The Practice of Revealing Yourself

Transcription

1 Living the LOTUS Buddhism in Everyday Life VOL. 114 Founder s Essay Y The Practice of Revealing Yourself OU may talk about the profound truth of Buddhism with people you have just met, recommending that they have religious faith, and saying, that the teaching is necessary for any person to lead a good life. But people will decline your offer, saying I don t need this in my life right now. Some will feel disappointed by this rejection, lamenting that others aren t interested in spiritual matters, and saying that it is impossible to lead other people into religious faith. But in reality, guiding others to the faith is a practice of self-reflection more than an activity of teaching the Dharma. You should talk about your own experience honestly. For example, you may say, I used to be short-tempered and experienced conflict with people over every little thing, and I couldn t maintain a positive relationship with my husband and children. But I have become very happy now. You may at first be concerned that discussing your experience so openly and honestly might expose you to ridicule. But the response will be the opposite. People cannot help but be deeply impressed by the way you honestly talk about yourself and your life, without your hiding behind any disguise. Then the greatness of the Dharma will naturally shine forth. Every person has various kinds of suffering in his or her heart. So when people hear your talk and find that there is a way to solve those problems that they cannot share with others, they will surely be moved to accept your offer. From Kaisozuikan 8 (Kosei Publishing Co.), pp Published by Rissho Kosei-kai International, Fumonkan, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL: FAX: Senior Editor: Shoko Mizutani Editor: Etsuko Nakamura Copy Editor: Allan Carpenter, Shigemitsu Takanashi Editorial Staff of RK International Rissho Kosei-kai is a lay Buddhist organization whose holy scripture is the Threefold Lotus Sutra. It was established by Founder Nikkyo Niwano and Cofounder Myoko Naganuma in This organization is composed of ordinary men and women who have faith in the Buddha and strive to enrich their spirituality by applying his teachings to their daily lives. At both the local community and international levels, we, under the guidance of President Nichiko Niwano, are very active in promoting peace and well-being through altruistic activities and cooperation with other organizations. The title, Living the Lotus Buddhism in Everyday Life, is meant to convey our hope of striving to practice the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in daily life, to enrich and make our lives more worthwhile, like lotus flowers blooming in a muddy pond. The online edition aims to make Buddhism more practicable in the daily lives of people around the world.

2 Basic Buddhism through Comics by Mitsutoshi Furuya 1

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4 Guidance by President Niwano Appreciating Seasonal Events by Nichiko Niwano President of Rissho Kosei-kai In early spring, March events and celebrations are on many minds. These include the popular Doll Festival, school graduation ceremonies, Buddhist memorial services performed during the week of the spring equinox, the spring equinox itself, and at Rissho Kosei-kai, celebrating the anniversary of our founding on March 5. When I think about how many people spend the national holiday marking the spring equinox, however, it seems to be simply another holiday that they spend no differently from any other day off. Although the purpose of the spring equinox holiday is to celebrate nature and appreciate living things, I come across very few people who spend the day pondering this and acting accordingly. I feel that such people are almost wasting the day. Throughout our daily lives, we often quote the old saying that time and tide wait for no man, since everything changes from moment to moment. If we look around us even a little, we see many changes taking place before our eyes. And yet, in most people s experience, the previous day may have lacked any fresh new sensation, and so they are apt to pass through the present day feeling that their life is in a rut. In such situations, I think it is seasonal celebrations and national holidays that can give us a chance to escape from that kind of rut and help spur us to lead our lives, by making us aware of what we may be thoughtlessly overlooking. Knowing the meaning and origin of the spring equinox holiday, which I just mentioned, can help us appreciate our culture and traditions, and feel renewed pride in and love for them. Some people experience, welling up inside them, feeling the strength to go forward, spurred by the sense that spring has finally come and it is a time to give thanks to Nature and lead simple lives. By pondering and experiencing such sensations, a humdrum day off can become a precious day leading to a deeper realization of life and greater spiritual growth.

