New Year’s Address
Reverend Gyoyu Urushibata
Overseas Department Chief
January 1, 2012
To all Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, as we welcome the early spring of 2012, I would like to wish you a happy New Year.
For this year’s beginning, together with the resident priests in overseas countries and Nichiren Shoshu believers around the world, I would like for us to make the pledge to exert ourselves toward the further progress of Kosen- rufu.
Last year, we, the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and lay believers around the world courageously worked to accomplish shakubuku for the significant “The Year of Taking Action to do Shakubuku” under the guidance of 68th High Priest Nichinyo Shonin. As a result, not only in Japan, but many chapters around the world were able to achieve their shakubuku goals.
Throughout this year, we must make further progress with increased efforts toward Kosen-rufu by achieving an even greater number of shakubuku than last year.
In order for the Hokkeko to increase its present membership by 50 percent by the year 2015, the “770th anniversary of the birth of Second High Priest Nikko Shonin,” I believe that the achievement of our shakubuku goal in what is now our 3rd year will have great significance.
Thus, I hope that all chapters around the world will exert efforts to conduct shakubuku through accumulating serious Daimoku with unity between priesthood and lay believers, and accomplish each shakubuku goal.
The objective for this year is designated as “The Year of Advancing Kosen-rufu Through Shakubuku.”
The Overseas Department then set the following three practical points for 2012:
- To consistently do Gongyo and Shodai together with our families.
- To accomplish our individual shakubuku goals through consistent shakubuku.
- To encourage all believers to make a pilgrimage to the Head Temple.
1. Concerning the significance of the practical point “to consistently do Gongyo and Shodai together with our families,” conducting Gongyo and Shodai are the basics of our practice. “Together with families” contains the meaning of hotto-sozoku which is passing the faith down to one’s progeny through demonstrating one’s conduct of Gongyo and Shodai.
2. Regarding the practical point “to accomplish our individual shakubuku goals through consistent shakubuku,” to conduct shakubuku is also a basic of our practice. Finding people to shakubuku will arise through one’s relationships or karmic bonds. Based on these karmic bonds, we will conduct shakubuku. Sometimes one will need support from fellow members, but shakubuku will begin by finding people with whom we share a karmic bond.
3. Next is “to encourage all believers to make a pilgrimage to the Head Temple.” The Head Temple is the sacred place where the Dai-Gohonzon of the essential teaching and Nichiren Daishonin’s soul resides, and it is the place where tremendous benefits are amassed. By going on Tozan to the Head Temple where benefits permeate, and by reciting the sutra and chanting Daimoku to the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary, you can receive the great benefit of eradicating the negative karma that you created from your past lifetimes, live a long life and extinguish disaster, and achieve your aspirations. It is a particularly great opportunity for members new to Tozan to establish their own faith by visiting Taisekiji.
Therefore, it is important for fellow members including members new to Tozan to come together and go on Tozan.
I hope you will further exert your selves for Kosen-rufu in each country by upholding the above 3 practical points for this year.
Nichiren Daishonin states in “Winter Always Turns to Spring:”
Those who practice in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, which never fails to turn into spring. Never have I seen or heard of winter tuning into autumn. Nor have I ever heard of any believer in the Lotus Sutra who remained a common mortal. A passage from the sutra reads, "Among those who hear of this Law, there is no one who can not attain Buddhahood." (Gosho, page 832)
In March of 2011, the unprecedented disaster of the East Japan Great Earthquake occurred, and over 20,000 people lost their precious lives. They have yet to completely recover from the great destruction of many buildings and natural resources.
In addition, radioactivity that leaked from a nuclear power station is still contaminating the surrounding area.
The Japanese government is exerting efforts to recover from the disaster, but it seems that Japan may need from several years to over a decade to return to its original state prior to the earthquake.
If we look overseas, the economic crisis in Europe due to unstable currency is going to affect the U.S.A and all countries around the world.
Each country in the Middle East has the possibility of starting wars.
It is the 21st century, but there are still many unfathomable occurrences of human trafficking and food shortages.
Because of this era of uncertainty, we must uphold Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching and propagate the true law by aiming to establish the Buddha land of peace and security. Now let us etch into our hearts the golden words of “winter never fails to turn into spring” and “among those who hear of this Law, there is no one who can not attain Buddhahood.” Now is an important time to propagate the true law without retreating in the face of difficulties by having conviction in the benefits of the Gohonzon that “there is no one who can not attain Buddhahood.”
To everyone around the world who is putting forth ceaseless efforts to protect and propagate the True Law, let us exert our selves throughout this year to practicing for our selves and for others with firm faith together with the priesthood and lay believers under the guidance of the High Priest.
I would like to conclude my New Year’s Address by praying from the bottom of my heart for the happiness of each one of you, for the progress of Kosen-rufu of the True Law around the world, and peace in each of your countries.
January 1, 2012
Overseas
Department Chief
Rev. Gyoyu Urushibata