Nichiren Shu News Published by the Head Office of Nichiren Shu & NOPPA

No. 241 December 1, 2020 1 Second Annual Interfaith Mountain Training

Rev. Kanjin Cederman and how modern people are missing spiritual world. We entered the mountain to carry and protect. We also carried this connection to the land in which we carrying the special Kishimojin statue a large tablet and took turns On September 19, we conducted the establish the Lotus Sutra. given to our temple by Onjuin Temple carrying it. Second Annual Interfaith Mountain You may believe that Kishimojin is in Japan. She was carried in a portable Upon entering the spiritual world, Training on a sacred mountain here in a deity found in Japanese Buddhism. shrine that the practitioners took turns we walked through the ten worlds of Washington State. This was established However, belief in her originated Ichinen Sanzen, three thousand worlds by our Hokke Shugen, Lotus Sutra from ancient cult found in contained in a single moment. This Mountain Practice group. Although India. She is also present in the allowed each person to experience this is an ancient practice, even in legends of the indigenous people with their whole body and mind this our modern times many people wish of the Americas. The mountain essential concept in Nichiren Buddhist to connect their faith with nature and on which we trained has been practice. We endure through the worlds experience Buddhist practice through shared in the story of the “Basket and investigate our own lives as we move such a physical experience. We had a Carrying Ogress” common to towards the Buddha World. We endure large number of people sign up from the folklore of many Northwest and accomplish the goal together. many traditions, even during this coastal tribes. It too is indeed the As we finished praying beside the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, due to home of Kishimojin. sacred mountain lake, we began our way regulations, we did not know if this Buddhism, especially the Lotus back to the Saha, the world of endurance. event would happen. At the time there Sutra, brings teachings and Our prayer was answered as it began to were many wildfires in Washington, peace to the lands in which it is rain heavily. We saw this as a result of Oregon and California. The air quality supported by those who believe our practice and prayer, because it helped was terrible because of all the smoke. I in it. The Lotus Sutra is also extinguish many of the fires across the prayed every day that conditions would delivered to the local deities of state, purifying the air from the smoke allow us to have this practice. On the day the land. We know that the local that was making many people sick, and before the training, it rained slightly, Ogress has received the teaching allowing the sky and weather to become and this improved air quality enough of the Lotus Sutra, as she is now peaceful again. to allow us to go. a protector of the practitioners of We look forward to re-establishing As we see how Buddhism adapts to the Lotus Sutra here in Washing- these practices on other sacred moun- the different cultures and geographies of ton State. tains like Shichimensan. We can learn the lands outside of Japan, it is amazing The whole mountain hike the true concept of the Eternal Buddha’s how these practices and concepts are took about five hours to go up Pure Land through such experiences. It accepted and grow. I was moved to create and another five hours to come allows many people to learn about our this training because of my deep respect back down. We wore all white faith and practice experientially. I hope for the purification we find in nature clothing to symbolize entering the you will join us! New Look for the Nichiren Shu International Website

