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Nichiren 139’ 03.12.12 10:42 AM ページ1

Published by the Shu Headquarters & Kaigai Fukyo Koenkai

No. 139 December 1, 2003 (1) The 4th Anniv. of Dragon Palace Temple in Nagpur, India Celebrated By Rev. Kanshin Mochida ment and the Nichiren Shu Order. The Ogawa Society just purchased The fourth anniversary of the 40 acres of land near the temple. founding of the Dragon Palace Tem- In the evening the temple was ple in Kamptee City, Nagpur, Maha- beautifully lit up with decoration rashtra State, India was held on Sat- lights hanging from its roof. The cer- urday, November 8, with more than emony lasted until 1:00 a.m. The 100,000 people visiting the temple. next morning there were many cul- The chanting of “Namu-Myoho- tural programs. Renge-Kyo” reverberated the entire There were lots of booths along temple when Rev. Nichiki Kato of the approach to the temple, and many Myohonji Temple, , the people wore their best clothes to visit leader of the 14 Japanese delegates the temple. Rev. Gensho Watanabe, for the ceremony, led . The one of the Japanese delegates said, schoolchildren of the temple prayed “The size of this celebration can be in the presence of thousands of peo- compared to the O-eshiki at the ple. In the middle of the ceremony, a Ikegami Honmonji Temple. I never special service was performed knew that a festival this big was by Rev. Kyoya Tajima of Hompohji being held annually in Nichiren Shu Temple in Tokyo, who held a special overseas.” sword in his hand for a Kito blessing. Prior to the ceremony, the dele- Visitors to the Dragon Palace Temple surpassed 100,000 on the occa- After the prayers, gates held a brief sion of its fourth anniversary held on November 8 the delegates were purification ceremony “health” mattresses, was first intro- but also other “untouchables” to Bud- guided to the outside for the newly con- duced to Ms. Kumbhare in 1994 dhism. In many households in Nag- stage, where Rev. structed railway tunnel when a cigarette factory owned by pur, a picture of Dr. Ambedkar is Kato delivered a on the way to the tem- Ms. Kumbhare was on the brink of hung on the wall or enshrined on the message, stating “We ple from the city of bankruptcy. make-shift altar. People adore him as are committed to Kamptee. This tunnel To help save the factory from a . establish peace in the was constructed by the going bankrupt and save the three Atty. Dadasaheb Kumbhare, world by spreading state government with hundred workers from losing their father of Ms. Sulekha Kumbhare, was the Buddha’s teach- the support of the State jobs, Ms. Ogawa offered financial a devout follower of Dr. Ambedkar. ing and the Lotus Sulekha Kumbhare (left) and Mining Corporation. assistance to Ms. Kumbhare. Since Serving as a member of the Indian through the Noriko Ogawa (file photo) With the construction then deep friendship developed Parliament, he devoted himself for Dragon Palace Temple. of the tunnel, people can go to the between them, leading to the con- the improvement of society. “We are ready to extend our coop- Dragon Palace Temple without wait- struction of the huge When he died at the age of 59, his eration to the temple and Ms. ing long at the railroad crossing. in Kamptee City. daughter, Ms. Sulekha Kumbhare, Sulekha Kumbhare, the President of The Dragon Palace Temple was Kamptee is located in Nagpur became a politician to accomplish the the Ogawa Society and one of the founded in 1999. The project was where in 1956, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, tasks left by her father. founders of the temple, and Ms. promoted jointly by Ms. Sulekha who played a leading role in drafting Now Minister for Water Supply Noriko Ogawa.” Kumbhare, who was then the Mayor the Constitution of India, gathered and Sanitation of Maharashtra State, Ms. Kumbhare, also the current of Kamptee City where the temple is over 350,000 people and declared she runs a hospital, an orphanage, a Maharashtra State Minister for Water located, and Ms. Noriko Ogawa, a their conversion to . kindergarten, and a students’ dormito- Supply and Sanitation, is planning to Japanese entrepreneur. Deeply touched by the principle of ry. She also operates elementary, junior expand the temple’s facilities with Ms. Ogawa, President of GEN- equality preached in Buddhism, Dr. high and senior high schools which she the cooperation of the state govern- SHO, a company in Tokyo selling Ambedkar converted not only himself inherited from her late father. Rev. Tamura Dispatched to Brazilian New By Rev. Kanshin Mochida October 23rd, and immediately and Rev. Shoyo Tamura rented an apartment for his office to support the Jojusan The