Nichiren Shu News Published bythe Nichiren Shu Headquarters & Kaigai Fukyo Koenkai No. 164 February 1, 2008 1 New Year’s Greeting: ‘Let Us Chant the Odaimoku to Develop Buddha-nature’ seed in our minds? feel, even when you are By Archbishop Nichiji Sakai, Nichiren Shonin preaches in his asleep or awake, or Nichiren Shu Order letter written to Nun Myoho-ama, when you stand up or Happy New Year to you all! We “Say ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo’ and sit, you who practice the hope to keep our mind and body in your Buddha-nature will never fail to teaching of the Lotus good shape and to have vivid and come out.” Sutra should not stop cheerful days throughout the year. This is an important point. The chanting the sacred title, Venerable Rev. Taido Matsubara, Odaimoku, ‘Namu Myoho Renge ‘Namu Myoho Renge the President of the Namu Associa- Kyo,’ extracts the essence of the Lotus Kyo,’ at any moment. tion, who will be 101 years old this Sutra. Therefore, to chant ‘Namu By using this sacred year, says in his poem: Myoho Renge Kyo’ means to devote title as a weapon, you No matter who you are or no mat- all yourself to the Lotus Sutra, to take should chant ‘Namu ter who I am, in the essence of the Lotus Sutra. Myoho Renge Kyo,’ We are all the children of the Bud- ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo’ which sincerely wishing to see dha. Nichiren Shonin uttered is the assimi- the true aspect of the We all have the Enlightened One lation of himself into the title itself; in Lotus Sutra with your in our minds. short, Nichiren Shonin himself is own eyes.” Let us respect each other. ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.’ By chanting the Let us believe each other. Following the teaching of the sacred title, ‘Namu It means that all human beings Lotus Sutra, we chant ‘Namu Myoho Myoho Renge Kyo,’ I have beautiful seeds in them. Yet these Renge Kyo’ morning and evening. hope you all develop seeds will never germinate if there is That is the sunlight and nourishment Buddha-nature and no sun to warm them and no water to of water to cultivate our Buddha- deepen the self-aware- nourish them. Likewise, unless it is seeds. ness of being the true carefully nurtured, a seed of minds (a The Zen master Hakuin, who is aspect of human beings Buddha-seed) cannot develop itself, said to have restored the Rinzai Zen in throughout the year. and will turn into a waste of talent. Japan, tells us, “No matter how anx- (Trans. by Rev. Then, how can we grow a beautiful ious, painful, sad, or happy you may Sensho Komukai) Archbishop Nichiji Sakai Country,” trying to plant a Buddha- seed in people’s mind, though he had ‘The Saha World Is the Pure Land to go through a severe life. In his poem “Be not Defeated by the Rain . .” Kenji Miyazawa looked on a of the Original True Buddha’ blockhead as himself who would like to have a Bodhisattva life. Miyazawa, there was a scene in which Looking back on their careers, I By Archbishop Joshin Komatsu, Giovanni says, “I think we do not think both Nichiren and Kenji Chief Administrator, have to go to heaven. My teacher told Miyazawa were able to sense people’s Nichiren Shu Order me that we must make a better world sorrow and suffering much more Our “Rissho Ankoku-Odaimoku here than heaven.” We can sense a keenly than any other person. Kechien Campaign” earnestly started strong message of Nichiren Shonin in Our campaign, the goal of which is on April 1 last year. It is recommend- each word of Kenji Miyazawa, who to establish a peaceful land with ed that all Nichiren Buddhists should was a devotee of the Lotus Sutra. peaceful minds by respecting each pay homage to our Founder’s moun- “Here” mentioned by Giovanni is no other, largely depends on the efforts of tain, Minobusan. Induced by Nichiren other than where we live. “My Nichiren Buddhists. Each individual Buddhists, many non-Nichiren Bud- teacher” can be Sakyamuni Buddha or all over the world is asked to be a dhists visited Minobusan. I heard that Nichiren Shonin. devotee to the Lotus Sutra, who as a they are all delighted, having a joyful The Original Sakyamuni Buddha Bodhisattva from the soil or as a time. was, is and will be wishing to lead us “blockhead” can have a deep sympa- Ministers and lay devotees have all to Buddhahood, while Nichiren thy for all the joy, and pleasure, or sor- kept the mausoleum of Nichiren Sho- Shonin taught us that this Saha World row and suffering of others. nin as a sacred place where our where we