May 2019
SACRED WORDS
This world of mine is peaceful. It is filled with gods and men. The gardens, forest and stately building are adorned with various treasurers; the jeweled trees have many flowers and fruits. The living beings are enjoying themselves. And the gods are beating heavenly drums making various kinds of music and raining mandarava-flowers on the great multitude and me.
Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra
聖語
我此土安穏 天人常充満 園林諸堂閣 種々宝荘厳 宝樹多華果 衆生所遊楽 常作衆伎楽 憂曼陀羅華 散佛及大衆
「妙法蓮華経寿量品」
MOUNT SACRED EAGLE
Rev. Shokai Kanai
It has been five months since I was installed as a head priest at Nichiren Sect Mission of Hawaii. I already held nine funeral services for the members of this temple. My task as a Nichiren Sect priest is to lead these souls to the spiritual realm where the Eternal Buddha and Saint Nichiren are preaching the Lotus Sutra in the past, present and future. It is called Mt. Sacred Eagle.
Where is this mountain? It is in India where Shakyamuni Buddha had revealed the Lotus Sutra during his last nine years before his death. Nichiren Dai’Shonin expounded the sutra at Mount Minobu for nine years before his Nirvana. The saint said that Mount Minobu might be equal value or more important than that sacred mountain in India. Therefore, many followers of Nichiren Buddhists had been, were, and will be buried or placed their urns at Kuonji Temple in Mount Minobu physically.
However, spiritually Mount Sacred Eagle is not only in India or Minobu, Japan. Please image how our temple altar is decorated and honored. A big stupa written “NA-MU-MYO-HO-REN-GE-KYO” sits on the center of the high altar. At both sides of the Odaimoku stupa two Buddha statues sit side by side. They are Shakyamuni (on your left side facing the statues) and Many Treasurers Buddha on the right. Nichiren Dai’Shonin sits in front of them at the center. The Mandala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms is enshrined behind the statues. The Gohonzon and the statues symbolize Mount Sacred Eagle. As the sacred words above described the altar of our temple adorned with golden ornaments hanging from the ceiling, as if many golden flower petals of mandalava raining down on the stage. Fruits, dry food, beautiful flowers are always offered at the altar. Priests play many musical instruments such as a gong, a bell, a mokushi for rhythm of chanting. The priests and congregation are enjoying themselves.
Thus, our temple must be Mount Sacred Eagle. When we hold services at the Betsuin, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Nichiren Dai’Shonin, deities, and your ancestors are gathered there and join us to recite the Lotus Sutra and O’Daimoku. Therefore, the place the souls come after their death is Mount Sacred Eagle, the Nichiren Mission of Hawaii. It is not heaven or Buddha-Land in the West. You may chant “Jigage,” the gatha of Chapter 16 at your home every morning and/or night. There are two places you read “Mt. Sacred Eagle,” please give attention to the words from now on. Although we cannot see the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Nichiren Shonin and your ancestors, they are with us just as you cannot see the electric waves of your cell phones, but when you punch in the numbers on the phone, you will be able to communicate with someone just as he or she is here.
Please remember this in your mind and chant the Sacred Words of the Lotus Sutra, O’Daimoku, at your home and temple. You always be protected by them. This is our faith.
霊 鷲 山
金井勝海
ハワイ日蓮宗別院の主任に就任してから、はや半年が経過しようとしています。すでに9人の方の葬儀を厳修しました。その方々の魂を確かに釈尊と日蓮大聖人が居られる霊鷲山に逝かれるようにするのがの私の役目です。
霊鷲山とはその昔、インドでお釈迦様が晩年８年間「妙法蓮華経」を説かれた小高い山で、今でも存在しています。日蓮大聖人は身延山で９年間法華経を後世の人々の為に説かれ「この身延山はインドの霊鷲山に勝るとも劣らぬ霊山である」と申されました。この所を「霊鷲浄土」と申します。
ですから、信仰熱心な方は遺骨を身延山に納骨される方が大勢おられます。しかし、精神面での「霊鷲浄土」は何も身延山に逝くというわけではありません。ハワイ日蓮宗別院のご宝前を目に浮かべて下さい。一塔両尊と申して真ん中に「南無妙法蓮華経」と書かれた塔があり、正面向かって左側は釈迦牟尼仏様、右側が多宝如来様、その手前正面には日蓮聖人様が鎮座されておられます。それらの仏像の背後には「十界曼荼羅ご本尊」が祀られています。この姿はお釈迦様が霊鷲山で法華経を説かれた様子を表わしています。
天井からは金箔の瓔珞が下がり曼荼羅華という花びらが空から注がれている様子を表現しており、内陣には太鼓や鐘や木しょう、木魚やその他の楽器があり、祭壇には美しい沢山の花や果物や乾物がお供えされています。読経中にはそこに諸仏・諸天善神やご先祖様がいつもお経を一緒に唱えに来られています。これは正に霊鷲山です。
私達が法事、彼岸、お盆法要等を行う時には、この場に諸仏・日蓮大聖人・諸菩薩・諸天・ご先祖様が皆いらしていつも一緒にお経を読み、お題目を唱えておられるのです。
ですから、日蓮宗のメンバーが死後逝かれる処は[霊鷲山]です。天国でも西方浄土ではありません。私たちと同じ所にご先祖様もおられるのです。ただ私共には見えないだけです。霊は電波のような存在です。電波はみえませんが、携帯電話をかけると電波が相手にに通じて話ができるようになります。ご家庭でもご本尊の前にぬかずき、ご先祖様の名前を読み、その場に来られるように祈り、お経を読み、お題目を唱えて下さい。
諸仏・日蓮聖人・ご先祖様がいつもお護りして下さっていると信じれば、救われます。