installation ceremony Hokekyoji. His assignment is to of Rev. Shoyo Tamura as the research the possibility of estab- first minister of the Brazilian lishing missions throughout New Missionary was held at a South America, promoting the house near the Santa Cruz Jojusan Hokekyoji and cooper- Subway Station in Sao Paulo ating with the Emyoji Temple on October 26 with 18 mem- (Nambei Minobusan Betsuin). bers attending. The year 2004 is the 50th Rev. Tamura has five-year anniversary of our Brazilian Rev. Tamura takes the oath of missionary experience in Mission since Bishop Emyo office as the first minister of the U.S.A. at the Hawaii Nichiren Ishimoto, the founder of the Brazilian New Missionary Mission, Los Angeles Nichiren Emyoji Temple, was assigned to tion of Japanese immigrants, and cur- Buddhist Temple, Nichiren Rev. Nun Myoho Ishimoto and Rev. Tamura at Sao Paulo. The Emyoji is plan- rently the number of people who are Buddhist International Center Emyoji Temple, Sao Paulo ning to have the anniversary interested in Buddhism is growing. and Seattle Nichiren Buddhist New Missionary are about 20 in num- ceremony next June, and by that time, Rev. Tamura said, “With the coop- Church. He decided to take the ber, organizing a named Joju- Hokekyoji Sangha is going to rent a eration of those two , I’d like assignment as the new missionary san Hokekyoji. They are right now new hall. Both Sanghas together with to carefully examine and analyze the after visiting Sao Paulo last June and renting a house in downtown Sao Rev. Tamura and Rev. Myoho Ishi- possibility of establishing missions receiving positive responses from Paulo and applying for the registra- moto of the Emyoji will celebrate the for the future Nichiren Shu in South believers. tion for a religious organization. memorable anniversary next year. America. Before that, I have to learn The believers of the Brazilian Rev. Tamura arrived in Brazil on South America has a large popula- Portuguese, though.” Nichiren 139’ 03.12.12 10:42 AM ページ2

(2) Nichiren Shu News From the Glossary O-ESHIKI of the Writings of Nichiren Shonin By Kyotsu Hori, Ph. D worlds he traveled through, whether they received a parti- The English Translation Committee of the cle or not, are smashed into Nichiren Shu Overseas Propagation Promotion particles of dust. Let one par- Association has so far been able to publish the Writ- ticle represent one ings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 1 and 2, in Eng- (aeon), the number of kalpa lish by the University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, which have passed since I Hawaii. Each of them includes an extensive glos- (the Buddha) attained Bud- sary for the purpose of clarifying the characteristics dhahood is 100 trillion nayuta of Nichiren Shonin’s doctrine. asamkhya larger than the At the beginning, the Committee was reluctant number of the particles of the to include the glossary in our translation project due dust thus produced.” largely to the anticipated difficulty in translating Most people who read this very concise writings, which could easily be misun- explanation will probably derstood. Knowing its necessity, the Committee in find it impossible to follow. the end accepted the challenge. However, the fact After all, the numerical fig- remains that the glossary entries are mostly simple ures used are astronomical and brief needing explanations or additional infor- and numerical units such as mation. This is the reason why I am taking this nayuta, asamkhya and kalpa opportunity offered by the Nichiren Shu News to are only vaguely defined at discuss some of our glossary entries. best. Nevertheless, they undoubtedly overwhelm us to The Sakyamuni convince us that the life span First I would like to explain what is said under of the Eternal Buddha is the entry entitled “Attaining Enlightenment in the indeed eternal and beyond the eternal past (kuon jitsujo).” This entry states that imagination of us ordinary Sakyamuni Buddha did not attain enlightenment at people. O-esiki figures at Honmonji, Ikegami, Tokyo, 2003: 110 sets of Buddhagaya in India for the first time, but He has Nichiren Buddhist schol- “mando” (Oct. 12) and 400,000 visitors (Oct. 12–13) been enlightened since the eternal past. He who ars have used the term “500 wants to know how far back is the eternal past dust-particle kalpa” to mean how much time has authors of the Nichiren Shonin Zenshu, vol. 2 should read the 16th chapter of the , elapsed since Sakyamuni attained enlightenment in (Tokyo, Shunju-sha, 1996), for instance, try to “The Life Span of the Buddha.” The chapter vague- the remote past. It was coined from the “500 trillion amend the problem