoboyfriendsorgirlfriendswiththeexpectationthatitwillbepaidback.Ignore
saying"please"and"thankyou."Beaningrate.Bepuffeduporbeatdown.Note:Almostallrelationshipproblemsarecausedbythe
unrestrainedexpressionofoneormoreofthelowerfourworlds:hell,hungerAnimalityandanger.

LoveandthepowerofNammyohorengekyo.
"Kenzokumyo"isadeepmysticconnectionwiththeBuddhasincethetimewithoutbeginning.Italsostandsforthemysticrelationship
wehavehadwithspecificotherpeoplesincetheremotestpast.AccordingtoBuddhistthought,wehavebeentogetherwithcertainother
peopleinmanyformsofrelationships:friend/friend,husband/wife,husband/daughter,mother/son,lover/lover,sister/brother,
employee/boss,lord/vassal,etc.Wehavebeenbothmaleandfemale.Atleastsomeofyourpastrelationshipshavebeensatisfactoryto
ahighdegree.Thisdoesn'tmeanyouhadanintimaterelationship.
BecauseyouareonewithyourenvironmentandtheUniverse,itispossibletoconnectwithoneormoreofthesepleasingrelationships
frompastexistences.Nomatterwhereasuitablepartnermaybephysically,youcanhookup.
Butsinceyoudon'tknowwhereorwhotheyare,youhavetouseyourMYSTICEMAIL.ThisconsistsofchantingmanyDaimoku(Nam
myohorengekyo)inordertoconnectwiththemanddrawtheycloser.It'sassimpleasthat.Ifyourbrainisnotenlightened,youmaynot
thinktheseinvisiblethreadsconnectyouwiththeUniverse.Theydo.Tryit.

TheworldaccordingtoBob.
WhenIwas20andajuniorattheUniversityofIllinois,Urbana,Ibelongedtoanantifraternityfraternalclubcalled
Praetorians.DuringregistrationweekofSeptember,1964,IwentonadoubledatewithaPraetorianbrother,Danny
Dreyfus.HisdatewasJann,afreshman,fromBirmingham,Alabama.MydatewasKathyMorimitsu,afreshmanfrom
Chicago.IfellinlovewithJannatfirstsight.
However,mygeneralinsecuritiesandmyperceptionofherhighsocialstandingandoursocialeconomicdisparitiesmade
amoveonmypartimpossible.(PoorAsianboyrichJewishgirl.)Astimewentby,wehadtalkedcasuallyfromtimeto
timeonthequadortheunion.Threeandahalfyearspassed.JannwasaseniorandIwasinlawschool.Wefinally
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

