What Does It Mean to Become a Buddha

December 2020

SACRED WORDS

If after my extinction anyone rejoices, even on a moment’s thought, at hearing even a gatha or a phrase of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, I also will assure him of his future attainment of Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (Enlightenment).

Chapter Ten of the Lotus Sutra

聖語

如来の滅度の後に、もし妙法蓮華経の一偈一句を聞き、また一念でも随喜する者には成仏の保証を与え授けましょう。

『妙法蓮華経法師品第十』意訳

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A BUDDHA?

Rev. Shokai Kanai

About 2,500 years ago in northern India, Prince Siddhartha Gautama of the Kapilavastu Kingdom renounced his princehood and left his palace as a seeker for the Universal Truth for liberation from his own mental unrest.

After six years of ascetic practice, when the morning star appeared in the eastern sky on December 8th, the prince finally attained Enlightenment and became a Buddha. All Buddhists cerebrate this happy occasion as Bodhi Day!

At Nichiren Mission of Hawaii we celebrate this occasion on Sunday December 13th by placing branches from a real Bodhi tree and place an image of Buddha under the branches. We then offer candlelight to signify Buddha’s Awakening. Please witness this happy occasion via online or attend in person while adhering to social distancing and by wearing a mask.

Now, what does it mean to become a Buddha for us? During a funeral service I offer a Buddhist Name to the deceased person. When one dies, the soul leaves the body. Did the soul of the deceased become a Buddha? Most likely, yes. Because the soul has no physical body, it should be free from any suffering. The soul must realize that without a physical form, it has no further need for attachments to worldly matters and aim to let go of any lingering attachments. Eventually the soul will understand what “reality of all things” are just like Buddha. Buddha has no attachments, so he has no sufferings and thus is free like the wind.

In the early chapters of the Lotus Sutra, Sakyamuni Buddha gave Buddha names to his ten disciples one after another. It says that the names are assurance for them in becoming Buddhas after many, many kalpas in their future.

According to Chapter 10 of the Lotus Sutra, if we rejoice to hear a word or a phrase of this sutra, the Buddha gives us assurance in becoming Buddhas. “If anyone keeps, reads, recites, expounds, and copies even a gatha or a phrase of this sutra … offers flowers, incense… or just joins his hands together respectfully towards it [the sutra or an image of a Buddha]… he should be considered to have appeared in the world of men out of his compassion towards all living beings.”

It also says, “the good men or women who expound even a phrase of the Sutra even to one person even in secret after my extinction, know this, are my messengers. They are dispatched by me. They do my work.” Thus, to become a Buddha for us means to act like a Buddha to help others and make others happy in this world right now.

I would like to place more emphasis in the process of becoming a Buddha rather than being a Buddha. Let us all go out and be messengers of Buddha in order to make this a better community and world.

成仏するとはどういう意味？

金井勝海

　今から約２５００年前インドの北にあるカピラ国のゴータ・シダルータ王子は自分自身の心の安らぎから離れる為に宇宙の真理を求めて出家してしまいました。

　6年間の難行苦行の末、１２月８日明けの明星を見て覚りを開かれ成仏されました。この慶事を祝い全仏教徒は成道会を行います。

　ハワイ日蓮宗別院では、来る１２月１３日（日）午前10時より法要を行います。別院の外の看板脇にある菩提樹の枝をお供えし、その下に瞑想中の仏像を安置し、真理の象徴としてキャンドルライトをお供えして法要を行います。インターネット又はインパーソンで是非お参り下さい。

　ところで、成仏するとは、どういう意味でしょうか。日蓮宗の葬儀では導師が式中に死者に法名（戒名）を授与します。これで死者は成仏したのでしょうか。確かに成仏したかは確かではありませんが、確かに成仏するという保証です。何故なら、魂は肉体を離れたので、あらゆる肉体的苦痛から解放されたのです。霊界の魂は現実世界の執着を離れる事を学ばなければなりません。４９日忌のころまでには「諸法実相」を悟らなければいけないのです。成仏するという事は、この世の全ての物に執着を断つという事で、悩み・苦しみは一切ないので、風のように自由です。

　私は魂の存在を信じます。人が死ぬと魂は肉体から離れます。肉体を離れた魂はたとえ自分の姿や遺族の姿は見えても、自分は形のない存在であるから、この世との未練を断ち切らなければならない事を悟れば「諸法実相」がわかり成仏するのです。

