Not to worry, there is absolutely nothing in your attitude towards the Gohonzon that is offensive. I suspect that the reason why different people are "called" by particular Mandalas is because there exists a special connection between them, established who knows when. For all we know, the connection between an individual person and a particular Mandala may have been established in the remote past, maybe even before Nichiren gave it physical expression in the Saha World. Ernesto In a message dated 4/7/2010 09:03:57 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Ah, so I'm not the only one who feels better when my mandala Gohonzon "speaks" to me. The 88 made me feel so relaxed, so at home, so "right," I just knew that was the one. It was kind of "hi, there, old friend, about time we got together." I'm sure, in the eyes of many, the above paragraph makes me a candidate for burning at the stake. Somehow, I think you won't be offended. Diana *******************************************************88 --- In [email protected], nichijo1...@... wrote: > > > Hi Diana, > > Mandala 105 is the one that does it for me. Of all of Nichiren's Mandals, > 105 is the only one that, as you might say, 'speaks' to me. I had the Prayer > Mandala enshrined for some time, but there was never a connection. The > Man-nen-ku-go as well, but there was no connection with that one either (only > a doctrinal obsession). Other than 105, the Mandalas that call out to me > are not Nichiren inscribed, such as the Black Faced Mandala (but that may be > because of all of the work I poured into restoring her) and the Big Girl > (from Kaiundo). Their calligraphy is stunning and I am irresistibly drawn to > their "Myo." Then, there's the Nittatsu; She's absolutely gorgeous! > > Ernesto > > > > In a message dated 4/7/2010 05:46:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > taidan...@... writes: > > Thank you, Ernesto. Yes, it's the cadence that got me. As I said, it > made my heart sing and I started chanting together with the group. > > I'm quite familiar with the Prayer Gohonzon. I know a lot of people love > it and have been helped by having it in their lives. However, it never > "spoke" to me, there was no connection. Last night, all in gold script, > powered by that musical chanting, well... it was another story. I didn't > recognize it as the Gohonzon embraced by the Independent Movement. It "spoke" a > different language, a language of prayer, healing, and joy. > > My Gohonzon will stay forever the one enshrined in my butsudan: madala #88 > in the Gohonzon Shu. I do intend to return to the Youtube site though, and > chant from time to time among the stars. > > Be well and happy. > > Diana > > *************************************************************** > > > --- In [email protected], Nichijo1958@ wrote: > > > > > > Hi Diana, > > > > I love the cadence of the chanting in that video. Assuming that mandala > > that shows up at the start is the same one being shown throughout, that > is > > the Kito Mandala Gohonzon. Kito means prayer, though it is sometimes > called > > the Medicine Gohonzon because of the additional inscriptions on it that > are > > quotes from the Lotus Sutra where it says that this Sutra is the > medicine > > that can cure the ills of the world. There is quite a lot dedicated to > it on > > Don Ross' website Nichiren's Coffeehouse, as a matter of fact, I think > > that image may have come from Don's site as well. You can find it here > > (including a complete translation): > > > > _http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/GohonzonShu/037.html_ > > (http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/GohonzonShu/037.html) > > > > This Mandala Gohonzon is a genuine Nichiren autograph and helped launch > the > > Independent Movement into existence. Don can provide the juicy details > > (and some of it is really very interesting!) regarding its arrival from > Japan > > to the US. > > > > > > En la Ley MÃstica, > > Ernesto Borges Torres > > > > _Mystic Lotus_ (http://mysticlotus.blogspot.com/) > > > > > > progressive... outspoken... empowered... > > > > > > > > In a message dated 4/7/2010 04:47:05 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > > taidancer@ writes: > > > > Hi Everybody, > > > > I need a bit of help. Please go to this Youtube address: > > www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pjp2ZKJb8Q. If this is too long, you can just > search: daimoku nel > > presente. It'll take you to the same place. > > > > You'll see an image of the planet Mars and the words: Zingari de Marte > > (this means "Gypsies of Mars" in Italian). You'll start hearing > daimoku > > chanting and then you'll see the image of a mandala gohonzon. The > chanting will > > continue for ten minutes. Do any of you know this mandala? Can you > guess or > > find out its origin? > > > > Last night, when I was super tired and beyond beat, I found myself > > chanting with the group while looking at that mandala. I enjoyed the > rhythm and > > musical quality, and felt so much better at the end of the ten minutes. > > > > No, I don't intend to use that mandala as my Gohonzon. I'm set with > mine > > for life. I'd just like to know if any of you can help me with some > > information. > > > > BTW, I think the chanting may have been done by professional musicians. > > Even though it was "just chanting," it made my heart sing. I don't > expect it > > to do the same for you: we each dance to our own rhythm. > > > > Well, Rob, Don, Luigi, Ernesto? Anybody? Any ideas? > > > > Thank you in advance for your help. I know you'll come up with > something. > > > > Diana
