Understanding the Law of Life (Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo) to avoid collisions

By Buddha in Daily Life, Richard Causton, pg.29

 

Buddhism teaches that everything in the universe is an expression of this Law and acts in accordance with it. LAW here is used in the scientific rather than the legal sense, in that we obey the Law of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo in the same way that we obey the law of gravity. If we act contrary to the law of gravity – by walking off a tall building, say – we usually suffer grave consequences. Similarly if we go against the Law of life – for example, by denying cause and effect, a central aspect of this Law – eventually, and inevitably, we will end up suffering.

 

This is one reason why it is so important that we should learn of the existence of this Law, because even if we do not understand theoretically what it means, or how it works, we can put ourselves in rhythm with it simply through chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. In this way, and quite naturally, we can begin to use this universal Law to create value for ourselves and others, and gradually come to understand it. As Daisaku Ikeda explains;

 

“Birds fly about high in the sky. Yet is does not happen that two birds collide with one another. Again, many fish live in the sea. Yet it is unheard of for two fish to bump into each other. In the immense breadth of the sky and sea, birds and fish live and move about freely because of their instinctive knowledge of the routes of the sky and the sea as well as the principles that govern the processes of flight and swimming.

 

In the same way, when living in accordance with the Law in the depth of life, human beings will not uselessly collide with one another. They will not come into conflict with each other on account of minor negative feelings such as jealousy, hatred and arrogance, thus creating unhappiness and misfortune for themselves. Therefore, when we chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo with deep faith, we call forth the power to be able to develop a noble life-condition and respect and cherish one another with mind as vast as the sky and the sea.”