Oko Sermon January 2009
Reverend Shogu Kimura
January 11, 2009
The Significance and Benefits Of the Tozan Pilgrimage
We have all welcomed the significant occasion of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron, and I am certain that believers around the world have embraced this New Year with great joy. Based on the directions of our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, we commenced this year with the Kick-off Ceremony on January 3rd, marking the beginning of the General Tozan Pilgrimage of 500,000 Believers. The Overseas Believers General Tozan Pilgrimages, which will take place on five occasions this year, and other scheduled tozans by Nichiren Shoshu believers are expected to consist of a total of 500,000 individuals. Therefore, this month, I would like to discuss the significance and benefits of going on tozan.
Needless to say, in Nichiren Shoshu, tozan refers to our visit to the Head Temple to have an audience with the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching, the very entity of our founder Nichiren Daishonin. The Daishonin states the following in the Gosho, “On the Three Great Secret Laws”:
When the principles of government come to accord with Buddhism and the spirit of Buddhism pervades secular affairs; when both ruler and the governed alike embrace the Three Secret Laws of true Buddhism; and when the circumstances of King Utoku and the monk Kakutoku are applied to future conditions in the evil confusion of the Latter Day of the Law, then, when imperial decree is delivered and handed down, seek out a supreme location comparable to the pure land of Eagle Peak and there erect the High Sanctuary. Simply wait for the proper time to come. This is the Actual High Sanctuary of true Buddhism. It is not only the Sanctuary of the Law where the people of the three nations [India, China, and Japan] and all of Jambudvipa will repent and eradicate their sins. It is also the High Sanctuary where the great Bonten, Taishaku and the like will descend from the heavens to visit. (“On the Three Great Secret Laws” [“Sandai hiho-sho”], Gosho, p. 1595)
Thus, Nichiren Daishonin instructed Nikko Shonin to enshrine the Dai-Gohonzon in the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching of true Buddhism. The successive High Priests have securely protected the Dai-Gohonzon to this day. Based on the great compassion of our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, we are allowed entry into the sanctuary to attend the Gokaihi Ceremony and worship the Dai-Gohonzon. The essential significance of the tozan pilgrimage is manifested when we participate in the Gokaihi Ceremony and pray for the expiation of our own negative karma; for the successful fulfillment of our sincere prayers in this and all future existences; and for the achievement of everlasting peace for all mankind through the propagation of true Buddhism.
The origin of tozan dates back to Nichiren Daishonin’s lifetime, when many individuals, such as Abutsu-bo and Nichimyo-ama, yearned to see the Daishonin and traveled long distances to seek an audience with him. We must learn the spirit of tozan from these predecessors, who traveled tremendous distances—thousands of ri (1 ri is 300 steps)—from Kamakura to Sado, and from Sado to Minobu. It is essential for us to maintain our determination to participate in tozan pilgrimages, and never lose our seeking spirit and yearning to see the Dai-Gohonzon.
Since 1991, all believers who wished to attend the Gokaihi Ceremony have been required to obtain a letter of introduction from their local temple or from the Overseas Department. This represented a return to the original practice set forth by Nichiren Shoshu. It is a means to reaffirm the formalities of practice, so that we can all uphold true Buddhism. The writing, On Formalities (Kegi-sho), teaches that Nichiren Shoshu believers must support their direct masters, who are the chief priests of their local temples, and offer their devotion to the major master, who is the High Priest. If we ever lose sight of this essential practice of our faith, we will ultimately lose our privilege to have an audience with the Dai-Gohonzon. I ask all of you who are assembled here today to etch this deeply into your hearts. Please offer encouragement to all fellow believers in the Hokkeko so that they correctly embrace this essential point and assiduously uphold their faith and practice.
