What Language Is This?

One thing that can make Gongyo harder is that the recitation of these chapters is NOT IN ENGLISH!!!

Some people think we are chanting in Japanese, but we are actually chanting Kumarajiva's Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra using a Japanese pronounciation system.

Some people query why not do it in English, which is a valid point and I know some Nichiren Buddhist sects do chant in English.  I have tried chanting in English but it's actually harder.  The English words don't flow so easily and it's difficult to find a good tempo.  If you try and do it with someone else it adds to the difficulty and it's very easy to get out of rhythm unless you go slowly, such as Christians saying The Lord's Prayer in church.

Personally, I enjoy the sound and feeling of this old Japanese approximation of old Chinese.  It really seems to resonate and have a rhythm to it in a way that the English doesn't.

Second, it also brings us together as a worldwide organisation. I have practised in Japan, Canada and the U.K. and I have chanted with people from Thailand, India, Brazil, France, Australia, Netherlands, etc. It doesn't matter where we were first introduced to the practice, what country we move to and who we practice with, we are able to chant together in unison.

Third,  if you are new to this kind of Buddhism, you may think it's impossible to do it, but if you start off slow and follow along in the liturgy book, you'll soon pick it up.  By practising day and night every day you'll soon pick it up and be able to go a little bit faster.  Eventually you'll start to naturally remember some parts without having to read it and many people become so familiar with it after five years or so that they can remember it without needing to follow along in the prayer book.

An excellent site that can help you with pronounciation is http://www.americangongyo.org/ 

and you can download a copy of the prayer book and silent prayers from the Gongyo download page
http://www.sgi-usa.org/memberresources/resources/gongyo/index.php

While we may not understand exactly what we are saying (or even how it "works" when we start chanting), we can still get the benefit of it. I have no idea how the HSBC security card for internet banking works, but it offers me protection from online fraud regardless. 

Being able to attend a meeting in a foreign country and practice with Buddhas from around the world chanting in unison is one of the great benefits of this Chinese/Japanese liturgy.