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

Myosetsuji News ISSUE 239 MAY 1, 2021

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin

On the Occasion of the March rufu, following the principle ex- the Land through the Propagation Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony pounded in the Rissho ankoku- of True ). On this occasion of the March ron (On Securing the Peace of The Daishonin teaches the fol- Kosen-rufu Shodai Cer- lowing in the Gosho, On emony, conducted here Practicing according to today at the Head Tem- the Buddha’s Teachings ple, I would like to ex- (Nyosetsu shugyo-sho): press my heartfelt ap- The fifth Five-hundred preciation to all of you -year Period, which cor- for participating, de- responds to the begin- spite your busy sched- ning of the Latter Day of ules. the Law, is the time Today, Japan, as well when the pure and per- as the whole world, is fect teaching of the sin- in a chaotic condition gle truth of the Lotus due to the novel corona- Sutra is to be propagated virus pandemic. To throughout the world. achieve world peace This is the age of con- and the people’s happi- flict, when the pure Law ness, now is the time will become obscured for us to unite together, and lost, and the Lotus based on the spirit of Sutra and pre-Lotus Su- many in body, one in tra teachings are con- mind (itai doshin), and advance toward kosen- (Continued on page 2) Gosho Quote for May 2021

Letter to Oto-gozen (Oto-gozen goshosoku)

The Great Teacher Miaole stated: “The more resolute one's faith, the stronger the gods' protection.” When people uphold solid faith, they definitely will re- ceive the powerful protection of the gods. I am saying this for your sake. I can- not praise you enough for the faith that you have maintained. Now you must strengthen it ever more. Be convinced that the Ten Demon Goddess Daughters will then provide you increasingly powerful protection. You will not need to look for any other examples. (Gosho, p. 897)

PAGE 2 MYOSETSUJI NEWS

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

(Continued from page 1) tation of the provisional doctrines” is, indeed, fused. When there are enemies, based on reason. If you you should take up a sword, exert yourself now in stave, and bows and arrows. shoju, by carrying out When there are no enemies, you the four peaceful prac- do not need such weapons. In the tices, will it not be the present time of the Latter Day of same as sowing seeds in the Law, the pre- the winter and expecting teachings are the enemies of the to harvest in the spring? Lotus Sutra. When the teaching When a rooster crows at of the one vehicle of Buddhahood dawn, it is helpful. But if is spread, all the pre-Lotus Sutra it crows in the evening, teachings become its enemies. it is disquieting. It is When the Lotus Sutra and pre- nonsense to seclude Lotus Sutra teachings are con- yourself in the moun- fused, you first should refute the tains without refuting pre-Lotus Sutra teachings using the enemies of the Lotus the true Mahayana. Of the two Sutra and carry out the practices of shoju and shakubuku, practice of shoju at a this is called shakubuku, based on time when the Lotus Su- the Lotus Sutra. ’s state- tra and pre-Lotus Sutra ment, “The Lotus Sutra is the teachings are confused. teaching of shakubuku, the refu- You only will lose the opportunity to practice the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, (Hokke gengi):] pp. 672-673) The Lotus Sutra is the teaching In the Latter Day of of shakubuku, the refutation of the Law, when the the provisional doctrines. Gengi slanders of heretical ehon, Gakurin version vol. 2, p teachings are rampant 706) throughout the country It is essential to use the method and the world is de- of refuting one’s slanders and filed with the five im- leading one to take faith in the purities, it is not ap- true Law. In other words, we propriate to carry out must do shakubuku to lead and the practice of shoju, encourage one to embrace the the method of gradual- true Law. ly leading a person to the true Law while The Daishonin teaches in the temporarily not chal- Gosho, Questions and Answers lenging his or her erro- between a Sage and a Foolish neous thoughts or Man (Shogu mondo-sho) as fol- faith. [The Great lows: Teacher Tiantai taught The world today is defiled with the following in The impurities. People’s minds are Profound Meaning of distorted, filled with envy, and the Lotus Sutra (Continued on page 3)

ISSUE 239 PAGE 3

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

(Continued from page 2) realms in a single life-moment), provisional and slanderous teach- should he fail to ings abound. This makes it diffi- denounce the ene- cult for the true Law to be propa- mies of the Lotus gated. At such a time, it is of no Sutra, he will not use to practice the reading, recit- be able to attain ing, and transcribing of sutras, or enlightenment. to contemplate, meditate, or dis- (Gosho, p. 322) cipline oneself. You simply must The Daishonin perform shakubuku. You should clearly expresses powerfully vanquish slanderous that shakubuku is teachings and use the doctrines to the correct way to censure erroneous teachings to propagate the true the best of your ability. (Gosho, Law. He strictly p. 403) admonishes that In this passage, the Daishonin unless we refute indicates that in the defiled age of the heretical teach- the Latter Day of the Law, shaku- ings and do shaku- buku is the best propagation buku, we never method that suits the time. will be able to at- Furthermore, the Daishonin tain enlightenment. teaches the following in the Go- In the Gosho, Re- sho, Letter to Nanjo Hyo’e Shi- ply to Soya (Soya chiro (Nanjo Hyo’e shichiro dono dono-gohenji), it is -gosho): taught as follows: ed deeply, causing them to lose No matter what great merit one Trying to attain enlightenment their true mind.” (Gosho, p. gains by performing good deeds; without admonishing slander of 1040) even if one transcribes the Lotus the Law is like seeking water in Reading these Gosho passages Sutra ten million times, and fire or fire in water. How useless! with reverence, at this very time achieves the observation of the How futile! No matter how ear- when the whole world is in chaos mind based on the principle of nestly one upholds faith in the due to the coronavirus pandemic, ichinen sanzen (three thousand Lotus Sutra, a single act of slan- all members of each chapter must der will make the determination to stand cause one to up and shakubuku as many peo- fall into hell ple as possible, to teach them the without fail. vast and boundless benefits of the It is like a Buddhism of our Founder, single crab Nichiren Daishonin. leg, which can ruin a I sincerely wish that you will thousand understand this significant mean- pots of lac- ing, strengthen your resolution, quer. This is and exert your utmost efforts to what is do shakubuku. meant by, “The poison has penetrat- MYOSETSUJI NICHIREN SHOSHU MONTHLY Subscription Form

TEMPLE Please send subscriptions to: Nichiren Shoshu Temple 143-63 Beech Ave. 143-63 Beech Avenue (Entrance on Parsons Blvd.) Flushing, NY 11355 Flushing, NY 11355 Please make checks or money orders payable to: Nichiren Shoshu Temple

Name Address V ISIT US O NLINE City State Zip AT O UR N EW Email WEBSITE : WWW. NSTNY . ORG Please check one: United States: 3 mos. ($9.00) 6 mos. ($18.00) 12 mos. ($36.00) Canada: 3 mos. ($18.25) 6 mos. ($36.50) 12 mos. ($73.00) International: 3 mos. ($27.00) 6 mos. ($54.00) 12 mos. ($108.00)

S UBSCRIBE TO THE N ICHIREN S HOSHU M ONTHLY M AGAZINE TODAY !

MYOSETSUJI TEMPLE

143-63 Beech Ave. Flushing, NY 11355 Rev. Shinga Takikawa, Chief Priest Rev. Gyoho Mitani, Assistant Priest