Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the Kick-off Ceremony to Commemorate the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Risshu Ankoku-ron
January 3, 2009
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
On the occasion of this Kick-off Ceremony to commemorate the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron, I am graced with the presence of the Honorable Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin today. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Honorable Retired High Priest for his attendance.
It has been seven years since the Honorable Retired High Priest presented us, in 2002, with the goals of “Doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “Gathering at the Great Assembly.” This is the year to complete these goals.
Marking this significant year of completion, both Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity must devote all their energy toward achieving these objectives, no matter what, so that we can repay our debt of gratitude and formally report the results to Nichiren Daishonin, as well as to the Honorable Retired High Priest who gave us these goals.
In particular, the “General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers” is the greatest assembly that has ever taken place. It is the greatest assembly of the century. The most devoted Hokkeko believers will gather here at the Head Temple where the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching is enshrined.
The “most devoted believers” refer to the selected warriors. They are the Hokkeko believers with a strong sense of mission for kosen-rufu who are devoting themselves to propagate the true Law at the cost of their lives, aiming for the fulfillment of the aspiration of kosen-rufu throughout the entire world. They are, so to speak, the “soldiers” of kosen-rufu. All of the selected 75,000 Hokkeko believers who will come together at the Great Assembly are the persons of talent who are central to future kosen-rufu activities.
In other words, the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers carries the significance of showing the results of the practice over the past seven years. It is, at the same time, the Commencement Ceremony for the further advancement of kosen-rufu in the future, as well as the great Kick-off Ceremony of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, who will create a new history of kosen-rufu.
Thus, with the Great Assembly soon to take place, every chapter must thoroughly promote a stronger organization, going beyond using only the current active members. Human resources must be developed, persons of excellent talent must be brought forth, and such talent must be cultivated, as the line-up of newly selected believers is organized before attending the Great Assembly. I believe there should be many persons with hidden talent in each chapter.
If each chapter boldly promotes this movement toward the assembly of the selected 75,000 believers, new people of talent will be brought forth and the faith of each believer will be polished. Furthermore, the entire organization will be revitalized, creating a lively atmosphere for everyone. The unity of itai doshin (many in body, one in mind) will be strengthened, resulting in the establishment of a robust organization for kosen-rufu that is utterly unmoved by any obstacle or difficulty.
The Daishonin teaches in “Supreme Leader of the World” (“Shijo kingo dono-gohenji”):
Untempered iron quickly melts in a blazing fire, like ice put in hot water. But a sword, even when exposed to a great fire, withstands the heat for a while, because it has been well forged. (Gosho, p. 1179; MW-3, p. 238)
A sword that was repeatedly exposed to fire while being forged withstands some fire, just like a tempered Japanese sword. An untempered one, however, will instantly melt in fire. Such an untempered sword is useless in actual practice.
Building a strong organization with individuals who are willing to risk their lives for kosen-rufu, based on indomitable faith, requires polishing one’s own faith. Thus, the General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 selected believers is the best opportunity to bring forth and cultivate the persons of talent who will become the core members of kosen-rufu activities in the future.
If the most devoted 75,000 believers who gather at the General Meeting stand up for the propagation of the true Law and courageously move forward to carry out shakubuku, this will further extend the shakubuku activities throughout Japan and the entire world. Such a large movement can change the world significantly toward the realization of the ideal land described in the Rissho ankoku-ron.
In order to achieve this, we must first carry out a completely successful General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 selected believers. I hope each chapter will dedicate all its strength to accomplish this goal. This also applies to the Commemorative General Tozan of 500,000 believers.
The golden words of the Daishonin teach:
A bird that approaches Mount Sumeru will shine with a golden hue. (Gosho, p. 1054)
As the Daishonin indicates in this Gosho passage, the benefits of making a pilgrimage to the supreme place, the Head Temple where the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching dwells, are immeasurable. We must never doubt that our negative karma from the infinite past will be eradicated and we can transform the three paths into the three virtues of the property of the Law, wisdom, and emancipation. Therefore, it is essential that everyone in each chapter calls one another and cooperates together in the Buddhist practice, irrespective of age and gender.
On one occasion, the Honorable Retired High Priest instructed that the purpose of the chapter tozan is to build the strength of the organization. Therefore, just like the promotion of the General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers, what you will gain through promoting the chapter tozan is of inestimable value.
Such merit will prominently manifest in each individual, as well as in each organization. It will also become evident in one’s faith and daily life. What is cultivated through promoting a strong organization will become a great engine for the further advancement of future kosen-rufu. This power will show when one tries to lead those who slander the true teaching to the correct path.
Accordingly, it is of primary importance for both Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity to first complete the accomplishment of the Commemorative General Tozan, including the General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers. With the momentum of this success, together with the merits and the joy we experience, we must aim toward the great aspiration of kosen-rufu and expand our great shakubuku practice in high spirits.
When we see the world in chaos, a worldwide economic recession, and the current condition where global-scale wars can happen at any time, we must realize that the only way we can rescue the people from these distressed conditions is with the Three Great Secret Laws of Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.
The Daishonin teaches in “The Selection of the Time” (“Senji-sho”):
Little streams come together to form the great ocean, and tiny particles of dust accumulate to form Mount Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, first took faith in the Lotus Sutra, I was like a single drop of water or a single particle of dust in all the country of Japan. But later, when two people, three people, ten people, and eventually ten thousand billion people, come to recite the Lotus Sutra and transmit it to others, then they will form a Mount Sumeru of the final stage of enlightenment, a great ocean of nirvana! Seek no other path by which to attain Buddhahood! (Gosho, p. 868; MW-3, p. 172)
In order to build happiness, one must begin the journey of a thousand miles with a single step.
The Honorable Retired High Priest has further instructed that “each member should shakubuku one person each year.” Shakubuku is action before theory. As the golden words teach, if each individual feels the mission for kosen-rufu and earnestly practices shakubuku, and then two people, three people, ten people and ten thousand billion people follow, joining and practicing together, the dream of the great aspiration of the propagation of true Buddhism can actually come true.
The supreme way to lead everyone in the entire world to true happiness is shakubuku. Doing shakubuku is not only beneficial to the society. It will also lead oneself and others to enlightenment. Moreover, as the principle of the oneness of life and its environment shows, the realm of the environment will also be secured.
The act of shakubuku can lead oneself to true happiness, and establish the happiness of all mankind and world peace. Thus, at this very moment when the world is in extreme chaos due to the poison of slandering the true teaching, the most important thing for us to do is shakubuku. The specific method of practice to realize the ideal world described in the Rissho ankoku-ron is shakubuku.
I sincerely wish from the bottom of my heart that this year, we will successfully carry out the General Meeting of the Great Assembly of 75,000 believers and accomplish the Commemorative General Tozan in high spirits. Then, with forward momentum, we will advance together in our great shakubuku practice, with every chapter achieving its shakubuku goal.
Fortunately, last year, many chapters achieved their shakubuku goals with great vigor. I sincerely pray that this year too, each chapter will certainly achieve its goals through the united efforts of priesthood and laity based on itai doshin (many in body, one in mind). With this, I would like to conclude my address for today.