“New Year’s Gosho” (Mushimochi gosho)
Okyobi Sermon, January, 2005
Reverend Shogu Kimura
I have received a hundred mushimochi cakes and a basket of fruit. New Year’s Day marks the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year and the start of spring. A person who celebrates this day will gain virtue and be loved by all, just as the moon becomes full gradually, moving from west to east, and the sun shines more brightly traveling from east to west. (Gosho, p. 1551; MWND-1, p. 271)
Today, on this occasion of the first Okyo-bi Ceremony for this year, I have sincerely recited the sutras and chanted Daimoku together with you. I have also offered my heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of all the deceased individuals for whom you have requested a memorial. Moreover, I have sincerely prayed for you to eliminate your sins and negative karma from this and past lifetimes; for you to redouble your faith; for you to enjoy a safe and long life; for peace and harmony to reign in your home; and for the ultimate continuation of the Law. I have also prayed for the further advancement of the Myoshin-ji Chapter of the Hokkeko.
I sincerely appreciate your efforts for attending this Okyo-bi Ceremony after attending yesterday’s New Year’s celebration.
Last year marked a significant juncture for us, as we held the ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Myoshin-ji Temple. A total of 269 individuals attended the event at Myoshin-ji Temple. I am truly pleased that we were able to hold such a magnificent ceremony, in spite of the fact that it was held during the busy year-end period in December. This year marks our first year, as we advance forth to the next stage. Our High Priest has designated this “The Year of Advancement with Unity between Priesthood and Laity.” This is, indeed, a most appropriate designation for us, as we embark upon this significant first year. As priests and lay believers, let us join our efforts and advance forth together, under the direction of our High Priest, and uphold unshakable faith throughout this year.
In Japan, the New Year is referred to as “gan-tan,” which literally means “the first day of the year.” In olden times, it was referred to as “gan-san,” or “the first three days of the year.” “Gan” meant “first,” and “san” meant “three.” As the gosho passage suggested, the New Year marked “the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year.” In addition, “gan-san” signified the first three days of the New Year.
The Japanese title for the “New Year’s Gosho” is the “Mushimochi gosho.” It is literally the “Letter Ten Gosho,” and the “letter ten” is another name for the mushimochi steamed rice cakes. The Japanese character for “ten,” a criss-cross symbol, was cut on the surface of the steamed New Year’s rice cakes, to make them easy to eat. Such was the origin of the name for the rice cakes. An alternative title for this gosho was, “Reply to Lady Omonsu” (Omonsu dono no nyobo go-henji). Omonsu referred to the area around the present-day Kitayama Honmon-ji. Lady Omonsu was the wife of Ishikawa Shimbei, the steward of that area. She was the older sister of Nanjo Tokimitsu, and together with her husband, she upheld pure, strong faith.
For the New Year, this husband and wife sent several items, as sincere gokuyo offerings, to the Daishonin at Minobu. This gosho represented the Daishonin’s letter, responding to their offerings. The year was not recorded on the gosho, but it was probably written on the 5th day of the New Year of the 4th year of Koan (1281). The original gosho is safely stored at the Head Temple Taiseki-ji.
In this letter of response, the Daishonin expressed his gratitude and joy towards the couple who sent him the gokuyo offerings. The Daishonin did not rejoice because he would be able to eat all the gokuyo items that were presented to him. In fact, he expressed his joy for the spirit and way of life filled with virtue and fortune manifested by the Omonsu couple, who were able to send their gokuyo offering, based on their sincere faith, to the Daishonin, at his distant residence in Minobu.
As the sun and the moon ceaselessly continue to move across the skies above the earth, they illuminate our daily lives. The Daishonin described how the sun and moon do not seek compensation or reward, as they exist in boundless dignity day and night. The Daishonin used these images as exemplary models for us in this passage, as he wrote this gosho.
The Daishonin explained that those who embrace his True Buddhism at the extremely significant occasion of the New Year – whether they are elderly, young, men, or women – will achieve tremendous good fortune. Only the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity congregate to worship at the temple at the beginning of the year, and they recite the sutras and chant Daimoku in complete unison, as they pray for the prosperity of the temple for the entire year, for harmony between the priesthood and laity, for individual good health, and for the redoubling of their faith. This is a source of tremendous good fortune that is possible only for the Nichiren Shoshu priests and lay believers. Under such conditions, they do not second-guess the Gohonzon, and they do form anticipations based on self-serving attachments. They single-mindedly pray for world-wide kosenrufu, based on the directions set forth by the High Priest, and they manifest themselves as the true disciples of Nichiren Daishonin. Therefore, as a matter of course, the conditions bring forth benefits.
The Daishonin also stated that those who celebrate the New Year by upholding the Daishonin’s Buddhism will be loved by many people. When we consider love, we usually imagine relationships between men and women or those between parent and child. Here love goes beyond such relationships. This love is based on the Buddha’s compassion and is, therefore, associated with shakubuku. As we are all aware, the objective of the Daishonin’s Buddhism is the achievement of world-wide kosenrufu – world peace. By praying for kosenrufu, by devoting ourselves to faith each day, and by assiduously performing shakubuku, we will, indeed, amass benefits in our individual lives. Benefits are not material objects or intangible entities like air. Benefits will calmly and solemnly characterize the spirit and lives of those who uphold serious faith and practice.
I ask you all never to lose sight of your great confidence in the power of the Gohonzon, in your daily lives and in your Buddhist activities, and I further ask you to renew your determination for the entirety of this new year, as you sincerely put forth your utmost efforts in your Buddhist practice.
I would like to conclude my sermon for today by sincerely praying for your continued good health and ever-increasing devotion.
I sincerely appreciate the efforts that you have made to attend this ceremony today. Please be cautious on the road, and return home safely.
Thank you very much.