Attitude towards Gongyo

Attitude towards Gongyo

Concerning our attitude toward Gongyo, Mr. Toda has stated:

“Doing gongyo in front of Gohonzon is no different than doing of Nichiren Daishonin himself. Therefore, your posture should be upright; during gongyo you should not yawn, much les...s doze off”. His guidance was that we should pray to the Gohonzon with the solemn attitude that we would assume in the presence of the Daishonin.

Gongyo is a solemn ceremony in which we common mortal are able to manifest Buddhahood in our everyday lives and in society. Only the practice of gongyo enables us to do this. And when we return once again to our daily activities, we dwell in the nine worlds. Only during gongyo can we experience life of Buddhahood; consequently, from this state of Buddhahood we plunge into the complex and harsh realities of the nine worlds and then come back to the Gohonzon and chant Daimoku. This is the rhythm we repeat everyday.

For this reason, we should do gongyo in a rich sonorous voice, and conduct it with a genuine and pure mind. Leaders in our organization, as generals among generals, have the responsibility of vigorously leading the junior members to the Gohonzon. Accordingly, they in particular should have a correct posture in doing gongyo. Their Gongyo must never be conducted in an oppressive rhythm, nor should they do a sleepy or careless gongyo. Aware that, as senior leaders, a great number of junior members are watching you, please diligently carry out the practice of gongyo as the most solemn discipline in the course of your lives. 

President Ikeda

(Buddhism in Action 4, page 127)