by inserting a numeral oku ly defines the time span as “immeasurable, bound- nayuta, asamkhya major world systems (a great (hundred million) between “500” and “dust-parti- less hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred one-thousand worlds)” which were reduced to dust cle.” However, this practice has not been accepted thousands of nayuta of kalpa (aeons)” and tries to for the purpose of comparison between the number widely. The Japanese-English Dictionary (Tokyo, explain it as follows: “Suppose there is one who of particles thus produced and the number of aeons Daito Shuppan-sha, 1979) and Bukkyo Jiten (Dic- smashes the 500 x 1,000 x 10,000 x 100,000 (i.e. (kalpa) that have elapsed since the birth of the Eter- tionary of Buddhism) (Tokyo, Daito Shuppan-sha, 500 trillion) nayuta asamkhya major world systems nal Buddha. 1989), for instance, do not follow the practice. (each of which consists of one billion worlds) into The use of the term “500 dust-particle kalpa” particles of dust and takes them all toward the east did not seem to have presented any problem or The Buddha of Many Treasures dropping one particle each time he travels 500 tril- nobody cared to make an issue of it that there exist- The Buddha of Many Treasures probably is lion nayuta asamkhya worlds. Suppose that he con- ed another phrase that sounded alike and used in a known more as Taho-nyorai than Taho-butsu in tinues traveling east this way until he finishes drop- similar sense: “3,000 dust-particle kalpa.” The 7th Japanese. Not knowing exactly what is the differ- ping all the particles.... Suppose that all these chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the “Parable of a Magic ence between butsu and nyorai and believing that City,” explains how much time has elapsed since both terms represent the same person, we decided to Sakyamuni as the 16th son of the Great Universal use only the term Buddha, which is better known Wisdom Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra in a among the English speaking people. more or less the same way as in the 16th chapter: Professor Daniel B. Montgomery declares in his “Suppose someone smashes a major world system “Notes on the revision” in the Introduction to the ( daisen sekai) into dust...” So, Nichiren Bud- Lotus Sutra by Shinjo Suguro, translated by dhist scholars began using the phrase “3,000 dust- Nichiren Buddhist International Center, revised by particle kalpa” to represent the immensely long Daniel B. Montgomery (Fremont, California, Jain period of time between the days of the Great Uni- Publishing Company, 1998): “We have also avoided versal Wisdom Buddha and today. The problem the term Tathagata, a title of the Buddha, the mean- here is that “3,000 dust-particle kalpa” sounds like a ing of which is unclear even in .... We have much longer period than the “500 dust-particle avoided the term whenever possible, by simply say- kalpa,” although in reality they should be just the ing ‘Buddha’ instead.” So did we. opposite. The literal translation of Taho-butsu would be Some modern scholars of Nichiren Buddhism Many Treasures Buddha, but this is unacceptable seem to have been aware of this problem. The from a grammarian’s point of . For instance, we don’t call a house with two stories a New Five-story Dedicated: The dedication two-stories house but a two-story house. ceremony of a five-story pagoda (photo) was held at the However, as Many Treasure Buddha sounds Koshoji Temple, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, on Sep- awkward, we have to settle with the Buddha tember 27. This is the sixth five-story pagoda of the of Many Treasures. Nichiren Shu temples. Speaking of grammar, it is a rule to itali- Four of the five other are designated as the cize foreign words and they cannot be made Important Cultural Assets of Japan. The four are located at: plural by adding “s” at the ending. We know the Honmonji Temple, Ikegami, Tokyo (built in 1608); the that many English words are foreign in ori- Myojoji Temple, Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture (built in gin, so we have to define what is foreign 1618); the Hokekyoji Temple, Nakayama, Ichikawa City, and what is not. The English Translation Chiba Prefecture (built in 1622); and the Myosenji Temple, Committee of the NOPPA decided that the (built in 1827). The fifth one, located at the words included in college-level dictionaries Ryukoji Temple, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, was are regarded as English. According to this built in 1910. rule such words as kalpa and tathagata There are 22 five-story pagodas in Japan, designated which are not found in college dictionaries either as the National Treasure or Important Cultural Asset. are foreign words although the late Profes- Among the most famous are the pagoda of the Horyuji sor Murano, for instance, uses kalpa and Temple, Nara, and that of the Toji Temple, . kalpas without italicizing them. Nichiren 139’ 03.12.12 10:42 AM ページ3

