NICHIREN SHOSHU TEMPLE FOR THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, EAST CANADA AND TRINIDAD/TOBAGO

MYOSETSUJI NEWS I SSUE 154

A PRIL 1, 2014

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the January Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony January 1, 2014 Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji On the spring of the 762th Anniversary of the Establishment of True Buddhism, the Year of Accomplishing of our Shakubuku Goal, I wish you a Happy New Year!

ducted solemnly and splendidly. It is primarily due to the sincere Gokuyo from all the priesthood and laity of Nichiren Shoshu. I would like to express my humble gratitude to you all. Thank you very much! Now, this year is “The Year of Accomplishing of our Shakubuku Goal.” As you know, the priests and lay

I believe that both the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity have welcomed “The Year of Accomplishing of our Shakubuku Goal” feeling refreshed, and have renewed their pledge to make further efforts in their practice. Last year the major renovation of the Image Hall (Mieidō), which had been under operation for some time, has come to a happy completion. Accordingly, the Grand Ceremony Commemorating the Completion of the Major Renovation of the Image Hall and the Commemorative Ceremony were con-

believers of each chapter of the Nichiren Shoshu temples throughout the country are striving forth in their shakubuku activities, day and night, based on the unity between priest-

hood and laity, in the spirit of itai dōshin, aiming toward our goals for the coming years of 2015 and 2021. This year, just before the 770th Anniversary of the birth of Second High Priest Nikko Shonin in March next year, has reached the critical time for the achievement of our goal. For this reason, despite of any difficulty and obstacle, all the chapters must firmly be united, freely conduct great shakubuku activities with concerted efforts and then fulfill this year’s shakubuku goals without fail. With this achievement, I sincerely hope that you will achieve the goal of the year 2015, to increase the membership of all Hokkeko chapters by 50 percent. The Daishonin teaches in “Opening of the Eyes” (“Kaimoku-shō”) Now that I, Nichiren, vigorously admonished the slanderers in the (Continued on page 2)

Gosho Quote for April 2014 “Reply to Ueno” (“Ueno dono-gohenji”) Just as flowers bloom and bear fruit, just as the moon appears and unvaryingly grows full, just as a lamp’s flame becomes brighter when oil is added, and just as plants and trees thrive with rain, so will human beings never fail to prosper when they make good causes. (Gosho, p. 1446)

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land, this severe persecution has occurred. This indicates that my past heavy slanders have come to the surface through protecting the Law in this lifetime. It can be compared to iron turning red when put into a fire, while it remains black if it is not. It is like a mountainous wave of water rising up when an oar is thrust into a raging river. Or it is like a lion roaring when its sleep is disturbed. (Gosho, p. 573) If we devote ourselves to propagate the true Law to eliminate slander of the heretical teachings and continue to conduct shakubuku, devilish functions will inevitably emerge and we will encounter great hardships. However, this great adversity actually calls forth evil karma accumulated from previous lives. It really is signaling the coming of a perfect opportunity of eradicating one’s negative karma.

It is as if iron turns red when put in a fire, while it is black as is. Furthermore, it is like waters rippling high, if a wooden board is erected in the rapids. It is also like a lion which would roar forcefully in a fit of rage, if we lay a hand on it during its sleep. Likewise, if we devote ourselves to the Buddhist practice and try hard to conduct shakubuku, latent negative karma from the past lifetimes become manifest in various ways. In the Gosho, “Reply to Shi’iji Shirō” (“Shi’iji shirōdono-gosho”), the Daishonin states: The greater the hardship one encounters, the greater the delight one should feel, with one’s faith strengthened all the more. (Gosho, p. 1555) Moreover, “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha” (“Shōnin gonan ji”) reads: Even if we encounter these great hardships in this lifetime, we will attain Buddhahood in the next. It is like moxa treatment. It hurts when applied but, it will feel painless afterward due to the effectiveness of a medicine. (Gosho, p. 1397) No matter how severely the hardship may befall us, as long as we face and accept it as a rare opportunity, and carry through our faith and practice more than ever, our

negative causal relationships as well as heavy evil karma due to the causes we accumulated in the past will be eradicated. Consequently, we will achieve the attainment of Buddhahood. Nichiren Daishonin teaches in “Reply to Utsubusa Nyōbō” (“Utsubusa nyōbōgohenji”): Let me briefly describe the virtues of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The five characters of Myoho-RengeKyo can change evil into good, just like poison changing into medicine. Pristine Spring is so named because in this spring, stone can change into treasure. In the same manner, these five characters are able to change common mortals into Buddhas. (Gosho, p. 1492) If we believe in the boundless and unfathomable benefits of MyohoRenge-Kyo and devote ourselves to our practice as taught by Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha in the Latter Day of the Law, we will inevitably receive the benefit of changing poison into medicine. What is most important thing now (Continued on page 3)

