And now I wonder what karma from past existences has caused Nichiren and his associates to become the proponents of the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra? . . . The neighing of the white horses[1] is the sound of our voices chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. When Brahma, Shakra, the gods of the sun and moon, the four heavenly kings, and the others hear this sound, how could they fail to take on a healthy color and shine with a brilliant light? How could they fail to guard and protect us? We should be firmly convinced of this! (“King Rinda,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 989–90)
Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance
Even when the very survival of the country and its people is in question, those who confidently chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and propagate the Mystic Law can tap the fundamental life force of the universe in their own lives and stand up as agents of positive change in such a time of peril. …
Our mission as practitioners of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is to employ this great beneficial medicine of the Mystic Law to win a decisive victory in the battle against the ever-intensifying maladies caused by the three poisons. As the Daishonin writes, “In the final analysis, unless we succeed in demonstrating that this teaching is supreme, these disasters will continue unabated” (“The Treatment of Illness,” WND-1, 1114).
The more troubled and confused the times, the more powerful the unity of the oneness of mentor and disciple becomes. When mentor and disciple are united in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, it becomes the most powerful means for overcoming negative karma, dispelling the dark clouds looming over society and achieving the ideal of “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land.” Chanting is the fundamental force for transforming karma. No matter how heavy the chains of karma, we can break free of them through the mystic function of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which brings forth the inherent power of our life. …
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the driving force for “establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land.” The ripples of joy stirred in our lives through chanting instantly spread out to encompass the entire universe. Consequently, they cannot fail to create ripples of joy in the hearts of all living beings and to bring joy to our families, communities and societies. (Learning From Nichiren’s Writings: The Teachings for Victory, vol. 2, pp. 138–39)
References
- In the story of King Rinda, he is described as having acquired and maintained his dignity and strength by listening to the neighing of white horses. ↩︎
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