Attitude While Observing Gongyo

Attitude while observing Gongyo

Gongyo is a solemn liturgical practice of Buddhism. According to the Hokekyo, all Buddhist gods assemble behind the worshiper during the morning service. A passage from Nichiren Daishonin’s Gosho also says: "Bonten, Taishaku, Nichi-gatsu, Shiten and all other Buddhist gods protect day and night the one who chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." For this reason, you should sit upright and pray sincerely to the Gohonzon.

1) Single-minded Prayer

What is more, Gongyo is the concrete expression of your faith in the Gohonzon. A daily life overflowing with vitality derives from the rhythmical practice of this daily service. It is of little avail to do gongyo absentmindedly merely from force of habit. Therefore, you should offer pure-and-single-minded prayers. Also important is to form the habit of chanting the Daimoku as constantly as a river flows. Such an observance of Gongyo is the basis for having your wishes answered.

  

2) Proper Posture

You may sit on a chair, but sit upright. Being neatly dressed is desirable, too. Your respect for the Gohonzon is reflected in the way you observe Gongyo.

During the service, you should look straight at the Gohonzon with your eyes wide-open. In a normal conversation, the speaker and listener face each other. They do not close their eyes or look aside. If one has something special to communicate, he would look intently at the other. In Gongyo, you are communicating directly with the Gohonzon; you are expected to direct your eyes straight—not aside or glancing.

3) Fold Your Hands

At Buddhist prayer, the worshiper folds his hands together. This should be observed in Gongyo. A human body is symmetrical and shows the perfect form when the hands are joined together in the center above the chest. Thus you can set your mind at the utmost concentration on your prayer.

4) What Troubles Your Prayer

You may have various feelings or thoughts during Gongyo. Even if you pray to the Gohonzon concentrated at one moment, you may doubt at the next moment whether your prayer will really be answered. If you reproach a fellow member in your mind for some reason or other during Gongyo, the Gohonzon will know that instantly.

Practice of faith is nothing ideological. Our faith reveals itself in our daily lives. This is why we should make efforts never to be troubled by trifles and to pray for great objectives.

In the beginning, you may not be able to control your mind, but as you chant more and more Daimoku, your mind will become serene and begin to concentrate on the Gohonzon. This state is called Hokke-zanmai - the most enjoyable state of faith devoted in the Gohonzon.

Source: President Ikeda's Guidance on Josei Toda's Lectures on the Sutra