　法華経２８品の前半では、釈尊が十大弟子1人ひとりに授記（仏様の名前）を授けます。しかし、数えきれない程の数の輪廻転生を繰り返した後に成仏するとの保証です。

　ところが、今月の聖語にあるように「私達はたとえ一句・一偈でも聞いて、ああ良い言葉だな！と思ったら釈尊は私達に成仏の保証をして下さるのです。もし、法華経の一句でも保ち、読み、暗誦し、法を説き、写経したら、又は仏像やお経本に花を供える人は衆生を憐れむが故にこの世に生まれてきたのですよ」とも説いておられます。

　さらに「如来の滅後に、たとえ一句・一偈でも説く者は、まさに知るべし、この人は如来の使者であり、如来によって仕わされた者です。」という事は私共にとって、成仏するという事は大勢の人々を幸福にするお手伝いをする、皆様に喜ばれる奉仕をするという意味です。

　結論を言えば、成仏する事より、成仏する過程が大事だと思います。

Repetition of Birth and Death in the Six Regions of Existence (Explanation of I-ha-I)

July 2020

SACRED WORDS

Good men or women in the future who hear this chapter of the Lotus Sutra with faithful respect caused by their pure minds, and have no doubts about it, will not fall into hell or the region of hungry spirit or region of animals. They will be reborn before the Buddhas of the worlds of the ten quarters. They will always hear this sutra at the places of their rebirth. Even when they are reborn among men or gods, they will be given wonderful pleasures. When they are reborn before the Buddhas, they will appear in lotus-flowers.

Chapter 12, Devadatta, Page 203, the Lotus Sutra

聖語

未来世の中に、もし善男子・善女人あって、妙法蓮華経の提婆達多品を聞いて、浄心に信敬して疑惑を生ぜざらん者は、地獄・餓鬼・畜生に堕ちずして十方の仏前に生ぜん。所生の処には常にこの経を聞かん。もし人・天の中に生るれば勝妙の楽を受け、もし仏前にあらば蓮華より化生せん　　　

「妙法蓮華経提婆達多品第１２」

Repetition of Birth and Death in the Six Regions of Existence

Rev. Shokai Kanai

Repetition of Birth and Death means that we repeat the cycle of birth and death in the six regions of existence just as your car wheels turn when you go to work and stop at your work. Then repeat it again on the way back from your work to home. The six regions are the realms that living beings transmigrate between one another: hell, hungry spirits, animals, fighting spirits, human beings, and heaven.

Please look at the picture of an O-I-HA-I on this page. It says, “Four kinds of birth, the Six Regions, and All Souls in the Dharma World.” You can see this oihai on the altar of all Nichiren Shu Temples. This oihai has been enshrined at all five Nichiren Missions in Hawaii before Obon Service last year. The four kinds of birth are mammals like us, dogs and cats; oviparous like chickens and fish; born from moisture like moss, and metamorphic like spiritual beings born with karmic causes or like appearing in lotus-flower in the above “Sacred Words.”

Nichiren Shu priests give prayers of chanting the Lotus Sutra and O’daimoku every morning and evening to all these souls. The idea of rebirth may have originated in Brahmanism before Buddhism among the agrarian culture of India. The reason is that plants leave their seeds and roots before their death. New birth starts from the seeds or the roots. They repeat this process continuously. Therefore, it is very natural to think that human beings also perpetually repeat the cycle of birth and death.

Chapter Three of the Lotus Sutra reveals that if you slander the teachings of the sutra, you will fall into the bottom three regions such as hell, hungry sprits, and animals. But frankly speaking I do not believe that we will be born as rats or ants because we are here as a result of evolution, since human beings stand firmly on two legs and have a bigger brain than most other animals. I interpret the above phrase that if you created awfully bad karma in this world, you will be born as a human being in one of the three stages of hell, hungry spirits, or animals.

In a leap of argument, I have experienced these three bottom-regions. I was born in Tokyo three months after Pearl Harbor Attack. My mother died 12 days later after my birth. Since there was no breast milk or cow’s milk at that time, it was said that my father made thin rice gruel and fed me. When I was three years old, Tokyo became ground-zero for air raids – no food, no shelter, no clothing. The survivors had to live in a wide stretch of burnt out ruins like wild animals.

