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Recently I became aware of a wonderful work that is sure to enhance our practice. This wonderful work created by Robert Hasegawa, is a tool that will improve recitation of Gongyo. Being able to hear yourself using the correct pronunciation will make performing Gongyo ever so much more easy, especially for those new to our practice. Enough said.

ENJOY:

American Gongyo: a Pronunciation Guide for the Lotus Sutra

Use of Common American Words and Sounds

The guide of Robert Hasegawa uses common American words and sounds as aids in pronouncing Japanese words written in Roman letters called Romaji or the Hepburn system. The guide will allow people to get close to the desired sound, quickly. Of course, perfecting Gongyo, (goin' key yo), will take time and practice. After a while, the guide will probably not be necessary for reciting Gongyo.
Since Romaji is the actual and official Japanese language, use of the guide will improve one's pronunciation of words not in the Lotus Sutra. The words and sounds below have a standard American pronunciations but not the word meaning. To understand the meaning of the Lotus Sutra, please study Lectures on the "Expedient Means" and the "Life Span" Chapters of the Lotus Sutra by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda. (Dye saa coo E K da).

USER'S GUIDE: Share, Teach, & Grow.

Each separate word or sound gets one beat.

"Jo-ju jin-jin" (Joe ju gene gene) gets four (4) beats.
In order to make a correct sound, sometimes two or more sounds are combined.

Underlined words and sounds are two or more sounds pronounced in ONE BEAT.

An example is "butsu" (Buddha). The two sounds in this word are "boot" (footwear) and "Sue" (a female name) said in one beat. "Butsu" is written below as "boot Sue."

Words and sounds in American usage have their usual standard pronunciation.
Example are "dye" as in "red dye #10" a food coloring, "sheen" a reflective quality or as in the hair care product "Afro Sheen", "sewn" as in stitched, and "ju" as in "Juju Beads", a candy sold in movie theaters or in the expression "strong juju."

Some words exist but are not often spoken such as "sate" meaning satisfy or over satisfy.
Some sounds are made up but are related to real words or sounds. An example is "jeet" (jit) which rhymes with "meet."

Letters appearing alone in capital (upper case) are pronounced as they are in the alphabet (song), "abcd,efg, hijk, lmnop......" "A" is simply pronounced "a" as in "a ok".

In Japanese all "r" sounds must be twirled or rolled as in the Spanish "r" in pero (but). The twirled "r" is present in basic Daimoku (dye mow coo) or Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Talk to a Japanese or Spanish speaking person to practice the twirl. Long vowel sounds are written as double vowels, as in the dove said "coo."
And some words or sounds just have to be learned from a Japanese speaker.

The American words and sounds are in "BLUE" type under the "BOLD" type of the official Gongyo text. Hyphens have been added to Gongyo text words to show where syllables are separated. Pronunciation notes appear in small type under the word being explained.

Note: Each phrase or "sentence" has it's own line. The rhythm of Gongyo comes, in part, from beginning and ending each phrase on time and not running the phrases together. "Sing-songing" is not correct. The suggested order of Gongyo is indicated in italic.

"Pronounce every syllable SHORT with EQUAL stress, in a light staccato manner. Do not accent every other syllable or slur over the consonants and vowels."
As suggested by Robert's late uncle, Henry Tatsumi, Professor of Far Eastern Languages, University of Washington.

Ring bell, traditionally, 3x

Chant Nam myo ho renge kyo 3x.
1. Nam myo ho ren-ge kyo
Nam me yo ho wren gay key yo
as in "wren" the bird, twirl the "r"

Pronounce all words short and not drawn out, especially "gay".

