New Year's Day, 2008

Happy New Years, everyone and Congratulations!

On behalf of the Myoshinji Hokkeko members, I want to thank Reverend Kimura and Reverend Arima for conducting this morning’s New Years Ceremony and also for the inspiring address that was given by Reverend Kimura.

I also want to take a moment to thank Guito Ayala for reading High Priest Nichinyo Shonin’s New Years message and Marilyn Peek for reading Reverend Urushibata’s New Years Message.

And a special thank you goes to all the members that participated in the major year-end clean up of the Temple on Sunday Dec. 23^rd.

In a few minutes, we will have a performance from the Taiko Performance Group so I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work and effort to prepare for their performance today.

As you all have already heard, this year has been deemed the “Year of Great Advancement” and we have been given three objectives for our practice.

To Earnestly Do Gongyo And Chant Daimoku
To Constantly Take Action To Do Shakabuku
To Develop Capable Members And Promote The 2009 General Tozan

When I read the first objective about “Earnestly doing Gongyo and Chanting Daimoku” I asked myself what earnestly meant. Earnestly means being very sincere; putting forth genuine effort.

Last month, our Koto James Huseth reminded us about re-reading the beginning of the Gongyo book. On Page IV it states the following:

Day by Day, we should carry out our practice with a fresh spirit, and put forth our utmost effort to do the best and most concentrated Gongyo possible.

I know that there are times when Gongyo and Daimoku can become routine and a matter of habit so I would like to encourage everyone to take a fresh look at your practice of Gongyo and Daimoku each time you do it.

When I read the second objective about constantly taking action to do Shakabuku, I also asked myself what constantly meant. Constantly means, without interruption, steadfast in purpose.

Let’s be steadfast in our purpose to take the actions needed to accomplish our personal Shakabuku goals this year. Constantly praying for your family, friends and neighbor’s happiness, teaching them about Nichiren Daishonin’s True Buddhism and guiding them to take faith in it are all actions that we can take to do Shakabuku. Steadfastly taking these actions helps develop in us the great mercy of the Buddha.

As you know, each time we recite Part C, the Jigage section of the Juryo chapter we end it by saying,

Mai ji sa ze nen. I ga ryo shu-jo. Toku nyu mu-jo-do. Soku jo-ju bus-shin.

A translation of this taken from the Lectures on the Lotus Sutra is as follows

This is my constant thought. How can I cause all living beings to gain entry to the highest way and quickly attain Buddhahood?

This shows the Buddha’s great mercy and his constant pre-occupation with trying to find the best way to lead all people toward the attainment of Buddhahood. And when Nichiren Daishonin inscribed his life in the Dai-Gohonzon, he embodied this mercy and concern in it.

As Hokkeko Believers, we are all striving to attain the same life condition as Nichiren Daishonin. So, our “constant thought” each day should be on what we can do to assure the happiness of all people so that we can create a peaceful world.

Lastly, lets all work together to take care of our members, both old and new, letting them know about the great opportunity that we have to participate in the 2009 General Tozan and encouraging them to participate.

I would like to wish you all great good fortune this year and that you will accomplish all your goals and aspirations.

Happy New Year!