As we read this month Sacred Words of the Lotus Sutra, we will not fall in the regions of hell, hungry spirits, or animal. Instead we will be born among human beings or heaven and given wonderful pleasures. When we are reborn before the Buddhas, we will appear in lotus-flowers. Please see the oihai again; its base has a shape of lotus-flower petals.

The first person who stepped out of the six regions was Gautama Siddhartha who became a Buddha later. All Nichiren Shu members, who received their Buddhist names and their funeral service conducted in Nichiren Shu rites, will appear on Mount Sacred Eagle or Ryo-Ju-Sen (霊鷲山). How lucky you will be!

六道輪廻転

金井勝海

　六道輪廻転生とは、車の輪が回っては止まり、また回っては止まるように、衆生が煩悩と業によって地獄界、餓鬼界、畜生界、修羅界、人間界、天上界に生まれ変わり、死に変わり果てしなく生死を繰り返している生物の事を意味します。

　前頁のお位牌をご覧下さい。これと同じお位牌を昨年のお盆の前に作成して、ハワイ教区の全５件のお寺に安置いたしました。『四生六道法界万霊』と書いてあります。このお位牌は日蓮宗のお寺ならどこでも御宝前の正面に祀られています。四生とは法華経に説かれている言葉で、人間や哺乳動物のように母体から誕生する動物、鳥や魚のように卵から生れてくる生物、藻のように水から生まれてくる物、最後に他を媒体して生まれるのではなく、業により霊界に生まれ変わる生き物を指しています。

　日蓮宗のお寺では毎朝晩、六道輪廻している全ての生き物に対してお経を読み、ご供養しているのです。六道輪廻の思想は農耕民族の間から生まれた思想です。何故なら穀物や植物は種や根を残し、その種や根から新しい生命が生まれ、死ぬ前に種を残し次の命を残すのです。人間も同じように輪廻すると思われています。仏教以前のインドのバラモン教で説かれたアイデアが仏教にも取り入れられたのです。

法華経譬喩品第三には、法華経を謗しると地獄界や餓鬼界や動物界に落ちると説かれています。しかし、人間は約６００万年前に２本足で楽々と立ち大きな脳をもった霊長類から肉体と共に知能も進化しながら生死を繰り返し生き延びて来たのですから、来世が鼠やロバに生まれ変わるとは思いません。悪事をすると、その報いとして地獄のような苦しみや、餓鬼のような貧困と食料難や、獣のように荒野に生きなければならない環境のなかに生まれると言う事だと私は思います。

　少し飛躍し過ぎるかもしれませんが、私は六道の中の地獄界・餓鬼界・畜生界を体験して育ちました。私は太平洋戦争が始まった２ケ月後に東京で生まれ、生後１２日目に母が亡くなり、乳もなく、牛乳もなく、父は重湯で私を育ててくれました。３歳の時には大空襲で東京は焼け野原となり、衣食住に苦労しました。

　法華経提婆提多品第十二には、「この経を信じて疑いをいだかなければ、地獄、餓鬼、畜生の三悪道におちづに、人間界、天上界に生まれる。もしくは仏界に生まれ蓮華の花の中に化生する」と説かれています。ですから、お位牌の下の部分はハスの花びらのかたちになっているのです。

　この六道を一歩先に踏み出されたのがゴータマ・シッダルタで、後に釈迦牟尼仏になられました。日蓮宗の信徒がお葬式で法名を授かり、引導を受けると霊鷲山へ化生するので、六道輪廻を繰り返さないのです。

From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One (Let's try to imitate him)

April 2020

Sacred Words

This triple world is my property. All livings beings therein are my children. There are many sufferings in this world. Only I can save all living beings.

(Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra)

From Heaven to the Earth, I Alone Am the Most Honored One

Rev. Shokai Kanai

April 8th is Sakyamuni Buddha’s birthday. This is also “Buddha Day” in the State of Hawaii. It was established in 1963 (Hawaii Revised Statute 8-4). There are many Buddhist in Hawaii; therefore, the state recognizes and respects our activities.

It was about 2,500 years ago in northern India, there was a kingdom call Sakya. The king was gentle and brave, and the people of that country loved him very much. The king’s name was Shuddhodana and the queens’s name was Maya. They did not have children for a long time.

