Updated Gongyo

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Permalink Reply by Karen on April 20, 2008 at 5:35pm

That makes sense...the need to change the books just doesn't.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on April 20, 2008 at 6:49pm

yes, well that is someone else's decision and it doesn't bother me. It doesn't make sense to me either, but just my own personal thing is that it doesn't effect me or the way I do gongyo. Gongyo is gongyo. There might be a change in the silent prayers and their translation, but the gongyo has remained the same. It was a bigger deal when the change went from the longer version to the shorter version and I for one really appreciated that. I am not a nun or a monk. I just am an ordinary person and it makes more sense to me to practice as an ordinary person rather than a monk...As far as Kanani doing the original version from time to time, my hats are off to her!!! Great goodness!!!!!!! I'm going to try to find the old book.....that might be fun...

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Permalink Reply by Kanani on April 20, 2008 at 6:58pm

LOL... every now and then I get nostalgic and decide that I might need a "refresher" in order to appreciate what I have.. I believe in the sincerity of Gongyo and recognized something recently.. DING... I was taught to "never look away from the Gohonzon when doing Gongyo or Diamoku".. but we do know that that is not always possible.. I was concentrating on this fact the other day and realized; "that it is similar to having "hiccups"... when I am distracted from the Gohonzon, I usually encounter people who do not "pay attention" while I am talking; or they somehow seem to "block me out" of their view.. point in case.. "the other night at work, one of the LVN's asked for an RN to push her narcs. DAH.. I was sitting right there and when I said I can do it, she said; Oh, I didn't see you there"... So it made me realize that when I "look away" from the Gohonzon, the same effect will emerge eventually... Sincerity in speaking TO the Gohonzon and not just sitting in front of the Gohonzon surely does make a difference...ks

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Permalink Reply by James Ryan on April 27, 2008 at 11:02am

There definitely was a need to revise the second prayer. The English version in the US just wasn't grammatically correct.

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Permalink Reply by Kanani on April 20, 2008 at 6:41pm

It definitely makes sense.. First of all, I sometimes will still do the original version (the whole book) for peace of mind and memory.. As far as the wordings go... I thank the shoten zenjin/ I offer appreciation for the DaiGohonzon; etc... but most of the wording is of MY choice as I do not follow formality very well. I think the silent prayers are a reminder that WE ARE NOT ALONE and often helps me from becoming to arrogant. I love doing gongyo and when I do gongyo first, it brings "flavor" to my diamoku... I am in agreeance that the wording of the silent prayers are strictly up to one's own interpretation... thank you all for the inputs... it is great to know that there are others out there that have the "same mind"...ks

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Permalink Reply by joe on August 30, 2008 at 1:07pm

Hi Karen

This is Joe of Norfolk from another discussion...contact me pls...ah_shep at yahoo dot com

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Permalink Reply by Karen on August 31, 2008 at 6:58pm

Hi Joe,

Sorry, I never thought to look here. I sent you a friend request so you could find me. The chapter leader told me he knows you but I'm pretty sure I don't. I'll try the email, assuming I get it right.

Karen

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Permalink Reply by Rachie on May 27, 2008 at 7:22am

Hi Charlie
I guess it depends on how long who've been chanting and reading from the prayer book. I met the practice in September 2006 and the changes had been made by then, well the prayer books at Taplow, UK center are all the new style.
My understanding is that the first part of Gonqyo is a shorter version from the original that took upto 20 minutes, people have said that it was to fit cultures and lifestyles, sadly that's all I know and there are no recent changes that i know of accept this.
Nam myoho renge kyo

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Permalink Reply by Saera on May 28, 2008 at 6:22am

I like that... makes a lot of sense. I think animals are generally pretty happy inasmuch as they aren't mistreated by humans or having their habitats ruined. As Nichiren says (I paraphrase), there are not two lands, but the pure and impurity of the land is based upon the development of Buddhahood of the people within the land. So when we are developing the Buddha nature of human beings, both through manifesting our own Buddha nature and dialogue with others, we are creating a more pure land where all things begin to express greater harmony. :D

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Permalink Reply by Martin on August 10, 2008 at 6:54am

The prayers are not fixed in stone, they are supposed to be guidelines. For some members its sometimes difficult to focus thier prayers, and they are there to help. If you want to pray for all living beings, then do so. For me the prayers are an opportunity to express gratitude and determination, which is sometimes difficult especially when things are tough. It is not the specific wording of the prayers, but our sincerity and heartfelt thoughts while performing them that are important

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Permalink Reply by Skoria on April 27, 2008 at 3:40pm

Yeah shame not to have the long one after all that time I spent learning it, and I think the tradition of repeating it was because the priests would move from temple to temple at minobu and taisekiji and recite one bunch of prayers for each building, so I was ok with it even though it took ages. But I may have hallucinated that thing about the priests. Does anyone know?

My problem though is with the prayers - for example why in the UK do I only get a silent prayer for the happiness of humans, in this time when too many humans have got too happy at the expense of all the other things and beings around us? The wording in the US prayer books I've seen is much better - for the happiness of the universe, not just of humanity. Ok ok I know the words are mean to be a guideline or something, but in that case, can't I draft my own silent prayers?

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Permalink Reply by Karen on May 25, 2008 at 10:18pm

Of course you can. It's only a guideline, and it's the heart that matters!

The new gongyo book here in the US was changed so that the last prayer now says "all humanity" instead of "all living beings", and I still pray for ALL LIVING BEINGS. So do most of my animal and plant loving friends who practice. And my dog still sits attentively through gongyo at home .

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