Hi Everybody,
So we're talking about the basic practice and we're in the middle of a discussion on the role of chanting.
Chanting to achieve things in one's life, including material things, runs strongly counter to the widely held perception of Buddhism that it is essentially about renunciation, about giving up worldly things as a necessary step on the road to achieving a higher spiritual condition. Nichiren Buddhism however teaches that renunciation, giving up things, of itself, brings no benefits. It argues rather that desire is basic to all human life and that as long as there is life there will be the instinctive desire in the hearts of men and women to make the most of that life, which inevitably means to love and to want and to have.
Nichiren saw with great clarity that little was to be gained from people expending huge amounts of thought and time and energy seeking to extinguish a force that lay right at the core of their lives. On the contrary infinitely more is to be achieved by accepting it as an ordinary part of everyone's humanity, and harnessing it, as a powerful engine for individual growth and change.
But let's be clear, we are not talking about a solely rational or intellectual process. In many ways the effects of chanting on a regular, committed, daily basis, are beyond the reach of the intellect alone. It does change profoundly your view of what is valuable and meaningful in life.
The ultimate goal of the Nichiren Buddhist is a world made up of people and communities that live in peace one with another. We chant for it, and work for it on a daily basis.
That brings us to the end of the passage on chanting. Lets leave it there.
Next time around we pick up the theme of study and its role in the practice.
Hope to see you next time.
William
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