Reading the Gohonzon

Published by GohonzonInfo Group. © 2006 RJM12212@yahoo.com.All Rights Reserved.Permission is granted to distribute this document, provided it is distributed in it’s entirety, no fee is charged,

and this notice and title page is intact.

The following pages are all based on Nichiren’s Gohonzon known asthe Medicine Gohonzon or Prayer Gohonzon.

Each page has one set of characters in black, corresponding to a particular Deity, Bodhisattvaor Kami, with the remainder at 30% intensity.The black characters are defined at the bottom

of the page. Where available, citations regarding the entity named are also included.

The editor of this pamphlet includes a recitation of the Gohonzon as a part of his twice-dailyGongyo. He believes that Nichiren intended that the Gohonzon be read during the dailypractice, and prepared this as a form of “flash cards” to facilitate learning to recognize the

characters on the Gohonzon.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyohttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Gohonzon/PGtranslation.html

1

Namu Taho Nyorai a/k/a Prabhutaratna Tathagata; Many Treasures Thus Come Onehttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/2buddhas.html

2

Namu Shakyamuni Buddha a/k/a Siddhartha Gautamahttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/2buddhas.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakyamuni

3

Namu Jippo Bunshin a/k/a Emanation Buddhas of the Ten Directionshttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Gohonzon/PGtranslation.html

4

Namu Zentoku Nyorai a/k/a Buddha Good Virtuehttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Gohonzon/PGtranslation.html

5

Namu Jogyo Bosatsu a/k/a Visistacaritra Bodhisattva ~ Superior-Practicehttp://www.nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/4bodhisattvas.html

6

Namu Jyogyo Bosatsu a/k/a/ Visuddhacaritra Bodhisattva ~ Pure-Practicehttp://www.nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/4bodhisattvas.html

7

Namu Muhengyo Bosatsu a/k/a Anantacaritra Bodhisattva ~ Limitless-Practicehttp://www.nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/4bodhisattvas.html

8

Namu Anryugyo Bosatsu a/k/a/ Supratisthitacaritra Bodhisattva ~ Steadily-Established Practicehttp://www.nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/4bodhisattvas.html

9

Asura Kings (The Asura King Kharaskandha,The Asura King Vemachitrin, and the Asura King Rahu)http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/hachi-bushu.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asura_%28Buddhism%29

10

Ten Rin Jo-o (Sanskrit: Cakravartin, Cakravarti-rajaA universal sage monarch, so called because he rules the world by rolling the wheel which he is given by

heaven at his enthronement.

11

Dai Nitten No (Sanskrit: Surya; English: Great Heavenly Sun King)

12

Dai Bonten No. (Skt. Brahma) In Buddhism he is one of the two major tutelary gods, together with Taishaku.

13

Namu Sharihotsu a/k/a Sariputra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sariputra

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/db_01.htm

14

Namu Miroku Bosatsu a/k/a Maitreyahttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/miroku.shtml

15

Namu Monju Bosatsu a/k/a Manjusrihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manjusri

16

Namu Fugen Bosatsu a/k/a Samantabhadra, Visvabhadrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugen

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fugen.shtml

17

Namu Yakuo Bosatsu a/a/a Medicine Bodhisattva,Yakushi, Bhaishajyaguru,Bhaishajya Rajahttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/yakushi.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakushihttp://www.butsuzou.com/English/works/Yakushi.html

18

Namu Kasho Sonja a/k/a Kasyapahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasyapa

19

Sengan Ten No a/k/a Sahasrabhujavalokitesvara;Thousand Eyed King of Heaven; Kannonhttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Gohonzon/PGtranslation.html

20

Dai Gatten No a/k/a Candra; Great Moon Godhttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

21

Nanda, Dai Ryu-o; Naga-rajas; Dragons KingsA snake-shaped demigod who brings clouds, rain and protects Buddhism.

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dragon.shtml

22

Twelve Gods Heavenly Kingshttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

23

Amaterasu-?-mi-kamihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu

24

Namu Tendai Daishi a/k/a Zhiyi; Chih-i; Chigihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chih-i

25

Namu Ryuju Bosatsu a/k/a Nagarjunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarjunahttp://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nagarjun.htm

26

kishimojin a/k/a Haritihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishimojin

27

Ten Rakshasa Womenhttp://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/Gohonzon/meaning.htm#24

http://www.dharmaflowersutra.net/chapter26.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakshasashttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

28

namu Myoraku Daishi a/k/a Miao-lo; Chan-janhttp://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/dictionary/define?tid=1573

29

Namu Dengyo Daishihttp://www.quietmountain.org/dharmacenters/buddhadendo/view.htm

http://www.sgi-usa.org/buddhism/library/Nichiren/Gohonzon/meaning.htm#23

30

Namu Hachiman Dai Bosatsuhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hachiman.html

http://www.jref.com/glossary/hachiman.shtmlhttp://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/dictionary/define?tid=2228

31

Daibadatta Ten No a/k/a Devadattahttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/ShuteiMandala/devas2.html

http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/dictionary/define?tid=2

32

Fudo Myo’o a/k/a Achalahttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fudo.html

33

Dai Komoku Ten No a/k/a Koumokuten or Komokuten; Sanskrit = Virupaksa,Virupakshahttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/koumokuten.html

34

Dai Bishamon Ten a/k/a Tamonten;Vaishravana; Hearer of Many Teachingshttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/bishamonten.shtml

35

Aizen-myo'o a/k/a Ragaraja; Craving-Filledhttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/myo-o.shtmlhttp://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/dictionary/define?tid=1753

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Nichiren’s signature

37

Date of Inscription: Second year of Kenji,April [1277]

38

Dai Zocho Ten No a/k/a Virudhakahttp://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/zouchoten.html

39

Conferment: Nissho, Shomon of the Great Sun Country of Japanhttp://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/SixDisciples_01.html

40

“If parents have seven children and one of them falls ill, the love of the parents is equal for all the children butthey are especially attentive to the one who is sick. There are three kinds of people whose illnesses are veryhard to cure: One who speaks ill of Mahayana teachings, One who commits the five cardinal sins,One who is

an icchantika. These three kinds of serious illnesses are difficult to cure in this world. ”

41

This sutra is truly a splendid medicine for the diseases of the people of Jambudvipa. A sick person who hearsthis will be immediately cured of his disease. He will not grow old or die before his time. If a child who haslost his original mind, upon seeing his father return from afar, greatly rejoices and yet when the father gives

him the medicine to heal his illness, he is unwilling to swallow it.Thereupon the father says, "This good excel-lent medicine I now leave here.You should take and swallow it. Do not worry that you will not be cured."

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This is the great unprecendented Mandala, never yet been in the whole of Jambudvipa for the more than2220 years after the Buddha's extinction.

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