Myosetsuji News July_14

NICHIREN SHOSHU TEMPLE
FOR
THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, EAST CANADA AND TRINIDAD/TOBAGO
MYOSETSUJI NEWS
I SSUE 157
J ULY 1, 2014
Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin
On the Occasion of the April
Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony
On this occasion of the April
Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony,
conducted here today at the Head
Temple, I would like to express my
heartfelt appreciation to the large
number of participants in
attendance, including many overseas
believers.
As we enter the month of April,
one-fourth of this year has past. I
believe you are striving forth toward
the achievement of your
shakubuku goals, day and night,
based on the unity between
priesthood and laity, in the spirit
of itai-dōshin.
Looking at the conditions of
society today in Japan and abroad,
we can see the manifestation of the
chaotic, evil age of the Latter Day of
the Law, defiled by the five
impurities. Many people may be
feeling anxious over an uncertain
future. As we look upon the current
state of confusion, we must be aware
that correcting this dismal situation
only can be achieved through the
Buddhism of the Three Great Secret
Law of our founder, Nichiren
Daishonin.
Hokkeko Highlights
•
•
•
•
Nichiren
Daishonin
explains the
reason for
this world of
confusion in
the Risshō
ankoku-ron
(On Securing
the Peace of
the Land
84 Mosetsuji Hokkeko members
have an audience with High
Priest Nichinyo Shonin during
Chapter Tozan to report our
achievement of our 2015 Shakubuku goal
All renovations are completed
and refinished Joju Gohonzon
returns in time for our 30th Anniversary Celebration
July’s 1 hour Shodai campaign
for all Nichiren Shoshu Priests
and members from around the
world
The Urabon Ceremony to be
held on July 20th
through the Propagation of True
Buddhism):
When I, with my limited
knowledge, read the sutras, I find
that all people have gone against
the correct Law and become wholly devoted to evil doctrines. This is
why all the guardian deities have
(Continued on page 2)
Gosho Quote for July 2014
“Reply to Shijō Kingo”
(“Shijō kingo dono-gohenji”)
Accepting is easy, but continuing is difficult. But one must maintain one’s faith in
order to attain Buddhahood. Those who uphold this sutra must be prepared to undergo hardships. (Gosho, p. 775)
M YOSETSUJI N EWS
P AGE 2
G UIDANCE FROM S IXTY - EIGHTH H IGH P RIEST N ICHINYO S HONIN ( CONTINUED )
(Continued from page 1)
abandoned this country and sages
have left this land, not to return.
Seizing this opportunity, devils
and demons rush in, bringing disasters and calamities. This is most
fearful. We must speak out!
(Gosho, p. 234; The Gosho of
Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 3)
He clearly states that this world is
in a state of confusion, misfortune
and suffering because “all people
have gone against the correct Law
and become wholly devoted to evil
doctrines.” This “correct Law” signifies the Three Great Secret
Laws—the True Object of Worship
of the Essential Teaching, the High
Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching,
and the Daimoku of the Essential
Teaching. “Evil doctrines” signifies
heresy, which is the slander of
heretical religions and doctrines.
In other words, the cause of
disarray, unhappiness and distress is
that people throughout the world
have gone against the Three Great
Secret Laws, the Buddhism of the
True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin,
and due to the delusion caused by
the slander of heresy, they believe in
erroneous teachings without any
understanding or perception of the
truth.
Therefore, unless
we break the
people’s attachment
[to these erroneous
teachings] and
eliminate the slander
of the Law of these
various sects, which
is the root cause of
misfortune and
chaos, we will not
be able to actualize
world peace and the
security of the
nation, and above all, achieve our
own happiness.
Nichiren Daishonin strictly refutes
slander of the Law in the Risshō
ankoku-ron:
If one desires peace to reign
throughout the entire nation
without delay, he should first and
foremost put an end to the
slanders that prevail throughout
the country. (Gosho, p. 247; The
Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin, vol.
2, p. 35)
In “Reply to Soya” (“Soya
dono-gohenji”), he further states:
Trying to attain enlightenment
without admonishing slander of
the Law is like seeking water in
fire or fire in water. How useless!
How vain! (Gosho, p. 1040)
As he indicates, it is impossible to
bring true happiness
for oneself and
many others without
conducting
shakubuku—
refuting heresy and
revealing the truth.