One night, the queen had a strange dream in which she saw a white elephant entering her body. Queen Maya was going to have a baby! As the delivery day approached, she tried to return to her parents’ home for the baby’s birth.

One the way, she and her entourage rested in beautiful Lumbini Garden. She suddenly felt the baby coming! She reached out her right arm to pick one of the beautiful flowers. At that moment, a baby like a shining jewel was born.

Surprise! The cute and solemn baby stood up, raised his right index finger pointed towards heaven and his left index finger pointed towards Earth. He walked seven steps and declared with a clear voice, “From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One.”

Of course, everyone was surprised because babies were supposed to be born crying. However, this baby of the king and queen said, “From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One.” And also, “The triple worlds (the worlds of those who have feeling, those who do not have feeling, and those in the spiritual realm) are full of suffering, but I alone am able to be free from these sufferings.” This means that the Buddha is the most respected person from heaven to earth because he can save all living beings of all realms from heaven to hell.

How wonderful he is! We can hardly be like the Buddha, but we can imitate him just a tiny bit. Let us all strive to be like the Buddha and make others happy. Continue this practice every day.

The Mandala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms (Explanations of the Ten Realms)

December 2019

SACRED WORDS

There is no difference between the Buddha-Land and Saha-World (this world). It is called in different term depending on our mind, either good or bad. It can be said in the same way with ordinary person and a Buddha. When we are confused, we are ordinary people while when we are enlightened, we are Buddhas. A good example is a mirror. When a mirror is polished well, it looks a jewel, while a dusty mirror looks like our confused mind. If you shine the dirty mirror of your mind, you will obtain a supreme mind. How to shine your mind? Just chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

Nichiren Shonin, “Issho Jobutsu Sho”

聖語

浄土と言い穢土（エド）と言っても土地に二つの違いがあるのではなく、ただ、我々の心が善か悪かによるのです。衆生というのも仏というのも同じで、迷う時は衆生と名付け、悟った時を仏と名付けるのです。譬えば曇った鏡を磨けば玉となります。一念無明の迷う心は汚れた鏡です。これを磨けば必ず法性真如の明鏡と成ります。深く信心をおこして、朝夕、日夜怠らす磨きなさい。どのようにして心を磨くかと言うと、ただ南無妙法蓮華経と唱えれば良いのです。

日蓮聖人「一生成仏鈔」

The Mandala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms

Rev. Shokai Kanai

When we look inward, we have at least ten emotions such as anger, laughter, hate, love, want, giving, bullying, helping, learning, and enlightening Dharma. Mandala is a symbol of the world of Buddha's Enlightenment. As an object of faith, the main image (Gohonzon) is placed in the most respectable place of a temple or home. In other words, "Ten Realms of Mandala Gohonzon" is the same as this page photograph and is the object of the most precious faith that should be enshrined in the center and the upper part of the Buddhist altar of your house. In the center of the main image is written in large letters as Na-Mu Myo-Ho Ren-Ge Kyo. The letter of this subject is written in a special typeface, and the line extends from each character. These lines represent rays of the Odaimoku. In other words, the world of enlightenment of the Lotus Sutra is the way that all people and the whole world are saved from the Hell realm to the Buddha realm.

The names of the ten realms are Buddha, Bodhisattva, Self-Attainment, Dharma Listener, Heavenly Beings, Human Beings, Fighting Spirits, Animal, Hungry Ghost, and Hell. The names representing each realm are written on this scroll. The Realm of Buddha is a world of enlightened people, the Realm of Bodhisattva is the world of people helping others. "Do you help others?” If your answer is “Yes!” you are a Bodhisattva. The realm of Self-Attainment are the people who are studying or meditating on their own. The realm of Dharma-Listener is the people who attend Sunday services, funerals, and memorial services. The Heavenly Beings is the world of the people who enjoy doing what they want to do for the most part. Human Beings is the world of a normal person who suffer but also enjoy life. The realm of Fighting Spirit is a world where people enjoy by defeating the other party, by playing sports, and watching them. Many people are happy when their favorite team wins the game. The Animal realm is a world that the people behave like an animal. The Hungry Ghost realm is the world where the people who are unbearable and want more than necessary. The Hell realm is the world where the people are always angry and hateful. Did you notice that all of us have these ten realms of emotion? Thus, the Mandala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms is the mirror of your mind.