International Section, Head Office NEW LOOK The first implementation of is no longer possible. Instead of a print ANNOUNCEMENTS The new home page the website matched the multilingual focus, the new look aims to match the features the announcement function of Like any media, such as newspapers or pamphlets highlighting key Buddhist Japanese site design which highlights the Japanese page, offering announce- television, a website must be constantly concepts such as Compassion, Peace, announcements and news, delivering ments from the Head Office and a fuller refreshed and updated to be useful Hope, and Patience. The website was the rich content of the Japanese site to offering of Nichiren Shu Activities and and relevant. When it is not updated, secondary to published materials. This the world audience in a timely fashion. campaign events such as the 800th it risks being ignored, becoming an Anniversary of Nichiren Shonin. embarrassment, or even worse, mislead- ing people with out-of-date information. NICHIREN SHU NEWS BLOG A unique The Internet has taken over so much feature for the English site is the Nichiren of what traditional publishing used to Shu News blog. This is a selection of do, but we now find ourselves in an era Nichiren Shu News articles with en- where the COVID-19 crisis has upended hanced content hosted on a new page. so much of daily life, from mundane The purpose of this blog is not only to tasks such as mailing newsletters highlight important Nichiren Shu News overseas to temple meetings. Everything content but also to expand it beyond is now centered online. Like it or not, the the printed page with video, podcasts Internet is more important than ever. and visual content that tell our stories The Nichiren Shu Japanese website better than before. This also allows us launched in 1995, and there have been to tell new and different kinds of stories many updates and design refreshes that were not previously possible on the along the way to its present version. printed page. The Nichiren Shu English language site has a much shorter history that started This is where you come in. We want to in 2012. It was preceded by the Nichiren hear about what kinds of stories and news Shu International Center website. There are important to you and your Nichiren have actually been relatively few changes Shu practice. Over time, we are planning to the site—until now. to expand our website features to include The Nichiren Shu Head Office Inter- social media support like Facebook and national Section is pleased to announce Twitter to stay connected to the Nichiren a major upgrade to the English website Shu international community. Shared with a new design that matches the experiences in these challenging times Japanese website while adding new can inspire us to overcome them in a Visit the Nichiren Shu International Website at: www.nichiren.or.jp/english/ features. Here’s an overview: Use the Feedback button to share your ideas and suggestions. positive way. 2 Nichiren Shu News No. 241 December 1, 2020