PART A

Ring bell, traditionally, 3x

Recite PART A

2. Myo-ho ren-ge kyo
Me yo ho wren gay key yo
wren as in the bird, twirl "r"

3. Ho-ben-pon. Dai ni.
Ho Ben pone. Dye knee.
as in corn "pone"

4. Ni-ji se-son.
Knee G say sewn.
"G" is the letter "g"

5. Ju san-mai
Ju saan my.
"saan" rhymes with con

6. An-jo ni ki.
Aan Joe knee key.

7. Go shari-hotsu.
Go sha ri hoat Sue.
"shari" rhymes with sorry
"hoat" rhymes with "oat"

8. Sho-but chi-e.
Show boot chi A.

9. Jin-jin mu-ryo.
Gene gene moo rio.
as in "gene" therapy/"rio" as in "Rio" Bravo

10. Go chi-e mon.
Go chi A moan.
as in "moan and groan"

11. Nan-ge nan-nyu.
Non gay non new.
as in "non" fat

12. Is-sai sho-mon.
Es sigh show moan.
"Es" plural "e"

13. Hyaku-shi-butsu.
He yaa coo she boot Sue.
3 sounds in 1 beat

14. Sho fu no chi.
Show foo no chi.

15. Sho-I sha ga.
Show E sha gaa.

16. Butsu zo shin-gon.
Boot Sue zo sheen gone.
"zo" rhymes with "so"

17. Hyaku sen man noku.
He yaa coo sen maan no coo.
"maan" rhymes with con

18. Mu-shu sho butsu.
Moo shoo show boot Sue.

19. jin gyo sho-butsu.
Gene gee yo Show boot Sue.

20. Mu-ryo do-ho.
Moo rio doe ho.
as in "Rio" Bravo. 1 beat,

21. Yu-myo sho-jin.
U me yo show gene.

22. Myo-sho fu mon.
Me yo show foo moan.
as in "Foo" Fighters

23. Jo-ju jin-jin.
Joe ju gene gene.

24. Mi-zo-u ho.
Me zo ooo ho.
"ooo" as in ooo aah

25. Zui gi sho setsu.
Zoo E gee show sate Sue.

26. I-shu nan-ge.
E shoo non gay.

27. Shari-hotsu.
Sha ri hoat Sue.

28. Go ju jo-butsu i-rai.
Go ju Joe boot Sue E rye.
as in "rye" bread, twirl "r"

29. Shu-ju in-nen.
Shoo ju een nen.
"een" rhymes with "peen"

30. Shu-ju hi-yu.
Shoo ju he U.

31. Ko en gon-kyo.
Co N goin' key yo.
as in "co-ed"

32. Mu shu ho-ben.
Moo shoo ho Ben.

33. In-do shu-jo.
Een doe shoo Joe.

34. Ryo ri sho jaku.
Rio ri show jaa coo.

35. Sho-I sha ga.
Show E sha gaa.

36. Nyo-rai ho-ben.
Knee yo rye ho Ben.

37. Chi-ken hara-mitsu.
Chi Ken ha rah meet Sue.
as in "Ken" and Barbie

38. Kai I gu-soku.
Ky E goo so coo.
"Ky" rhymes with "by".

39. Shari-hotsu.
Sha ri hoat Sue.
as in "Sha na na" not sherry

40. Nyo-rai chi-ken
Knee yo rye chi Ken.

41. Ko-dai jin-non.
Co dye gene known.

42. Mu-ryo mu-ge.
Moo rio moo gay.
the cow goes "moo"

43. Riki.
Reek E.
"reek" as in stink

44. Mu-sho-i.
Moo show E.

45. Zen-jo.
Zen Joe.

46. Ge-das.
Gay dass.
"dass" rhymes with "no mas"

47. San-mai.
Saan my.

48. Jin nyu mu-sai.
Gene new moo sigh.

49. Jo-ju is-sai.
Joe ju Es sigh.

50. Mi-zo-u ho.
Me zo ooo ho.

51. Shari-hotsu.
Sha ri hoat Sue.

52. Nyo-rai no.
Knee yo rye no.

53. Shu-ju fun-betsu
Shoo ju foon bait Sue.
"foon" rhymes with "moon"

54. Gyo ses sho ho.
Gee yo sez show ho.
as in "sez" who?

55. Gon-ji nyu-nan.
Goin' G new non.

56. Ek-ka shu-shin.
Ache kaa shoo sheen.

57. Shari-hotsu
Sha ri hoat Sue.

58. Shu yo gon shi.
Shoo yo goin' she.

59. Mu-ryo mu-hen.
Moo rio moo hen.

60. Mi-zo-u ho.
Me zo ooo ho.

61. Bus shitsu jo-ju.
Boos sheet Sue Joe ju.

62. Shi shari-hotsu.
She sha ri hoat Sue.

63. Fu shu bu setsu
Foo shoo boo sate Sue.

64. Sho-I sha ga.
Show E sha gaa.

65. Bus sho jo-ju.
Boos show Joe ju.

66. Dai I-chi ke-u.
Dye E chi K ooo.

67. Nan-ge shi ho.
Non gay she ho.

68. yui butsu yo butsu.
U E boot Sue yo boot Sue.