6/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

wentout.LoveblossomedontheJanuaryfrozentundra.Wesentprettymucheverydaytogetherforsixmonths.We
wentonabuscaravantoMilwaukeetoworkforGeneMcCarthybeforetheWisconsinPrimary.Onourwayback,
Johnsondroppedoutoftherace.
JanngraduatedandwenttoNYU.IstayedinChampaignfinishingmylawdegree.IvisitedheronceinNYCduringthe
summer.
Duringmylastyearoflawschool,Iwasdepressedaboutalotofthings,includingmissingJann.Ididn'thaveany
confidenceinmyabilitytopassthebarexam,makealiving,supportafamilyorsurviveforverylongintherealworld.I
don'tknowwheremy"beatdown"feelingcamefrom.Maybeitwasupbringingorbrainchemistryimbalance.Myoldest
brotherhadbecomeafullblownparanoidschizophrenic.IthoughtImightgomad.
OnJune,19thIwokeupearly.IhadastrongfeelingIwouldmeetsomeonewhowouldchangemylife.Ineverhadthis
kindoffeelingbefore.Iwenttothestudentunionandwaitedforeighthours.Finally,aweirdlydiversegroupofpeople
enteredfromthefarend.Young,old,black,white,Asian,halfAsian,Hispanic,maleandfemalewererepresented.They
weretalkingtopeopleandgettingcoffee.IfthesewerethepeopleIwassupposedtomeet,Iwouldletthemcometo
me.Finallyoneofthem,FrankRoss,satdownandsaid,"wouldliketogotoaBuddhistmeeting?"I'vebeenchanting
everydaysince.OneofthemanyearlybenefitsIreceivedwasthatInolongerfeltheartbrokenanddefeatedwith
respecttoJann.Ifeltconfidentthatmylovelifewillworkoutfine.Thatfeelingneverleftme,eveninthedarkdaysof
divorcefrommyfirstwife.
IlivedandpracticedlawandBuddhisminChicagofortenyears.DuringthattimeJannandIsaweachotherafew
times.Theoldfeelingneverleft.ButIwastooinsecureaboutbeingasuccesstotakeourrelationshiptothenextstep.
ImovedtoVegasandwelostcontactfor14years.Igotmarriedanddivorcedandplayedaround.SomehowIdidn't
connectdeeplywithwomeninmycloseenvironment.Chantingworks.IsatinfrontoftheGohonzonandchantedlots
andlotsofDaimoku.Aftersometime,IrealizedthatIwasadifferentpersonduetomyBuddhistpractice.Ihadbeen
workingfortheCityofLasVegasfortenyearsandhadbeenpromotedtwice.Ihadsavedalot(forme)ofmoney.My
friendgavemeanicetownhousefor$1,000andtakingoverhismortgage.Mycareerwasenjoyableandsecure.I
realizedthatifIkeptchantingabout"love"theanswerwouldcomefrominsideandwouldconnectmewiththeworld.
IbegansendingDaimokutoeverygirlIeverlikedorlovedstartingwithgradeschool.Itdawnedonmethat"backtothe
future"or"onceandfuture"mightbethewaytogo.InmyheadIwentthroughmypastrelationships.WhenIgotto
Jann,mychantingtookonamusicaltone.Shewas:completelymytypelookswiseintelligentwellreadliberalgentle
curiousaboutlifeNOTDomineeringandSoutherncultured.Mostofall,wehadbeencompletelyanddeeplyinlove
whenwewereyoung.
IgothernumberfromdirectoryassistanceinAtlanta.Wetalkedanditwasjustlikeyesterday.Shehadnevermarried,
hadbecomealawyerandwantedtogettogether.WehadaVegasAtlantarelationshipforayear.18yearsago,Jann
movedtoVegasonatrialbasis.Itoldherthatanytimeshewantedtogetmarried"justsaytheword."Janndidn'tsay
anythingaboutitfor9years.Wehavebeenmarriedfor9years.Lifeisgood.Loveisreal.Lovecounts.

8.UnderstandandGetWhatYouReallyNeedforYourHappiness.(WhatDoIwantoutoflife?)
backtotop

Whenyouarechanting,ask,twiceaday,"WhatdoIwantoutoflife?"Theanswermaychangefromdaytoday.Butyouwillgetan
answer.PursuingthepathtoyourhappinessrequiresBuddhawisdom.SinceBuddhismisindividual,youranswerwillbeindividual.It
maytaketimeforyourBuddhawisdomtohityourbrain.Onceyouthinkyouhaveananswer,keepasking.
Behonestwithyourself.Whatareyoureallyinterestedin?Whatareyougoodatorcanbecomegoodat?Bypursuingthewrongpathin
lifewastesalotoftime.Abadrelationshiporunsuitablejobwilltakeatleastthreeyearsoutofyourhide.Wedon'thavethatmany
threeyearchunkstopiddleaway.Timeislife.Lifeistime.
HOWEVER,DON'TGETALLDEPRESSEDBECAUSEYOUHAVEMADEMISTAKES,takenthewrongpathmanytimes,ledothers
downthewrongpath,orhavenothingbutregretssofar.TheBuddhistspiritis"fromnowon."Fromnowonappliestoyoursuccesses
aswellasfailures.
TheproperpracticeofNichirenBuddhismnaturallyleadsyoutoanunderstandingofthefutureaswellasthepastandpresent.Chanting
willallowyoutounderstandthefutureatthedeepestpartofyourlife.Chantingsavestimeinthelongrun.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
Ihavemadealotmistakesinmylife.ManyofthesemistakeshappenedafterIbecameaBuddhist.Eachofthese
mistakesmighthavebeenavoided.ChantinghelpedmetolearnwhatIreallywantedformyhappiness.Onceonthe
rightpath,Ifeltgoodanddeterminedandactuallysucceeded.MyfirstjoboutoflawschoolwasasaFederalCivil
RightsInvestigator.Iworkedonhousingdiscriminationcases.IlovedthepeopleIworkedwith,gottotravel,andhad
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

