On behalf of our Myoshinji Hokkeko I want to welcome our new Assistant Priest Reverend Ryomyo Arima. We look forward to a long and enjoyable relationship. I am sure you will find the weather her in the Bay Area a little more pleasant that the weather in the Midwest.

    Also we want to thank Reverend Kimura for conducting this mornings Oko ceremony and for your always interesting sermon. And thank you Reverend Arima for you able assistance.

     We all are aware of the upcoming 4^th General Tozan in April in which we will have 100 Myoshinji members attending. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the members that signed up to attend this very special Tozan. I would also like to encourage all of you to really focus on the other very important Tozan coming up in 2009, the 750^th Anniversary of the Rissho Ankoku Ron, On Securing the Peace of the Land through the Propagation of True Buddhism. It seems like a long way away but I can assure you that it will be here before you know it. That means we have to start (or hopefully continue) to save for this very important Tozan. Reverend Kimura’s goal is to have every Myoshinji Hokkeko believer attend.

     Back on January 1, 2005 in my New Years Message I stated we had about four years or 1500 days before this special Tozan and encouraged everyone to start putting away $1.00 a day. Those of you that hopefully did that have already $436 in your jar. Those that haven’t started yet have a little catching up to do. Starting now it will take about $1.50 a day but still very doable.

     Tozan, or the pilgrimage to the Head Temple Taisekiji, is an essential practice in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. If you read in the Introduction to True Buddhism or in the Basics of Practice you will better understand the importance of this aspect of our practice.

      In Nichiren Daishonin’s time Tozan was the pilgrimage to visit the Daishonin and receive His guidance. Now, we make the pilgrimage to Taisekiji to see the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary, the very entity of His enlightened life, as the object of worship for all living beings in the Latter Day of the Law and also to see the current High Priest, who is the legitimate successor to Nichiren Daishonin. And as stated in the Basics of Practice, “Herein lies the true significance of Tozan in our time.”

      It goes on to say, “We recognize each successive High Priest as the single person who possesses the Lifeblood Heritage of the Law of True Buddhism and follow him as the True Master. We are able to manifest the immeasurable benefits of the Gohonzon by embracing the original principle of the relationship between Master and Disciple. This can be achieved by going on Tozan, deeply desiring to see the High Priest, and by praying to the Dai-Gohonzon together with him.”

      On this April Tozan we have the good fortune to be able to attend two Gokaihi Ceremonies, to worship the Dai-Gohonzon and do Gongyo with the High Priest.

     Tozan , (translates as “to climb the mountain.”) This translation indicates to me that we may encounter some difficulties going on Tozan whether it be financial, health or even timing but we must be willing to make any sacrifice necessary to carry out this very fundamental and important part of our practice as Nichiren Shoshu believers.

     Thank you for your kind attention.