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New Year’s Message I wish you a Happy New Year, 2006, on this day marking the coming of spring. Last December, High Priest Nichinyo Shonin succeeded as the Sixty-eighth High Priest of the Head Temple. As the New Year begins, I pledge to make further efforts together with all of you, the Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, to follow the guidance of our new High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, to double the membership by the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho Ankoku-Ron in 2009, and to further advance toward worldwide kosen-rufu. On December 1st, 2005, the Sixty-seventh High Priest Nikken Shonin appointed Most Rev. Nichinyo Hayase, the General Administrator, to the position of Gakuto. On December 12th at dawn, Nikken Shonin entrusted the Heritage of the Law to Most Rev. Hayase. Then on the 16th of December, the Transfer Ceremony was solemnly held in the Reception Hall (Kyakuden) of the Head Temple while many priests and representative lay believers observed. From now on, the Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin will ensure that the traditional transmission of the Heritage of the Law continues, and also, will remain in the position to guide both priests and lay believers. As you are well aware, Nikken Shonin resolutely decided to excommunicate the Ikeda Soka Gakkai for their slanderous acts, and stopped them from defiling the pure stream of the Daishonin’s Buddhism. Thereafter, he endured the attacks of the Ikeda Soka Gakkai, almost all by himself. From now on, Nikken Shonin will resign from the intense work and quietly protect the future of Nichiren Shoshu and Nichinyo Shonin. Both the Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin and the Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin will teach and guide us hereafter. There is nothing more reliable or fortunate for us than this. Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, let us vow to sincerely put forth our utmost efforts in our practice. Furthermore, let us make great efforts for the protection and propagation of the True Law during this New Year. Nichiren Shoshu has designated the slogan for 2006 as “The Year to Stand Up and Take Resolute Action” and has explained this slogan as follows: The “Year to Stand Up and Take Resolute Action” with unity between priesthood and laity means for us to stand up and follow the High Priest’s guidance, which is to double the membership and gather at the great assembly in 2009 at the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron.
Based on this year’s slogan, let us keep this passage from the Gosho deep in our hearts: Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study. Without practice and study, there can be no Buddhism. You must not only persevere yourself; you must also teach others. Both practice and study arise from faith. Teach others to the best of your ability, even if only a single sentence or phrase. (Gosho, p. 668; MW 1, p. 95)
In addition, we must all make sincere efforts with unity between priesthood and laity in order to practice for ourselves and for others. In response to this slogan, the Overseas Bureau has announced the three great objectives for the Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Believers as follows: 1. Let’s carry out the practice of Gongyo, chanting Daimoku, and shakubuku. 2. Let’s participate in and encourage others to attend the Oko Ceremony and the Kosen-rufu Gongyo and Shodai Ceremony every month. 3. Let’s promote the study of Buddhism, nurture active members, and foster itai-doshin. For those who have faith in the Daishonin’s teachings, not a single objective can be neglected. All three great objectives are important practice for us. Among these three great objectives, the third objective is particularly important. We must promote the study of Buddhism, nurture active members, and foster itai-doshin, as we try to double the membership for the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron in 2009. We will never be able to double the membership unless we carry out shakubuku and nurture the new believers. Moreover, an organization will eventually fall unless we foster itai-doshin. Shakubuku, nurturing new members, and itai doshin originate from strong faith, and strong faith is nourished by our assiduous practice. This means to do Gongyo, chant Daimoku, participate in the Oko Ceremonies and the Kosen-rufu Gongyo and Shodai Ceremonies, and promote the study of Buddhism. In the Gosho, “Bodies and Minds of Ordinary Beings” the Daishonin states: Dewdrops accumulate to form a stream, and streams accumulate to form the great ocean. Particles of dust accumulate to form a mountain, and mountains accumulate to form Mount Sumeru. And in the same way, trifling matters accumulate to become grave ones. (Gosho, p. 1216; MW-6, p. 279) Practice brings about the accumulation of small matters each day. As your practice accumulates day by day, it becomes the foundation for accomplishing shakubuku and nurturing active members. As a result, we can achieve the goal of doubling the membership. Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, let us steadily advance in “The Year to Stand Up and Take Resolute Action” towards the year 2009. I would like to conclude my address by praying for the health and success of the believers all over the world as well as peace in your respective countries throughout the New Year. |