The True Entity of Life (Shoho jisso sho)
April, 2004
Reverend Shogu Kimura
Believe in the Gohonzon, the supreme object of worship in the world. Forge strong faith and receive the protection of Shakyamuni, Taho, and all the other Buddhas. 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.
Explanation:
Today, on this occasion of the Okyobi, the sutra day for April, I have sincerely prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased individuals for whom you requested a memorial.
Moreover, I have offered my heartfelt prayers for all of you present today to be able to eradicate your slanders and expiate your sins from your past and present existences; to redouble your faith; to enjoy peace and tranquility in your homes; and to promote the advancement of the Myoshin-ji Chapter of the Hokkeko.
Let me present you with an explanation of the Monthly Gosho passage. This month’s segment from “The True Entity of Life” (Shoho jisso sho), represents the conclusion of this Gosho. From beginning to end, this Gosho thoroughly expounded how the True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin, who made his advent in the Latter Day of the Law, manifested the supreme Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the form of the Gohonzon and revealed the true entity of life from the eternal past of kuon-ganjo.
Believing in the Gohonzon, the supreme object of worship in the world, and chanting Daimoku are foremost in our daily Buddhist practice. The Daishonin encouraged us to forge strong faith and to receive the protection of the three Buddhas – that is, of the benefits of the three enlightened properties composed of the body of the Law, the bliss body, and the manifested form – based on our conviction that the benefits of the Gohonzon are absolute.
Furthermore, the Daishonin instructed us that we must put forth our efforts in our actual practice and study of Buddhism. He wrote: “Exert yourself in the two ways of practice and study.” If either the “practice” or the “study” were missing, our faith would no longer characterize true Buddhism. It would not represent true Buddhist practice.
In addition to performing our own practice and study, we must also teach and lead others to do so. In other words, while it is important to perform our own practice, it is also essential for us to exert forth our best efforts to perform shakubuku on others.
However, we must emphasize that practice and study must be based on faith. For this reason, Nichiren Shoshu has traditionally stressed the significance of “faith first, practice second, and study third.” In essence, we can, in fact, achieve correct faith and practice by believing in the absolute power of the Gohonzon, by carrying through faith characterized by faith for oneself and for others, and by studying the doctrines according to the directions of our High Priest.
Then, the Daishonin stated that it is essential to teach people the Daishonin’s Buddhism – that is, to perform shakubuku – to the best of our ability, even if such instruction amounts to a single sentence or phrase.
I ask you all to continue to chant Daimoku and advance forth this month, based on the Daishonin’s teachings and the directions of our High Priest.
I am pleased to see that you have made the effort to be here today. Thank you.