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

Myosetsuji News ISSUE 226 APRIL 1, 2020

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin

On the Occasion of the As you know already, February Kosen-rufu this year, “The Year of Shodai Ceremony Achieving Our Shakubu- On this occasion of the ku Goal” is an extremely February Kosen-rufu important year. In this Shodai Ceremony, con- final year of our practice ducted here today at the to achieve our vow that Head Temple, I would we pledged in front of the like to express my heart- Gohonzon, the establish- felt appreciation to the ment of a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believ- large number of partici- pants in attendance. ers, the members of all (Continued on page 2)

Due to the Coronavirus Outbreak All Ceremonies and Meetings Have Temporarily Been Suspended

Gosho Quote for April 2020

Reply to Nichinyo gozen

It is said that the Yellow River becomes clear once in a thousand years. It is said that a sage makes his advent only once in a thousand years. A Buddha is said to be born only once in innumerable kalpas. Even if you encounter the Buddha, it is difficult to encounter the . And even if you en- counter the Lotus Sutra, it is still more difficult for common mortals like us, who were born in the Latter Day of the Law, to encounter the votary of the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, P.1232)

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

(Continued from page 1) the will of our Founder the chapters throughout the coun- Nichiren try must exert all their energy to Daishonin to fulfill their goals. this day are Therefore, including those of unquestiona- you who gathered here today to bly the attend the Kosen-rufu Shodai priesthood Ceremony, all Hokkeko members and laity of across the nation must join the Nichiren ranks of [the soldiers of] kosen- Shoshu. rufu, under the vow of achieving In particu- our goal of establishing a mem- lar, reflecting the society of the Teachings (Nyosetsu shugyo- bership of 800,000 Hokkeko be- defiled age of the Latter Day of sho): lievers, and make further efforts the Law, today’s social condi- In summer it gets hot, in winter in our practice. tions present chaos, bringing with it gets cold, in spring flowers Our Founder Nichiren it with uncertainty. The people’s bloom, and in autumn trees bear Daishonin made his advent into minds are depraved to the highest fruit. In spring, one should sow this world in the Latter Day of degree, ethnic conflicts never seeds to harvest in autumn. If the Law. The purpose of his ad- cease, and the new coronavirus seeds are planted in autumn, one vent was to equally lead all living (COVID-19) is currently spread- will be unable to harvest the fruit beings in the Latter Day of the ing. In order to save the confused in spring. During the freezing Law to attain Buddhahood. Those human minds and build true hap- weather, thick clothes are neces- who correctly follow and carry on piness, there is no way other than sary, while under the intense heat taking faith in the of summer, they are not. A cool teaching of our wind is comfortable in summer, Founder Nichiren but it only intensifies the chill of Daishonin, the True winter. The same holds true for Buddha in the Latter . There was a time Day of the Law. when Hinayana Buddhism was to Keeping this in mind, be spread, and one could gain we must make further benefit. On the other hand, there efforts in our practice was a time when provisional Ma- and do shakubuku. hayana was to be propagated, and The Daishonin one could gain benefit. There is a teaches the following time when true Mahayana is to be in the Gosho, On spread, and one can gain the ben- Practicing according (Continued on page 3) to the Buddha’s