Nichiren Shu News (3) The Legend of Nichiren Shonin (6) The accurate biography of Nichiren can be perceived through his essays and letters and the ancient documents. But there are many dramatic legends, too. So, let us think about various legends in this paper. By Rev. Gyokai Sekido, Ph. D It was especially mysterious that ena and the appearance of the myste- ra was killed by his subordinate many yellow butterflies appeared on rious fish. It was said, that long ago while trying to escape. At the Onjo-ji Temple the 17th of the third month in the this fish had appeared in the summer Having heard about the confused It is known that Rencho studied same year. Though it was a good day of 1189, when Fujiwara Yasuhira (a state of Kamakura City, Rencho on Mt. Hiei, Mt. Koya, and so on in weather wise, a flock of yellow but- local magnate in the early Kamakura keenly felt the need for further study the Kyoto area. However, because of terflies appeared, three meters wide Period in the Tohoku district) was of Buddhism. It was because he firm- the lack of historical materials, we do and 30 meters in length. The butter- attacked by Minamoto Yoritomo (the ly believed that only the Buddhist not know precisely about his activi- flies floated in the sky like a piece of first shogun of the Kamakura shogu- teaching could save the people in the ties in Kyoto. It is written in his letter yellow cloth fluttering. They soared nate). Defeated by Yoritomo, Yasuhi- Latter Age of Degeneration. that he was at the Onjo-ji Temple high, or alighted on the eaves below. (present Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture) People in Kamakura found them for a while. So, I would like to men- interesting to see. Soon they scattered tion the legendary stories concerning and rushed into the houses and died. Nichiren’s activities in the Onjo-ji It is said that long ago, yellow butter- Temple. flies appeared in Hitachi and Shimo- A priest who had stud- tsuke (present Ibaraki and ied in Kamakura came Tochigi Prefectures) dur- back to Kyoto and was in ing the reign of Emperor the Onjo-ji Temple. He Sujaku (923-952). Soon, stayed at the dormitory Taira Masakado (a general where Rencho was living. in the mid-Heian Period) Rencho was glad to have a rose in revolt and the Kan- new friend, who told him to area fell into confusion about the strange happen- for a while. ings in Kamakura: a white Kamakura’s Yuiga- rainbow appeared in the hama Beach was dyed all sky and went through the red on the 21st of the third sun; a comet appeared Rev. Gyokai Sekido month in the same year. A causing the people to red wave surged over the wonder whether it foretold a misfor- shore, and the sands, seaweed and tune. Moreover, on the 12th of the shellfish all turned red. The seashore third month in the first year of the of Tsugaru of the Tohoku district also Hoji Period (1247), a huge meteor turned red on the 11th of the same appeared in the northeast, and trav- month. Then, carcasses of mysterious eled in the southwestern direction fish were washed on the beach. They shining so brightly that it became were about three meters in length bright like daytime; a sound like a with limbs similar to those of human big thunder rang, and the ground being and the head and caudal fin vibrated; it frightened the people as if same as fish. The local bureaucracy Paintings of the (1192–1333) depicting part of Onjo-ji Tem- their were disappearing. reported the uncanny ocean phenom- ple, the general headquarter temple of the Shu Order, founded in 686

was sad, but cried because her. In fact many people of joy. The joy to see such are.... The Jakarta temple ‘Yovin Is True Bodhisattva’ a SPECIAL BOD- is very lucky to have such By Alexandar Ang, in the Buddha and the Lotus Sutra. HISATTVA born to this a precious jewel to be Hokkesan Ichinenji, Despite her condition, she always world with the spirit of the born among them. Ms. Nichiren Shu Malaysia thinks of others. Never once, has she Lotus Sutra in her. She Yovin is really special thought about herself. All the time, touched everyone whom beyond words. And I Ms. Yovin is a VERY SPECIAL she only prays and thinks of how to she met with the words thank the Buddha to have BODHISATTVA born to a family in help other people overcome their dif- which she says, with the sent such a wonderful Jakarta, Indonesia. She has 2 other ficulties in life. actions