Whenever a new AI agent comes out I ask:

What is the principal practice of Nichiren Buddhists?

And, invariably, the response is:

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo:
This is the core practice. It’s the recitation of the phrase “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” which is considered to be the essence of the Lotus Sutra.

Google’s Gemini AI agent even tells you where it got the idea that the Odaimoku is spelled Nam-myoho-renge-kyo:

The Meaning of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo | Soka Gakkai (global)
Source icon
www.sokaglobal.org

Gohonzon – Wikipedia
Source icon
en.wikipedia.org

Q: Why do we chant to the Gohonzon? – World Tribune
Source icon
www.worldtribune.org

Faith, Practice and Study – SGI USA
Source icon
www.sgi-usa.org

Chapter 3: Faith and Practice | Soka Gakkai (global)
Source icon
www.sokaglobal.org

Google describes its latest Gemini agent, 2.5 Pro Experimental, as employing a “thinking model.” So, I tried reasoning with Gemini.

I asked:

How many Chinese characters are there in the Daimoku?

Gemini responded:

To clarify the number of Chinese characters in the Daimoku:

Myoho-renge-kyo:

This portion consists of five Chinese characters.

• 妙 (myō)
• 法 (hō)
• 蓮 (ren)
• 華 (ge)
• 経 (kyō)

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo:

This, the full Daimoku chanted by Nichiren Buddhists, consists of seven Chinese characters. “Nam” or sometimes pronounced “Namu” is represented by two Chinese characters.

• 南 (nan or na)
• 無 (mu)

Therefore:

When the “Nam” or “Namu” is added, The Daimoku becomes seven characters.  “Myoho renge kyo” on its own, is 5 characters.

I hope this helps.

I asked:

The daimoku means “devotion to the wonderful dharma lotus blossom sutra.” This is expressed in Chinese characters. Which Chinese characters represent “devotion”?

Gemini responded:

In the phrase “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” the characters that represent “devotion” are:

南無 (Namu or Nam):
These two Chinese characters are a transliteration of the Sanskrit word “namas.”
It signifies “devotion,” “to dedicate oneself,” or “obeisance.”
Therefore, when Nichiren Buddhists chant “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” the “Nam” portion of the phrase expresses their devotion.

To which I responded:

If there are two characters 南無 — na and mu — why do you offer “Nam” instead of “Namu” in the Daimoku?

Gemini apparently liked my question:

You’ve raised a very good point about the pronunciation of 南無. The pronunciation can indeed vary, and both “Nam” and “Namu” are used. Here’s a breakdown of why you’ll see both:

Sanskrit Origin:

The characters 南無 are a transliteration of the Sanskrit word “namas.”

In Sanskrit, it’s pronounced closer to “namas.”

Japanese Pronunciation:

In Japanese, the pronunciation can vary. While “namu” is a very accurate rendering of the two characters, the “u” sound can be very subtle, and in some cases, the word can sound very much like “nam”.

Also, depending on the specific sect, and area of Japan, the pronunciation can vary slightly.

Common Usage:

In many Nichiren Buddhist communities, “Nam” is often used in the spoken form of the Daimoku, even though “Namu” is the more phonetically accurate representation of the characters.
Therefore, you’ll encounter both “Nam” and “Namu” because of the interplay between the Sanskrit origin, the variations in Japanese pronunciation, and common usage within Nichiren Buddhist practice.

At this point, Gemini is apparently “thinking” because it has stopped offering source links.

So I decided to test Gemini’s thinking. I asked:

Why have you chosen “Nam” as the primary response rather than the more accurate “Namu”?

Gemini responded:

You’re right to point out that “Namu” is the more phonetically accurate representation. My tendency to offer “Nam” as the primary response likely stems from a few factors:

Common Usage:

In many Western contexts, and within certain Nichiren Buddhist communities, “Nam” is frequently used in spoken practice. This common usage might influence my responses.

Subtleties of Pronunciation:

The “u” sound in “Namu” can be quite subtle, and in casual speech, it may be elided or shortened. This could lead to a perception that “Nam” is the primary pronunciation.

Data Training:

My training data, which includes vast amounts of text and speech, may reflect this common usage.

However, I acknowledge that “Namu” is the more accurate transliteration of the Chinese characters. I will strive to be more precise and offer “Namu” as the primary pronunciation in the future, while also acknowledging the common usage of “Nam.” Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Your feedback helps me improve my accuracy.

While I was taken aback by the apparent promise to offer “Namu” as the primary pronunciation in the future, I wasn’t surprised when I went back hours later and received the same “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” response.

For the record, when reading the Daimoku I say Namu. When I chant, I say Nam. I do that because Rev. Igarashi at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church chants Nam and also because my son has taught my grandson to chant Nam.