New Year’s Address
Reverend Gyoyu Urushibata
Overseas Department Chief
January 1, 2009
I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all the Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, as we welcome the New Year of 2009.
On this memorable occasion of the first day of 2009, the year of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron, I would like to make a resolution for successful tozan pilgrimages and the further advancement of worldwide kosen-rufu, with the overseas priests and believers of Nichiren Shoshu working together.
Leading up to this year, the priests and believers of Nichiren Shoshu have devoted themselves to achieve the goal of Doubling the Number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth and successful Great Assemblies, following the direction of Sixty-seventh High Priest Nikken Shonin, who kindly gave us this direction on the occasion of the Hoando Opening Ceremony in 2002.
This is the important year of realizing this direction. Nichiren Shoshu has named this significant year, “The Year of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice.” 2009 is the 750th year since Nichiren Daishonin upheld the justice of true Buddhism through the submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron.
Nichiren Shoshu has announced three main events to be conducted this year:
- The General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers will be held at the Head Temple on July 26th.
- The Grand Ceremony in Commemoration of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron will be celebrated at the Head Temple on July 15th and 16th.
- Throughout 2009, the General Tozans of 500,000 believers will be conducted.
Nichiren Shoshu has also announced the opening of the special exhibition that will be held throughout 2009.
Based on the announcements made by Nichiren Shoshu, the Overseas Department has set the following three objectives:
- To conduct safe and successful tozan pilgrimages.
- To widely declare the significance of this “Year of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice” and to carry out shakubuku.
- To consistently do Gongyo and chant Daimoku, fostering the spirit of many in body, one in mind.
With regards to the first objective, “To conduct safe and successful tozan pilgrimages,” the Overseas Department will be holding five commemorative group tozans for overseas believers, which will be separate from the tozan schedule for Japan. These commemorative tozans will be held on the following dates:
- Group One: April 18 and 19
- Group Two: May 30 and 31
- Group Three: August 22 and 23
- Group Four: October 17 and 18
- Group Five: December 5 and 6
We plan to welcome 4,000 members in each group, and a total of 20,000 overseas believers throughout the year.
I believe each chapter has already been informed of the tozan schedule and has started planning for these events. I would like to ask each chapter to achieve its goal, based on the tozan plan, and safely complete the tozan pilgrimages.
The second objective, “To widely declare the significance of this Year of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice and to carry out shakubuku,” means that each believer should understand the significance of Nichiren Daishonin’s declaration, to “Uphold the true Law by refuting heretical teachings,” which he manifested through the submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron. Furthermore, one must practice shakubuku with renewed resolution.
The third objective, “To consistently do Gongyo and chant Daimoku, fostering the spirit of many in body, one in mind,” means that Gongyo and Daimoku are the basics of our practice, and the spirit of itai doshin—many in body, one in mind—is imperative for propagating the true Law.
I ask all of you to keep the above objectives in mind, so that you will finish the year of 2009 with no regrets. Nichiren Daishonin taught in “The Selection of the Time” (“Senji-shō”):
The cuckoo sings when spring is waning, the cock waits until the break of day to crow. If even these lowly creatures have such an understanding of time, then how can a person who wishes to practice the teachings of Buddhism fail to make certain what time it is?
(Gosho, p. 834; MW-3, pp. 79-80)
Each one of us is expected to meet one’s own goal during this significant year, which is to participate in the tozan pilgrimage to the Head Temple, practice shakubuku, recite Gongyo and chant Daimoku, and establish itai doshin. This is the practice we should conduct.
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin gave us the following guidance on the occasion of the October Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony:
We will realize that the most essential point for the achievement of our goal is to courageously take action and do shakubuku despite any obstacle. It is true that if one sits and meditates, no obstacles will arise, and one may be able to lead a peaceful life. But, such behavior is not only wasting one’s precious life. It is also going against the Daishonin’s true intention. As a result, one will not be able to receive benefits.
Let us not spend our precious lives doing nothing. Let’s exert ourselves, upholding the spirit of the Rissho ankoku-ron, which Nichiren Daishonin submitted to the government, at the risk of his life.
I would like to conclude my New Year’s address with my prayers for your abundant happiness, the advancement of the propagation of the true Law in each country, and peace in all nations throughout the year.
January 1, 2009
Gyoyu Urushibara
Overseas Department Chief