Odaimoku Is A Wonderful Remedy

by Rev. Shokai Kanai

Nichiren Buddhists always chant Odaimoku because it is a wonderful remedy to cure our suffering, to save us from troubles and to keep our minds peaceful.

Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra reveals the parable of "An Excellent Physician."

There was once an excellent and wise physician, who could cure all manner of diseases.  He had many children.  One day, while their father was traveling away in a distant land, his children got into the medicine room and began to sample what they found there.  They tasted many different medicines, enjoying the taste, and too late they realized that some of them were poisonous.  They fell to the floor, writhing in agony.

Fortunately, the father returned home soon afterwards.  He was shocked to find them in so much pain.  The father knew exactly what to do and mixed several ingredients to make a remedy in good color, taste and fragrance.  Then he gave it to the children.  Some took it immediately and were cured.  Others had to be forced to take it.  Still others refused to take it at all, but later took it and recovered from the poison sickness when they heard that their father died far away during a trip.

Saint Nichiren said that the remedy that the physician made is the Sacred Title of the Lotus Sutra, "Myoho Renge Kyo."  The physical body of the excellent doctor could not save the poisoned children but the remedy did when the children took it.  Therefore, to chant the Odaimoku is the same with taking the remedy.

Myoho Renge Kyo is the Japanese name of the Lotus Sutra, one of the Buddhist scriptures.  It is the most excellent teaching and true.  A name is important because it signifies everything within it. As the United States of America includes the fifty states, its government, people, culture, history and others, the sacred title of the scripture contains all of Buddha’s teachings.   Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo consists of five characters.  The Lotus Sutra has about 70,000 Chinese characters.  When we chant these seven words of Odaimoku once, it equals reading through the sutra composed of the 70,000 letters once.

Nichiren Shonin also said that a baby drinks milk given by his mother without knowing the nutritious value, but the baby grows.

Similarly, although you do not understand the full meaning of "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" or the content of the Lotus Sutra, but when you chant it, you will be all right because the Eternal Buddha Sakyamuni blesses you with his compassion and all deities protect you.  Nichiren Faith is the complete trust in the Odaimoku.

When we chant the Odaimoku, we attain a new life.  When we chant it, we should be fully aware that we are doing so, not only our own sake but also for others.

To chant the Odaimoku is to devote oneself, to obey, to adore, and to devote ourselves to the universal laws that the Buddha Sakyamuni revealed.  Thus you will naturally be harmonized with universe and receive various merits.

People experience many different merits such as recovery from illness, good business, good relationships with others, peace of mind and so on.

If you would like to experience something good to happen, please try to chant it for one hour about the same time of the day everyday for three weeks.  Let me know your experience.