DAISHONIN TEACHES: “AFTER ALL, THE ULTIMATE VOW IS TO PROPAGATE THE DAIMOKU THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.” - GOSHO P. 1862

Myosetsuji News ISSUE 232 OCTOBER 1, 2020

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the Au- tend the Shodai Ceremony. I gust Kosen-rufu Shodai truly offer my hearty con- Ceremony gratulations. On this occasion of the Au- Taking this opportunity of gust Kosen-rufu Shodai Cere- loosening the coronavirus mony, conducted here today curbs, I believe that we must at the Head Temple, I would pray for a speedy recovery, like to express my heartfelt and achieve unity, based on appreciation to all of you for the spirit of itai doshin, to your attendance today, de- overcome the current diffi- spite your busy schedules and culties. various other matters. The Daishonin teaches the Due to the spreading of the following in the Gosho, The novel coronavirus disease, Daimoku of the the lay believers have been (Hokke daimoku-sho): requested to refrain from par- Learned men in the world ticipating in the Shodai Cere- today say, “How is it possi- mony since May. However, ble for those who simply this restriction was eased this chant Nam-Myoho-Renge- time and the Hokkeko believ- ers also are permitted to at- (Continued on page 2)

Gosho Quote for October 2020

On Persecution Befalling the Buddha (Shonin gona ji)

The four kinds of punishment consist of the general and individual, and the conspicuous and inconspicuous. The great epidemics and national famines, the extensive uprisings, and the foreign invasion occurring in are general punishment. Epidemics are also a form of inconspicuous punishment. [The deaths experienced by] Ota and the others rep- resent conspicuous and individual punishment. Each one of you must summon up the spirit of the lion king and never cower to those who may threaten you in any way. The lion king is never intimidated by even a hundred beasts, and the same is true of its cubs. [Those who slander] are like howling jackals, while the followers of Nichiren are like roaring lions. (Gosho, p. 1397)

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Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued)

(Continued from page 1) Daimoku of the Lotus sutra is likened to the living horn of the Kyo with faith, without under- rhinoceros or the leaf of the san- standing the meaning of it, to dalwood tree. Diamonds are so avoid falling into the evil paths?” solid that they cannot be crushed If what is indicated in the sutra is with anything except for sheep correct, these scholars can hardly horns or tortoiseshell. The escape from falling into avichi branches of a nyagrodha tree can- hell. Even if a person lacks un- not be broken by a large bird. derstanding, if one chants Nam- However, its branches can be Myoho-Renge-Kyo, one can broken by a small wren, which avoid the evil paths. can almost build its nest on the For example, a lotus flower eyelashes of a mosquito. Our evil blooms in sequence by receiving karma is like the diamond or the the sun’s rays but, it has no mind. nyagrodha tree. The Daimoku of A Japanese banana plant grows the Lotus Sutra is like the sheep by the roll of thunder but, it has horn or the wren. Amber removes no ears. We are like a lotus flow- dust and a magnet attracts iron. er or a Japanese banana plant. Our evil karma is like the dust or the sunlight but, it has no heart to The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra iron, while the Daimoku of the turn toward the direction of the is like the sun or the thunder. If Lotus Sutra is like the amber or sun. It is said that a Japanese ba- you wear a living rhinoceros horn the magnet. You should think in nana plant grows by the rumble and enter the water, the water is this manner and constantly chant of thunder but, it has no ears to drawn away five feet from your Daimoku. (Gosho, p. 354) hear it. We common mortals are unenlightened and ignorant like body. If one leaf of the sandal- This passage teaches the vast wood tree unfolds, the foul odor benefits of chanting Daimoku. To the lotus flower or the Japanese of a castor-oil plant, emitting put it simply, the passage can be banana plant. Like the sun or the over a wide range of 40 yojanas, restated as follows: thunder, the benefit of the Dai- is changed into a fragrant aroma. moku of the Lotus sutra is admi- Scholars in the world today rable. Thus, if we believe in it Our evil karma is likened to the asked, “How is it possible for castor-oil plant or the water. The and chant Nam-Myoho-Renge- those who simply chant Nam- Kyo, we can receive the benefits Myoho-Renge-Kyo with faith, without fail. If you wear a living without understanding the mean- horn of a rhinoceros and enter the ing of it, to avoid falling into the water, the water is kept away five evil paths?” If what is indicated feet from your body, enabling in the sutra is correct, these you to stay dry. If a single leaf of scholars have an understanding the fragrant sandalwood tree un- of the Buddhist doctrines but folds, the foul odor of a castor-oil they have no faith. Thus, they plant, spreading over a wide can hardly escape from falling range of 40 yojanas (approx. 400 into avichi hell. Even if a person kilometers, according to one the- lacks understanding of the doc- ory), disappears. Instead, it is trines, if one chants Nam- changed into a fragrant aroma. Myoho-Renge-Kyo, one natural- Our evil karma is like a castor-oil ly can avoid falling into the evil plant or the water. The Daimoku paths. of the Lotus sutra is like the rhi- For example, a lotus flower noceros horn or the leaf of the blooms in sequence by receiving sandalwood tree. Diamonds are (Continued on page 3) ISSUE 232 PAGE 3