7/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

regularhours,agoodsalaryandbenefits.
Afterpassingthebar,IfeltIhadtoworkasalawyerdoinglawyerwork.Ihadaseriesofverygoodlawyerjobsbut
wasn'tveryhappy.AlthoughImadealotofmoney,Iwasexpectedtoworkacrushingamountofhours.ThestuffI
workedonwasinteresting,butafterawhilebecameboring.MyLesson:workingintheprivatesector,asastafflawyer
islifedoomedtoinsecurityandalowhourlywage.Yourpaydividedbythenumberofhoursyouhavetoworkequals
youractualhourlywage.Inmycaseitwaslow,probablylessthanafactoryworker.MyLessonAboutMyself:Idon't
mindworkinghardaslongasIgetpaidanagreeduponamountforeveryhourIwork.Aboutsixyearsin,Iwentonmy
owndoingtrafficmisdemeanordefenseworkandrealestate.IalsobecamearealestatebrokerandPrudential
insuranceagent.BeingmyownbossIdidtraffictrialsatthegiantChicagoTrafficCourtinthemorning,realestate
closingintheafternoonandinsuranceatnight.ImadeagoodlivingbutdecidedIhatedChicago.
Idon'tlikebiginconvenientcitieswhereyouhavetowastetraveltime,payforparking,paythroughthenoseforsimple
restaurantfoodandmediocreentertainment.Idon'tlikecoldwinters,humidsummersandcrowds.MyLessonAbout
Myself:Iwon'tlivewhereIdon'twanttolive.Itdoesn'tgetbetterandImaygettobetoooldtomove.Chantingabout
it,ImovedtoVegaswhentherewere300,000peoplethere.(Nowthereare2million).Aftersomefitsandstarts,Ireally
chantedtofindoutwhatIreallywantedtodowithmylife.IdecidedIwaskindaoflazy,inthatIwantedalifeafter
work.Workwasnotmylife.Iwantedfinancialandjobsecurity,inthatifIworkedhardwithagoodcooperativeattitude,I
couldn'tbe"letgo"becausesomeone'snephewneededmyjob.AfterchantingIdecidedthatIwashappyworkingforthe
Feds.IdecidedtogetandgotajobwithCityofLasVegas.Ifeltcomfortableandsecure.Ibecameasuccess,being
promotedfourtimes.Iwasactingassistantcitymanager,the3rdhighestrankingofficial.Isavedorearned$40million
fortheCitythroughnegotiatingpublic/privatecontracts.IchantedeverydayforeveryoneIworkedwithfor20years.I
alsotaughtaviationlawatNellisAirForceBaseandbecameactiveinpolitics.
Afteranenjoyablecareer,Iretiredat56after20yearswithagoodpensionandsubstantialsavings.Beingretired,I
travel,kayak,fish,playguitarandwritesongs,read,write,shootcompetitionrifleandpistol(placed4thintheVIMBAR
worldchampionships),plunkatarchery(2xCitychampion,1xstatechampion),takeartclassesattheCollegeof
SouthernNevadaanddopolitics(ObamacaptainforPrecinct#3391,55to55tiewithHilbilly).
ThemovetoVegaswasgoodforme.Ineverlivedmorethan20minutesfromwork.99%oftheparkingisfreeand
easy.Theweatherisgoodexceptfor2.5summermonths.Youcaneatlikeapigfornotmuchmoney.Theworldclass
outdoorsiscloseby.Ofmajorimportance,thereisavibrantNichirenBuddhistcommunityhere.Chanttounderstand
whatyouneedtobehappy,andthendoit.