Buddhism Q&A Shukubo and Omiage LOTUS JEWELS Japanese pilgrimages are never just about visiting a temple or shrine. They are total experiences that mix Being uninformed, all people, laymen as well as clergy, religious duty with fun, good food, and life on the road with are unable to distinguish between right and wrong. fellow human beings, where They just depend on the man, not upon the dharma. all the vexing problems of any They follow the evil dharma in which many people put given moment ripen over time faith, even if they know it is an evil one, and they do not into warm treasured shared memories. believe in the True Dharma advocated by one person Shukubo is a lodging for without followers. It is sad that most people remain pilgrims attached to a famous wandering in the world of illusion. It is regrettable that temple or shrine, but not all temples with of those times wanted to travel, and this these sinful people, regardless of how good or bad they a ‘bo’ character in the name indicate a was encouraged by government officials, lodging. One example is Hongyoji Daibo because traveling people meant money behave, are unable to escape the chain of birth and death. in Ikegami Honmonji where Nichiren flowing into local economies. —Nichiren Shonin, Shonin passed away. In this case, bo was Which brings us to Omiage, the Shugo Kokka-ron (ST 15) attached to the name to indicate it was ubiquitous souvenir stores that line the A Treatise on Protecting the Nation the former residence of Lord Munenaka approach to any famous temple or shrine. Ikegami. Pilgrims buying presents supported both Shukubo flourished in Japan towards merchants and the temple as the temple Chapter 23 of the Lotus Sutra teaches, “The person who the end of the Edo period and Nichiren charged rent. Edo merchants also had keeps this sutra is superior to any other living being.” But temples were no exception. In the a keen sense of ‘branding’ which you this is not the superiority that the world recognizes, the Minobusan area alone, there were about can see today in all kinds of famous superiority of wealth, power or fame. Our superiority is the 180 shukubo. They were spread out far local foods and souvenirs, but there and wide compared to what you can see was also a sense of sharing, because not superiority of the Lotus Sutra itself, the superior teaching that today clustered around Kuonji temple. everybody could afford travel. Buying all beings deserve respect and will become Buddhas. It can Since the late Edo and early Meiji days, ‘omiage,’ as the sound of the name, but be difficult to find what to do as our fellow beings create so the number of Minobusan shukubo has not the kanji characters, suggests, was a much calamity in their devotion to the evil teachings of fear, slowly declined to the current 32. Fewer way to share the travel experience with pilgrims visit them, and fewer people are family, friends, and neighbors, who then greed and selfishness. But no matter what we do, it is crucial left in rural areas to take care of them. returned the favor, and the fun, when that we maintain faith in our Buddha nature, and dedicate An interesting side story is that they in turn traveled on a pilgrimage. our superiority to the benefit of all beings. temples and shrines in rural areas had Sharing good things around to all is many shukubo, while famous temples Buddhist ‘en’ in action, even when it —Rev. Shinkyo Warner in big cities like Ikegami Honmonji had involves money and commerce. few, if any, which makes sense as people —Rev. Kanjo Bassett Protective Deities in Nichiren Shu (4) – Indra By Rev. Sensho Komukai with twenty thousand attendants was phrases from the waiting for the Buddha to expound the Medicine-King Indra was a violent god of thunder great teaching of the wonderful Dharma. chapter of the who fought against Asura demons. Our Founder Nichiren Shonin often L o t u s S u t r a , While Shakyamuni was practicing the referred to Indra in his treatises and “This sutra is a Bodhisattva Way, Indra assumed various letters. In his Remonstration with good medicine forms to test His resolution toward Bodhisattva , he said, “It is for the diseases perfect enlightenment. But after the preached in the Lotus Sutra, chapter of the people in Buddha attained Buddhahood, Indra, 14, Peaceful Practices, ‘Various gods the universe. The deeply impressed by the Buddha, became always protect the one who practices for patient who hears one of the two main protective deities, the sake of the Dharma day and night.’ this sutra will be together with the King of the Brahma This means that the great King of the cured of their Heaven. Thefirst chapter of the Lotus Brahma Heaven, Indra, the sun and disease at once.” Sutra, Introductory, shows that Indra moon, the Four Heavenly Kings and A figure of Indra others will never fail to protect those with a fierce fa- who say ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.’” cial expression, a In the Tenmei era, Nichikyo Shonin would hand out Nichiren Shonin faced many difficulties sword in his right hand, and an open talisman envelopes, containing grain-like pills. in his life. He must have prayed to Indra palm of the left hand, is depicted on a to expel calamities. lower part of the Mandala. The most famous temple enshrining In the 1780s, a great famine, accom- Hall at Daikyoji Temple. Visitors from Indra in Japan is Daikyoji Temple in panied by plague, spread throughout the all over the country come to see the Shibamata, Tokyo. According to the country in the Tenmei era of the Edo wooden Mandala with their own eyes temple history, the great Mandala period. Nichikyo Shonin felt a sense of and revere it. depicting Indra, which our Founder imminent danger and walked through carved into a woodblock was missing for the Edo towns carrying the wooden a long time. The ninth resident minister Mandala on his back and gave people of the temple, Nichikyo Shonin, hap- suffering on the streets a talisman, telling pened to find it on the ridge of a roof of them, “Grain-like pills are contained in the main hall during repairs in 1779 on the talisman. Drink them and you will the day of the Koshin, the fifty-seventh recover from illness.” The pills brought day of the Chinese sexagenary cycle. It about miraculous cures. has a length of two meters, a width of Many people who had heard about 45 centimeters, and a thickness of 1.5 the good reputation of the pills surged centimeters. Shakyamuni Buddha and into Daikyoji Temple to get the remedy. Many Treasures Buddha, attended by Still today, on the day of Koshin, which Indra, a violent god of thunder, Daikyoji Temple enshrines a great Mandala became an important protective deity. four bodhisattvas, are described on both comes around just once in 60 days, depicting Indra engraved by Nichiren Shonin. sides of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo with people have free access to the Indra No. 241 December 1, 2020 Nichiren Shu News 3 DEEPENING TIES WITH OUR FOUNDER AT RYUKOJI TEMPLE

