NICHIREN SHOSHU TEMPLE FOR THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, EAST CANADA AND TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Myosetsuji News ISSUE 195 SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 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. Today, Nichiren Shoshu is powerfully advancing, with unity between the priesthood and laity of each chapter, based on the spirit of itai dōshin, as we aim 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 the Gosho, Many in Body, One in Mind (Itai do shin ji), the Daishonin teaches us the most important point to keep in mind, as we take on the challenge to achieve our goal. He states: With the spirit of many in body, one in mind, they (the Atsuwara believers) will achieve everything, whereas, in the case of one in body, many in mind, they will not accomplish anything. This has been proven in more than 3,000 volumes of Chinese non-buddhist literature. For example, there was a battle between King Zhou of Yin with his 700,000 soldiers and King Wu of Zhou with his 800. King Zhou was defeated due to disunity, whereas King Wu won because of unity. An individual at odds with himself will not achieve anything, because his heart is not dedicated to a single purpose. Even if there are 100 or 1,000 people, if they are united with one heart, they can definitely accomplish anything. (Gosho, p. 1389) As the Daishonin asserts in this Gosho, the key to success depends on achieving unity, based on the spirit of itai dōshin. It s a fact that in every chapter that is producing good results, the members are devoting themselves to do shakubuku, based on unity in the spirit of itai dōshin. All of the members of these chapters have awareness, pride and confidence as soldiers for kōsen-rufu. And, they advance toward the challenge of doing shakubuku with great delight, aiming toward the achievement of their goals. The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra (Hokke shoshin Jo butsu-sho ): If they hear the Lotus Sutra, which enables people to attain Buddhahood, this (Continued on page 2) Gosho Quote for September 2017 The True Entity of All Phenomena (Shohō jissō-shō) Believe in the Gohonzon, the supreme object of worship for the entire world. Be sure to strengthen your faith, and receive the protection of Shakyamuni Buddha, Tahō Buddha, and all the Buddhas in the ten directions. (Gosho, p. 667)
PAGE 2 MYOSETSUJI NEWS Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued) (Continued from page 1) [encounter] becomes the seed [of Buddhahood] for them, and they eventually will attain enlightenment without fail. Therefore, Tiantai and Miaole follow this notion and expound [in their commentaries] that one should tirelessly teach the Lotus Sutra. It is like those who falter and fall to the ground, but are able to use that very ground to push themselves up to stand again. In the same way, even if they descend into hell, they will rise again before long and attain Buddhahood. The people in the Latter Day of the Law will definitely fall into hell as a result of turning their backs on the Lotus Sutra. In any case, one should strongly teach and make people listen to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, p. 1316) In the Latter Day of the Law, shakubuku is the correct method of propagating the Law in every respect. This is because the method of shōju, which was used in the Former and Middle Days of the Law, cannot save those without the seed of Buddhahood. In the same Gosho, the Daishonin teaches as follows: Even if the Law does not suit the capacity of the people, one should nevertheless strongly teach and make them listen to the five characters of the title of the Lotus Sutra. This is because there is no other way apart from this to attain Buddhahood. (Gosho, p. 1315) Shakubuku is the ultimate method that helps the people sever their attachments to erroneous teachings. Moreover, it leads them to the correct teaching that brings forth true happiness. Thus, it is different from persuading someone to buy something. Shakubuku involves a serious discussion that reaches one s heart. We must be aware that the words and attitude of those who perform shakubuku have a significant impact on the people they speak with. Thus, when conducting shakubuku, first and foremost, it is essential for one to revere the vast and boundless benefits of the Dai-Gohonzon and devote oneself to chanting Daimoku with absolute conviction. With the joy and benefits of chanting Daimoku, one must perform shakubuku. Looking at today s chaotic condition at home and abroad, which directly represents the defiled age of the Latter Day of the Law, I strongly feel that each of us must engrave the following golden words into our hearts: The world today is defiled with impurities. People s minds are distorted, filled with envy, and provisional and slanderous teachings abound. This makes it difficult for the true Law to be propagated. At such a time, it is of no use to practice the reading, reciting, and transcribing of sutras, or to contemplate, meditate, or discipline oneself. You simply must perform shakubuku. You should powerfully vanquish slanderous teachings and use the doctrines to censure erroneous teachings to the best of your ability. (Gosho, p. 403) We must be aware that we have the important mission to sow the seed of Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the true cause into the lives of as many people as possible, as we carry out shakubuku. In particular, today, the members of all the Hokkeko chapters are striving to do shakubuku as a united body, aiming toward our goal to achieve a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021. At this time, I feel the most important thing is, first, the believers who have gathered here today, with determined resolution, must stand up and carry out shakubuku refuting heresy and revealing the truth as we aim toward the achievement of our goal. If each of us takes the initiative to stand up and do shakubuku courageously, I firmly believe that our goal will be achieved without fail. Half of this year already has passed, and we have six months remaining. We are entering the crucial stage toward the achievement of our goal. I sincerely pray that you will further devote yourselves to your practice, so that you will achieve this year s goal.