5 Guidance by President Niwano Every country celebrates holidays that in some way mark the change of seasons and the anniversary of the nation s founding. When I happened to be in the United States on Independence Day (July 4), I learned that there are always a variety of events and entertainment to celebrate the birth of that nation. In Japan, we also celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the nation, of course, and appreciate the natural features of the seasons, such as viewing the cherry blossoms in spring and fireflies in summer, admiring the changing autumn leaves and enjoying the Tori-no-ichi, traditional fairs held in November at Otori shrines across Japan. In addition, we have age-old ways to enjoy the seasons and the holidays, such as writing poems about our encounters with such natural features and seasonal events. Among the Japanese waka poems and haiku are ones that are familiar especially to Buddhists, which reflect the authors observation of impermanence through the visible working of nature, and the acceptance thereby of the way things really are. Here are a few examples. The color of the fields and the fragrance of spring, on the whole, / Sink into the hearts and minds of the people and become enlightenment (by twelfth-century poet Saigyo). They turn to show their backs, / They turn to show their fronts / The scattering maple leaves (by Edo-period Zen monk Ryokan). And then there is Zen master Dogen: In spring, the flowers. / In summer, the cuckoo. / In autumn, the moon. / And in winter, the glistening snow. These poems demonstrate, in a straightforward manner, the beauty of nature and the way things really are in our world. Reading poems like these, I understand that seasonal events and the natural features of each of the four seasons all show us how life works, conjoining human beings and nature. In other words, we enjoy seasonal events and appreciate nature because in doing so we experience and cherish the vividness of life. This also means hearing the voices of the gods and the buddhas preaching through these natural features and events. Speaking of spring, there is a well-known Chinese poem that begins with the lines, In spring, one sleeps unaware of dawn, with birds chirping everywhere. I think many people share that feeling. According to the theory of the Five Elements of China, spring is associated with youth. We could say that if youth begins in March according to this theory, our organization, which was founded in March, demonstrates its true potential only when it is full of the energy of youth. Of course, for people, too, no matter what age, at any time and in any moment they can be at the youngest point in their lives, and therefore it is true for everyone that now is the springtime of the rest of their lives. With such determination, let us continue to practice diligence, ever mindful of the wish to bring happiness to as many people as possible, keeping the spirit with which our organization was founded. From Kosei, March Translated by Kosei Publishing Co.

6 My History of Joining and Being Active in Rissho Kosei-kai Spiritual Journey by Ms. Li-Pin Kuo Tainan Dharma Center This testimony was delivered at the Tainan Dharma Center during the ceremony for Shakyamuni s Attainment of Buddhahood on December 8, H ELLO bodhisattvas. Today is the day of Shakyamuni s Attainment of Buddhahood. Now, I would like to talk about the story of how I became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai. In 1987, my husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack. He was fifty-two years old. So I was suddenly responsible for the management of his ironworks, without any process of having his duties transferred over to me. In those days, when I received a phone call from our bank, I would cry from the stress and tension I was feeling. And whenever I received a phone call from a worker, I was also worried, wondering whether some trouble was about to begin. Back then, my eldest daughter was married, and my eldest son was in military service. My second son was called up for military service just one day before my husband s death. My second daughter was still a student, so I couldn t get any assistance from my children. A friend of mine helped me to apply for permission to delay my second son s conscription for one year. I also asked for help from the company run by my eldest daughter s husband and her mother and father in law, who own a company, and I obtained various kinds of assistance regarding my factory s management. So I overcame my difficulties smoothly. One day in 1983, two chapter leaders of Rissho Kosei-kai came to Tainan from Japan. One was Mrs. Matsuda, and I forgot the name of the other one. At that time, Ms. Chen-Jie Qui, a member of the Tainan Dharma Center, invited two Japanese chapter leaders to hold a hoza session at my aunt s home. During the hoza, I asked a chapter leader, Is it all right to enshrine both my husband s ancestors and my own at our family altar? She answered in the affirmative, and I was very much satisfied. According to the Taiwanese custom, it is general practice to enshrine only the husband s ancestors at the family altar, and we don t enshrine the wife s ancestors. I thought it was good to enshrine both families ancestors at home like Rissho Kosei-kai. I also heard about the teachings of Rissho Kosei-kai and I was greatly impressed. It s very wonderful to pracice the Dharma while doing the housework. I felt so satisfied in my heart when I listened to their talks, and I thought this was the right way for me to follow. In 1983, the Tainan Dharma Center was established. In that year, I became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai, a lay Buddhist organization. Since then, I have applied myself to guiding people to the faith. It was my mother that I had guided to the faith first. At the time, my mother was over seventy years old, and I wondered if she would be convinced of the teaching of Rissho Kosei-kai. But she was a person of solid understanding, so she became a member. Later, I guided my sisters, children, grandchildren, great- Ms. Li-Pin Kuo delivers her testimony at the Tainan Dharma Center during the ceremony for Shakyamuni s Attainment of Buddhahood.

