April 2022
SACRED WORDS
(Kegon Sutra says): When everyone is born, there are two heavenly divine messengers named, DOSHO and DOMYO TENS OR Gods of THE SAME BIRTH and SAME NAME with you. As your shadow always follows you, the two messengers will follow you at every moment. They take turns reporting all of your behavior, good or bad to the higher heavenly beings. Thus, your warm-hearted conducts are well known among the heavenly beings. I am very proud of you.
Nichiren "Dosho Domyo Gosho" at Ichinosawa, Sado
聖語
華厳経というお経に「全ての人が産まれる時には、同生同名という二人の天の使いがついていて、影がいつもついて回る如く、寸時も離れず、あなたの大罪・小罪・大功徳・小功徳も細大もらさず、かわるがわる天に昇って報告する」と釈尊が説かれておられます。あなた方のご厚志は諸天もすべてご承知のことですから頼もしく存じます。
日蓮『同生同名御書』於：佐渡一の谷
Guardian deity or SHUGO-JIN
Rev. Shokai Kanai
This month's Sacred Word is a letter addressed to the wife of Kingo Shijo, who sent her husband to visit their exiled master, Nichiren Dai’Shonin on Sado Island in April 1272. It was very difficult for everyone to believe in the Lotus Sutra during the Mappo Era, but the couple continued to have their strong faith towards Nichiren and supported him from the bottom of their hearts. The saint showed his appreciation to Kingo’s wife for sending her husband on a difficult journey to Sado Island. Because the heavenly beings know all of their behaviors, Nichiren encouraged them to continue their devotion to the Lotus Sutra and Odaimoku.
By the way, the United States was founded in part by the Puritans, who incorporated their omniscient and omnipotent God as the guardian deity of the nation. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance before we start an important event and praise God and the nation. With monotheism, God of the region and the individual is the same. However, Buddhism teaches the Law of Cause and Effect, that all things appear and disappear because of their conditions. There are many gods who protect our country, region, buildings, families, and individuals. In Nichiren sect, gods who protect the followers of the Lotus Sutra and the practitioners of the sutra are called SHUGO-JIN or guardian deities.
There are many Shugo-jin in Buddhism, but there are differences in power of protection such as low, middle, and high levels. There is also a superior level, too. In Chapter 26 of the Lotus Sutra the five guardian deities gave us dharani spells to the expounder of the Dharma to protect him or her. They are Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva, Vaisravana Heavenly King, World-Holding Heavenly-King, and Ten Rakasais with the Mother-Of-Devil (Kishimo-jin). All of them vowed to Sakyamuni Buddha to protect the good men or women who keep, read, or recited even a single gatha of the Lotus Sutra, understood the meaning of it or acted according to it.
In all Nichiren Missions of Hawaii and the Honolulu Myohoji, they enshrine Kishimo-jin and Deity Seisho-ko. Besides them, the Deity Daikoku and Deity Shichimen are also enshrined in the Hilo Nichiren Mission.
Well, who are your guardian deity besides DOSHO and DOMYO TEN? You do not need to know their names, but you are surely protected by your Shugo-jin day and night just like Mr. & Mrs. Kingo Shijo. Please realize that they and you are also blessed with the Source of the Universal Energy called “Myoho” 妙法 day and night.
All Nichiren Shu members often hold memorial services. Do you remember which ancestor took care of you the most? I believe these ancestors are also taking care of you from the spiritual realm. Show appreciation towards them, although you may never notice their presence just as you do not realize that your life is sustained by air (oxygen) and water.
守 護 神
金井勝海
上記の聖語は文永９年（１2７２年）４月に四条金吾が鎌倉から佐渡に流罪中の大聖人を訪れ、その折四条氏にたくして、夫人に送られたお手紙です。濁悪の末法に法華経を信仰する事は難事ですが、夫妻が心を併せて強盛の信心をつづけ、はるか佐渡ケ島
まで夫を遣はされた妻の志の厚きを感謝し、諸天善神様が貴女方を見守っておられるから尚一層の精進をするよう勧められています。
一般的には国家や地域や個人を護る神を守護神と言います。ピューリタンによって築きあげられたアメリカ合衆国の守護神は全知全能の神です。ですから、大事な行事を始める前には、必ず国歌を唄い神を讃えます。一神教ですから地域や個人の神も同じThe GODです。仏教は、全ての物は「縁により生じ、縁によって滅す」という因果応報の法則を説きますので、創造主としてのＧＯＤは信じませんが、私達の国や地域や建物や家族・個人を護る神々様の存在は信じています。また複数の神々がいますから、守護神も大勢います。日蓮宗では特に法華経と法華経信者を守護する諸天善神を守護神としています。
法華経陀羅尼品第２６に説かれている薬王菩薩・勇施菩薩・毘沙門天・持国天・鬼子母神・十羅刹女等の守護神が法華経を持ち・読み・諳んじ・理解し・写経し・南無妙法蓮華経と唱える者を守護し、安穏にすると誓願を立てておられます。ハワイ日蓮宗別院には鬼子母神と清正公様が祀られており、ヒロ・ミッションでは、大黒様・七面大明神様も祀られています。これらのご守護神にはそれぞれ役目が違い、下級・中級・上級の違いもあります。最上級のご守護神がおられます。皆様方には、宇宙の根源の恩恵（妙法）のお陰で生かされている事に気づいて頂きたいです。
さて、皆様のご守護神はどなたですか。あなたにもあなたと同じ誕生日であなたと同じ名前の同生同名天が毎朝晩お護りして下さっている事に感謝しましょう。それと、ご先祖様の中で、生前あなたを一番可愛がって下さっていた方はどなたですか。その方に今でも感謝していますか。その方は今でもあなたを見守っておられるのです。しかし、普段の私たちは空気や水のお陰で生かされている事に感謝する事を忘れています。それと同じように、ご先祖のご守護に感謝すると、守護の力がさらに強く感じるようになります。