ISSUE 195 PAGE 3 Faith Experience by Luis Rodriguez My name is Luis Rodriguez and I ve been chanting since God left Chicago. When I came to my first meeting in 1971 I wasn t serious. I was more interested in the girls than in chanting. They had the young girls' division and the women s division. I wasn t using drugs, I was clean. I was doing good I had just come out of a drug program. I started going to the psychiatrist because I was having problems. He gave me a lot of medication, so much Lithium that I ended up getting debilitated. I was so bad I couldn t get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I was in bed and couldn t walk. I was in bed for a long time. I wanted to chant. They sent me to Montefiore Hospital, but they still gave me the same medication. They put me with the crazy people. They wanted to put me in a nursing home. I thought I was going to die. But I started seeing a new doctor with brains. He said "how come you are taking so much medication?" How come you are on so much Lithium? He took me off all of the medication. And I started feeling better. I started chanting again, I started walking, and I got better. Finally, I got to go to the temple. When I went to the Temple one day, the priest said "chanting and Gongyo are like salt and pepper. If you don t do Gongyo, you are wasting your time. You cannot have one without the other." I got so upset that I was ready to walk out of the Temple. But I spoke to our Koto, Dennis, and I said "I have a problem... I don t know how to read English and I don t know how to read Spanish. I never went to school. Dennis said "don t worry about it, just chant Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo, because Nichiren Daishonin had a lot of followers, and most of them were farmers who could not read or write. Some of them were Samurai. They knew Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo, and they chanted and knew it worked." So, I listened to his encouragement and started to get serious and chant Daimoku every day for an hour. I began to get along with my neighbors and my family. My head was clear. After that, I found out that I had to respect myself. I don t want anyone to feel sorry for me. Everything that happened to me, I did it to myself, it was my karma. I was a dog, I was a Doberman Pincher that got hurt by a car. When I saw young people, when I saw old people, I defended myself like a dog. But after chanting consistently, I found out, if you send love you get love, if you send garbage you get garbage. I started getting along with myself. I gave up using drugs, drinking liquor, smoking cigarettes. All I did was chant Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo. I started feeling good about myself. Today I live in peace, I don t have any problems, I have no enemies, I get along with my neighbors. I am healthy. I chant everyday at the same time. I come to the temple. I listen to the guidance of the Priest and the High Priest and I apply it to myself. And that is my experience.