By Rev. Kosei Uchida of anger, “I wonder what has happened to The memorial service at Ryukoji online services, it is a precious experience the King of the Brahma Heaven, Indra, Temple was held after scaling back the to touch him and feel bound with rigid An old monk once said that something the sun and moon, the four Heavenly original plan. Attendees sat well away ties with him in the very place where unusual would happen in the memorial Kings, Goddess , and Great from each other with their masks on. Nichiren Shonin was almost executed. year of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution. Bodhisattva Hachiman? Did they all Where can we honor the memory of our I am sure that the thread of his life is An unanticipated situation did occur this break their vows to the Buddha to protect Founder who faced the biggest crisis in still sustained. year in the 750th anniversary. People all those who practice the Lotus Sutra and his life 750 years ago? There is a Dharma over the world have been suffering from have thus abandoned them?” His outcry stupa, a square pole, commemorating visceral anxiety due to the COVID-19 led to the miracle at the Tatsunokuchi the 750th anniversary of Tatsunokuchi coronavirus peril. execution ground. Persecution, around which a white Our Founder was captured at his I left at 9:30 a.m. and cloth is wound. The cloth rope called hermitage to be escorted to Tatsunokuchi arrived at Ryukoji Temple by noon, “otazuna” extended into the main hall in 1271. On the 12th day of September walking about 14,000 steps over the of the temple to tie with a hand of the of this year, 2020, I walked from seven-kilometer distance. It was a good stature of Nichiren Shonin. By holding Ankokuronji Temple in Kamakura to opportunity to experience going on foot the “otazuna” rope when entering the Ryukoji Temple. I stopped in front of the to understand what it must have felt main hall, you are shaking hands with Hachiman Shrine to imagine how 750 like for our Founder who was led on Nichiren Shonin. In this age of uneasy years ago Nichiren Shonin let out a yell horseback through the streets. atmosphere, with all the spread of remote

SHIZUOKA AIR IN MEMORY OF RAID MEMORIAL MY OLDER BROTHER

During World War II, American planes After I went down to the shrine, I told parting came all of a sudden. He bombed Shizuoka City on June 19, 1945. the sales clerk that I made it to the top. departed quietly and peacefully, The raids killed about 2,000 people in She was happy. The rice balls I atethere without even saying goodbye the city. At the top of Mt. Shizuhata, tasted much better than anywhere else. to me. near the Sengen Shrine, there is a statue There has not yet been a of Kannon dedicated to the memory formal funeral because of the of those casualties. Next to the statue coronavirus-related confusion. is a stone monument for the memory One day, Rev. Kosei Uchida, of the airmen who died when two who took over the position of bombers crashed during the raid. Since chief priest of Sempukuji Temple 1946, there has been a joint memorial from my brother, brought a copy service for both Japanese and American of Nichiren Shu News to me. casualties of the war. Many surviving It was the last thing I would families and groups of soldiers from Rev. Hoyu Maruyama, my dearest older have expected, that the death of my Yokota Airbase usually join the service. brother, passed away in the evening on brother would be reported in the English I learned about the memorial service April 4th of this year. He was intelligent newspaper of Nichiren Shu. in Shizuoka when I was Bishop of Hawaii there by myself and make prayers for and clever, keeping a step ahead of the On reflection, he was very fond of and organized a joint memorial service them. I asked a sales clerk at the Sengen times. He knew many things but never reading and writing. I am sure that the for Japanese and American casualties Shrine how to get to the summit. She put on airs. He always answered kindly editorial work with Nichiren Shu News, of the Pearl Harbor attack, since there tried to stop me from going since the no matter what I asked him. I have been which he was engaged in for about 30 had been no memorial for the Japanese ground was muddy from heavy rain. entirely relying on him since childhood. years, fully satisfiedhim, because he was servicemen who died. I was able to However, I believed that the Buddha He was a true gentleman, always patient able to bring his abilities into full play persuade the Consulate General of Japan would lead me if it was possible. I and honest. But he was so strict with through his vast knowledge. He would be in Hawaii and U.S. Navy Region Hawaii went up to the summit while chanting himself that he gave his work priority happy if you could share the memorable to sponsor the service, and we held the the Odaimoku. I could not wear my over to his health. As a result, when it experiences on the editorial committee first one on December 8, 2016. Through minister’s robe, because I was holding was found that he had gallbladder cancer, with him and keep a memory of how those events, I met Dr. Hiroya Sugano an umbrella in my hand while climbing. it was so late that he was told that he had actively he worked there. He would often who organized and paid for a memorial The higher I got, the weaker the rain only six months to live. say to me, “Suppose anyone mourns you service every year for all casualties of the got. Finally, I arrived where the statue He chose to receive home treatment. with great respect and solemnity when Shizuoka City bombing. I was invited and the monument were. I chanted the He attended to his temple duties even you die. It clearly indicates that you have to the service for the first time in 2018. Lotus Sutra and the Odaimoku there and more diligently, though he must have lived your life properly.” His words are This year is the 75th anniversary of prayed for all casualties of Japan and the put up with intolerable pain. Mercilessly, inscribed indelibly on my mind. I pray the bombing. I heard that the service for United States 75 years ago. I pray such the cancer spread to other parts of his that his soul may rest in peace. 2020 was canceled because of COVID-19. casualties never happen again. body. Only three months after the cancer —Shoko Hasegawa, I felt sorry, but I decided I should go —Rev. Chishin Hirai was discovered, the heart-rending Sempukuji Temple, Yokosuka, Japan 4 Nichiren Shu News No. 241 December 1, 2020

