Gosho Quote for September 2018

Transcription

1 NICHIREN SHOSHU TEMPLE FOR THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, EAST CANADA AND TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Myosetsuji News ISSUE 207 SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the July Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony Good morning, everyone! On this occasion of the July Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony, conducted here today at the Head Temple, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the large number of participants in attendance. The month of July already has begun. I imagine both the priesthood and laity of each chapter have united, based on the spirit of itai dōshin, and are devoting themselves to their practice, day and night, aiming toward the achievement of this year s shakubuku goals. As you know, currently Nichiren Shoshu is powerfully advancing and the members of each chapter are making concerted efforts, aiming toward our goal to achieve a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021, the 800th anniversary of the advent of our Founder Nichiren Daishonin. In order to achieve our goal, we must follow the Daishonin s instruction: If they are united with one heart, they can definitely accomplish anything. (Gosho, p. 1389) As these golden words teach, it is most important that everyone in the chapter, regardless of age and gender, unite as one and conduct shakubuku, aiming toward the achievement of their goals. (Continued on page 2) Gosho Quote for September 2018 Risshō ankoku-ron (On Securing the Peace of the Land through the Propagation of True Buddhism) By thoroughly reading all of these sutras, you will find that they all point out the grave consequences of slandering the Law. How lamentable it is that everyone has walked out of the gate of the correct Law and entered into the prison of erroneous teachings! How foolish people are to be caught by the hook of evil doctrines and become eternally entangled in the net of slanderous teachings! In this lifetime, the people s ability [to see the correct Law] is obscured by a dense fog, and in future existences they will be engulfed by the roaring flames of hell. How can we not grieve? How can we not agonize? You must immediately renounce your erroneous belief and take faith in the supreme teaching of the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, p. 250)

2 PAGE 2 MYOSETSUJI NEWS Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued) (Continued from page 1) We have three years remaining until the target date for achieving our goal. It is essential that all chapters, to say nothing of the chapters that fall behind in shakubuku, first and foremost achieve this year s shakubuku goals without fail. The Daishonin teaches the following on shakubuku in the Gosho, Letter to Nanjō Hyō e Shichirō (Nanjō hyō e shichirō dono -gosho): No matter what great merit one gains by performing good deeds; even if one transcribes the Lotus Sutra ten million times, and achieves the observation of the mind based on the principle of ichinen sanzen (three thousand realms in a single lifemoment), should he fail to denounce the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, he will not be able to attain enlightenment. (Gosho, p. 322) The Daishonin teaches that no matter what good deeds one accumulates, such as transcribing the Lotus Sutra ten million times, and claiming that one has awakened to the principle of ichinen sanzen and mastered Buddhism, if this person does not admonish and shakubuku the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, the slanderers who go against the true Law, it is unlikely that he or she will attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. We must deeply engrave this passage into our hearts: should he fail to denounce the enemies of the Lotus Sutra, he will not be able to attain enlightenment. Furthermore, the Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra (Hokke shoshin jōbutsu-shō): In any case, one should strongly teach and make people listen to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Those who follow and take faith in it will be able to attain enlightenment, and even those who slander it will likewise attain Buddhahood in the end through the poisondrum relationship. Nothing other than the Lotus Sutra can be the seed of Buddhahood. (Gosho, p. 1316) As you know, a poison-drum is a drum smeared with poison. In the Nirvana Sutra, it states: When a drum smeared with poison is beaten in the midst of (Continued on page 3)

3 ISSUE 207 PAGE 3 Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued) (Continued from page 2) the people, all those who hear the sound of the drum will instantly die, whether they wish to hear it or not. (Nirvana Sutra, Summary) This passage uses a metaphor of beating a drum smeared with poison, to indicate that even those who hear the true Law but oppose it will eventually sever their earthly desires and attain enlightenment. The Daishonin teaches that all living beings inherently possess the Buddha nature. Thus, they can attain Buddhahood through listening to the true Law, awakening to it, and practicing it. Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, even those with a reverse relationship, to say nothing of those with a positive relationship, can be saved without fail, if they are led to listen to Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws and form a relationship with the true Law. Thus, we must revere these golden words. Both men and women of all ages in each chapter must unite as one and eliminate the slander of evil teachings and courageously do shakubuku. Then, it is certain that we will be able to expiate our negative karma from the infinite past of kuon and receive vast and immeasurable benefits. On the contrary, the Daishonin states: Trying to attain enlightenment without admonishing slander of the Law is like seeking water in fire or fire in water. How useless! How futile!(gosho, p. 1040) As the Daishonin teaches in this Gosho passage, one may take faith in true Buddhism, but if this person sees those who suffer the direst distress due to slander of the Law, and intentionally disregards them and passes them by without doing shakubuku, then he can neither eradicate his negative karma from the infinite past of kuon nor attract true happiness. Upon welcoming the auspicious occasion of the 800th anniversary of the advent of our Founder Nichiren Daishonin, which is only three years away, all the priests and lay believers of Nichiren Shoshu are exerting their utmost efforts to do shakubuku. At this time, each of us, as a splendid Hokkeko believer, must realize that achieving our shakubuku goals and aiming toward the achievement of the propagation of the Law throughout the entire world is exactly the faith and practice that accords with the will of the Daishonin. It is also the best way for us to be able to attain enlightenment in this lifetime. I sincerely pray that each one of you will do shakubuku based on indomitable determination, aiming toward the achievement of your goals and make further progress. Furthermore, at the Head Temple, a one-hour Shōdai Ceremony will be conducted from 8 AM to 9 AM, as a general rule, every day throughout the month of July, starting from today. I hope that many people voluntarily will be participating in this Shodai Ceremony.