PAGE 4 MYOSETSUJI NEWS Faith Experience by Diane Sack Good Morning Reverend Takikawa, Reverend Natsui, Koto Dennis, Vice Kotos Tony and Richie and to all of you. I am Diane Sack and I am a member of the Westchester Area group. This morning I'd like to share with you some of the benefits I have experienced since becoming a member of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. I have been a member for a little over 2 years. The first benefit I want to talk about is that of a profound compassion that came over me the very first time I chanted. My son David was here for a visit and noticed how stressed I was feeling. He suggested that I chant with him for just 5 or 6 minutes. He had become a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist only a month prior and told me how wonderful it was to chant. He gave me his beads and taught me the words Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo. Immediately after chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for the first time, I felt an overwhelming feeling course throughout my body. Although it was unfamiliar to me, I recognized it instantly - it was a deep feeling of compassion. Inexplicably the compassion I was feeling was for myself. You may be thinking that during different times in our lives we all feel sorry for ourselves -- we all bemoan our fate. However true that may be, this was different. It was not my typical feelings of self-pity, of feeling like a helpless victim who is besieged by hurt and cruelty and has no control over what happened in my life, or, even worse, feeling and believing that I was bad and was worthy of abuse. During this time, I spent many years in the lowest life condition, the world of Hell. I was suffering; I was angry. I will give you a little background to explain what I mean and why I was angry and suffering in the world of Hell. During my childhood, my mom was unhappy and depressed. She turned to alcohol as an escape and coping mechanism. When she drank, she was not always in a stable state of mind. When upset, she would beat me with a strap, slap me in the face, pull my hair, etc. These beatings were often accompanied by vulgar words and by her screaming and telling me that I was a bad girl. At some point in my adolescence, my mom stopped drinking heavily, but the damage had been done -- there was no going back. I had psychologically developed into believing that I was bad and that I deserved the abuse I had received. These feelings weren't always apparent in my conscious mind, but instead were tucked away in the recesses of my mind. I was too ashamed to admit this to myself and afraid that other people would see it and hate me as I thought my mother had. At the time, I had not met the Buddha and was not chanting Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo, so, unknown to me, I continued on the path where my karma led me -- a path that led me to more abuse. At the age of 20, I married a man who was 2 years older than me. I thought we were in love and I viewed him as my protector. As long as we were together, nothing bad could ever happen to me. After all, he loved me. He would never hurt me. Well it didn't take long for the abuse to begin. Again I experienced physical beatings -- one punch breaking my nose while I was pregnant. Fortunately, our daughter was unharmed. When my husband fell to the floor crying I put my arms around him to comfort him. After all, I was bad and I deserved to be punched. Yes, I felt sorry for myself but it was self-pity and not compassion. Since chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge- Kyo, I have become aware through the protection of the Gohonzon that there is an immeasurable difference between self-pity and compassion, and feeling that I had no control over a situation or no responsibility for it either. I left that man, but without the benefit of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, I got myself into another abusive relationship with my second husband 7 years later. I had still not met the Buddha. I had still not learned that we can change our karma. I was subjected to belittling, humiliation, and criticism. Surely this is what I deserved -- he was an MD and I was a high school graduate. Again I found myself in the worlds of Hell and Anger. Since I felt so worthless at his hands, I had to prove to myself that I (Continued on page 5)
ISSUE 195 PAGE 5 Faith Experience by Diane Sack (continued) (Continued from page 4) was better than he and perhaps others. This put me into the world of Animality. I aspired to raise myself up -- to be viewed as important and valuable as a human being. I didn't know then that I was doing it for the wrong reasons. With determination, I decided to continue my education to be the best student I could possibly be. I graduated with honors and Summa Cum Laude, albeit from a City University and not Columbia where he had attended. After that, I graduated from law school and became a lawyer -- a career I held for 27 years, all the while hiding my shame and humiliation from the rest of the world. That marriage broke up after 16 years. Again I had not met the Buddha Nichiren Daishonin and so the only way I knew to protect myself was to avoid any intimate relationships with men. I was just not good at it. I had failed twice; and I determined that was enough! I was in my mid-40s at the time. I worked hard and enjoyed raising my twins. My older daughter was married. Since that time, I have never had a romantic relationship with a man. That was Ok. I did pretty-well on my own, and I had a relief from so much hurt and pain. I so much want to impress upon you the profound change that has come upon me due to Nam-Myhoho- Renge-Kyo. I no longer view myself as a victim. I am no longer helpless. I no longer ask "Why do these horrible things keep happening to me?" Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo has changed my perspective. One day when I was chanting, I saw myself as a little girl with tears streaming down my face. My eyes were so sad. I bent down and put my arms around her and said "You are not a bad girl, you do not deserve what has happened to you" and then I said "I love you." The guilts, regrets, and hurts that had formed my beliefs about myself in my childhood left my body. I had never experienced such internal peace in my life. And mind you, I was 70 years old at the time. I always felt compassion for others, but chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge- Kyo has uplifted and broadened this compassion to new heights. Once we change ourselves through Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo we can begin to positively change others by opening our hearts and embracing all human beings and all living creatures -- it doesn't matter if we know them personally or not. This even applies to people we don't necessarily like or who we view as mean. Since practicing Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo, I am no longer quick to judge others or to condemn them. I have become much less defensive and I don't take things personally. I realize that we are all part of a whole, we are one and realize that all people experience hardships and pain in their lives. I now see that some aggressive behavior is a way they have to protect themselves from perceived dangers around them. Their negative behavior may in reality have absolutely nothing to do with me. With Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo, I perceive things differently, which leads me to react differently than I might have in the past. Instead of avoiding and running from such people as I have done for many years of my life, I want to help them through shakubuku to find the path to enlightenment through Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The Buddha allows me to feel love and compassion for everyone, and I feel so peaceful as a result. Another benefit is that people can see this love in me and I received so much love in return. I love and respect the Buddha, and the Gohonzon protects me. I have had a friend for over 32 years now. It is a platonic relationship. We enjoy doing things together. However, before chanting, I was always angry with him and criticizing him. I think I was taking things that had been done to me out on him. For some reason, he stood by me. Well, chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo has transformed our relationship. One day, something startling happened. He said something that would have set me off, but I didn't feel angry -- I had lost the desire to criticize him. Instead, I looked at him with so much compassion and so much love. He noticed this change in me and desired to attain the peace and happiness he saw in me. He became my first shakubuku. We now get along beautifully. Some of you know him. His name is Wally, and he will be coming here in October to receive his Gohonzon. Marnee May and I are going to Texas with him to enshrine the Gohonzon in his altar! I have many friends now both at the temple and from the bereavement group I have been attending since my daughter's death. I now believe that I am a good person and I am very happy. And I am finally free for the first time. Thank you for allowing me to share my experience with our True Buddhism.
Higan-e Ceremony September 24, 2017 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 17th Please Print Clearly Name of Applicant Name of Deceased General Gokuyo (if any) $ Gokuyo for Tobas ($10.00 ea.) $
Manhattan Introductory Meeting 215 West 98th St. #3B (between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway) Manhattan Saturday Evening Gongyo* 1214 Fifth Ave. Apt 43C New York, NY 10029 (Entrance on 102nd St) Myosetsuji Temple September 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday *Wed., Thurs., Fri. 9/27, 9/28, 9/29 - Flower Making 2-4 PM in the Residence *Sat. 9/30 - Flower Making 12-2 PM in the Main Hall *Sun. 10/1 - Flower Making 1-3 PM in the Main Hall Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM 1 2 Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM (Myosetsuji) No Manhattan Evening Gongyo MDS & NJ Cleanup 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Morning Gongyo 10 AM Gongyo 10:00 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Led by Koto (Manhattan) No Manhattan Evening Gongyo LI & Bklyn Cleanup 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Kosen-rufu Chanting 10 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM Support Staff Meeting 12:30 PM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Bronx & Uptown Cleanup 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Oko 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 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 Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Higan-e Toba Cut-off (Manhattan) Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM* Qns & West Cleanup 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 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 AM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Gongyo 6:30 PM Intro Mtg 7:00 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Flower Making* 10/1 Flower Making* Flower Making* Flower Making* Flower Making* (Myosetsuji) Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM* (Myosetsuji) Manhattan Gongyo 5:00 PM*
MYOSETSUJI TEMPLE 143-63 Beech Ave. (Entrance on Parsons Blvd.) Flushing, NY 11355 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 143-63 Beech Avenue Flushing, NY 11355 Please make checks or money orders payable to: Nichiren Shoshu Temple Name Address City State Zip Email 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 143-63 Beech Ave. Flushing, NY 11355 Rev. Shinga Takikawa, Chief Priest Rev. Jogu Natsui, Assistant Priest