January 20, 2025
LOTUS JEWELS（Nichiren Shu News NO264）
The Odaimoku is the Buddha’s offering to us. When we chant the Odaimoku, we receive its merits and transform them into an offering to all beings.
—Nichiren Shonin, A Treatise Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation and the Most Venerable One, Kanjin Honzon-sho (ST 118)
Shakyamuni Buddha’s merit of practicing the bodhisattva way leading to Buddhahood, as well as that of preaching and saving all living beings since His attainment of Buddhahood are altogether contained in the five characters of Myo, Ho, Ren, Ge, and Kyo, the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma, and consequently, when we uphold the five characters, the merits which He accumulated before and after His attainment of Buddhahood are naturally transferred to us.
—Rev. Shinkyo Warner