●Teachings of HONMON BUTSURYUSHU

1. TRUE BUDDHISM HONMON BUTSURYUSHU

e. WHAT IS "NAMUMYOHORENGEKYO" ?

HBS takes the position to practice its faith by mouth. Unless one is gifted with great intelligence and ability, it is difficult to control one's heart to draw out Buddhist nature by meditation alone, and to practice it haphazardly only causes confusion and damage to one's body and soul.

One may asks what significant effect repeated chanting of the phrase, "Namumyohorengekyo" has? It is difficult to explain it in these few pages. However, to summarize it, praying in front of the altar by repeated chanting of the phrase, "Namumyohorengekyo", invokes a mysterious power which improve the health of the sick and help persons with psychological illness. One who constantly chants the "Odaimoku" will be protected from distress and calamity. To illustrate, there is a Japanese proverb, "The proof is in the eating". Following is an actual case.

Professor Kenichiro Tashiro, age 45, a neurologist, and now a parishioner of HBS, did not believe in any religion several years ago. In fact, he held a negative attitude toward religion. He believed medical technology and religion did not mix, that religion could not cure illnesses in contrast to medicine. He felt that religion was a hindrance to healing through modern medical technology. Therefore, he frequently persuaded his wife, who had practiced with HBS from a young age, to renounce her membership.

Professor Tashiro, who had been leading a successful life, was suddenly confronted with many undesirable circumstances one after another. Due to conditions beyond his control, Professor Tashiro fell into a state of mental anxiety. Being a neurologist, he diagnosed his own mental problem and began self-diagnosis. His physical condition however began to deteriorate to a point where his colleagues felt he could no longer adequately perform his duties.

His wife strongly advised him to meet Reverend Shingen Kobayashi, Head Priest of the Kokunji Temple, in Fukuoka City, where she is a member. Professor Tashiro, who could find no way out of his predicament decided to follow his wife's advice.

Professor Tashiro met Reverend Kobayashi, who, immediately, told Tashiro, "from today, stop taking any medicine. Chant the "Odaimoku" morning and night for an hour. Also let's hold an "Ojogyo" for one whole week"
"Ojogyo" is a practice where other members of the congregation pray together with a distressed person in the hopes of having his request(s) fulfilled. In short, Ojogyo is praying together with the support of others.

Professor Tashiro, who was plagued with withdrawal symptoms from stopping to take medication endured the hardship. He earnestly prayed by chanting the"Odaimoku"for a week, and from the third day his condition began to improve. On the fourth day, he showed more improvement, and, finally, after a week, he regained his health and was able to return to work.

Shortly thereafter, accompanied by his family, Tashiro went to America to conduct researches on biochemistry of the brain at the National Institute of Health. He was able to discover a new type of substance relating to the brain.

After returning to Japan, he worked at the Wakahisa Hospital for mental patients in Fukuoka City. He is also continuing his research relating to the brain at the National Kyushu University Hospital. As might be expected he has not missed a day of praying at the Kokunji Temple.

Professor Tashiro said,"My encounter with HBS was like meeting Buddha in Hell. If I had not come in contact with HBS when I was ill, I don't think I would be where I am today. In Japan, there is a treatment for mental patients known as the Morita therapy, which utilizes the Zen principles. I have met several of these patients who were treated by the Morita method, but the treatment must be continued for a long period. By contrast, chanting the "Odaimoku" enabled me to return to work in a very short period. It is a marvelous way of treating mental patients".

Next. [Teachings] 1-f. MEDICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE "ODAIMOKU":