The Daishonin
states the following
in “On Practicing
According to the Buddha’s
Teachings”
(“Nyosetsu shugyō-shō”):
It is nonsense to seclude yourself
in the mountains without refuting
the enemies of the Lotus Sutra
and carry out the practice of shōju
at a time when the Lotus Sutra
and pre-Lotus Sutra teachings are
confused. You only will lose the
opportunity to practice the Lotus
Sutra. Now, in the Latter Day of
the Law, who is correctly carrying
out the practice of shakubuku
exactly as taught in the Lotus
Sutra? Whomever you may meet,
conduct shakubuku to the people
and refute the teachings of the
other sects. Proclaim repeatedly
with all your might that the Lotus
Sutra is the only teaching that will
lead the people to Buddhahood,
and that the various other
teachings obstruct one from
attaining enlightenment and are
the root cause for leading one to
fall into hell. (Gosho, p. 673)
The phrase, “when the Lotus
Sutra and pre-Lotus Sutra
teachings are confused” indicates
our present condition in the world,
where erroneous doctrines and
heretical teachings have spread to
(Continued on page 3)
I SSUE 157
P AGE 3
G UIDANCE FROM S IXTY - EIGHTH H IGH P RIEST N ICHINYO S HONIN ( CONTINUED )
(Continued from page 2)
every corner of the globe. At times
like this, those who do not admonish
the enemies of the Lotus Sutra or
perform shakubuku, and instead,
adhere to the practice of shōju, are
missing the opportunity when the
Lotus Sutra must be practiced. The
Daishonin sternly points this out.
The Daishonin further states in
“Attaining Enlightenment at the
Initial Stage of Faith through the
Lotus Sutra” (“Hokke shoshin
jōbutsu-shō”):
In any case, one should strongly
teach and make people listen to
the teachings of the Lotus
Sutra. Those who follow
and take faith in it will be
able to attain
enlightenment, and even
those who slander it will
likewise attain
Buddhahood in the end
through the poison-drum
relationship. In any case,
there is no other sutra
than the Lotus Sutra that
enables us to attain
Buddhahood. (Gosho, p.
1316)
The supreme, compassionate act to
save all living beings is shakubuku.
It certainly enables those who hear
and take faith in
Myoho-RengeKyo to attain
enlightenment.
Moreover, even
those who do not
intend to hear the
Law, by hearing it
once, eventually
will be able to
attain Buddhahood
through a reverse
relationship. This
is explained in the
principle of the “poison-drum
relationship.”
Etching these golden words into
our heart, we must form the unity of
2015, the 770th anniversary of the
birth of Second High Priest Nikko
Shonin.
Although it seems difficult to
accomplish this objective,
we will feel tremendous joy
when we achieve our goals
after overcoming every
adversity with unshakable
faith.
Thus, the Daishonin
teaches us in “Reply to
Ueno” (“Ueno donogohenji”):
many in body, one in mind (itai
dōshin), and take action as the
followers of the Bodhisattvas of the
Earth. It is our
most essential and
urgent mission to
carry out vigorous
activities of
shakubuku to
refute heresy and
uphold justice, so
that we can
achieve our goal of
increasing the
membership by 50
percent by the
coming year of
Even if you must endure
some hardship for a while,
your future happiness is
assured. (Gosho, p. 1479;
The Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin,
vol. 1, p. 71)
I sincerely hope that you, together
with all the other members in your
Hokkeko chapter, will devote
yourselves to chant Daimoku,
praying for the achievement of our
objectives, and strive to conduct
shakubuku with the benefits and joy
from chanting Daimoku. I would
like to conclude my address by
praying that all the Hokkeko
chapters definitely will accomplish
their shakubuku goals this year.
M YOSETSUJI N EWS
P AGE 4
Bronx Area Report by Vice Coordinator — Dena France
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin designated this year as, "The year of
accomplishing our Shakubuku Goal." Bronx members are determined to reach the goal given to us
by our Chief Priest, Rev. Shinga
Takikawa, and show our gratitude to
the High Priest, while aiming toward
our goals for the
coming years of
2015 and 2021.
From May 2013
until the present,
Bronx members
have been faced with
multiple medical
challenges,
that include cardiac
and respiratory problems, cancer
(radiation treatments
and chemotherapy),
unstable chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and various
surgical procedures.
Some members have had repeated hospitalizations. At one point,
there were 4 members in the hospital
at the same time and one person was
admitted to a nursing home. In the
Gosho, "Reply to Shi'iji Shiro” (“Shiro dono Gosho"), the
Daishonin states, "The greater the
hardship one encounters, the
greater the delight one should
feel." Bronx members realize the
importance of a strict daily practice
and have taken steps to overcome
our obstacles.