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

(Continued from page 2) Buddhahood is spread, all the efit of attaining enlightenment. pre-Lotus Sutra During the two thousand year- teachings be- period of the Former and Middle come its ene- Days of the Law, Hinayana and mies. When the provisional Mahayana were to be Lotus Sutra and propagated. The fifth Five- pre-Lotus Sutra hundred-year Period, which cor- teachings are responds to the beginning of the confused, you Latter Day of the Law, is the time first should re- when the pure and perfect teach- fute the pre- ing of the single truth of the Lo- Lotus Sutra tus Sutra is to be propagated teachings using throughout the world. This is the the true Mahayana. Of the two fect of “the pure and perfect age of conflict, when the pure practices of shoju and shakubuku, teaching of the single truth of the Law will become obscured and this is called shakubuku, based on Lotus Sutra” refers to the one and lost, and the Lotus Sutra and pre- the Lotus Sutra. ’s state- only perfect teaching, [the teach- Lot us Sutra teachings are con- ment, “The Lotus Sutra is the ing of perfectly integrated truth.] fused. When there are enemies, teaching of shakubuku, the refu- The single truth refers to the one you should take up a sword, stave tation of the provisional doc- vehicle of Buddhahood, the sutra and bows and arrows. When there trines” is indeed based on reason. that teaches the truth, which is the are no enemies, you do not need (Gosho, p. 672) Lotus Sutra. such weapons. In the present time In this passage, the Daishonin Concerning this passage, the of the Latter Day of the Law, the teaches, “The fifth Five-hundred- Twenty-sixth High Priest pre-Lotus Sutra teachings are the year Period, which corresponds Nichikan Shonin taught as fol- enemies of the Lotus Sutra. When to the beginning of the Latter Day lows: the teaching of the one vehicle of of the Law, is The surface meaning of the the time when words is the comparison between the pure and the Lotus Sutra and the pre-Lotus perfect teach- Sutra teachings, while the mean- ing of the sin- ing hidden in the depths is the gle truth of comparison between the Bud- the Lotus Su- dhism of the sowing and the Bud- tra is to be dhism of the harvest. According propagated to The True Object of Worship, throughout “Pure and perfect” means, “The the world.” Pure and per- (Continued on page 4) PAGE 4 MYOSETSUJI NEWS

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

(Continued from page 3) and Answers between a Sage and a Foolish Man essential teaching during Shakya- (Shogu mondo-sho): muni’s lifetime and the teaching When erroneous doc- for the beginning of the Latter trines of various sects Day of the Law are equally pure become rampant and and perfect.” (Mondan, p. 605) compete against each The pure and perfect teaching of other, gaining acclaim by the single truth of the Lotus Sutra taking the stance that refers to Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo their respective doctrines of the Three Great Secret Laws. are superior to others; In other words, the Latter Day and when incorrect of the Law is the time when My- teachings are viewed as oho-Renge-Kyo of the Three equal to the correct Law, Great Secret Laws is to be propa- and Mahayana and Hina- gated. In this period, the pre-Lotus yana followers fight with Sutra and provisional teachings each other over what is correct—this is the time above all Buddhist practices. (Gosho, p. are the enemies of the true Maha- 402) yana, [which is the Lotus Sutra.] else, to refute these slanderers. Thus, from the standpoint of the This is the practice of shakubuku. When the defiled age of the Lat- Three Great Secret Laws, the pre- The Lotus Sutra and Nirvana Su- ter Day of the Law begins, the Lotus Sutra and provisional teach- tra both state that if one is una- people’s minds become confused. ings should be denounced. ware of this principle, and is mis- When human minds are confused, taken about the implementation of the surrounding world falls into The Daishonin expounds the shoju and shakubuku, one will be chaos, and this extends into the following in the Gosho, Questions far removed from receiving the realm of the environment, inviting benefit of at- unusual occurrences such as taining Bud- droughts, epidemics, floods, gales dhahood. Ra- and so on. This becomes a vicious ther, one will cycle, as human minds become fall into hell. even more and more disturbed, This is also and the entire land falls into disar- clearly stated ray, exhibiting an afflicting condi- in the interpre- tion of strife among the same flesh tations provid- and blood. As a result, everyone ed by Tiantai in the entire country suffers an- and Miaole. guish by falling into the great cita- What I mention del of the hell of incessant suffer- here is critical ing. in conducting (Continued on page 5) ISSUE 226 PAGE 5 Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (continued)