7 Spiritual Journey I strongly feel that the teachings bring us a great sense of peace and comfort in terms of my own life and family and that the teachings also offer a great source of mental support. grandchildren, and friends to the faith. I received Gohonzon in 1987, the guardian spirits in 1994, and the nyushin qualification (now Dharma teacher qualification) in 1995 at the headquarters of Rissho Kosei-kai, respectively. Thirty-one years have passed since I became a member of Rissho Kosei-kai back in I strongly feel that the teachings bring us a great sense of peace and comfort in terms of my own life and family and that the teachings also offer a great source of mental support. It s entirely thanks to the Buddha s protection that I am leading such a peaceful life today. To take care of people around us with a compassionate and thankful mind; that is the spirit of Rissho Kosei-kai. To build good relationships with people by changing our own hearts first. To strengthen our own faith in the teaching and to enhance our own dignity by undertaking such practices as guiding people to the faith, learning the teaching, and morning and evening sutra recitation. I would like to share the spirit and these practices of Rissho Kosei-kai with many people, wishing only for their happiness. Because Founder Nikkyo Niwano established Rissho Kosei-kai, we can encounter the teaching of the Buddha. We are building good connections with others by putting the teaching into practice in our daily lives. I would like to conclude my religious testimony by expressing my gratitude to Rev. Li-Jin Tsai, minister of the Dharma center, for giving me an opportunity to share my process of joining Rissho Kosei-kai with the members of the Tainan Dharma Center. Founder Nikkyo Niwano, thank you. President Nichiko Niwano, thank you. Bodhisattvas, thank you. Ms. Kuo (left) and Rev. Li-Jin Tsai, minister of the Tainan Dharma Center. Living the Lotus welcomes your religious experience. Why don t you share your religious experience through Living the Lotus with members all over the world? Please send your script or inquiry to our address: living.the.lotus.rk-international@kosei-kai.or.jp. Thank you.

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14 I Column Vow of Earnest, Diligent Practice of the Way FOUNDED Rissho Kosei-kai because I wished that as many people as possible could know the right way to live as human beings according to the Lotus Sutra, and that they could make true happiness their own. It is not too much to say that all my hard work and efforts came from this wish. About six months before his passing, Founder Niwano shared his wish and thoughts about the founding of Rissho Kosei-kai, as well as the sincere heart and mind with which he pursued his mission throughout his life. My life would have been totally different if I had not encountered the teaching of the Buddha. A Brazilian member, Stephano, expressed gratitude and joy for the Dharma in this way at a special ceremony of Rissho Kosei-kai of Brazil, which I attended recently. I have the same sense of appreciation as Stephano. You may also have the same. I believe the wish of Shakyamuni directed for all human beings and that of Founder in establishing Rissho Kosei-kai are the same. On this month of Rissho Kosei-kai s anniversary, I would like to renew my sense of gratitude for its founding, and also pledge to earnestly and diligently practice the Way while striving to keep my heart and mind at one with those of Shakyamuni and Founder. R E V. S H O K O M I Z U T A N I Director of Rissho Kosei-kai International Rissho Kosei-kai International Branches

15 2015 Rissho Kosei-kai Overseas Dharma Centers Rissho Kosei-kai International 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai International of North America (RKINA) 2707 East First Street Suite #1 Los Angeles CA U.S.A Tel: Fax: Branch under RKINA Rissho Kosei-kai of Tampa Bay 2470 Nursery Rd.Clearwater, FL 33764, USA Tel: (727) Rissho Kosei-kai International of South Asia (RKISA) 201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, Huaykhwang Bangkok 10310, Thailand Tel: Fax: thairissho@csloxinfo.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii 2280 Auhuhu Street, Pearl City, HI 96782, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: info@rkhawaii.org Rissho Kosei-kai Maui Dharma Center 1817 Nani Street, Wailuku, HI 96793, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai Kona Dharma Center Mamalahoa Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Los Angeles 2707 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: rk-la@sbcglobal.net Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of San Antonio 6083 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: dharmasanantonio@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Arizona Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Colorado Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of San Diego Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Las Vegas Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Dallas Rissho Kosei-kai of San Francisco Tel: Fax: info@rksf.org Rissho Kosei-kai of Seattle s Buddhist Learning Center Tel: Fax: rkseattle@juno.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Sacramento Rissho Kosei-kai of San Jose Rissho Kosei-kai of Vancouver Rissho Kosei-kai of New York 320 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A. Tel: Fax: rkny39@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Chicago 1 West Euclid Ave., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056, U.S.A. Tel : murakami4838@aol.com rkchi/ Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Fort Myers Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Oklahoma 2745 N.W. 40th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, U.S.A. Tel & Fax: ok.risshokoseikai@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Center of Klamath Falls 1660 Portland St. Klamath Falls, OR 97601, U.S.A. Rissho Kosei-kai, Dharma Center of Denver 1571 Race Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, U.S.A. Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Dayton 635 Kling Dr, Dayton, OH 45419, U.S.A. Risho Kossei-kai do Brasil Rua Dr. José Estefno 40, Vila Mariana, São Paulo-SP, CEP , Brasil Tel: / Fax: risho@terra.com.br Risho Kossei-kai de Mogi das Cruzes Av. Ipiranga 1575-Ap 1, Mogi das Cruzes-SP, CEP , Brasil Tel: / Rissho Kosei-kai of Taipei 4F, No. 10 Hengyang Road, Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100, Taiwan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Taichung No. 19, Lane 260, Dongying 15th St., East Dist., Taichung City 401, Taiwan Tel: / Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Tainan No. 45, Chongming 23rd Street, East District, Tainan City 701, Taiwan Tel: Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Pingtung Korean Rissho Kosei-kai 423, Han-nam-dong, Young-San-ku, Seoul, Republic of Korea Tel: Fax: krkk1125@hotmail.com Korean Rissho Kosei-kai of Pusan , Dae-Hyun-2-dong, Nam-ku, Kwang-yok-shi, Pusan, Republic of Korea Tel: Fax: Branches under the Headquarters Rissho Kosei-kai of Hong Kong Flat D, 5/F, Kiu Hing Mansion, 14 King s Road, North Point, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People s Republic of China Tel & Fax:

16 Rissho Kosei-kai of Ulaanbaatar 15f Express tower, Enkh taiwnii urgun chuluu, 1st khoroo, Chingeltei district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai of Sakhalin 4 Gruzinski Alley, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk , Russian Federation Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Roma Via Torino, Roma, Italia Tel & Fax : roma@rk-euro.org Rissho Kosei-kai of the UK Rissho Kosei-kai of Venezia Castello Venezia Ve Italy Rissho Kosei-kai of Paris 86 AV Jean Jaures Tentin Paris, France Rissho Kosei-kai of Sydney International Buddhist Congregation (IBC) 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: Fax: ibcrk@kosei-kai.or.jp Rissho Kosei-kai of South Asia Division 5F Fumon Hall, Wada, Suginami, Tokyo, , Japan Tel: Fax: Thai Rissho Friendship Foundation 201 Soi 15/1, Praram 9 Road, Bangkapi, Huaykhwang Bangkok 10310, Thailand Tel: Fax: info.thairissho@gmail.com Rissho Kosei-kai of Bangladesh 85/A Chanmari Road, Lalkhan Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Dhaka House No.467, Road No-8 (East), D.O.H.S Baridhara, Dhaka Cant.-1206, Bangladesh Tel: Rissho Kosei-kai of Mayani Maitree Sangha, Mayani Bazar, Mayani Barua Para, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Patiya Patiya, sadar, Patiya, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Domdama Domdama, Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Cox s Bazar Ume Burmese Market, Main Road Teck Para, Cox sbazar, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Satbaria Satbaria, Hajirpara, Chandanish, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Laksham Dupchar (West Para), Bhora Jatgat pur, Laksham, Comilla, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Raozan West Raozan, Ramjan Ali Hat, Raozan, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai of Chendirpuni Chendirpuni, Adhunagor, Lohagara, Chittagong, Bangladesh Rissho Kosei-kai Dhamma Foundation, Sri Lanka 382/17, N.A.S. Silva Mawatha, Pepiliyana, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka Tel & Fax: Rissho Kosei-kai of Polonnaruwa Rissho Kosei-kai of Habarana 151, Damulla Road, Habarana, Sri Lanka Rissho Kosei-kai of Galle Rissho Kosei-kai of Kandy Branches under the South Asia Division Delhi Dharma Center Rissho Kosei-kai of West Delhi 66D, Sector-6, DDA-Flats, Dwarka New Delhi , India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kolkata E-243 B. P. Township, P. O. Panchasayar, Kolkata , India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kolkata North AE/D/12 Arjunpur East, Teghoria, Kolkata , West Bengal, India Rissho Kosei-kai of Kathmandu Ward No. 3, Jhamsilhel, Sancepa-1, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: Fax: nrkk@wlink.com.np Rissho Kosei-kai of Lumbini Shantiban, Lumbini, Nepal Rissho Kosei-kai of Singapore Rissho Kosei-kai of Phnom Penh #201E2, St 128, Sangkat Mittapheap, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Other Groups Rissho Kosei-kai Friends in Shanghai