4 PAGE 4 MYOSETSUJI NEWS Faith Experience by Elizabeth Krewson Thank you Rev. Takikawa for the opportunity to offer my experience. I d like to share my experience of the peace and security in this lifetime that I have received by practicing Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism for nearly 23 years. Before meeting this Buddhist practice at age 30, my life was anything but peaceful and secure. As a child I experienced abuse, neglect and many difficulties with my parents. Before chanting to this Gohonzon, I was like a steam engine chugging furiously off a cliff I was angry and freaking out all the time. I could not get a hold of myself. That was me. When I started chanting, everything changed immediately. I was happier and calmer, more positive. I was so amazed because I really didn t expect the chanting to work. Then, as I began practicing daily and developing my faith, a childhood memory opened-up my understanding in a big way. I remembered playing with my building blocks at about age 7. Many times, I built a base on the floor... then a rectangular cabinet on top... all of this against the wall. Of course, it wasn t finished until I placed a small cup of water at the center of the base. This space was quiet and reassuring to me. Does this sound familiar? For our guests, we place a cup of water as an offering on our Buddhist altars every day. I think I was remembering this Buddhist practice from an earlier life. But suddenly realizing this caused me to see my life and everyone in it differently. I realized our relationships are intertwined across time. And because I chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo the people around me all have this connection too. So, I decided to shakubuku my family and friends, regardless of the circumstances. By "circumstances" I mean varying degrees of pathology. As I mentioned, my family had a lot of greed, anger, and stupidity. But I was convinced based on the changes in me that this Buddhism can help everyone. At this time, I was married and had two daughters. My children started chanting almost as soon as I did. But my husband was very depressed after his mother s tragic death in a car accident. He could do nothing but lash out at me. In spite of the extreme negativity I was able to shakubuku him and he too began to chant. Then my mother took faith. Then my sister and one of my brothers and many friends. The ones who continued chanting have wonderful peaceful lives and great fortune. Unfortunately, my husband did not continue his Buddhist practice. The stronger I got through my daily practice, the more he worked to tear me down. So, we ended our marriage of 26 years in As strange as it may seem, I felt happy even in the worst moments of that relationship. I believe this is because I focused on the Buddhist perspective instead of societal views. Gohonzon protected my personal safety every day. This quote from Nichiren Daishonin speaks volumes to me about the peace and security that I ve experienced. In Reply to Nichinyo Gozen he states: The fact that you, a woman, (Continued on page 5)