69. Nai no ku-jin.
Nye no coo gene.

70. Sho-ho jis-so.
Show ho Gs so.

Repeat 3x
71. Sho-I sho-ho.
Show E show ho.

72. Nyo ze so.
Knee yo ze so.

73. Nyo ze sho.
Knee yo ze show.

74. Nyo ze tai.
Knee yo ze tie.

75. Nyo ze riki.
Knee yo ze reek E.

76. Nyo ze sa.
Knee yo ze saa.

77. Nyo ze in.
Knee yo ze een.

78. Nyo ze en.
Knee yo ze N.

79. Nyo ze ka.
Knee yo ze kaa.

80. Nyo ze ho.
Knee yo ze ho.

81. Nyo ze hon-mak ku-kyo to.
Knee yo ze hone mock coo key yo toe.

PART C

Ring bell, traditionally, 3x

Recite PART C

1. Myo ho ren ge kyo
Me yo ho wren gay key yo.

2. Nyo-rai ju-ryo-hon.
Knee yo rye ju rio hone.

3. Dai ju-ro-ku.
Dye ju row coo.

4. Ji ga toku bur rai.
G gaa toe coo boor rye.

5. Sho kyo sho kos-shu.
Show key yo show co's shoo.

6. Mu-ryo hyaku sen man.
Moo rio he yaa coo sen maan.

7. Oku sai A-so-gi.
O coo sigh ah so gee.

8. Jo sep-po kyo-ke.
Joe sep Poe key yo K.

9. Mu-shu oku shu-jo.
Moo shoo O coo shoo Joe.

10.Ryo nyu o butsu-do.
Rio new O boot Sue doe.

11.Ni-rai mu-ryo ko.
Knee rye moo rio co.

12.I do shu-jo ko.
E doe shoo Joe co.

13.Ho-ben gen ne-han.
Ho Ben gen nay Han.

14.Ni jitsu fu metsu-do.
Knee jeet Sue foo mate Sue doe.

15.Jo ju shi sep-po.
Joe ju she sep Poe.

16.Ga jo ju o shi.
Gaa Joe ju O she.

17.I sho jin-zu-riki.
E show gene zoo ri key.

18.Ryo ten-do shu-jo.
Rio ten doe shoo Joe.

19.Sui gon ni fu ken.
Sue E goin' knee foo Ken.

20.Shu ken ga metsu-do.
Shoo Ken gaa mate Sue doe.

21.Ko ku-yo sha-ri.
Co coo yo sha ri.

22.Gen kai e ren-bo.
Gen Ky A wren bow.

23.Ni sho katsu-go shin.
Knee show cot Sue go sheen.

24.Shu-jo ki shin-buku.
Shoo Joe key sheen boo coo.

25.Shichi-jiki I nyu-nan.
She chi G key E new non.

26.Is-shin yok ken butsu.
Es sheen yoke Ken boot Sue.

27.Fu ji shaku shin-myo.
Foo G sha coo sheen me yo.

28.Ji ga gyu shu-so.
G gaa gee U shoo so.

29.Ku shutsu ryo-ju-sen.
Coo shoot Sue rio ju sen.

30.Ga ji go shu-jo.
Gaa G go shoo Joe.

31.Jo zai shi fu-metsu.
Joe zye she foo mate Sue.

32.I ho-ben-rik ko.
E ho Ben reek co.

33.Gen u metsu fu-metsu.
Gen ooo mate Sue foo mate Sue.

34.Yo-koku u shu-jo.
Yo co coo ooo shoo Joe.

35.Ku-gyo shin-gyo sha.
Coo gee yo sheen gee yo sha.

36.Ga bu o hi chu.
Gaa boo o he chew.

37.I setsu mu-jo ho.
E sate Sue moo Joe ho.

38.Nyo-to fu mon shi.
Knee yo toe foo moan she.

39.Tan ni ga metsu-do.
Taan knee gaa mate Sue doe.

40.Ga ken sho shu-jo.
Gaa Ken show shoo Joe.

