Gongyo consists of a series of prayers. Recite all five prayers in the morning. In the evening, recite the second, third and fifth prayers only. For convenience, the sutra book is divided into four sections:
A: Excerpt from the Hoben chapter, p. 1–4 in the “Liturgy of Nichiren Shoshu.”
B: Chogyo or prose section of the Juryo chapter, p. 5–22.
C: Jigage or verse section of the Juryo chapter, p. 22–31.
D: Silent Prayers, p. 32–37.
THE ORDER OF RECITATION
First Prayer
Face the Gohonzon, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times (Daimoku Sansho), bowing in reverence to the Three Treasures of True Buddhism (the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin; the True Law, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo; and the Priest, i.e., Nikko Shonin, Nichimoku Shonin, and each of the successive High Priests). Face east, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times, bow, and recite part A. The portion of part A from “Sho-i sho-ho” to “nyo ze honmak-kukyo to” is always repeated three times. Bow after the third recitation. 16How to Do Gongyo 17 Recite the title of the Juryo chapter (first two lines of part B), omiFt the remainder of part B and recite part C, bowing at the end of part C. Chant three prolonged Daimoku (Hiki-Daimoku, which is pronounced: Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, i.e., chant Namu, breathe, chant Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Namu, breathe, chant Myoho-RengeKyo, Namu, breathe, chant Myoho-Renge-Kyo). Bow, chant NamMyoho-Renge-Kyo three times and while bowing, offer the first Silent Prayer. (The bell is not rung during the first prayer.)
Second Prayer
Face the Gohonzon, ring the bell seven times. Recite part A, sound the bell three times. Recite parts B, C, chant three prolonged Daimoku and bow. Sound the bell five times, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times, bow and offer the second Silent Prayer. This is the only time that the whole sutra is recited straight through. (The places indicated for bowing in the first prayer are the same for all five prayers. The number of times the bell should be struck is always the same as indicated above, except as indicated in the fifth prayer.)
Third Prayer
Sound bell, recite part A. Sound bell, recite the first two lines of part B, omit the remainder of B and recite part C. Chant three prolonged Daimoku, sound the bell, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times, and offer the third Silent Prayer.
Fourth Prayer
Sound bell, recite part A. Sound bell, recite the first two lines of part B, omit the remainder of B and recite part C. Chant three prolonged Daimoku, sound the bell, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times, and offer the fourth Silent Prayer.
Fifth Prayer
Sound bell, recite part A. Sound bell, recite the first two lines of part B, omit the remainder of B and recite part C. Then, strike the bell seven times while beginning the chanting of Daimoku (NamMyoho-Renge-Kyo). To end the recitation of Daimoku, strike the bell with each syllable of the last Myoho-Renge-Kyo and bow. Chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three more times, and while bowed, offer the fifth Silent Prayer. Strike the bell continuously during the first part of the fifth Silent Prayer. Then, after observing the last part of the fifth Silent Prayer, sound the bell and conclude Gongyo by chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo three times and bowing.
DOING GONGYO WITH TWO OR MORE PEOPLE
When Gongyo is done together with other people, one person leads while the others harmonize their voices with him or her. If everyone follows the speed of the leader, and chants at a moderate volume, the rhythm will be easy to follow. During the recitation of the Sutra, the leader recites the titles of the Hoben-pon and Juryo-hon, then all join in unison in the recitation. The Daimoku Sansho during the silent prayers is chanted by the leader alone.
When Hiki-Daimoku is recited during Gongyo, the first Nammu is chanted by the leader alone, followed by everyone chanting in unison. The first Daimoku Sansho to start Gongyo, and the final one to finish Gongyo are chanted by everyone.
CHANTING DAIMOKU (SHODAI) APART FROM GONGYO
There may be times during the day when you want to chant extra Daimoku apart from Morning or Evening Gongyo. In this case the following is recommended:
1. Chant Daimoku Sansho, ring the bell seven times and recite part A. Then, ring the bell three times and recite the title of the Juryo-hon and part C.How to Do Gongyo 19
2. At the end of part C, ring the bell seven times and start chanting Daimoku. Chant as much as you wish, then ring the bell five times as you finish.
3. Observe the Second, Third, last part of the Fourth and last part of the Fifth Silent prayers, one after the other, chanting Daimoku Sansho at the appropriate intervals as shown in your sutra book. Then, ring the bell three times and recite a final Daimoku Sansho.
Fifty-ninth High Priest, Nichiko Shonin, stated the following on the practice of Shodai:
The Daimoku that we chant must be performed attentively and diligently. When chanting, we should not have trivial thoughts in our minds. The speed should not be too fast and our pronunciation should not be slurred. We must maintain a medium pitch and chant calmly, resolutely and steadily. There is no established number of Daimoku that we must chant. The amount depends on individual circumstances . . . . When we chant, the entire body should feel a tremendous surge of joy. We must persevere until we become totally one with the Gohonzon.”
(Nichiren Shoshu Koyo, p.134)
THE MEMORIAL BOOK (KAKOCHO)
In Nichiren Shoshu, we perform the practice of Eko, the transference of merit. We transfer the benefit of our Daimoku to our deceased loved ones each day during Gongyo, and believers may obtain a special memorial book to use during the Fifth Silent prayer. The book is set up so that we can offer memorials of gratitude during Gongyo each day. All Nichiren Shoshu Temples have a Memorial Book at the altar. Smaller versions are inscribed for lay believers by the Chief Priest of the local temple. It is recommended that all believers have a memorial book. It is placed to20 Nichiren Shoshu Basics of Practice the left side of the offering table in front of the Butsudan
Recorded in the Memorial Book are the anniversaries of the deaths of Nichiren Daishonin and all of the successive High Priests, acknowledgment of the religious persecutions the Daishonin endured, and the anniversaries of the deaths of our own deceased relatives and friends.
Each page of the Memorial Book is numbered to correspond to a day of the month. For example, the page numbered 20 corresponds to the twentieth day of each month of the year. Just before beginning evening Gongyo, turn the page to the one numbered for the next day and observe those memorials during the Fifth Silent Prayer. Repeat those memorials at morning Gongyo on the numbered day.
Families who have a Memorial Book should offer the memorial section of the Fifth Prayer in the following manner. After ending Shodai, and chanting Daimoku Sansho, while continuously striking the bell:
1. Silently offer your deep gratitude for the Daishonin and the successive High Priests as they are noted in the Memorial Book.
2. Silently offer your gratitude for the religious persecutions the Daishonin endured as they are noted in the Memorial Book.
3. Silently offer prayers in memory of and gratitude for the lives of the deceased as they are noted in the Memorial Book including those whose names have been inscribed at your request by the Chief Priest.
4. Then, offer the first part of the Fifth Silent prayer in your Sutra book, and offer prayers for any other deceased relatives and friends.
5. Offer the last part of the Fifth Silent prayer and finish Gongyo by ringing the bell three times and chanting Daimoku Sansho.
To obtain a Memorial Book, request an application from your local temple. This application has a place to write the names of one’s deceased family and friends. The Chief Priest inscribes the requested names in the book. When a new name needs to be added, the book should be given to the Chief Priest to make the inscription. Please check with your local temple staff regarding appropriate Gokuyo.
