THE POSSIBILITIES OF ENLIGHTENMENT

"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo." Over and over the members of Soka Gakkai International-USA rapidly chant the words before an altar containing a scroll bearing the same words. They literally mean "devotion to the mystic law of cause and effect through sound," and to the 20 Buddhists gathered Saturday afternoon at the University Center they are a prayer to the universe.

The meeting was an introduction to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin. The 13th century Japanese priest focused on the Lotus Sutra taught by the first historically recognized Buddha, who also is known as Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Lotus Sutra teaches that all living beings can attain Buddhahood or enlightenment. It is a humanistic philosophy that teaches compassion and respect for the sanctity of life.

His adherents believe Nichiren was the Buddha that Siddhartha Gautama foretold would appear to give the key to enlightenment.

Their practice, which consists of chanting in the morning and evening, is that key. The cause and effect in the chant is the law of karma and the belief that each thought, word or action immediately affects both the individual and the environment regardless of how long that effect takes to materialize.

SGI-USA members from St. Louis and Carbondale, Ill., were here Saturday to give testimonials about how the practice has changed their lives.

St. Louisan Richard Pappalardo credits his practice with overcoming mental illness, a diagnosis of manic-depression doctors told him would require lifelong medication. Huey Wong, a Singapore native, was a lonely SIU student subsisting on bread and water to save money but said chanting enabled her to get through those times and earn the degree in accounting she'd so desired.

Satisfying desires or even seeking inn000er peace are not the only goals of chanting. They often find themselves chanting for compassion toward other living beings, particularly people who may be enemies. One such person, Cape Girardean June Davis said, became one of her best friends.

How chanting works is difficult for those who do it to explain. The vibrations set up through chanting "match up with the rhythm of the universe," St. Louisan Carol White said. This, she believes, creates favorable circumstances.

Understanding why chanting has positive effects is not important -- results are, said April Knight of Carbondale. "I don't care how my TV set works. It doesn't really matter."

Knight brought her two children, who held up hand-drawn illustrations as she explained the Ten Worlds, states of being Buddhist believe exist in all of us.

Friends and family members sometimes think their Buddhist beliefs odd but change their opinions when they see the positive effects, some at the gathering said.

Unlike Christians who worship Christ, Buddhists do not worship the Buddhas but believe them to be manifestations of the enlightenment all living beings are capable of.

Nichiren was a Buddhist reformer who taught that a more compassionate approach toward individuals was needed.

"There is a sense that we were more evil in this age. We needed something very powerful," said Yana Davis of Cape Girardeau.

SGI is a 20th century organization that originated in the educational theory of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a Japanese man who was imprisoned as a "thought criminal" during World War II for opposing militarism and the imposition of Shintoism as the national religion.

The organization's mission is to contribute to peace, culture and education based on the ideals of the Buddhism of Nichiren.

SGI-USA has 100,000 members. There are about 15 members in Southeast Missouri and 300-400 members in Missouri.