Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the June Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony
May 31, 2009
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
Good evening everyone! On the occasion of the June Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony, conducted today at the Head Temple, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the large number of participants in attendance, including those who are attending the second term of the Hokkeko Summer Study Tozan.
Usually, the Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony is held on the first Sunday of each month. However, the Hokkeko Summer Study Tozan is in session, so the Shodai Ceremony was scheduled one day earlier.
The “Kick-off Meetings for the Advancement of the Great Assembly of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” have been held at each location with great success, including the Western Japan General Meeting, which took place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on February 3rd, and the subsequent Kyushu Kick-off Meeting and Hokkaido Kick-off Meeting, which were both completed successfully. Only the Eastern Japan Kick-off Meeting has yet to be held.
I am firmly convinced that the Eastern Japan Kick-off Meeting will also be a tremendous success with unity between priesthood and laity.
As you all know, these Kick-off meetings are held for the purpose of fulfilling the goals of “Doubling the Number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “Gathering at the Great Assembly,” and the success of the Commemorative General Tozan. Therefore, we must not treat them as mere events. These Kick-off meetings will be meaningless, unless we apply the achievements we made and the spirit of success we felt at each venue, based on the unity between priesthood and laity, to the next challenge.
I have heard reports, however, that after the Kick-off meetings, some chapters already achieved their shakubuku goals for this year and others have shown good results. Thus, I am aware of the increasing momentum toward the achievement of shakubuku goals all over the country. I am certain that all chapters will advance boldly in their efforts and will attain their shakubuku goals for this year. Or, I should rather say that now is the time for us to exert ourselves by fully engaging in achieving the great mission for kosenrufu through shakubuku in order to save all living beings.
Today, when we observe both domestic and world affairs, we can see terrible and disastrous accidents occurring frequently in our nation. The country is experiencing instability and chaos in every aspect, including in politics and economics. Looking outward, at other countries, we can see tragic situations of extraordinary natural phenomena, such as the cyclone in Myanmar and the great earthquake in Sichuan Province in China. We must not turn a blind eye to such catastrophic natural phenomena.
I believe the most important thing for us to do right now is to sow the seeds of the Daishonin’s Buddhism into the hearts of as many people as possible inside and outside Japan, based on the principles expounded in the Rissho ankoku-ron, which were revealed by Nichiren Daishonin.
However, we should be aware that when we try to propagate the correct Law in this defiled age of the Latter Day of the Law, when chaotic calamities and misfortune continue to occur and the people’s minds are extremely depraved, every type of obstacle will arise without fail. This is not surprising. The Encouraging Devotion (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra expounds the following:
After the Buddha has passed into extinction, in an age of fear and evil, we will preach far and wide. There will be many ignorant people who will curse and speak ill of us and will attack us with swords and staves, but we will endure all these things. (Lotus Sutra, Watson, p. 375)
It also states:
In a muddied kalpa, in an evil age there will be many things to fear. Evil demons will take possession of others and through them curse, revile and heap shame on us. But we, reverently trusting in the Buddha, will put on the armor of perseverance.
(ibid., p. 377)
No matter what evils and obstacles attack us, we must have no fear and endure through such hardships without retreating even an inch. Then, we must face and overcome these difficulties and boldly advance with firm faith, aiming toward the attainment of our aspiration—kosen-rufu. This is the formula for overcoming every obstacle. The “Opening of the Eyes” (“Kaimoku-sho”) teaches:
Although I and my disciples may encounter various difficulties, if we do not harbor doubts in our hearts, we will as a matter of course attain Buddhahood. (Gosho, p. 574; MW-2, p. 205)
The Daishonin also states in “Letter to the Brothers” (“Kyodai-sho”):
Whatever trouble may occur, consider it as transitory as a dream and think only of the Lotus Sutra.
(Gosho, p. 987; MW-1, p. 147)
As these golden words teach, we can overcome every obstacle and difficulty without fail, if we take faith in the Dai-Gohonzon with firm conviction and devote ourselves to practice for oneself and others.
The “Orally Transmitted Teachings” (“Ongi kuden”) states:
We must understand that encountering obstacles is a sign for the state of bliss. (Gosho, p. 1763)
If we have strong faith with perfect composure, we will have a dauntless spirit, with faith that can help us to overcome difficulties.
The Daishonin teaches in “Letter to Nii-ama” (“Nii-ama goze-gohenji”):
In the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law, slanderous priests will fill the entire world, so that all guardian deities will be enraged and comets will appear in the sky and the earth will shake like the movement of huge waves. Innumerable disasters and calamities such as drought, fires, floods, gales, epidemics, famine, and war will all occur at once. The people throughout the world will don armor and take up bows and staves, and since none of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas or benevolent deities will be able to help them, they will all die and fall like rain into the hell of incessant suffering. At this very time, kings can save their countries and the people will escape calamities if they embrace and believe in this great mandala of the five characters, and in their next life they will not fall into the great fires of hell. (Gosho, p. 764; MW-3, p. 66)
No matter what happens, we must firmly keep in mind the golden words that state, “Kings can save their countries and the people will escape calamities if they embrace and believe in this great mandala of the five characters” with absolute conviction in the Dai-Gohonzon. We must devote ourselves to the practice for oneself and others in order to prevent all calamites. I truly hope that you will carry out your future shakubuku efforts courageously.
I would like to conclude my address today by sincerely praying for your further devotion to the practice.