Editing Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (section)

== Alternative forms and practices ==
[[file:Rgir rszd (23).JPG (821930563).jpg|thumb|Daimoku in devanagari script in a monastery in India]]
In some [[Tendai]] liturgy, the ''Lotus Sutra'' is praised with different phrases.   

In the [[Tiantai]] ''Manual for the Dharma Flower Samadhi Repentance'' ''Rite'' (''Fahua Sanmei Chanyi'' 法華三昧懺儀, Taisho no. 1941) composed by [[Zhiyi|Tiantai Zhiyi]], one finds the following homage to the sutra:<ref name=":3">Zhiyi, [http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/sutra/chi_pdf/sutra19/T46n1941.pdf ''Manual for the Dharma Flower Samadhi Repentance'' ''Rite'' (''Fahua Sanmei Chanyi'' 法華三昧懺儀, Taisho no. 1941)], CBETA</ref> <blockquote> 一心奉請: '''南無大乘妙法蓮華經''' (心想甚深。祕密法藏。悉現在前。受我供養)。</blockquote>This homage passage (found in a group of similar passages paying homage to various Buddhas and bodhisattvas) reads: "With single-minded devotion, I respectfully entreat '''Homage to the Great Vehicle ''Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sūtra'''''." The homage (Ch: 南無大乘妙法蓮華經, pinyin: Nán mó dà chéng miào fǎ lián huá jīng, Jp. romanization: Namu Daijō Myōhō Renge Kyō) is followed by the following instructions "Visualize the profound and secret Dharma treasury fully appearing before one to receive the offerings."<ref name=":3" /> 

This classic Tiantai Buddhist ritual emphasizes reverence, repentance, and dedication to enlightenment. Practitioners begin by recognizing the nature of all phenomena as inherently empty yet manifesting through karmic conditions. They engage in reverent [[Pūjā (Buddhism)|worship]], bowing to [[The Buddha|Shakyamuni]] Buddha, past and future Buddhas, and prominent bodhisattvas such as [[Manjushri|Mañjusri]] and [[Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva)|Samantabhadra]]. The ritual incorporates a detailed repentance process for transgressions committed through the six sensory faculties (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), acknowledging the karmic consequences of sensory attachments. Practitioners express deep remorse, resolve to abstain from harmful actions, and dedicate their practice to the welfare of all beings. The ritual concludes with invoking the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to teach the Dharma and guide sentient beings toward liberation.<ref name=":3" /> 

Meanwhile, a Tendai 9th century ''Hokke Senbo manual'' (法華懺法) contains an identical ''daimoku'' homage:<blockquote>南無妙法蓮華經 (pronounced: Namo Beuhō Renga Kei)</blockquote>Tendai sources also contain the alternative daimoku chant:<blockquote>Namu ichijō myōhō renge kyō (Homage to the One Vehicle Sutra, the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Blossom)<ref name=":1" /> </blockquote>

Another alternative homage reads:<blockquote>Namu byōdō dai e ichijō myōhō renge kyō (南無平等大會一乘妙法蓮華經)

</blockquote><blockquote>Homage to the Great Assembly of Equality, the [[Ekayāna|One Vehicle]], the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Sutra.</blockquote>Tendai Buddhism generally does not use this phrase as a repetitive chant, as the Daimoku is used in Nichiren Buddhism. However, there is a related practice called the ''Method for Prostrating to the Dharma Flower Sūtra'' (禮法華經儀式, Taisho no. 1944) observed today by both monastics and lay practitioners. This rite was famously practiced by the Tendai master [[Ennin]] before his trip to China.<ref>Sakayose Masashi, [https://www.kokugakuintochigi.ac.jp/tandai/common/pdf/about/alignment/01/03.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com Ennin and the Lotus Sutra 円仁と『法華経』]</ref> It can be performed in three forms: long, medium, and short. The long form involves [[Prostration|prostrating]] to each character of the entire sūtra, while the medium form applies this to a selected chapter. The short form, which is more commonly practiced, involves prostrating to the characters of the sūtra's title, sometimes accompanied by chanting ''Namu''. During this practice, a dedication such as "With single-minded devotion, I pay homage to the ''Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sūtra'', paying homage to the Dharma Jewel of the character ''Myō'' (妙)" is recited.<ref>[http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/sutra/chi_pdf/sutra19/T46n1944.pdf ''Method for Prostrating to the Dharma Flower Sūtra'' (禮法華經儀式, Taisho no. 1944)], CBETA</ref>
The title of the Lotus Sutra in [[Sanskrit]] is ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra,'' thus a [[Sanskrit]] reconstruction of the homage would be:<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0UjYAAAAMAAJ&q=nama%E1%B8%A5%20%22saddharmapu%E1%B9%87%E1%B8%8Dar%C4%ABkas%C5%ABtr%C4%81ya%22 |title=The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies Volumes 6-7 |date=1983 |publisher=International Association of Buddhist Studies, the University of Michigan |pages=76 |language=en}}</ref>

<blockquote>namaḥ saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtrāya </blockquote>'''Zhiyi's version:''' namaḥ mahāyānasaddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtrāya

=== Mantra ===
In the ''[[Kaimokushō]]'' ''(Liberation from Blindness),'' [[Nichiren]] cites a ''Lotus Sutra'' [[mantra]]. According to Nichiren, this is the "mantra at the core of the ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra"'' which was discovered by the [[vajracharya]] [[Śubhakarasiṃha]] "in an iron tower of South India".<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Nichiren |url=https://www.bdkamerica.org/product/kaimokusho-or-liberation-from-blindness/ |title=Kaimokusho or Liberation from Blindness |publisher=Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research |isbn=978-1-886439-12-2 |publication-date=2000 |pages=60 |language=en}}</ref> The Sanskrit mantra is as follows:<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>namaḥ samyaksambuddhānām 

 oṃ a aṁ aḥ  

sarvabuddhājña-cakṣurbhyām gagana saṁsvā rakṣanī 

 saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtram 

 jā hūṃ ho vajrarakṣaman hūṁ svāhā

 </blockquote>