41.Motsu-zai o ku-kai.
Moat Sue zye O coo Ky.

42.Ko fu i gen shin.
Coo foo E gen sheen.

43.Ryo go sho katsu-go.
Rio go show cot Sue go.

44.In go shin ren-bo.
Een go sheen wren bow.

45.Nai shutsu i sep-po.
Nye shoot Sue E sep Poe.

46.Jin-zu-riki nyo ze.
Gene zoo reek E knee yo ze.

47.O A-so-gi ko.
O ah so gee co.

48.Jo zai ryo-ju-sen.
Joe zye rio ju sen.

49.Gyu yo sho ju-sho.
Gee yo yo show ju show.

50.Shu-jo ken ko jin.
Shoo Joe Ken co gene.

51.Dai ka sho sho ji.
Dye kaa show show G.

52.Ga shi do an-non.
Gaa she doe aan known.

53 Ten-nin jo ju-man.
Ten neen Joe ju maan.

54.On-rin sho do-kaku.
Own reen show doe kaa coo.
"reen" rhymes with peen

55.Shu-ju ho sho-gon.
Shoo ju ho show goin'.

56.Ho-ju ta ke-ka.
Ho ju taa K kaa.

57.Shu-jo sho yu-raku.
Shoo ju show U rah coo.

58.Sho-ten gyaku ten-ku.
Show ten gee yaa coo ten coo.

59.Jo sas shu gi-gaku.
Joe saas shoo gee gaa coo.

60.U man-da-ra ke.
Ooo maan daa rah K.

61.San butsu gyu daishu.
Saan boot Sue gee U dye shoo.

62.Ga jo-do fu ki.
Gaa Jo doe foo key.

63.Ni shu ken sho jin.
Knee shoo Ken show gene.

64.U-fu sho ku-no.
Ooo foo show coo no.

65.Nyo ze shitsu ju-man.
Knee yo ze sheet Sue ju maan.

66.Ze sho zai shu-jo.
Ze show zye shoo Joe.

67.I aku-go in-nen.
E ah coo go een nen.

68.Ka A-so-gi ko.
Kaa ah so gee co.

69.Fu mon san-bo myo.
Foo moan saan bow me yo.

70.Sho u shu ku-doku.
Show ooo shoo coo doe coo.

71.Nyu-wa shichi-jiki sha.
New waa she chi G key sha.

72.Sok-kai ken ga-shin.
Soak Ky Ken gaa sheen.

73.Zai shi ni sep-po.
Zye she knee sep Poe.

74.Waku-ji i shi shu.
Waa coo G E she shoo.

75.Setsu butsu-ju mu-ryo.
Sate Sue boot Sue ju moo rio.

76.Ku nai ken bus-sha.
Coo Nye Ken boos sha.

77.I setsu butsu nan chi.
E sate Sue boot Sue non chi.

78.Ga chi-riki nyo ze.
Gaa chi ri key knee yo ze.

79.E-ko sho mu-ryo.
A co show moo rio.

80.Ju-myo mu-shu ko.
Ju me yo moo shoo co.

81.Ku shu-go sho toku.
Coo shoo go show toe coo.

82.Nyo-to u chi sha.
Knee yo toe ooo chi sha.

83.Mot to shi sho gi.
Moat toe she show gee.

84.To dan ryo yo jin.
Toe Don rio yo gene.

85.Butsu-go jip pu-ko.
Boot Sue go jeep poo co.

86.Nyo i zen ho-ben.
Knee yo E zen ho Ben.

87.I ji o shi ko.
E G O she co.

88.Jitsu zai ni gon shi.
Jeet Sue zye knee gone she.

89.Mu no sek ko-mo.
Moo no sec co mow.

90.Ga yaku i se bu.
Gaa yaa coo E say boo.

91.Ku sho ku-gen sha.
Coo show coo gen sha.

92.I bon-bu ten-do.
E bone boo ten doe.

93.Jitsu zai ni gon metsu.
Jeet Sue zye knee gone mate Sue.

94.I jo-ken ga ko.
E Joe Ken gaa co.

95.Ni sho kyo-shi shin.
Knee show key yo she sheen.

96.Ho-itsu jaku go-yoku.
Ho eat Sue jaa coo go yo coo.

97.Da o aku-do chu.
Daa o ah coo doe chew.