The members
have increased attendance at the
monthly Oko Ceremonies as well as
being at Myosetsuji
temple on other
days for attending
daily morning prayers, cleaning the
temple inside and
out, evening
Gongyo, besides
visiting sleeping
members and encouraging them to participate in activities. We are promoting pilgrimages to the Head Temple for new
believers, helping newer members
request Toba memorial tablets for
family and friends. Based on weekly
Bronx Shodais, several members
attended the opening of the Mieido
in November 2013. We have
planned together to attain our 2014
Shakubuku goal and assisted in the
final cleaning of the Manhattan
branch temple before its closing. In
the past year, we always have guests
at our meeting with the priest. We
understand that there is no appreciation of summer without a
harsh winter. This year we are struggling to attain our Shakubuku goal
and the answer is Nam-MyohoRenge-Kyo.
Of the five Bronx members who
went on the recent Chapter Tozan, 3
of them faced large medical obstacles. One member that reconnected
with the temple after many years is
Robert McClean, who is 90 years
old - the same age as Abutsubō
when he went on Tozan – and Robert had the same spirit. This is actual
proof that "human beings never fail
to prosper when they make good
causes." Since our return from Japan a few sleeping members have
called to inquire about ceremonies
and discuss life. We have embraced
them and are encouraging participation in all activities.
Faith Experience by Bronx Member — Sijantra Lee
Hello, my name is Sijantra Lee. I
met this Buddhism as a very small
child because my mother was a
member. I was interested at first because I thought I was speaking Japanese and it would be good to learn
the language. I liked to chant and I
was being exposed to a new culture
like women in kimonos and eating
sushi.
One of the first benefits of practicing this Buddhism I noticed was that
I stopped being so angry at myself.
One of my problems was when my
mom was not happy she would
abuse me. When I became a teenager, I told all my relatives I wanted to
go overseas, as living in Indonesia
wasn't enough for me. There was
strong opposition from my elders
that I had to overcome in order to
move to Hong Kong.
While living in America, I met a
man. We were married and I moved
to Brooklyn. After the move
I became depressed and unhappy. It
was a big culture shock leaving a
beautiful house in Jakarta to live in
an apartment that felt like a prison.
By then, I had received the
Gohonzon but I stopped practicing,
not knowing its true value in
my life. I divorced my husband and
began a wanton life of abundant music, parties and dancing. I went in
and out of transient relationships and
again my depression appeared. Fortunately my sister in Australia kept
encouraging me to start chanting
again, so the strength returned and I
chanted. I took out my Gohonzon
but did not enshrine it.
At this time I was chanting 3
(Continued on page 5)
I SSUE 157
P AGE 5
Faith Experience by Bronx Member — Sijantra Lee (continued)
times a day but I decided to see if I
could learn more about the Buddhism
of Nichiren Daishonin. I made contact with the members in Manhattan,
and they encouraged me to come to a
meeting, which I really did not want
to do, but I was interested in learning
more. Some of those members came
to my house to re-enshrine my
Gohonzon.
Gohonzon until I learned
what this Buddhism is about
and began a full practice. That is when I really
began to try to understand and I started going to
meetings again. On February
16, 1989
(Nichiren Daishonin’s birthday) I received my third
Gohonzon. It was a true sign
I was still living in an ignorant state
of the compassion of true
about the true value of the Gohonzon.
Buddhism.
I ran away from my current boyfriend
and left the Gohonzon. Soon, I was
I decided to go on a personal Tostrongly encouraged to go back to get zan to see the Dai-Gohonzon at the
the Gohonzon, but it was too late – it Head Temple Taisekiji. Before leavwas gone. When I asked for a secing, I was able to shakubuku someond Gohonzon, members encouraged one. Since that time, I have been on
me to receive the Kankai ceremony
many Tozans and have deepened my
as well to redetermine my faith and re faith, practice and understand-connect to the practice. I was living ing. Once, when I was on a personal
with a friend and sleeping in the liv- Tozan, I was stranded at the Tokyo
ing room. Since I could not enshrine train station, but this gave me a wonit properly, I carried my second
derful chance to talk to the Police
Gohonzon in my pocketbook every
Commissioner and tell him about true
day. One day my purse was snatched Buddhism.
- again I lost the Gohonzon! After
Soon, I visited my sister in Australreporting it, I was told strictly that I
ia and my mother in Indonesia. I left
would not be able to receive a
New York and lived in Philadelphia
for a few years, Upon returning to
New York I did not have a place to
live. I moved into a homeless shelter.
They taught me culinary skills, and
when I completed the course, they
hired me. Through all my ups and
downs and big mistakes, Gohonzon
has always protected me.
In a recent court battle where I
was sued and might have to
pay thousands of dollars, the case
was suddenly dropped and as a result
of it all, I was given a beautiful apartment with a gorgeous view of the
Bronx.