all endure sufferings, is the (Trans. by Rev. Sensho Komukai) Founder’s spirit has resided for more Pure Land of the Original True Bud- than 700 years since it was established dha. according to his will. I am sure Mino- Archbishop Joshin Komatsu Accordingly, we find that the vow Events busan will remain as a holy mountain to make this world better than any December 2007–January 2008 where people feel at peace. Therefore, I can’t stop wishing that other world, which Kenji Miyazawa Dec. 8: Buddha’s Enlightenment Day We are so fortunate to follow the the world would be as sacred a place mentions through Giovanni, is equal Dec. 5–9: 3rd Sodorin Training Course right steps Nichiren Shonin showed us as Minobusan because I feel the to the one that Nichiren Shonin is at the Seichoji Temple, Chiba, and to have an opportunity to chant atmosphere of Minobusan, where I wishing to build in this world by attended by 27 shamis, including four the Odaimoku, ‘Namu Myoho Renge hear ‘Namu Myoho Renge Kyo’ establishing righteousness, that is, to from overseas in preparation for the Shingyo Dojo Kyo,’ that we know how precious it is chanted constantly, is really valuable. set up a peaceful Buddha-land always Jan. l: Memorial Day Service for Nichiji to have faith in him and how delight- As we try to promote the “Rissho full of heavenly and human beings. Shonin ful it is to have a wonderful life. Turn- Ankoku-Odaimoku Kechien Cam- Following the way of Never- Jan. 13: Otoko-e, New Year’s event on ing to the world, however, we find it paign” worldwide, let me briefly Despising Bodhisattva, who only Minobusan to offer greetings to our covered with miserable and depress- explain the attitude we Nichiren Bud- bows and praises anybody, Nichiren Founder ing events. Under such a stressful con- dhists should take. Shonin submitted to the military gov- Jan. 21: Memorial Day Service for Nichi- ro Shonin dition people today are tired of living In a famous novel, “Night on the ernment his “Essay to Establish Right- by Rev. Tsuoh Yokoi and at a loss for what they should be. Galactic Railroad” written by Kenji eousness to Secure the Peace of Our 2 No.164, February 1, 2008 Nichiren Shu News He must have thought what human beings were, and whether it was good The Life of Sakyamuni Buddha (3) or not that He had been living in com- fort in order to save old people, sick By Rev. Shinkai Oikawa, Litt. D. people, dead people and people with problems living in the towns. Such 5. Studies in the olden times were This is true, too. thoughts may have driven Him to run 5. to learn by heart An example is a sutra in the “Shin- away from home. This is the starting Although Sakyamuni liked to kokuyaku-daizo-kyo (The New Japan- point of religion. escape from such a chaotic world, He ese Translation of the Entire Buddhist Nevertheless, it is a drastic decision could not avoid practicing such martial Scriptures)” which I translated. There for anyone to become a priest by dis- arts as archery and wrestling. Of course is no latter half of the sutra. It is written carding his family. Sakyamuni made He studied, too. As for studies, they on its last page, “I cannot remember such a drastic decision at the age of 29. had neither letters nor written sutras in any more.” And then it is written, Up until then Sakyamuni wore showy those days. Therefore, all they had to “People will come one after another to clothes, had three palaces to live in for do for studies was to learn by heart, bring the same sutra as this one after summer, winter and the rainy season, namely stuffing their heads with me. Please add to this, then.” In other and got away with doing everything in knowledge. words, it is said, “I brought the sutra in His own way with ladies in attendance Letters appeared in the times of my memory.” around Him. And we can guess He had Emperor Asoka, around 300 B.C. We Rev. Shinkai Oikawa Human brains are as excellent as three wives, including well-known know this because there exist the rock this example. They are wonderful. For Yasodhara.- He led such a happy life. edicts of Asoka that are a collection of the disaster at all. example, a pianist plays the piano with- Everything got changed one day sud- inscriptions carved in a natural rock Only people who are alive can learn out a musical score. We easily wonder denly. face. There still remain seventeen or something by heart. Almost all died how a pianist can play in this way. But Sakyamuni left his palaces on the eighteen such edicts in India.