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is, instead of enjoying these benefits exclusive to yourself, teach many of those who suffer from the poisons of the evil teachings about such benefits, and sow the seeds of the Daishonin’s Buddhism in their hearts. In order to achieve this, you must first strive to chant the Daimoku. The Daishonin states in “Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra” (“Hokke shoshin jōbutsu-shō”): Thus, once we chant MyohoRenge-Kyo, this sound calls forth and manifests the Buddha nature of all Buddhas; all phenomena; all bodhisattvas; all people in the world of learning; all guardian deities, such as Bonten, Taishaku, King Emma, the sun and moon, innumerable stars, deities of the heavens and earth; and all living beings—including individuals in the worlds of hell, hunger, animality, anger, humanity, and rapture.

The benefit of revealing this Buddha nature is immeasurable and unfathomable. (Gosho, p. 1320) Taking a step forward to conduct shakubuku with the benefits and joy from chanting the Daimoku is of paramount importance for us now. It is taught in “Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra” (“Jimyō hokke mondōshō”): I believe that embracing MyohoRenge-Kyo, which ensures “peace and security in this lifetime and good circumstances in the next,” is the only honor to pursue in this lifetime and is the guide to maintain enlightenment in the future. Single-mindedly chant Nam-

Myoho-Renge-Kyo and encourage others to do the same. This will remain as your only memory from this present, human life. (Gosho, p. 300) I sincerely pray that you will engrave these golden words in your hearts, and further make continuous efforts in chanting Daimoku and conducting shakubuku, and then all the chapters will attain their goals this year. This will conclude my New Year’s address.

M IEIDO T OZAN EXPERIENCE BY L ONG I SLAND C OORDINATOR — S ANDY M C I NTOSH

The word “tozan” means “to climb the mountain,” and in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism it means that members travel from wherever they live on the planet to the Head Temple, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan. My first tozan was in 1973 and I have continued to visit the Head Temple to see the DaiGohonzon since then. This past November we attended the ceremony marking the renovation of the Mieido temple—the Image Hall— one of the oldest buildings at the Head Temple.

My experience of this tozan was different from previous ones. Everything about it seemed to me to be characterized by a kind of clarity, a revealing perspective. For example, we don’t usually catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji until our bus gets close to the Head Temple, about three hours from Tokyo. But on this trip, I think we were all startled to see it in the distance while we were still in Tokyo. We traveled a route I’d never taken before, near the coast of the Pacific Ocean. From this route we saw mountain ranges that seemed to be of great height. But then, Mt. Fuji

appeared again, behind the mountains. If you think about a picture of Mt. Fuji you’ve seen, it is usually a picture of just that mountain. But this was the first time I’d seen it in perspective, in front of other mountains. I was amazed by its size: It towered over the others. It is as wide as a mountain range by itself. I had to consider that the founder of our religion, Nichiren Daishonin, directed that the Head Temple be built at the foot of that huge volcano. If you imagine that the other (Continued on page 4)

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ly understand its supremacy, as it

dwarfs the lesser mountains. If having something to measure our troubles or good fortune against helps us clearly understand our life situations, then seeing the true dimensions of Mt. Fuii, the home of our Head Temple, helps us to understand something of the immensity of our Buddhist practice.

mountains represent the earlier teachings of Buddhism—or even other religions or philosophies—you see that, standing alone, they can be impressive. However, if Mt Fuji, which represents the final teaching of Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra that we recite in our chanting, appears next to them, you sudden-

E XPERIENCIA S OBRE EL T OZAN C ELEBRANDO L A R ENOVACIÓN DEL M IEIDO POR S ANDY M C I NTOSH

La palabra "Tozan" significa "subir a la montaña", y en el Budismo de Nichiren Shoshu la palabra significa que los miembros viajan desde dondequiera que vivan en el planeta para ir al Templo Principal, ubicado al pie del monte Fuji en Japón. Mi primer Tozan fue en 1973 y he seguido visitando al Templo Principal para ver al Dai -Gohonzon desde entonces. Este noviembre pasado, nosotros asistimos a la ceremonia de renovación del Templo Mieido – la sala de la Imagen – uno de los edificios más