The scammer then seemed to have slammed the phone down. My friend felt that the voice on the other end sounded like an echo and her Nichiren Mission of Hawaii grandson’s name was different. She then Rev. Shokai Kanai realized that it was a phone scam involving family members. 2020 Pilgrimage Canceled I suggested that she add a caller ID to We were planning to go on a pilgrimage the phone, so that she could tell who is to Japan in October. Several people were calling and not to pick up the phone if she interested in this event. Then just as Rev. doesn’t recognize the caller. If someone Kanai was about to publicize the itinerary wants to reach her, they would certainly in March, the coronavirus attacked the leave a message! whole world, and the tour was canceled. Everyone, please be careful about phone We are still hoping to have our scams involving people impersonating pilgrimage in 2022. If you are interested, your family members. In these trying please contact Rev. Kanai and tell him times, crime escalates in different ways! any places you would like to visit, besides Nichiren Buddhist Sangha Sangha, which offers mindfulness and the religious pilgrimage sites. The tour Renkoji Temple, Italy of Greater New England meditation teaching to people who are in will include visiting Nichiren Shonin’s Rev. Shoryo Tarabini Shami Ryoen Drewello recovery from addiction. We are looking memorial temples, like Minobusan Kuonji, forward to seeing how widely our newest New Decree Ikegami Honmonji, and Tanjoji. Tokudo Ceremony Using Zoom “dragon” will be able to help propagate Would you like to visit , ride the A new decree was issued by the government On October 17, a Tokudo Ceremony the Wonderful Dharma. Though we are bullet train, or stay in a Japanese inn with regarding COVID-19, since a second wave took place at Kosenji Temple, Nichiren separated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we hot springs? Please contact Rev. Kanai and has been spreading throughout Europe. Buddhist Sangha of Greater New are still a Dharma family. Thank you to share your suggestions. For the time being, for everyone’s health England for Keith Kreyling, who has everyone who participated and witnessed Let’s make this not just a pilgrimage but and safety, we are required to limit visitors been a member and lay leader in our the ceremony! also a fun and interesting tour! to the temple to no more than five people sangha. This ceremony is where a novice at a time, excluding myself. takes vows to become a priest. 739th Oeshiki In light of this, please contact the temple The service was conducted online to make a reservation before coming. In We held our annual Oeshiki Service on using Zoom with Rev. Ryuoh Faulconer order to accommodate everyone, I will Sunday, October 11. initiating as head minister, supported by be conducting up to three services each Oeshiki refers to the day when our Revs. Myokei Caine-Barrett of Myokenji Sunday with up to five participants per Founder, Nichiren Shonin passed away Temple of Houston, Shoda Kanai of service at 10:00, 14:00, and 16:00. on October 13, 1282 at Ikegami Honmonji Kannon Temple of Nevada, and Kanjin The 10:00 service each Sunday will be Temple. Legend says that cherry blossoms Cederman of Enkyoji Temple of Seattle. shared live on Facebook. bloomed, out of season, in the yard of Lord Keith has been a member of our sangha