
This episode of The Deep Dive explores an essay titled "Faith is not reaching out; it is tuning in: The Science and Mystery of Kanno Dokkyo" by Nichiryu Mark Herrick, explores the Mahayana Buddhist concept of Kanno Dokkyo, which translates to Receptivity and Response, arguing that faith is an act of attunement or resonancerather than mere belief. The author explains this concept as a "subtle law of resonance" where chanting the Daimoku (Namu Myo Ho Ren Gay Kyo) aligns the practitioner's sound and sincerity with the rhythm of the Dharma, drawing on parallels from modern science like entrainment and coherenceto illustrate this spiritual synchronization. Herrick uses Buddhist teachings from figures like Nichiren and Zhiyi and references the Lotus Sutra to demonstrate that this practice is a mutual recognition between the individual and the universe, comparing it to a caged bird's song that summons others. Ultimately, the piece posits that Kanno Dokkyo is a process of "co-creation" where the heart opens in surrender, resulting in physiological and spiritual harmony.