antiguos en el recinto del Templo Principal. Mi experiencia de este Tozan fue diferente a los anteriores. En todos aspectos, me pareció ser caracterizada por cierta claridad, o sea por una perspectiva esclareciente. Por ejemplo, no solemos ver al monte Fuji hasta que nuestro autobús ya se está acercando al Templo Principal, lo cual toma cerca de tres horas en llegar desde Tokio. Pero en esta ocasión, creo que todos estábamos sorprendidos porque podíamos ver el monte desde muy lejos mientras todavía estábamos en Tokio. Viajamos por una ruta que nunca había tomado antes, cerca de la costa del Océano Pacífico. Desde esta ruta vimos cordilleras que parecían ser de gran altura. Pero entonces, el monte Fuji apareció otra vez, detrás de las montañas. Si piensa en la imagen del monte Fuji que usted haya visto antes, por lo general es una foto de la montaña sola. Pero esta fue la primera vez que la había visto en perspectiva, frente a otras montañas. Me quedé sorprendido por

su tamaño: es mucho más alta que las demás. Y es tan ancha como una cordillera por sí misma. Tuve que tomar en cuenta que el fundador de nuestra religión, Nichiren Daishonin, ordenó que el Templo Principal se construyera al pie de ese enorme volcán. Si usted se imagina que las otras montañas representan las primeras enseñanzas del Budismo – o incluso las otras religiones o filosofías – uno puede ver que, por sí solas, pueden ser impresionantes. Sin embargo, si el monte Fuji, que representa la última enseñanza del Budismo (es decir, el Sutra del Loto que recitamos cuando invocamos), aparece junto a ellas, entonces uno puede de repente entender su supremacía, ya que sobrepasa las montañas menores. Si teniendo algo con qué medir nuestros problemas o buena fortuna nos ayuda a entender claramente nuestras situaciones de la vida, entonces viendo la verdaderas dimensiones del monte Fuji, la sede de nuestro Templo Principal, nos ayuda a entender algo de la inmensidad de nuestra práctica budista.

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F AITH E XPERIENCE BY L ONG I SLAND M EMBER — J ULIAN F EVRIERE

2012 was a very tumultuous year for me. There were many changes going on in my life, some of them incomprehensible to me. But the most devastating was the privatization of my job with the Health Hospitals Corporation, which is a quasi city agency.

she beckoned me to come over, which I reluctantly did and she introduced me to this Buddhism of Nichiren Shoshu. She went on to invite me to the Temple, and I told her I’d think about, but I never even gave it a second thought.

My first impression was it might Around March of 2012, the plans be just another religion, so what’s for the take-over were finalized and next with all the turmoil going on in people like me who were managers my life. With no job, I found that New Areaby Report Stan things and Hanna had to Jersey be absorbed Johnsonby Conwent fromJones bad to worse and I trols (the company that had taken was falling behind on my mortgage over) or be laid off due to overpayments. As I tried to get a modifistaffing. I was forced to leave my cation I was turned down, and soon I job after 23 years, not knowing what was facing foreclosure. The invitation to Buddhism seemed to remain in the back of my mind, nevertheless I continued to dismiss my curiosity to know what Buddhism was all about.

the future held for me. At about that time, I was attending a refresher training course in Project Management at Pace University, where I met Teresa Malihan, our professor. One day during a break

After months of ignoring that urge and trying to triage through all my ongoing problems, my ex-wife came down with pancreatic cancer. She is my best friend, and though we had parted ways, we always remained great platonic friends and her situation became extremely critical. I didn't know what to do except support her the best way I could. I did not know where to turn with my many issues, or what was I going to do, with no job and in debt up the wazoo. While deliberating over my predicaments, a little voice in

my head said to call Teresa to “try a new experience to make your life better.” I immediately called Teresa and asked her whether it was too late to come to the Buddhist temple. I needed to find some solace with all that was happening. She was so happy to invite and welcome me to the Temple in Manhattan. I received the Gojukai Ceremony on the very 1st day I went to temple and my life has been so different since that Ceremony. I encouraged my spouse to become part of this wonderful experience and she did. During that time, for some uncanny reason, I was even able to save my house from foreclosure, and I am slowly and steadily managing to solve my other problems, as well. My friend had a successful surgery for her condition and is recuperating beautifully. We continue to chant for greater enlightenment and peace, knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