which she portrays Bodhisattva during this sisters and other family members In fact, she endlessly gives and with her wisdom Latter Age of Degenera- who share her joy. advice and joy to those around her. which she shares. tion to help us and the She was born handicapped since She also writes many poems on the In fact, her heart is so Alexandar Ang people of Indonesia to birth and faces many difficulties in Lotus Sutra and gives the Bodhisatt- pure that it is filled with realize the importance of physical movement. However, men- va spirit in our every day lives. boundless compassion, where some- the Lotus Sutra through HER Com- tally, she is more mature and wiser Constantly she will find many times even we find it difficult to passion, Wisdom and Happiness. than any of us. In her early years, different ways to propagate the practice. However, to Yovin, it With this, I will always have a she went through a difficult time in Lotus Sutra and gives advice to dif- comes very naturally. She is indeed a special prayer for her and with great life when she lost her beloved moth- ferent people whom she meets. TRUE BODHISATTVA. joy, I would like to dedicate this sto- er. Despite the odds which she faces, I remember that when I met her I am sure that the Buddha and ry to everyone and to share Ms. Yov- she continues to have a strong for the first time I cried not because I Nichiren Daishonin are smiling upon in’s joy together.

publications like the “Oregon Histori- Rev. Kodachi Receives Foreign Minister’s Award cal Society Quarterly,” “Shibamata By Jim Hill, tions for the study of Japanese lan- other cultural organizations has Quarterly,” “Buddhism Today” to list Portland, Oregon guage and culture. helped many. Rev. Kodachi has pub- a few. Even in his retirement, he con- A true pioneer for introducing lished many historical and spiritual tinues to support and volunteer for the Rev. Zuigaku Kodachi received studies to International Sister-City pro- the Japan Foreign Minister’s Award at schools like Lewis and Clark, gram. an official dinner and presentation at where he founded the Japanese On this day, he received his the Japanese Consul General’s resi- Studies Program and was chief award with close friends and dence on July 29, 2003. Only one oth- instructor of Japanese in the family. This gentleman has had a er award of this type has been present- Dept. of Language Studies. Rev. large impact with his unselfish ed to a local resident here in Portland. Kodachi also was instrumental contributions not only locally Rev. Kodachi was born on in introducing Japanese Lan- but can also be traced globally. November 1, 1933, in Aomori-, guage and cultural studies to He has set an example for all of Japan and moved to the United States other Oregon colleges like us to follow and emulate. Con- in 1957. He is a graduate of Mult- Willamette University, Linfield gratulations Rev. Kodachi. nomah College in Portland and Ris- College, and Portland Commu- sho University in Tokyo. He taught nity College. (This article and photo were for 35 years at Lewis and Clark Col- His assistance with the Port- reproduced from the August lege and was central to making that land Art Museum, the Japanese 2003 issue of the Yuuyake school one of Oregon’s finest institu- Garden Society of Oregon and Rev. Zuigaku Kodachi (center) and Keiko, his wife Shimbun, Portland Oregon) Nichiren 139’ 03.12.12 10:42 AM ページ4

(4) Nichiren Shu News 平成15年 12月 1日 第 139号

Puunene Church Events Year End Cleanup Nichiren Mission Rev. Shokai Kanai would By Sandra Seki like to thank every volunteer Visa Problems who has helped keep the tem- Three years have gone by ple clean and neat. The tem- since Rev. Bungen Kaneko ple has received so many came to Honolulu to start his Nichiren Mission of Hawaii compliments on how the tem- new life as an overseas prop- these desires, people become selfish and ple is always so clean and agator. After going through “Importance of Faith” don’t care about each other. Children do not beautiful. The annual year end training at the Honolulu Mis- have the ability to make good judgements so clean up is scheduled for Sat- sion, he was assigned to the By Rev. Chisen Maeda their mind becomes evil very easily. This is urday, December 13. The Puunene Mission as the 12th Recently there have been a lot of brutal why they have to be guided by the right kind cleaning will start at 9:00 a.m. resident minister this June. crimes throughout the world. Three months of faith. Since they cannot find the right faith The Women’s club will serve His activities started off ago in Japan, a twelve year old junior high themselves, it is their parents’ or grandpar- lunch to all the