Address of James Huseth, Koto
Oko Message July 13, 2008
On behalf of our Myoshinji Hokkeko members I want to thank you Reverend Kimura for conducting this mornings Oko Ceremony and for your inspiring message and guidance. We also want to thank Reverend Arima for assisting this morning.
Last Sunday Reverend Kimura talked a little about the opening ceremony for the Nichiren Shoshu Vancouver Buddhist Center. I had the opportunity and good fortune to be able to attend along with my wife. Also attending from Myoshinji Hokkeko was our Vice Koto David Murphy, two of our Kanji, John & Rie Bennett, our Young Adults Division Chief Vincent Chang, who by the way was the official photographer for the ceremony. Also attending was Marisa deLeon-Perez, a member from San Mateo and several members from the Seattle / Tacoma area.
It was a very eye opening experience to see the joy and satisfaction on all the Canadian members who have worked so long and hard to finally realize their dream. Their great effort goes back to the early days when Reverend Takahashi was able to establish Hokkeko Canada in 1991 and with continuous support from Reverend Shiba and of course Reverend Kimura, who actually did much of the leg work once they were officially authorized to proceed. It was about a two year ordeal for him involving many trips in just selecting the ultimate location and then overseeing the renovation and remodeling of center.
Along with the Opening Ceremony and the inauguration of their new Chief Priest Reverend Shobo Hagiwara, there was the Enshrinement Ceremony for the Joju Gohonzon inscribed by our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin. A very beautiful Gohonzon. One of the most interesting and memorable parts of the ceremony was the address from Reverend Gyoyu Urushibata, Chief of Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Department and I would like to share just a portion of it with you. After he gave his congratulatory and introduction portion of his message he went on to say: “Nichiren Daishonin mentions in the Gosho, ‘How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra,’
“Three things are required--a good teacher, a good believer, and a good doctrine--before the prayers can be effective and disasters banished from the land.” (Gosho, p 1314; MWND-6, pp 192-193)
“Generally, the “good teacher” is 68th High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, who received the correct Heritage of the Law from Nichiren Daishonin and the successive High Priests. But we also say that it is Reverend Hagiwara, who has been appointed as Chief Priest of the Vancouver Buddhist Center by High Priest Nichinyo Shonin.” So for us here at Myoshinji Temple we of course can fill in, (Reverend Kimura), who was appointed as Chief Priest of Myoshinji Temple by Retired Honorable High Priest Nikken Shonin.
Reverend Urushibata goes on to say; “The good believer is each one of you here today, devoting yourselves for the protection of the True Law and Temple, as well as for spreading the Buddha’s teachings in Canada.” Again, I think we can respectfully insert ourselves in his message as devoting ourselves for the protection of the True Law and Temple, as well as spreading the Buddha’s teachings in northwestern United States.
And lastly he states; “The ‘good doctrine’ is the Dai-Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws inscribed by Nichiren Daishonin, whose inner realization transcribed by the High Priest is enshrined here at the Vancouver Buddhist Center. Furthermore, it is the Gohonzon enshrined in each of your homes.”
I think for us here we can safely insert (Myoshinji Temple) where we also have the Joju Gohonzon enshrined. Of course there was more to his address including more words of encouragement for the members and their new chief priest. But when Reverend Urushibata was talking about the three essentials, (a good teacher, a good believer and a good doctrine,) which are required to attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra, I couldn’t help think of how fortunate we have been all these years having the essential requirements right here. I’m sure all of you here today feel the same way so I would like to close by asking all of you to continue to encourage other members of the benefits of attending temple services and being close to our chief priest and keep learning from him the truth of this wonderful Buddhist practice. Our proximity to the temple is one of our great benefits and we should take advantage of it as often as we can and not waste this valuable and precious opportunity. Thank you for your kind attention. James Huseth, Koto