Transcript Introduction to Buddhism_Attending an OKO Service_2015

You are invited to a special and rare opportunity to attend a Buddhist chanting meditation here in Tucson, Arizona!
WHAT:
Reverend Tamura will be visiting our home and will be leading an OKO service.
WHEN:
See Meetup.com schedule or if you are on our mailing list you will get a notification. Service 5pm to 6pm. Dinner
served following.
WHERE :
9822 East Pinyon Pine Drive, Tucson Arizona (Busher’s residence)
Action to be taken:
1.
Familiarize yourself with this introduction deck.
2.
RSVP confirming your attendance status.
( USA )
http://www.beikokuhbs.com
Educational Series 1.0 : Introduction to Buddhism, “Attending an OKO Service”
.
Copyright 2014 HBS Arizona Sangha
Overview
1. Brief introduction to Buddhism
2. Two types of meditations
1.
2.
Silent
Chanting
3. Chanting the Daimoku : “NAMU MYO HO RENGE KYO”
4. Attending an OKO service
•
How to prepare and what to expect
5. Closing
The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BC (~2500 years
ago) to the present, starting with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha
Gautama in Lumbini, Nepal. This makes it one of the oldest
religions practiced today.
Buddha became known as Lord Shakyamuni Buddha.
Buddhist practices evolved as it spread from the northeastern
region of the Indian subcontinent through Central, East, and
Southeast Asia.
In Japan he is known as Shakuson, or more commonly Shaka or
Shaka Nyorai, meaning "the Buddha."
At the age of 29, Shakyamuni renounced his princely heritage and
became a wandering mendicant spiritual seeker (dge-sbyong, Skt.
shramana).
Although battles can be fought against external enemies, the real
battle is against our internal enemies.
Shakyamuni sought to understand the true nature of the suffering
he experienced around him (birth, aging, sickness, death, rebirth,
sadness, and confusion).
“At all times I think to myself: How can I cause living beings to
gain entry into the unsurpassed way and quickly acquire the
body of a Buddha?” – Lotus Sutra
A Goryeo-illustrated manuscript of the Lotus Sutra, c.1340
Shakyamuni’s journey to Enlightenment is beyond the scope of
this presentation but it may be helpful to know that the Buddha’s
teachings are numerous and were preached in accord to the time
and capacity of the people.
The Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra exclusively in the last 10
years of his life. The Lotus Sutra is widely accepted by scholars as
the “King of Sutras”. Buddhist traditions based on LS are “Tendai”,
“Nichiren” and “Soto Zen”.
Lotus Sūtra is "the highest and ultimate teaching of Buddhism"
and it "contained the essence of the Buddha's enlightenment
and that it held the key to transforming people's suffering and
enabling society to flourish.”- Buddhist Monk Nichiren Shonin
In general, Buddhist meditations can be divided into Two types :
SILENT (zen) : A “thought-concentration” practice usually accomplished through silent
meditation and the use of ones mind to calm ones soul from the frustrations of life and to
help awaken the 'Buddhist nature'.
The practice of meditation centered on thought concentration is found to be most difficult in
manifesting “Buddha Enlightenment” in the busy lives of people living in todays times.
CHANTING : Use of the “Five sense-organs”. Practice prescribed by the Buddha in the Lotus
Sutra in order to plant the seed “the genuine cause of Buddhahood” into the 8th
consciousness (fundamental store-house consciousness or Aryashiki).
One of the main objectives of this practice is to plant in one's conscious mind Buddha's
virtuous merits of enlightenment, to eradicate bad seeds and to build virtuous merits.
“Manifest evidence is more important than reasoning
or documents.”
Chanting the Daimoku
Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (南無妙法蓮華経)
(English: Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra or Glory to the Sutra of the
Lotus of the Supreme Law) is a mantra that is chanted by practitioners of Honmon
Butsuryu Shu and the Lotus Sutra.
The mantra is referred to as daimoku (題目)
The practice of chanting the daimoku is called shōdai (唱題).
The purpose of chanting daimoku is to attain perfect and complete awaking.
HBS Priest Reverend Fukuoka with Tibetan Leader “His Holiness” the Dalai Lama
HBS Priest Reverend Fukuoka leading “His Holiness” and a large group of Tibetan monks in
the chanting of the Daimoku “Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo”
Attending your first OKO Service?
An OKO service is a Buddhist Service held in a home rather than a temple or center where
participants are lead in a chanting meditation followed by a meal and conversation.
Preparing for your first oko service is easy. Simply spend time chanting the Daimoku before attending :
NAMU MYO HO RENGE KYO
This is considered the essential practice and all that is required to participate in an oko service.
During a service, parts of the Lotus Sutra, Prayers or Instructional Poems may be
chanted by the Priest and congregation. If you are familiar with them you can chant along or you can simply enjoy
until they return back to chanting the Daimoku.
All attendees face a Gohonzon (mandala) during the service and chant. If this is your first time you may find
it helpful to simply chant, enjoy the sound of all the voices and try to remain focused on the Gohonzon. You
will go through many states of mind while your chanting. There are no wrong thoughts. Advanced practitioners
may contemplate the theory of Ichinen Sanzen (see reference slides).
You should expect to experience positive manifested evidence of this practice in your daily lives after the oko.
At the very least, you should have a relaxing and nourishing time while learning a little more about Buddhism.
References
Watch the video of the 2014 Oeshiki held in California : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbmprmCZ3z0
Concept of Ichinen Sanzen (3000 realms in a single moment thought) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhkY-avjBcE