volunteers and with the famous Maui school student kidnapped a 4 year old, ents’ duty to give them guidance. we would like to ask as many Dance on June 14, followed stripped the child and dropped him from the At present, there are six or seven children people as possible to cooper- by the grand Hawaii Nichiren top of a high building. The child died instant- who come to our Sunday School class. We ate in this year end activity. Centennial from June 20-23 ly and this kind of crime has been worrying would like to make Sunday School a worth- in Honolulu. Then he all parents who have young children. while and enjoyable program for the chil- Three Events in One Day returned to Maui for the One factor of this kind of crime is related dren. These children will become the future On December 21, the Los Obon preparations. All the to their family’s lifestyle and condition such leaders of our mission, so we must give them Angeles Temple will cele- members welcomed the new as divorce, domestic violence, and bullying. proper guidance. Please make time to help us brate the day that Buddha minister with great warmth. The Japanese government conducted a with the Sunday School classes. Sakyamuni attained Enlight- Rev. Kaneko then planned research on the family background of the enment some 2,500 years ago to attend the 100-day austeri- young criminals and found no or in India. To celebrate this ty training to become a gokito time for prayer in their daily lives. All these Eitaikyo Service occasion the temple will have master. He convinced the families had no or faith. The annual Eitaikyo Service (perpetual a Candlelight Ser- church members by saying We all are born with the Buddha-nature memorial service) was held on Sunday, vice at 10:00 a.m. that he would be back next but we also have evil nature. If we don’t November 9, from 10:00 a.m. This service is Immediately after this ser- spring after the training. The know how to show our Buddha-nature, our held annually for the deceased who are regis- vice, a special ceremony to members wished him luck in evil nature will grow rampant. We also have tered on the Mission’s perpetual memorial burn old religious items will Japan. four desires: desire for eternal or long life, list. More than 300 deceased have already be held in the parking lot. If However, to his dismay desire for an easy life, desire for freedom and been registered since this system was inaugu- there are any old items to be he found that his visa had desire for a safe life. Since everyone has rated in 1990. burned please bring them to expired, which he had not the service. The items’ spirits realized. If he leaves the temples of North America and promote friendship and She always selects “Sada- will be solemnly taken out country now he will not be have been contributing to a sportsmanship with them. ko and the Thousand Paper before burning and shall be able to return to the U.S. for special education fund set up Cranes” by Eleanor Coer for returned to the universe. ten years. Government regu- for the purpose of propagat- LOS ANGELES the second half of her summer Lastly, the year end party lations are very strict and if ing the order and expound- Beikoku Betsuin class because it coincides with will be held at the temple one does not abide by them ing the teachings of the Bud- Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb dining room from noon. A he may be deported for good. dha and Nichiren Shonin. Thousand Cranes Memorial Day on August 6th. box lunch (regular or vege- The Puunene members This donation will help Every year Mrs. Takako This year the 5th grade stu- tarian) will be served. The are happy to see him come establish a fund to educate Osumi from the Dewey dents from Dewey School lunch will cost $6 per person back so soon, and Rev. English speaking ministers Avenue School, selects books folded 1000 paper cranes and and orders must be placed by Kaneko feels that Nichiren and youth activities. We for recommended literature dedicated them to the temple. December 15th. After lunch Shonin is telling him to serve would appreciate your gen- for her elementary students to They prayed for world peace a Bingo game will be held so the Puunene Mission first erous donations of $5.00 or motivate the often unenthusi- and thanked Sadako Sasaki attendees are requested to before going into personal more per family to the tem- astic summer school students. for her courage and strength. bring a prize worth $5. training at the aragyo. ple. Kendoists Receive High SAN JOSE Ranking Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Temple Myokakuji Betsuin Last July, three kendoists “Life of Gratitude” candlelight symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom O-eshiki Service from the San Jose Dojo par- and the Buddha’s salvation. Like a light which illuminates darkness and carries relief The San Jose temple wel- ticipated in the 12th World By Rev. Kanto Tsukamoto comed Rev. Shukai Oikawa, Kendo Championships in and ease for us, the Buddha’s teachings carry the head priest of Joenji Glasgow, Scotland. Arnold On August 14, while I was typing up my relief and peace through illuminating darkness Temple in Tokyo, on Octo- Matsuda’s best effort brought speech, my PC suddenly lost power. All my or illusion in our mind and shows the path of ber 26th to the 722nd memo- third place to the U.S.A. work was gone, and while I was trying to redo life to which we should be guided by a light- rial service for Nichiren team. The last time the U.S. the whole thing, the power went on again. It house. If we compare faith to a candle, the Shonin. Rev. Oikawa visited team placed in the top three was just the beginning of the major blackout wick is our “faith” and the wax is the the temple three years ago was 21 years ago when Char- that affected Ontario and New York State. “odaimoku.” The light of the odaimoku illumi- when the temple celebrated lie Tanaka represented the The blackout affected Toronto nates the darkness of life constantly and will its 20th Anniversary. The U.S. team. Reika Mikuni and seriously–no lights, no cooking with the never extinguish like a candle if we hold the service began at 2:00 p.m. Koiri Kikunaga also received microwave, no TV, no air conditioning in the odaimoku as long as we can. The light illumi- followed by his sermon the “Good Fighting Spirit” heat and humidity. Not only that, throughout nates more forward the more we chant. The which was translated into awards with 14 other women the city there were no traffic signals, no sub- more one dedicates one’s faith to the Buddha English. An o-eshiki dinner kendoists. They were over- ways, no street lights, and no gas because the and Nichiren Shonin the more the wick will was served afterwards. joyed to receive these high pumps were not working. The city of Toronto never burn out. The wick will become thicker awards; however, the biggest was taken back into the medieval age. It last- and longer and accordingly our faith will Educational Fund was that they were able ed for only a day and a half, but we felt the become deeper and deeper. This wick will Every year the members to meet more than 400 night was very long and dark. Around the never change eternally just like the four ele- of the Nichiren Buddhist kendoists from 21 countries temple where there was a constant bustling ments: Soil, Water, Air and Fire. An object that crowd, there was dead silence and darkness as has an eternal nature has mysterious power if it were in the midst of a forest. and dynamic energy and works equally well. NICHIREN SHU NEWS Each house was lit by candlelight and We have faith in such a teaching–the Lotus strangers gathered together to spend time in Sutra! Human beings tend to take everyday for c/o NICHIREN SHU Shumuin Editorial Board: 1-32-15, Ikegami, Ota-ku, the darkness together. granted and complain about many things. We Tokyo 146-8544, Japan Editor…………Keiryu Shima The most wonderful work of fire is to forget to give “Thanks” to all and end up say- Tel. 03-3751-7181～3 Supervisor-Editor brighten the darkness and reduce our anxiety ing: “See no merits for having faith” when we Board of Trustees: Tansei ………………Kyotsu Hori and fear. Human beings do not like the dark- face difficulties. However, if we live everyday Iwama, Chief Administrator, Foreign News Editor Nichiren Shu; Bungyo Yoshi- ness and also fear it basically because it is dif- with faith and thanks, we will receive a light da, President, Kaigai Fukyo ………………Sandra Seki ficult for human beings to sniff out where of natural enlightenment and there will be no Koenkai; Kurihara, Staff Writers … Tesshu Saito danger lurks and protect themselves from the need to be upset even when we face difficul- Executive Director, General …………Gen-ichi Oikawa many risks in the world. Gazing at candle- ties. Then we will realize the Buddha’s guid- Affairs Bureau; Ichimyo (overseas)…Ryuken Akahoshi light, somehow we feel calm and steady deep ance and how important faith is. Fujisaki, Executive Director, …………… Chishin Hirai Missionary Bureau; Giko down inside. Since ancient times, one saw a We must not live taking everyday for Tabata, Director, Missionary Advisor…… Hoyu Maruyama in the fire and treated the fire as Holy. In granted but be able to live each day with grat- Department, Nichiren Shu the temple, candles are always lit, because itude for good health and safety.