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued)

(Continued from page 2) Then, it teaches that accepting and upholding Nam-Myoho- so solid that they cannot be bro- Renge-Kyo is extremely im- ken with anything except for portant for attaining sheep horns or tortoiseshells. The in this lifetime. branches of the nyagrodha tree, Today, when Japan and the rest which grows so big that it pro- of the world are in the midst of vides shade for more than 500 chaos, I truly hope that we all be- carts, cannot be broken by a large lieve in the vast and boundless bird. However, its branches can benefits of the Dai-, as be broken by a small wren, which indicated in this passage, and sin- almost can build its nest on the gle-mindedly take faith in Myoho eyelashes of a mosquito. Our evil -Renge-Kyo and devote ourselves karma is like the diamond or the to its propagation, no matter what nyagrodha tree. The Daimoku of obstacles and difficulties may the Lotus Sutra is comparable to confront us. the sheep horn or the wren. Am- ber removes dust and a magnet In particular, upon welcoming attracts iron. Our evil karma is the auspicious occasion of the like the dust or iron, while the 800th anniversary of the advent of Buddhahood. When the mystic Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra is of our Founder, Nichiren Law (Myoho) alone prevails in like the amber or the magnet. Daishonin in the coming year, the the land and the entire nation Think in this manner based on members of all chapters have es- chants Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, deep faith, and you should con- tablished unity between the the wind will blow gently without stantly chant Daimoku. priesthood and laity in the spirit causing the branches to rustle, of itai doshin, and are making all- Citing various parables, this and the rain will fall softly with- out efforts to conduct great out breaking a clod. The world passage demonstrates the superi- shakubuku activities, aiming to- ority of the Daimoku of the Lotus will become like the times of ward our goal—to achieve a Fuxi and Shennong. The people Sutra—Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the membership of 800,000 Hokkeko sowing the seed of the true cause. will be able to drive away disas- believers. ters and misfortune and gain the The Daishonin teaches the fol- ability to live long lives. The lowing in the Gosho, On Prac- principle of the eternity and im- ticing according to the Bud- mortality of both the person and dha’s Teachings (Nyosetsu the Law will be revealed. Be as- shugyo-sho): sured that all of these events will occur. There is no doubt about “The Lotus Sutra is the teach- the written evidence [in the sutra] ing of shakubuku, the refutation of, “peace and security in this of the provisional doctrines.” lifetime.” (Gosho, p. 671) Since these are the golden words [of the Buddha], eventu- I sincerely pray that we all re- ally every person who clings to vere these golden words and that the provisional teachings will all of you will unite with the surrender [to the true Law] and members in each of your chap- become a follower of the Bud- ters, based on the spirit of itai dha. Then, all the people doshin, and powerfully move for- throughout this world will dis- ward, aiming toward the realiza- card the provisional teachings tion of the true Buddha land. and take faith in the one vehicle MYOSETSUJI NICHIREN SHOSHU MONTHLY Subscription Form

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