5 ISSUE 207 PAGE 5 Faith Experience by Elizabeth Krewson (continued) (Continued from page 4) have devoutly made offerings to this Gohonzon will bring you happiness in this life; and in your next life, the Gohonzon will protect you on your right side and on your left, from in front and from behind. The Gohonzon s protection will be like a lantern in the darkness, or like a strong bodyguard on a dangerous path. Wherever Lady Nichinyo may be, this Gohonzon will embrace and protect you. Since 2015, my life s been in make-over mode. I told my friend Vinnie, I ve started a new chapter in my life. He disagreed. Vinnie said, Honey, this is a whole new book! I think he s right. As Nichiren Shoshu Buddhists, we gather fortune from 10,000 miles afar. This practice also gets rid of what s not supporting our happiness. Now I understand that true peace and security come from our sincere Buddhist practice to the Gohonzon not necessarily a house, a yard, parents, friends, a trust fund. All these are nice-tohaves but can vanish in moments. The Gosho Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life explains: Gold can neither be burned by fire nor corroded or swept away by water, but iron is vulnerable to both. A wise person is like gold and a fool like iron. You are like pure gold because you embrace the gold of the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra reads in part, Sumeru is the loftiest of mountains. The Lotus Sutra is likewise the loftiest of Sutras. It also states, The good fortune of the believer cannot be burned by fire or washed away by water. My daughters see this difference in the lives of their parents; one life based on this Buddhism and the other, based on a Floridavacation-kind-of-happiness at others expense. So, they ve decided to practice. They re having wonderful fortune in their relationships, their work opportunities, their health and happiness. We ve determined to keep this Buddhist practice at the center of our lives. We want to attend Tozan a pilgrimage to our Head Temple in Japan together with my daughter Mira s boyfriend Trevor, who just recently received Gojukai the ceremony that begins our Buddhist practice. This is our dream. To me, this really is a treasure. It was worth every effort to come to this place in my life. I d like to wrap up with one of our Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin s writings, Letter to Horen. In it, he explains: How then are you to go about nurturing faith in the Lotus Sutra? For if you try to practice the teachings of the sutra without faith, it would be like trying to enter a jeweled mountain without hands (to pick up its treasures) or like trying to make a thousand-mile journey without feet. The answer is simply to examine the proof that is close at hand, and thus to take hold of faith that is far off. For the guests, I sincerely hope you will receive Gojukai today and start your own Buddhist practice, so that you too can experience the same peace and security in your lives that I have. Thank you for your kind attention.

6 Higan-e Ceremony September 23, 2018 The Higan-e Ceremony is held on the days of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. On these two days, the length of daylight and darkness is equal, and the sun rises due east and sets directly in the west. As the sutra expounds, "The Buddha desires the Middle Way." For this reason the benefits of performing positive deeds on these days are superior to those practiced at other times. The word "higan" is a translation of the Sanskrit word "paramita, and it means, "arriving on the other shore." In his writings, Nichiren Daishonin states: In the great sea of sufferings of life and death, the pre-lotus Sutra teachings are but a raft or, at best, a small boat. Even if the pre-lotus Sutra teachings can transport us from this shore of life and death to another shore of life and death, it cannot take us across the great sea of life and death to the shore of great happiness. Thus, the fundamental significance of arriving at the "other shore," or higan, is that it is extremely important for us, as living beings, to attain enlightenment in our present form through the Daishonin's Buddhism, and in a spirit of appreciation, to present memorial offerings for our ancestors. All Toba requests must be received by September 9th Please Print Clearly Name of Applicant Name of Deceased General Gokuyo (if any) $ Gokuyo for Tobas ($10.00 ea.) $

7 Manhattan Introductory Meeting 215 West 98th St. #3B (between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) Manhattan Saturday Evening Gongyo 1214 Fifth Ave. Apt 43C New York, NY (Entrance on 102nd St) Myosetsuji Temple September 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Starting in September cleaning the Temple will be done by our new Cleaning Committee. There will be a sign-up sheet in the lobby to become a member of this committee. Gongyo 10:00 AM Gongyo 2:30 PM 1 Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM Kosen-rufu Chanting 10 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Support Staff Meeting 12:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Children's Meeting 12:30 PM Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM Oko & Gonan-e Ceremony 10 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Youth Meeting 12:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Japanese Oko 12:30 PM (Manhattan) Higan-e Toba Cutoff Gongyo 10 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Chinese Oko 12:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM Higan-e Ceremony 10 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Korean Oko 12:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM (Manhattan) 30 Introductory Meeting 10 AM

8 MYOSETSUJI TEMPLE Beech Ave. (Entrance on Parsons Blvd.) Flushing, NY V I S I T US O N L I N E AT O UR N EW W E B S I T E : WWW. N S T N Y. O RG Please send subscriptions to: NICHIREN SHOSHU MONTHLY Subscription Form Nichiren Shoshu Temple Beech Avenue Flushing, NY Please make checks or money orders payable to: Nichiren Shoshu Temple Name Address City State Zip Please check one: United States: 3 mos. ($9.00) 6 mos. ($18.00) 12 mos. ($36.00) Canada: 3 mos. ($18.25) 6 mos. ($36.50) 12 mos. ($73.00) International: 3 mos. ($27.00) 6 mos. ($54.00) 12 mos. ($108.00) S U B S C R I B E TO T H E N I C H I R E N S H O S H U M O N T H LY M A G A Z I N E T O DAY! MYOSETSUJI TEMPLE Beech Ave. Flushing, NY Rev. Shinga Takikawa, Chief Priest Rev. Gyoho Mitani, Assistant Priest