Contents
The Pure Stream of the Law for more than 750 years
Nichiren Shoshu was founded on April 28, 1253 when Nichiren Daishonin declared the establishmer he teaching of “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Following his declaration, despite encounterin and enduring countless persecutions, he propagate Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the essence of the Lotu Sutra. On October 12, 1279, he inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essentia Teaching, the fundamental object of worship for faith and practice. After that, in 1282, he selected Nikko Shonin as the Second High Priest and transmitted the entirety of the Law to him. On October 13 of the same year, he passed away at the age of 61.
After his demise, Hakiri’i Sanenaga, the feudal lord of Minobu, continuously performed slanderous acts against true Buddhism. In the spring of 1289, Nikko Shonin, accompanied by his disciples, left Mt. Minobu with all the sacred treasures, including the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching. In October of 1290, Nikko Shonin established Taisekiji Temple at Fuji Ueno with the aid and contributions of Lord Nanjō Tokimitsu.
Since then, for more than 700 years, Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism has been correctly transmitted at Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji.
The Road to True Happiness
It is not easy for people to find solutions when they search for ways to solve and overcome suffering, sadness and difficulties. Buddhism reveals the fundamental solution to the major sufferings that everyone encounters in life, such as birth, aging, sickness, and death. Buddhism teaches that no one can obtain true happiness without resolving these sufferings.
We are able to achieve true happiness when we develop a powerful and stable state of life, gain profound wisdom, and maintain a strong mind and spirit through upholding true faith and practice, based on the teaching of cause and effect.
True happiness is the achievement of tranquility in our life that is unshakable.
The Teaching of Nichiren Daishonin
Approximately 3,000 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha preached the Buddhist teachings, in order to relieve the people of their sufferings. He taught for 50 years.
During the last eight years of his preaching, he revealed the Lotus Sutra as the true purpose of his advent.
Just as the Lotus Sutra predicted, 2,000 years after Nichiren Daishonin Shakyamuni Buddha’s passing, made his advent as the True Buddha, in order to save all living beings in the Latter Day of Law when the power and benefit of Shakyamuni’s teachings were lost.
Nichiren Daishonin manifested the essence of the Lotus Sutra as the Gohonzon (mandala) and expounded that chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” enables any person to reach and attain Buddhahood.based on the teaching of cause and effect.
True happiness is the achievement of tranquility in our life that is unshakable.
The Practice of Faith in Nichiren Shoshu
Nichiren Daishonin expounded three significant points in carrying out the teaching of true Buddhism: faith, practice, and study.
1. Faith signifies absolute faith in the Gohonzon.
2. Practice is the actual practice to uphold one’s faith.
3. Study means to correctly study the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin.
There are two aspects to the practice of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, which are practice for oneself, such as chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, and practice for the sake of others, which is to tell others of the great power of this Buddhism.
Through carrying out the actual practice, based on faith, practice, and study with the true Gohonzon, not only will the personal happiness of the believer be manifested, but also the purification of the society can be achieved.
Significance of the temples
There are over 700 temples, including the Head Temple Taisekiji and the local temples in Japan and overseas that belong to Nichiren Shoshu. All the temples carry the significance of properly protecting, transmitting, and propagating Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism in each region.
The temples possess the three treasures of the Buddha, the Law and the priesthood and provide the place to practice for both priests and lay believers. They have the important role of teaching and leading the believers on the true path to attain Buddhahood. Various Buddhist ceremonies and activities are available to those who visit the temple, such as conducting memorial ceremonies for the members’ ancestors.
It is important for those who practice Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism to attend the Nichiren Shoshu temples regularly, in order to listen to the true teaching and strengthen their faith.
Hokkeko
The organization of Nichiren Shoshu lay believers who correctly practice Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is called the “Hokkeko.”
Nichiren Daishonin, himself, gave the name “Hokkeko” to the lay believers.
As members of the Hokkeko, the believers make efforts, day and night, to accumulate good fortune and positively influence society. They visit their local temples, where they deepen their faith through listening to the priest’s sermons, sharing encouraging experiences with their fellow members, and carrying out various activities in faith and practice.