98.Ga jo chi shu-jo.
Gaa Joe chi shoo Joe.

99.Gyo do fu gyo do.
Gee yo doe foo gee yo doe.

100.Zui o sho ka do.
Zoo E O show kaa doe.

101.I ses shu-ju ho.
E sez shoo ju ho.

102.Mai ji sa ze nen.
My G saa ze nen.

103.I ga ryo shu-jo.
E gaa rio shoo Joe.

104.Toku nyu mu-jo do.
Toe coo new moo Joe doe.

105.Soku jo-ju bus-shin.
So coo Joe ju boos sheen.

Chant Daimoku (dye mo coo) for the period of time that fits your desires, needs, goals and circumstances.

Ring the bell as you begin chanting Daimoku, traditionally, 7x.

Ring the bell to end Daimoku, traditionally, 3x.

Chant Daimoku 3x.

MORNING:
Offer silent prayers 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. Chant Daimoku 3x between each part. Ring the bell. Chant Daimoku 3x.

EVENING:
Offer silent prayers 2, 3, & 5. Chant Daimoku 3x between each part. Ring the bell. Chant Daimoku 3x.

SUMMARY OF THE SILENT PRAYERS:

Note: The exact wording of the prayers is secondary to the thoughts one has in mind during the prayers.

The following is one version of the prayers.
While maintaining the basic thought of each prayer, many members create their own wording.

First Prayer-shoten zenjin (show ten zen gene)
Expresses thanks for the people and things in our environment that are made constantly protective and active due to our practice and the strength of our practice.

Second Prayer-Dai-Gohonzon(dye go hone zone)
Expresses profound praise and thanks to the Dai-Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws, given by Nichiren Daishonin to the entire world.

Third Prayer-The Three Teachers
Expresses profound praise and thanks to Nichiren Daishonin (knee chi wren-dye show neen), the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law and founder of our True Buddhism.
Expresses profound praise and thanks to Nikko (knee co) Shonin, the Great Leader in propagating and preserving True Buddhism.
Expresses sincere thanks to Nichimoku (knee chi mow coo) Shonin, the High Priest of World Peace.

Fourth Prayer-World Peace & Personal Enlightenment
Expresses the great desire that World Peace, through the spread of True Buddhism, be fulfilled and that SGI develop eternally for that purpose.
Expresses the desire to expiate one's bad karma caused by one's negative words, thoughts and deeds now and in the past and to fulfill one's wishes now and in the future. (Additional personal prayers made here.)

Fifth Prayer-1st & 2nd SGI Presidents & Relatives and Friends who have passed away
Expresses profound thanks to Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (tsue nay sa boo row-ma key goo chi), 1st SGI President, and Jose Toda (Joe say-toe daa), 2nd SGI President, for working selflessly to establish SGI in order to spread True Buddhism.
Expresses the desire for the well being and enlightenment of those who have passed away, especially for these individuals
Expresses the desire for peace throughout the world and the happiness of all humanity.

To receive an e-mail with American Gongyo: A pronunciation guide for the Lotus Sutra attached as a MS Word document, for personal use only, E-Mail: Robert Hasegawa

In addition to the above visual aid in the pronunciation of Gongyo, Bob has now developed an AUDIO aid. If you will please follow the download link that follows, you'll be most pleasantly surprised. There you'll hear the proper pronunciation of all of the lines of Gongyo. It is a wonderful aid to assist you in gaining confidence in reciting this wonderful, meaningful prayer. All thanks to you Bob. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Download a copy at:
AMERICAN GONGYO
OR
TONI DUNLAP - GONGYO GUIDE
(Use File on the Toolbar, Click Save As and Save on your Computer or Just Print The Page)

No charge of any kind or amount may be made for delivering or receiving a copy of this work without the express, written consent of the Copyright holder.

THANKS TO: The late Henry Tatsumi, Professor of Far Eastern Languages, University of Washington; Kyoko Kraft; Steve Ikuta of Headline Web Designs 435-574-2800; Bob Dempsey; Geri Ross; Regina Brady; Mary Johnson; Gakkai-Spirit of Yahoo Groups; Toni Dunlap

Altar :: Concepts :: Gongyo :: Nam Myoho Renge Kyo :: Practice :: Nichiren :: Prayer :: Ten Worlds

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