(Continued from page 4) the significant reason for us to root out slan- What is the biggest cause for ders and carry out such confusion of human minds? shakubuku. It is the poison of slandering the The Daishonin true Law due to erroneous ideas teaches the following and mistaken views, the poison of in the Gosho, Reply to the slander of heretical teachings. the Wife of Abutsu-bo In the Gosho, Letter to Akimoto (Abutsu bo ama gozen (Akimoto-gosho), the Daishonin -gohenji): teaches as follows: Always be prepared If those who slander the Law to refute slander of the reside in this country, everyone in Law to the full extent the entire nation will fall into the of your ability. hell of incessant suffering. (Gosho, p. 907) (Gosho, p. 1450) We must take these Exactly what we must fear is golden words to heart slander of the true Law. Eliminat- and should never forget them. unless one puts it in his mouth. ing this slander is the only way to Now, in this year of achieving Even if one owns treasures in a achieve world peace. Herein lies our goal, each one of us must en- storehouse, he will starve unless grave these golden words into he opens it. Even if one carries our hearts, and based on great medicine in his pocket, he will die compassion, devote ourselves unless he takes it. (Gosho, p. 110) to do shakubuku to many peo- ple who suffer from misfor- One’s act of taking faith in Bud- tune, due to the poison of dhism is one’s actual practice. In slander. With this effort, we particular, February is the month must achieve our goal of es- when our Founder Nichiren tablishing a membership of Daishonin was born. 800,000 Hokkeko believers. At this time, I sincerely wish In the Gosho, The Doctrine that you will always keep these of Ichinen Sanzen (Ichinen golden words in mind and devote sanzen homon), the Daishonin yourselves to your practice, so that teaches us as follows: all chapters throughout the coun- try will achieve this year’s shaku- Even if a medicine is com- buku goals without fail. pounded with one hundred or one thousand ingredients, one’s illness will not be cured

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Reverend Takikawa’s Lecture Regarding the Coronavirus Thank you very much everyone ine the great disappointment of beneath the skies and in every cor- for joining Sunday Morning Hokkeko members worldwide who ner of the realm.” (The Gosho of Gongyo here, on the broadcast. were planning to attend these cere- Nichiren Daishonin, vol.2, p. 1) With the number of infections of monies. I am certain you are look- He furthermore reveals the reason Coronavirus-19 increasing, we’d ing forward to visiting the Head why disasters such as earthquakes, like to do our part to help contain Temple in the cloud of cherry blos- abnormal weather and epidemics and stop the spread of the virus soms with the backdrop of majestic rage as follows: among the people in the United Mt. Fuji. States. We care about the health of “All people have gone against the Knowing the strong seeking spirit our members and want to make sure correct law and become wholly de- of members worldwide who looked our members stay healthy and safe voted to evil doctrines. This is why forward to going on Tozan and are able to continue practicing all the guardian deities have aban- (pilgrimage) yearning to see the Dai Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. doned the country and sages have -Gohonzon, it was not an easy deci- left this land, not to return. Seizing Therefore, Nichiren Shoshu Tem- sion for the Overseas Department to this opportunity, devils and demons ple decided at this time have rushed in bring- to cancel all Sunday ing disasters and ca- activities held at it’s 6 lamities.” (The Gosho temples in the United of Nichiren States. I ask for your Daishonin, vol.2, p. 3) understanding, coopera- tion, and patience in He teaches us that this matter. because people in the entire country commit I have received a slanders against the message from Overseas true law, the guardian Department Chief Rev. deities leave the coun- Urushibata pertaining try and the devils take to the current world- over in their stead, wide crisis of the pan- bringing calamities. demic coronavirus-19 Nichiren Daishonin disease. Let me share his message make, to cancel the Mushibarai-e states in Letter to the Brothers with you. Tozan. (Kyodai-Sho) as follows: “The Corona virus that broke out I’d like to ask for your under- “Without fail, devils will arise if in Wuhan City in China is rapidly standing and cooperation on this you preach this doctrine to others. If and widely spreading to the entire matter considering the seriousness these devils do not vie with one an- world, effortlessly crossing all bor- of our current situation. other to cause obstruction there is ders. The speed of its proliferation no way of knowing that this is the is bringing chaos and uncertainty to We will keep you informed about true doctrine.” (Gosho, p.986) the world. The Director General of upcoming Tozans and Ceremonies. the World Health Organization as- I’d like to let you know that person- True to these words, because we sessed on March 12th that the global al Tozan is still open and available are courageously carrying out Covid-19 outbreak was a pandemic. for all Hokkeko members world- shakubuku toward the 800th anni- In the same statement, he remarked wide. versary of the advent of Nichiren that this was a controllable pandem- Daishonin, “the devils are vying Nichiren Daishonin states at the ic. with one another to cause obstruc- beginning of the Rissho ankoku ron tion.” I strongly believe that the cur- Because of the Covid-19 out- (On Securing the Peace of the Land rent outbreak of Covid-19 world- break, this year’s spring Mushibarai through the Propagation of True wide is a temporary delay in the -e Ceremony (Airing of the Sacred Buddhism) as follows: advancement of kosen-rufu, and is Scrolls) officiated by the Head “In recent years there have been an omen that we will make a big Temple was not possible, nor the unusual occurrences in the heavens leap to the next stage of worldwide Gokaihi Ceremony (audience) with and natural disasters on earth. Fam- the Dai-Gohonzon. I can only imag- ine and epidemics rage in all lands (Continued on page 7)

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Reverend Takikawa’s Lecture Regarding the Coronavirus (continued) propagation. Nichiren Daishonin Please believe in the protective nent threat of covid-19 here in New encourages us: powers of the Dai-Gohonzon. I pray York. When we can open our Myo- that you will devote yourself to setsuji Temple, our wooden Joju- “When great evil occurs, great Shodai for the early resolution of Gohonzon once again, will be en- good will follow.” the pandemic in your respective shrined in the very beautiful altar (On Great Evil and Great Good, countries and the advancement of with new Buddhist accessories and Gosho, p.796) kosen-rufu, and for peace to pre- decorations, that is the manifesta- th vail.” tion and crystallization of your sin- The 800 anniversary of the ad- cere Gokuyo offering and spirit of vent of Nichiren Daishonin is close [Rev. Takikawa’s guidance:] strong Itai Doshin among Myoset- at hand. When we overcome this This is a message from Rev. Uru- suji Hokkeko members. I’m really tremendous obstacle of Covid-19; shibata to all Hokkeko members waiting to see this breathtaking mo- this remarkable and special com- worldwide. In his message he said ment when we can see the re- memorative occasion will be wait- enshrined wooden Joju- ing for us. Gohonzon again at Myosetsuji Now is the time for us to over- Temple when we have the Re- come all difficulties and strive opening Ceremony of the Tem- forth toward kosen-rufu. With ple. this in mind, and in the spirit of Let’s make sure that we can itai doshin between priesthood strongly maintain our spirit if Itai and laity, let’s devote ourselves to Doshin in this very difficult time both faith and practice. of the coronavirus spread. I be- High Priest, Nichinyo Shonin lieve our faith and practice is gave the following guidance on being tested. Actually we can use the occasion of the March Kosen- this coronavirus-spreading situa- rufu Shodai Ceremony: tion as a way and means to “Now is the time when, Japan strengthen our unity and our and the whole world is in total power of faith and practice. confusion due to the spread of the We must not use this situation Coronavirus. We must once again as an excuse to not practice revere Nichiren Daishonin’s sa- Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. cred intention of the Rissho anko- Rather, we must use this situa- ku-ron. We must devote ourselves tion as a way and means to to the spread of Myoho-Renge- strengthen our faith and our Itai Kyo based on the unity in the spirit our current situation of global covid Doshin. Devils and demons are hap- of itai doshin.” -19 outbreak, is a temporary delay py when they see people abandon- Dear Hokkeko members, I’m sure in the advancement of kosen-rufu, ing their faith in true Buddhism and you are aware of Nichiren Shoshu and is an omen that we will make a failing to attain enlightenment. We issuing a temporary hold on hosting big leap to the next stage of world- must not show those devils and de- meetings and other events to aid in wide propagation. I strongly agree mons any signs of letting up our the stopping of the spread of Covid- with his statement, and I believe faith and practice. Rather, we must 19. I’m hoping that while abiding that we should also believe that this make sure we maintain our strong by the current safety precautions is a great omen that we can make a faith and practice so we can over- big leap to the next step of world- come the obstructions caused by you look for ways to carry out shakubuku and help develop new wide propagation of Nichiren these demons and devils. Let’s con- members. I ask you to avoid activi- Daishonin’s Buddhism. tinue our best efforts to practice this Buddhism for us and for other peo- ties that will put yourself and others Especially for us, believers and ple’s happiness. Thank you very in danger. Please take action, but be Hokkeko members of Myosetsuji, much everyone for participating in mindful of keeping yourself healthy we are now eagerly awaiting for the this Sunday morning Gongyo today and safe for you and your family as opening of our renovated Myosetsu- at the Temple’s Residence. Thank well as your fellow members. ji Temple. This will definitely hap- you very much. pen after we overcome this immi- MYOSETSUJI NICHIREN SHOSHU MONTHLY Subscription Form

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