M YOSETSUJI N EWS

P AGE 6 E XPERIENCIA EN F E DE J ULIAN F EVRIERE

2012 fue un año muy agitado para mí. Hubieron muchos cambios sucediendo en mi vida, algunos de ellos incomprensibles para mí. Pero la más devastadora fue la privatización de mi posición con la Corporación de Salud y Hospitales, la cual es casi una agencia de la ciudad. Alrededor de marzo de 2012, los planes para la toma de posesión se finalizaron y los empleados como yo, que éramos gerentes, tuvieron que integrarse a Johnson Controls

(la empresa que había tomado cargo) o ser despedidos debido al exceso de personal. Me vi obligado a dejar mi

trabajo después de 23 años, sin saber cual era mi futuro. Por ese tiempo, yo estaba asistiendo a un curso de actualización en el manejo de proyectos en la Universidad Pace, donde conocí a Teresa Malihan, nuestra profesora. Un día, durante un pausa en la clase, ella me llamó para que fuera donde ella, lo cual hice a regañadientes, y ella me introdujo a este budismo de Nichiren Shoshu. Ella me invitó al Templo, y le dije que lo pensaría, pero yo ni siquiera le presté más atención a ello. Mi primera impresión fue que podría ser meramente otra religión más, así que qué más podrá pasar con todo lo que está sucediendo en mi vida. Sin trabajo, las cosas andaban de mal en peor y me estaba atrazando más y más en mis pagos hipotecarios. Cuando traté de obtener una modificación, fui rechazado, y pronto estaba enfrentando una ejecución hipotecaria. La invitación al el budismo se mantuvo en el fondo de mi mente, sin embargo, yo seguía ignorando mi curiosidad de saber de que se trata el budismo. Después de meses de ignorar esa curiosidad y tratando de hacer triage con todos mis problemas, mi ex mujer se vino abajo con el cáncer del páncreas. Ella es mi mejor amiga, y aunque nos habíamos apartados, siempre seguimos siendo grandes amigos platónicos

y su situación se tornó extremadamente crítica. Yo no sabía qué hacer excepto mantenerla lo mejor que pude. No sabía a donde acudir con mis muchos problemas, o lo que iba a hacer, sin trabajo y endeudado hasta las cejas. Mientras que deliberar sobre mis apuros, una pequeña voz en mi cabeza dicía que llamara a Teresa "probar una nueva experiencia para hacer mi vida mejor." Inmediatamente llamé a Teresa y le pregunté si era demasiado tarde para ir al templo budista. Necesitaba encontrar algo de consuelo con todo lo que estaba sucediendo. Ella estaba tan feliz de invitarme y darme la bienvenida al Templo de Manhattan. Recibí la Ceremonia de Gojukai en el primero día que fui al templo y mi vida ha sido tan diferente desde que recibí la ceremonia. Animé a mi esposa a que se integrara a esta maravillosa experiencia, y lo hizo. Durante ese tiempo, por alguna razón inexplicable, hasta pude salvar mi casa de la ejecución hipotecaria, y estoy poco a poco y constantemente resolviendo mis otros problemas, también. Mi compañera tuvo una cirugía exitosa para su condición y se está recuperando muy bien. Seguimos invocando para una mayor iluminación y la paz, sabiendo que hay luz al final del túnel.

Bronx & New Jersey Cleanup 6 Kosen-rufu Chanting 10 AM Gongyo Gongyo Support Staff Mtg 12 PM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Bklyn & West Cleanup 13 Gongyo Oko Ceremony 10 AM Youth Meeting 12 PM Residence Gongyo Japanese Oko 12 PM Main Hall Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM MDS & Long Island Cleanup 20 Gongyo Group Memorial 10 AM Gongyo Korean Oko 12 PM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM Uptown & Queens Cleanup 27 Gongyo Risshu-e Ceremony 10 AM Gongyo Chinese Oko 1 PM Evening Gongyo 2:30 PM

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The last Ceremony at the Manhattan Branch will be Kosenrufu Chanting on April 5th . Following the Ceremony the Branch will be closed for packing and clean-up. Thank you.

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500 8th Ave. (bet. 35th & 36th Sts.) 12th Floor, Room 1201

Pearl Studios NYC

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April 2014

Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Gongyo 7:30 AM Flushing Temple Closed

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Myosetsuji Temple

**New Location:

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9:00 AM 8:30 PM 3:30 PM Wednesday

7:20 AM 6:00 PM 9:00 AM Tuesday

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Monday - Friday Re-opens on Mon/Tues/Fri Saturday (starting April 12) Sunday & Holidays Sunday Monday *Remaining Manhattan Branch Schedule

Open

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