Let me now focus on the benefits of going on a tozan pilgrimage. The sutra, “Observation of the Mind” (Shinjikan-kyo), contains the following story:
During the lifetime of Shakyamuni, the small province of Virudhaka was located at a great distance of 80 yojana (as much as 200 miles) to the northeast of Rajagriha. In this small province lived a wealthy man named Jnanaprabha. He was an old man, and he was terribly worried about his only son. One day he decided to travel with his entire family to visit Shakyamuni. Jnanaprabha and his family traveled a long way and finally arrived at Shakyamuni’s residence. Jnanaprabha pleaded with Shakyamuni, saying, “I have heard that you have been preaching about the importance of repaying the four debts of gratitude. I ask you to instruct my son, who has been undutiful to his parents.” Shakyamuni responded, “I commend you for having traveled all this way to seek the Law. When people aspire to attain enlightenment by seeking the Law and travel to do so, they can amass the same number of benefits as the number of dust particles that make up the surface of the road on which they traveled. You would not have traveled the great distance of 80 yojana unless you were extremely determined and devoted. I would like to respond to your sincere spirit and talk with you.” Shakyamuni then presented them with formal instruction in verse form on the repayment of the four debts of gratitude. (Taisho Tripitaka, 3-301, [Summarized])
Yojana was the unit of measure for distance used in ancient India. One yojana is described as the distance that an ox-drawn cart could travel in a day. It is also described as the distance that a royal procession is able to advance in one day. The number of dust particles that lie in the travel route in this story is incredibly huge.
Nichiren Daishonin wrote the following in his Gosho, “Letter to Oto-gozen’s Mother” (“Oto gozen haha gosho”):
Of the numerous disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, ten were considered to be his major disciples. Of these, Maudgalyayana was foremost in occult powers. Without getting a single hair out of place, he was able to travel all the areas touched by the rays of the sun and the moon under the four quarters of the heavens. Why was he able to do this? He acquired this power as a result of commuting 1,000 ri to listen to his teacher expound the doctrines of Buddhism. Moreover, there lived a man named Chang-an, who was a disciple of Tiantai. He traveled for 10,000 ri to listen to the Lotus Sutra. Dengyo journeyed 3,000 ri to learn about the Great Concentration and Insight (Maka shikan). Hsüan-tsang of the Tripitaka traveled for 200,000 ri to master the Wisdom Sutras (Hannya-kyo). The determination of these individuals is manifested in their willingness to travel great distances. (Gosho, p. 688)
The Daishonin teaches that Maudhalyayana’s occult powers were the benefit he received as a result of traveling a thousand ri in his past life, in his search of the true Way. He also praises Nichimyo-ama for her profound determination, when she traveled the treacherous route from Kamakura to Sado to have an audience with him. Therefore, the depth of one’s determination to challenge the most adverse difficulties to go on tozan will determine the amount of benefits that one can accumulate. For most of the Overseas Believers, the challenges they face are probably much greater than what Nichinyo-ama faced when she traveled from Kamakura to Sado. No success can ever be achieved if we give up before we even make the first attempt. We must elevate our life condition through chanting Daimoku and doing shakubuku.
Our High Priest gave us the following guidance on the occasion of the Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony last October:
The secret Law that can save all living beings in the Latter Day of the Law is none other than the supreme Law of the Three Great Secret Laws, the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching. We must sincerely hope that more people will take faith in the Dai-Gohonzon and receive the boundless benefits of the mystic Law, by transforming the three paths of earthly desires, karma, and suffering into the three virtues of the property of the Law, wisdom, and emancipation. It is the great mission of both priesthood and laity to put this wish into action, and carry through with our practice for the achievement of kosen-rufu throughout the world. This is the will of the Daishonin and is also our responsibility. (Dai Nichiren, November 2008, 45)
If we follow these directions and propagate the one and only true Law in this world, where slanderous evil and poison prevail, our life conditions will open and will be elevated without fail.
Even Maudgalyayana of the theoretical teaching, as a result of travelling 1,000 ri [for the sake of the Law], was able to acquire the benefit of occult powers that enabled him to transport himself at will, in his next life. However, the impressive powers of Maudgalyayana are absolutely no comparison to the tremendously magnificent power of the mystic Law (Myoho) that we are propagating today. Based on our powers of faith and practice, we can build a life condition in this lifetime in which we will be able to go on tozan whenever we desire.
Let us all challenge ourselves to accomplish our individual goals and assemble together in high spirits and good cheer. Let us pledge with one another to advance with great devotion in our respective regions, as we follow the directions of our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin and exert our utmost efforts to achieve true kosen-rufu.
I would like to conclude my first sermon of this year by praying that we will all congregate at the Head Temple.