{"id":244,"date":"2016-01-04T23:25:12","date_gmt":"2016-01-04T23:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/?p=244"},"modified":"2017-07-23T08:51:26","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T08:51:26","slug":"guidance-from-sixty-eighth-high-priest-nichinyo-shonin-january-1-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/en\/2016\/01\/04\/guidance-from-sixty-eighth-high-priest-nichinyo-shonin-january-1-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"January 1, 2016, High Priest Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the Occasion of the January K\u014dsen-rufu Sh\u014ddai Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

January 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the beginning of the year of the 764th anniversary of the establishment of true Buddhism, \u201cThe Year of Advancing Further in our Shakubuku Activities,\u201d I wish you a Happy New Year!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I believe that the Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity both have welcomed \u201cThe Year of Advancing Further in our Shakubuku Activities\u201d feeling refreshed, and have renewed their pledge to make further efforts in their practice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As you know, on March 7 and 8 of last year, Nichiren Shoshu solemnly conducted the Grand Ceremony Celebrating the 770th Anniversary of the Birth of the Second High Priest Nikko Shonin with representatives of the priesthood and laity in attendance. \u00a0Subsequently, over a ten-day period from March 22 to March 31, the commemorative ceremonies, as well as the commemorative general meeting celebrating the achievement of our goal of increasing the membership of all Hokkeko chapters by 50 percent were solemnly and splendidly conducted, attended by priests and lay believers of the Hokkeko chapters throughout the country. \u00a0This achievement solely was due to the efforts of the members of all Hokkeko chapters throughout the nation. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for your dedication.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This year is \u201cThe Year of Advancing Further in our Shakubuku Activities.\u201d Referring to a dictionary, \u201cadvancement\u201d means \u201cto go forward with powerful momentum, or to make dramatic progress and development.\u201d \u00a0In other words, this is an important year where the members of each chapter, aiming toward the goal of establishing a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021, must devote themselves to their shakubuku activities. \u00a0They must overcome any hardship or obstacle that may arise based on their firm faith, and then make major breakthroughs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In order to achieve this, it is essential that the members of each chapter make concerted efforts in the spirit of itai d<\/em>\u014d<\/em>shin<\/em> and courageously advance in their shakubuku activities with full participation. \u00a0The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, On the Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death <\/em>(Sho\u0304ji ichidaiji kechimyaku-sho\u0304):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All disciples and believers of Nichiren should chant Nam-Myoho- Renge-Kyo with the spirit of many in body, one in mind, overcoming all differences among themselves, just like fish being inseparable from the water in which they swim. \u00a0This is called the heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death. \u00a0This is also what Nichiren is trying to propagate now in the Latter Day of the Law. \u00a0When you are so united, even the great aspiration for ko\u0304sen-rufu can be fulfilled without fail. (Gosho<\/em>, p. 514)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Furthermore, in the Gosho, Many in Body, One in Mind<\/em> (Itai do\u0304shin ji), the Daishonin teaches:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[When Ho\u0304ki-bo\u0304,\u00a0Sado-bo\u0304\u00a0<\/strong>and others, as well as the Atsuwara believers are united] with the spirit of many in body, one in mind, they will achieve everything, whereas, in the case of one in body, many in mind, they will not accomplish anything. \u00a0This has been proven in more than 3,000 volumes of Chinese non-Buddhist literature. \u00a0For example, there was a battle between King Zhou of Yin with his 700,000 soldiers and King Wu of Zhou with his 800. \u00a0King Zhou was defeated due to disunity, whereas King Wu won because of unity. \u00a0An individual at odds with himself will not achieve anything, because his heart is not dedicated to a single purpose. \u00a0Even if there are 100 or 1,000 people, if they are united with one heart, they can definitely accomplish anything. (Gosho<\/em>, p. 1389)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As these passages teach, it is obvious that the challenge of ko\u0304sen-rufu can never be achieved without unity in the spirit of itai d<\/em>\u014d<\/em>shin<\/em>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Chinese fable says, \u201cTimely opportunities graciously granted by heaven are not equal to the advantages of favorable circumstances afforded by the earth, and favorable circumstances afforded by the earth are not equal to the union arising from the accord of men.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As we aim toward the goal of establishing a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers, the key to success is for all members of each chapter to unite and courageously conduct shakubuku in the spirit of itai d<\/em>\u014d<\/em>shin<\/em>. \u00a0A lack of solidarity based on the spirit of itai d<\/em>\u014d<\/em>shin<\/em> will create a gap among the members and will cause various obstacles to develop. \u00a0The three obstacles and four devils will vie with one another and disrupt the unity of the Hokkeko chapter. \u00a0This will hinder the achievement of our goal.\u00a0 Thus, it is taught in the Gosho, Letter to Ben-ko\u0304 Nissho\u0304 <\/em>(Ben dono-gosho\u0304soku):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Although I have been praying emphatically with all my might, there has been no sign of proof up to now. \u00a0This indicates to me that some of you have discarded your faith. (Gosh<\/em>o, p. 998)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even if one prays so earnestly that he racks his brain, receiving no sign of proof signifies that some of us have the mind of many in body, many in mind. \u00a0It is crucial for each one of us to remember these golden words concerning the spirit of many in body, one in mind and make concerted efforts to do shakubuku with one mind. \u00a0However, the spirit of many in body, one in mind does not mean simply that the Hokkeko members get along well with each other. \u00a0It means that all members will entrust their mind to the Gohonzon and devote themselves to their practice, directly focusing on the achievement of ko\u0304sen-rufu. \u00a0We must understand this point completely.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If we aim toward the achievement of our noble mission of achieving ko\u0304sen-rufu, and dedicate ourselves to conducting shakubuku together with our fellow members with the same mind, then we can gain the true spirit of many in body, one in mind. \u00a0If all of you uphold the spirit of many in body, one in mind, you will be able to achieve your goals without fail, and your accomplishments will be witnessed by the Dai-Gohonzon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I sincerely pray that you will keep this in mind and make further efforts in your practice with the determination to achieve your goal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the January K\u014dsen-rufu Sh\u014ddai Ceremony January 1, 2016 Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji   At the beginning of the year of the 764th anniversary of the establishment of true<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[37,35],"class_list":["post-244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guidance","tag-2016-guidance","tag-high-priest"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":805,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions\/805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}