Faith Experience by Bronx Member — Robert Mcclean
My name is Robert McClean, I
joined Nichiren Shoshu in 1983. The
following year, things happened in a
big way with the arrival of the Myosetsuji wooden Joju Gohonzon in
New York. It was exciting and I had
the great good fortune to be able to
help lift it off the truck.
The 67th High Priest Nikken
Shonin officiated at the
opening Ceremony, and
it was beautiful. Sometime after I allowed my
practice to drift away, but
recently I have been reconnected and I received
the Kankai Ceremony. I
go to Myosetsuji Temple every Sunday now
and I was selected as one
of the members to attend
the Chapter Tozan, which
was my first visit to the
Dai-Gohonzon.
I am 90 years young and I am actual proof that it is never too late!
I did go with a group of 83 fellow
Hokkeko members and Chief Priest
Rev. Takikawa on the Tozan. It was
a wonderful experience, seeing the
Dai-Gohonzon 4 times. We had an
audience with the High Priest and
visited other temples, including a
trip to the Izu Peninsula, where
Nichiren Daishonin was first exiled.
I want to thank Blanche Tolbert,
Dena France and Tyrone Johnson
for their support and encouragement.
URABON CEREMONY
July 20, 2014
“The Venerable Maudgalyayana put his faith in the Lotus Sutra, which is
the greatest good there is, and thus not only did he himself attain
Buddhahood, but his father and mother did so as well. Not only that, but all
the fathers and mothers of the preceding seven generations and the seven
generations that followed, indeed, of countless lifetimes before and after,
were able to attain Buddhahood, amazing as it may seem.” On the Urabon MWND, Vol. VII, p. 172
Since the early days of Buddhism, the Urabon Ceremony is a time set
aside for people to pray for the peace and happiness of the deceased. Since
no single part of the universe is separate from all of the rest, Buddhism
teaches that we must help the insentient world achieve enlightenment, too.
However, the most important thing is that first we ourselves attain
enlightenment through our practice to the Gohonzon, so as to remove the
delusions afflicting us in the Latter Day of the Law. We send the benefits of
enlightenment to the deceased to ease their present suffering and ensure
To request Toba Memorial Tablets, please complete the application below and
return it to the Temple by July 13th with the appropriate Gokuyo.
Please Print Clearly
NAME OF APPLICANT
NAME OF DECEASED
General Gokuyo (if any) ________ Gokuyo for Tobas ($10.00 ea.) ________
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
8:30 PM
3:30 PM
9:00 AM
Close
2 (Myosetsuji)
Thursday
3
Friday
4
July 2014
Saturday
Myosetsuji Temple
20
Shodai 6:30 PM
Intro Mtg 7 PM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM
Gongyo 7:00 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Korean Oko (Main Hall) 12:30 PM
Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM
30 (Myosetsuji) 31
Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM
29
Bronx & LI Cleanup
Intro Mtg 10 AM
28
215 W. 98th St. #3B
bet. Amsterdam Ave. & Broadway
Manhattan Intro Meeting
Intro Mtg 7 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Gongyo 7:00 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM
27
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM
Japanese Oko (Main Hall) 12:30 PM
Urabon Ceremony 10 AM
Uptown & Qns Cleanup
Urabon applications due
25
21
22
23 (Manhattan) 24
Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM
Intro Mtg 7 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Gongyo 7:00 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Chinese Oko (Main Hall) 12:30 PM
Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM
18
14
15
16 (Myosetsuji) 17
Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM
Youth Mtg (Residence) 12:30 PM
Oko Ceremony 10 AM
MDS & NJ Cleanup
13
Intro Mtg 7 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Gongyo 7:00 PM Gongyo 7:00 PM
Children's Mtg (Residence) 12 PM
Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM
7
8
9 (Manhattan) 10
11
Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM
Shodai 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM
6
Support Staff Mtg (Main Hall) 12 PM
Kosen-rufu Chanting 10 AM
Bklyn & West Cleanup
Sat/Sun….….......1 hr. Shodai with Morning Gongyo Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 10 AM Gongyo 10 AM
Shodai 6:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM Gongyo 2:30 PM
Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri…………...Shodai at 6:30 PM Shodai 6:30 PM
Intro Mtg 7 PM
1/2 hr. with Gongyo Gongyo 7:00 PM
July Special Shodai
Monday
6:00 PM
9:00 AM
Re-opens on Mon/Tues/Fri
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
Sunday
7:20 AM
Monday - Friday
Open
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19
12
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M YOSETSUJI
T EMPLE
143-63 Beech Ave.
(Entrance on
Parsons Blvd.)
Flushing, NY 11355
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