9.IncreasetheSpanofYourLifeOvercometheSufferingsofBirth,OldAge,Sickness,Death
andRebirth.
backtotop

Youaregoingtodie.Deathispartofthegreatnaturalrecyclingprogram.Beforeyoudieyoumightbecomeoldandsick.Evenifwe
mustdie,livingafullnaturallifeisdesireable.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
AfterlawschoolIstayedwithmyparentsontheSouthsideofChicagowhileworkingdowntown.Oneday,Mother
decidedshewouldmovefromthehouseshehadlivedinfor20years.Ihurriedlyrentedanapartmentandspentthe
entireweekendwithmybrothersmovingmymothertoanapartment.Ofcoursethemovemadenosense,was
impulsive,andunplanned.
Whilestayingwithmyparents,IrodethesameIllinoisCentralcommutertraintoworkdowntowneveryworkday.Ialways
rodeinthefirstcarbecauseitwasclosesttotheexitatthedowntownstation.
Themovewasfinishedat4:00amonMonday.Ididn'tevenknowhowtogettowork.Iarrivedverylateandstaggered
tomydesk.Everyonewasgivingmeastrangelook.Mybossfinallyapproachedme.Ibecamedefensiveexplainingthe
moveandthefactthatIputinlotsofextrahoursworkingonourcaseload.
Hesaid,"Wethoughtyouweredead.Thetrainyoutakeeverydayrammedanothertrainnearthedowntownstation.80
peoplewerekilled."Mylifeextendedthenandtwoothertimes.

10.GetStuffYouMayWant,IncludingFreedom,Wealth,Love,Friends,WorkSatisfactionand
JoyByBuddhafyingYourself.
backtotop

IfyoupracticeBuddhismfromnowandyourlastmomentinthislife,youwillhaveallthe"stuff"listedaboveandmuchmore.Youwill
alsobeadifferentbetterpersonandenjoylife.ThatisBuddhafyingyourself.EarthlydesireAREenlightenment.Weburnthefirewoodof
earthlydesirestoproducethefireofenlightenedwisdom.
http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

8/9

7/7/2016

AmericanGongyoWhyChant?

Manyphilosophiespreachsin,selfdenial,fatalism,ornonmaterialism.NichirenBuddhismdoesnot.Youneedtoenjoylifeandhaveall
thethingsandrelationshipsyouneedtoenjoylife.NichirenBuddhismdoesnothavecommandmentsexcepttochantNammyohorenge
kyototheGohonzon.
Sochantandtakeactiontogetwhatyouneedtoenjoylife.KeepinmindthatyouandtheUniversearecauseandeffect.While
Buddhismdoesnotsay,"don'tbecomeacrackhead,"beingacrackheadcausestheeffectofviolence,poverty,anddenigration.

TheWorldAccordingtoBob:
Generallyspeaking,it'sbettertohavemoneythannothaving"enough"money.WhenIstartedchantingIwasbrokeand
indebtfromgoingtocollegeandlawschool(UniversityofIllinois,Urbana).Ondayone,Irememberchantingforfood
andnottobeevictedfrommyhovel.WithindaysIwasflushwithanemergencyloanfromthelawschool.Ididn'tknow
thispotofinterestfreemoneyevenexisted.Afriendhappenedtomentiontheloanfundinpassing.
IttookmeanumberofyearstolearnthatIhadtosaveagoodpartofwhatIearnedinordertobeabletoretireearly.I
drovethesame4x4Nissantruckfor15years.Throughsavingindeferredcompensation,conservativeinvestmentsanda
greatgovernmentpension.Iwasabletoretireat56yearsand26days.Thismayseemveryordinary.Butmylifelong
dreamwastobeabletolivewellandnothavetowork.Youarewhatyousave,notwhatyouearn.(Pleasesee,my
experienceinthebookTheBuddhaNextDoor,MiddlewayPress.)Ienjoylifeeveryday.OfcourseIalsoenjoyedlife
beforeIretired.Tocertainextentfreedominvolvesmoney,butit'snotonlymoney.Healthandgoodrelationshipsare
necessaryingredients.Astrongselfimageandloveareimportant.Afterafewyearsofchanting,IfoundthatIhad
freedom.Youcanenhanceyourfreedomtodoandbewhateveryoudesire.Inmyexperience,itisimportanttodevelop
yourBuddhawisdomtoknowwhatturnsyouon,excitesyou,anddeeplyinterestsyou.Whatdoyouyearnfor?Chant
aboutit,please.

AboutAmericanGongyo | Experiences | PresentationForLeaders | PhotoGallery | LinksPhoto

Gallery
AmericanGongyotmCopyright2008byRobertHasegawa,allrightsreserved.
ThisisanunofficialpublicationonSGINichirenBuddhismownedandoperatedbyBobHasegawa,LasVegas,
Nevada

http://americangongyo.org/whychant.php#1

9/9