What does Namu-myo-horenge-kyo mean? Why do we chant this over and over?

 The Lotus Sutra is said to be the finest work of the Buddha. Saint Nichiren derived through his many years of study as a monk, a phrase which anybody could use in the hope of achieving Buddhahood. By chanting the Namu-Myo-horenge-kyo we are paying homage to the lotus sutra. 

What should I be thinking when chanting this sutra?

As practitioners lucky enough to have access to a temple we can simply look at the 'Gohonzon' as a focus point. The Gohonzon is a a sacred scroll revered by all and treated with utmost respect. Lay practitioners also who are members will also have one of these in their homes preferably in a quiet room placed just above eye-line when seated. 

How does chanting this sutra help me?

1. By collecting and spreading good karma. The vibes we give off to other people affects how others interact with us.

2. As a way of praying to our ancestors who are no longer with us.

3. To pray for other people in our family or community who are experiencing illness or other forms of suffering. We are giving good karmic vibes to these people.

4. To shift our thinking away from 'the noise' of everyday life. We need time to ourselves to recharge and gain a centred perspective. In a life filled with social media, this has never been more important.

5. To gain merit so that in this life we can have less suffering and in the next life we will be content.

6. To find our primordial origins. Clearing our mind and perhaps even catching glimpses of enlightenment.

In my own practice I tend to focus on just one of these and not focus on myself too much. Chanting so that I might have some great fortune or good luck is terribly selfish. As Buddhists, we are never selfish because we are always thinking of others.