Please remember to make a reservation Ikegami, where Nichiren Shonin passed since 2015. Shortly after joining us, he before attending the service. away. This is the reason why we decorate started training as a lay leader. My Thank you so much for your under- the altar with hand-made paper pink and new Shami brother was given the name standing and cooperation. white cherry blossoms. Thank you to the “Ryusen.” “Ryu” means dragon and comes volunteers who took their time to place from his master, Rev. Ryuoh Faulconer. Nichiren Buddhist Enkyoji Temple Seattle the cherry blossoms on the mando, lantern “Sen” comes from the name of our temple, Kannon Temple of Nevada Mrs. Mamiko Cederman pagoda, on the stage this year. Kosenji, which was taken from “Kosen By Mrs. Kumiko Kanai Our Founder has opened our eyes to Rufu” reflecting the mission of our temple Online Sermon American Phone Scam the Buddha’s true teachings as expounded to widely proclaim the teaching of the from Family Member in Distress? On Saturday, October 3, an online sermon in the Lotus Sutra. We hold the Oeshiki Lotus Sutra. was conducted by Rev. Kanto Tsukamoto, Service every year to remember him and Shami Ryusen has been a great asset to The other day, I heard from a friend of who is Rev. Cederman’s master. Rev. express our gratitude for his leadership our temple, helping with temple finances as mine who is a widow living alone in Tsukamoto gave the sermon from his and devotion. well as heading up our Recovery Dharma Las Vegas. With the turmoil caused by temple in Saga Prefecture, Japan and talked COVID-19, she has been staying home about “The Way of the Bodhisattva.” His most of the time. She had an experience sermon lasted 20 minutes. A question- with a phone scam like many that have and-answer session followed that lasted 40 increased lately. One day she got a call minutes. About 20 participants logged in from her “grandchild.” from around the U.S. and Europe. Scammer: “Hi, Grandma!” Because of the second wave of the Friend: “Hello!” COVID-19 pandemic, all of our services Scammer: “Grandma, how are you?” and sermons are still being held online. Friend: “I’m fine.” Scammer: “Grandma, I borrowed money from a friend but I just can’t pay it back. Can you help me?” Friend: “I can hardly hear you. What is your name?” Scammer: “Sean.” Friend: “Sean? I think you have the wrong number, let me call you back.”

Calendar for December 2020–January 2021

DEC 8 Jodo-e (Enlightenment Day) commemorating the day JAN 1 Memorial Service for Nichiji Shonin, one of the six main disciples when the Buddha attained Enlightenment. of Nichiren Shonin. DEC 31 New Year’s Eve Service; Bell Ringing Ceremony JAN 13 Minobusan Opening Ceremony for the New Year at Kuonji Temple held throughout Japan. JAN 21 Memorial Service for Nichiro Shonin, one of the six main disciples of Nichiren Shonin

Nichiren Shu News c/o The Head Office of Nichiren Shu, 1-32-15 Ikegami, Ota-ku, Tokyo 146-8544, Japan; Tel. +81-3-3751-7181, E-mail: [email protected] Nichiren Shu News was founded by the Nichiren Shu Overseas Propagation Promotion Association (NOPPA), Nichiyu Mochida, President. Funding is provided by NOPPA and the Head Office of Nichiren Shu, Hosei Nakagawa,Chief Administrator. Editorial Board Sensho Komukai, Editor, Shinkyo Warner, Assistant Editor, Kosei Uchida, Staff Writer, Sandra Seki, Advisor. Art Director Alan Rowe