Shodaigo Meditation with an alteration to be more consonant with Nichiren Lotus Sutra Buddhism:

For those who would like to incorporate a short silent meditation before and after reciting the Lotus Sutra and Daimoku:

Original: https://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/nichirenscoffeehouse.net/Ryuei/Shodaigyo.html

	Shodaigyo Meditation Nichiren Lotus Sutra School

1. Prostration: This is the full prostration before the Gohonzon, wherein one begins in gassho, touches ones head to the floor and lifts ones hands above the head palms up. 2. Meditation on the Throne of Enlightenment: (Leader) Know this, The place where the stupa is erected is the place of enlightenment. (Together) Here the Buddhas attained Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Here the Buddhas turned the Wheel of the Dharma. Here the Buddhas entered into Parinirvana. 3. Refuge in the Three Treasures: (L) With our whole hearts, (T) We bow to the Eternal Buddha emanating the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions. (L) With our whole hearts, (T) We bow to the Eternal Dharma establishing the teachings of the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten directions. (L) With our whole hearts, (T) We bow to the Great Bodhisattva Nichiren, who manifested himself in this Saha-world as the appearance of Superior Practice Bodhisattva. 4. Meditation for Harmony of Body and Mind: This meditation is a form of tranquility and insight meditation which is common to all schools of Buddhism and it is actually very simple. Just sit down in a comfortable and stable posture, whether that is sitting up straight in a chair, in the half-lotus, or even full lotus posture. Your eyes should be open or semi-closed with your gaze resting on the Gohonzon Your open left hand should rest lightly on your open right hand with your thumbtips touching as if to form a small moon. Hold this small moon against your abdomen just below the belly button. If the thumbtips break apart or the hands slip down into the lap or your posture begins to deteriorate, then that should help alert you to the fact that you are either getting distracted or drowsy and so should return to the subject of meditation. You should rest your awareness on the Gohonzon and contemplate Namu on the in breath and Myoho Renge Kyo on the out breath. Let your thoughts and feelings do what they want, treat them like passing clouds or leaves floating by in a stream and just stay with your contemplation focusing eyes on Gohonzon. If you get caught up in thinking or day dreaming, just catch yourself and return to the contemplation.This silent meditation can be done for 5 minutes, 10 minutes or even longer as desired.  5. Meditation after Odaimoku: This period of silent meditation is similar to the first one. One should  key a mental recitation of the Odaimoku to the breaths and focus on the Gohonzon. Essentially, one is to abide in the energy and merit of having chanted Odaimku and gradually ground that energy by silently sitting with it. 7. Prayer: (Leader) In returning the compassionate favor of the Buddha, we respectfully assign the merit condensed in our reciting Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, the heart of Wonderful Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sutra, to enhancing the virtue of respecting and loving justice, to bestowing peace, prosperity, happiness and welfare on all sentient beings, and to transforming this world into a pure land where all children of the Buddha may enjoy eternal bliss. May we sincerely repent of the wrong conduct we have commited until now, and be successful in accumulating merit. May we be serene, healthy, advanced in knowledge, rich in happiness and virtue, and industrious in our vocation. May we evermore endeavor progressively to develop our Buddha-nature into Buddhahood. May the spirits of our ancestors be seated on precious lotus flowers and attain supreme enlightenment. May the whole Dharma-world be blessed with the great compassion of the Buddha. May this deed of merit extend to all beings and together may we attain Buddhahood. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo! 8. The Four Great Bodhisattva Vows: (L) Sentient beings are innumerable, (T) I vow to save them all. (L) Defilements are inexhaustible, (T) I vow to quench them all. (L) The teachings are immeasurable, (T) I vow to study them all. (L) The way of the Buddha is unexcelled, (T) I vow to attain the path sublime. 9. Dedication: (L) From this body (T) From this body (L) Unti I attain Buddhahood (T) Until I attain Buddhahood (L) I will strive to uphold (T) I will strive to uphold (L) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (T) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (L) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (T) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (L) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (T) Namu Myoho Renge Kyo 10. Prostration: