{"id":257,"date":"2016-07-04T23:40:10","date_gmt":"2016-07-04T23:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/?p=257"},"modified":"2017-07-23T08:52:20","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T08:52:20","slug":"guidance-from-sixty-eighth-high-priest-nichinyo-shonin-july-1-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/en\/2016\/07\/04\/guidance-from-sixty-eighth-high-priest-nichinyo-shonin-july-1-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"July 1, 2016, High Priest Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

On the Occasion of the Sh\u014ddai Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

 <\/p>\n

Good morning, everyone!\u00a0 As we do every year at the Head Temple, a daily one-hour Sh\u014ddai Ceremony will be conducted starting from today throughout the month of July. \u00a0As a general rule, the one-hour Sh\u014ddai Ceremony will be conducted from 8 AM to 9 AM. \u00a0However, on the 7th, 13th, and 15th, it will commence at 9AM, after the 7 AM Ok\u014d Ceremony has been conducted at the Mieid\u014d. \u00a0For those who are planning to participate in the Sh\u014ddai Ceremony, please take note of this schedule.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today, Nichiren Shoshu is advancing, with unity between the priesthood and laity, based on the spirit of itai d\u014dshin<\/em>, as we aim toward our goal\u2014to achieve a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021, the 800th Anniversary of the Advent of our Founder, Nichiren Daishonin. \u00a0I trust that all of you are working diligently more than ever, day and night, for the achievement of your goals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, Reply to Sairen-bo\u0304\u00a0<\/em>(Sairen bo\u0304-gohenji):<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You must neither discard your faith nor dishonestly live your lives. \u00a0If you devote your life completely to the Lotus Sutra and practice precisely as stated in the golden words of the Buddha, you will, without fail, enjoy a long and healthy life, unaffected by misfortunes and illnesses. \u00a0You will achieve the ultimate, supreme effect not only in your future lifetimes, but also in your current lives. \u00a0Moreover, you will be able to attain the great aspiration of ko\u0304sen-rufu. (Gosho<\/em>, p. 642)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDiscard one\u2019s faith\u201d in this Gosho passage refers to a person abandoning one\u2019s Buddhist practice and backsliding in faith. \u00a0In other words, it means one is not making any progress. \u00a0The antonym of \u201cdiscarding one\u2019s faith\u201d is \u201cunwavering resolve.\u201d \u00a0This indicates that one\u2019s benefits and good causes will increase during the course of one\u2019s Buddhist practice. And, these benefits will never be lost.\u00a0 \u201cDishonestly live your lives\u201d means that one is being sycophantic. \u00a0One pretends to treat other people with respect and behaves in a deceptive manner.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Daishonin teaches that we should devote ourselves to the practice for oneself and others, based on pure-hearted faith, entrusting our lives to the Dai-Gohonzon. \u00a0Then, our life-span will be extended not only in the next lifetime, but also in this lifetime. \u00a0We will be able to obtain an unshakable, supreme life condition and lead a happy life. \u00a0Thus, our great aspiration of k\u014dsen-rufu will be achieved without fail.<\/p>\n

Therefore, we must take these golden words to heart and be convinced that not only our own happiness, but the happiness of many people around the world and the peace of the land only can be achieved through the secret Law that can save all living beings. \u00a0This secret Law is the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha in the Latter Day of the Law. \u00a0What is most essential now is for the members of each chapter to unite, based on this solid faith, and courageously conduct shakubuku\u2014refuting heresy and revealing the truth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra\u00a0<\/em>(Jimyo\u0304 hokke mondo\u0304-sho\u0304):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I believe that embracing Myoho-Renge-Kyo, which ensures \u201cpeace and security in this lifetime and good circumstances in the next,\u201d is the only honor to pursue in this lifetime and is the guide to maintain enlightenment in the future. \u00a0Single-mindedly chant Nam- Myoho-Renge-Kyo and encourage others to do the same. \u00a0This will remain as your only memory from this present, human life. (Gosho<\/em>, p. 300)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We must deeply revere these golden words.\u00a0 And now, the members of each chapter must make concerted efforts and powerfully move forward, overcoming innumerable difficulties, as we aim toward our goal of achieving a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the Gosho, Opening of the Eyes\u00a0<\/em>(Kaimoku-sho\u0304), the Daishonin teaches as follows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Although I, Nichiren, and my disciples may face various difficulties, we will naturally reach the world of Buddhahood, as long as we do not harbor doubts. \u00a0Do not doubt that the heavens will protect you. \u00a0Do not be discouraged because your life is not easy and secure in this lifetime.<\/p>\n

(Gosho<\/em>, p. 574)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our challenge of achieving a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers certainly will not be easy. \u00a0As the saying goes, \u201cHappy events tend to be accompanied by problems.\u201d \u00a0I believe that if all of us steadfastly chant Daimoku and devote ourselves to do shakubuku, based on the benefits, joy, and courage from chanting Daimoku, the guardian deities will protect us. \u00a0Then, our goals will be achieved without fail. \u00a0This is exactly what the Gosho passage says: \u201c[Although I, Nichiren, and my disciples] may face various difficulties, we will naturally reach the world of Buddhahood, as long as we do not harbor doubts.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I sincerely wish for your continued hard work and success more than ever.<\/p>\n

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

Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the Sh\u014ddai Ceremony July 1, 2016 Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji   Good morning, everyone!\u00a0 As we do every year at the Head Temple, a daily one-hour Sh\u014ddai Ceremony<\/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-257","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\/257","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=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":799,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions\/799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.senmyozanhokkejitemple.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}