The Significance of Silent Prayers
by Daisaku Ikeda
Silent prayers are the essence of our values in life. Accordingly, even though we may read their words, it is what we actually think - the thoughts occurring to us - that become our prayers:
P.Toda warns against lack of focus during silent prayers:
“But let’s be careful when offering silent prayers. The thoughts in our heart are clearly expressed to the Gohonzon. If during the silent prayers we think “that fellow’s a real rascal” – then even though we may be reading the silent prayers’ words, it is the thought in our heart (that ‘he is a real rascal’) that becomes our prayer to the Gohonzon.”
Proper offering of silent prayer is a decisive struggle. The prayers that someone offers reflect his or her maturity and state of life. Prayers have to be concrete, and they must be earnest and made with determination.
Whether chanting daimoku or offering silent prayers, the most important thing is to pray with a resolute mind. Prayers should not be abstract. The Buddha and Buddhist gods respond to earnest strong prayers arising from the very depths of one’s life”.
Source: Lectures on the ‘Hoben and ‘Life Span’ Chapters of the Lotus Sutra, by Daisaku Ikeda, vol. 3 p.182-183
SGI Three Silent Prayers
SGI has unified morning & evening prayers in the same pattern of 3 prayers, overcoming the confusing way of the priesthood in having rituals of 5 morning and 3 evening prayers.
Prayers express our state of awareness and our desires in life. Awareness of the supreme life of Buddhahood is expressed through acknowledgement and appreciation to the Gohonzon. The Gohonzon embodies the Life of Buddha, the life which reflection is our inner Buddhanature. A correct attitude towards the Gohonzon will open the mind of Buddhanature - revealing thus great values in our life.
The First Prayer is Appreciation to the great value of the Gohonzon, the essence of the Lotus Sutra, as inscribed by Nichiren and transferred to us by his disciple Nikko Shonin. This prayer defines our identity or belonging to the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism.
The Second Prayer is Appreciation to the efforts of the three founders - whose life-efforts enabled us access to the teachings for transforming our life.
The Third Prayer is a personal determination for winning the future (or creating a future of good fortune). The Third Prayer is a composed prayer, starting with:
a determination for realising KosenRufu through the collective efforts of Soka movement, a determination to fulfill personal goals, a desire for easing sufferings of diseased persons (followed by continuous bell ringing) a desire for the happiness of all humanity. (followed by final bell and 3x daimoku)
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Why do we chant three times at the start or end of prayers?
A quick answer is : three times refer to: the three existences of Past, Present and Future.
A detailed explanation is : three times refer to the Three Truths in Buddhism
(and which are valid Past Present and Future);
1/ Impermanence (of the body)
2/ Non-substantiality (of the mind),and
3/ The MiddleWay (body&mind inseparable).
(Source: P. Ikeda’s book The Heart of the Lotus Sutra, page 125)
Similarly, at the end recitation of the Hoben Chapter - with the section of “Shoho Jisso” - (Nyo ze so…), the section is repeated three times to signify the Three Truths (which are valid Past Present and Future).
In his explanation: “The Gohonzon is the True Entity of All Phenomena”, p. Ikeda explains (at the end of the lecture) the “Benefit of repeating the passage three times.