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How to Receive a Gohonzon

enshrining-gohonzon-brochure
Nichiren Shu brochure with frequently asked questions about Gohonzons.
Gohonzon_Senchu_Murano
Nichiren Shū Overseas Propagation Promotion Association explanation of the Gohonzon, including details of who is represented on the Mandala.

On Oct. 8, 2019, I received a contact email from Richard, who lives in Sydney, Australia. Richard asked how he might receive a Gohonzon. He said he has been practicing on his own, chanting and reciting the Lotus Sutra. I replied to his contact email, but the email address he provided doesn’t work. So, I’ll post the email here in hopes of reaching Richard in Sydney.

Nichiren writes in “Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra”:

QUESTION: What should a believer of the Lotus Sūtra regard as the Honzon (the Most Venerable One)? How should one perform the Buddhist rites and practice daily training?

ANSWER: First of all, the Honzon could be eight fascicles, one fascicle, one chapter or the title alone of the Lotus Sūtra. This is preached in the “Teacher of the Dharma” and “Divine Powers of the Buddhas” chapters. Those who can afford to may have the portraits or wooden statues of Śākyamuni Buddha and the Buddha of Many Treasures made and placed on both sides of the Lotus Sutra. Those who can further afford to may make the portraits or wooden statues of various Buddhas all over the universe or Universal Sage Bodhisattva. As for the manner of performing the rites, standing or sitting practices must be observed in front of the Honzon. Outside the hall of practice, however, one is free to choose any of the four modes of acts: walking, standing, sitting and lying down. Next, regarding the daily practices, the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra should be chanted, “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.” If possible, a verse or phrase of the Lotus Sūtra should respectfully be read. As an auxiliary practice one may say a prayer to Śākyamuni Buddha, the Buddha of Many Treasures, the numerous Buddhas throughout the universe, various bodhisattvas, Two Vehicles, Heavenly Kings, dragon gods, the eight kinds of gods and demi-gods who protect Buddhism as one wishes. Since we have many ignorant people today, the “3,000 existences contained in one thought” doctrine may be difficult to contemplate from the beginning. Nevertheless, those who wish to study it are encouraged to do so from the start.

Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō, Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 19

Nichiren also writes in “Reply to Lord Nanjō”:

Those who offer a stem of flower or a pinch of incense to the Lotus Sūtra, as precious as this, are as meritorious as those who offered donations to “ten thousand billion” Buddhas in the past.

Nanjō-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Nanjō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 15-16

If you are going to get a Gohonzon mandala that has been eye-opened by a priest, then you need to establish a relationship with a priest. Being as there are no Nichiren Shu priests in Australia (as far as I know), that leaves you with a number of long-distance relationships.

These priests have an online presence:

I posted this on Facebook’s Nichiren Shu page and received this comment from Guy Chouinard Jr:

Don’t worry about Gohonzon. You actually don’t need it (read ch. 21). Try going outside to chant. Chant to nature and universe. Chant with nature and universe. Chant in nature and universe. Chant odaimoku as the sun rises, just like St. Nichiren did the first time he ever chanted Odaimoku. Don’t limit yourself to “stuff.” This way you can open your mind to the reality of all things.

My opinion: Your personal practice imbues your personal altar with the benefits of your practice. At the very least, light a candle and offer flowers and incense to your copy of the Lotus Sutra. As you chant, it will be as “meritorious as those who offered donations to ‘ten thousand billion’ Buddhas.”