Nichiren Dai’ Shonin says, "When you suffer you can be called an ordinary man like a dusty mirror. When you attain Enlightenment, you can call yourself a Buddha. If you ask me how to shine the mirror? Just chant Odaimoku, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.”

If you can say, "My faith is Nichiren Sect. When I die, I would like to have my funeral service in the Nichiren Sect tradition." If you can commit to that, please be sure to have the Mandala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms and hold an eye-opening ceremony by a Nichiren Sect priest. If you don't have a Buddhist altar, you can put the Gohonzon on a wall of the most respectable place in your house. Please prepare a table or shelf placing a candle, an incense burner, flowers and water under the Gohonzon. The person who gets up first every morning offers new water, offers incense and chant the Odaimoku at least three times, and pray "Thank you for watching us again today.” At night, you may drink the water before going to bed, or give it to your plants, or put it in your pet’s drinking bowl. The dog and cat that drink the water will become a Buddha, too. Please say before sleeping, "Thank you for your patronage today!" If each member of the family has the habit of chanting and thanking each other in front of the Gohonzon, then everyone will be blessed, and your family will always be happy at home.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

十界マンダラご本尊

金井勝海

　私たちの心を内観してみると、怒る、笑う、憎む、愛する、欲しがる、施す、いじめる、助ける、学ぶ、悟るなど少なくとも十の感情をもっています。マンダラとは仏様の悟りの世界を象徴した姿です。本尊とは信仰の対象として、お寺や自宅の一番尊いとこに安置するものです。つまり「十界マンダラご本尊」とは、1ペイジの写真と同じで、日蓮宗のお寺と信徒の家の仏壇の中央、上部におまつりしてある一番尊い信仰の対象です。ご本尊の中央に大きな字で南無妙法蓮華経と書かれています。このお題目の字は特別の書体で書かれ各文字から線が伸びてぃます。この線は光明をあらわしています。すなわち、お題目で地獄界から仏界まで全ての人々と世界中が救われる姿が法華経の悟りの世界です。

このご本尊には先ほど述べた十の感情を持つ仏界、菩薩界、縁覚界、声聞界、天上界、人間界、修羅界、畜生界、餓鬼界、地獄界の代表者の名前が書かれています。仏界は悟りを開いた人びとの世界、菩薩界は人助けをする人びとの世界、あなたは人助けをしていますか？「はい！」と答えた人は菩薩です。縁覚は自分で勉強したり、瞑想したりしている時の心です。声聞界は日曜礼拝や葬式、法事に参列して聞法している時の心です。この法話を読んで下さっている皆さんは今声聞界に居るのです。天上界とは自分が一番したいことをして楽しんでいる時の心です。人間界とは、悩み苦しみ、また楽しみもある通常の人の心です。修羅界とはスポーツをしたり観戦したりして相手を負かして楽しむ心です。畜生界とは人間でありながら動物のように逃げ隠れして理性が利かなくなっている心です。餓鬼界とは必要以上に欲しくてたまらない時の心です。地獄界とは、顔を赤くしたり、青くして怒り、憎しんでいる時の心です。人間はこれらの十の心を皆がそなえている事に気づきましたか。

日蓮大聖人は「迷う時は凡夫と名付け、悟る時をば仏と名付けたり。いかようにして迷う心を磨いたらよいかと尋ねれば、南無妙法蓮華経と唱え奉るを磨くと申すなり」とおっしゃっておられます。

　「私の信仰は日蓮宗です。死んだら日蓮宗でお葬式をして頂きたいと思っています」と言える人は、一家に十界マンダラご本尊をおまつりして下さい。ご本尊は必ず日蓮宗僧侶から開眼供養をしていただいてからおまつりして下さい。仏壇がなければ、家の一番尊い場所の壁に貼っても良いでしょう。ご本尊の下にはローソクと線香とお花とお水をお供えするテーブルか棚を用意して下さい。お水は毎朝一番先に起きる人が新水（うみず）をお供えして、お線香をあげ、最低でもお題目を３偏となえて、「今日も１日よろしくお願いいたします。」とお願いして１日の仕事にとりかかり、夜は寝る前に水を飲むなり植木にあげるなり、愛犬愛猫の水飲みの入れ物にいれるとその水を飲んだ犬猫は成仏するでしょう。「今日１日お守り頂き有難うごさいました！」とご本尊の前で家族の各自がそれぞれ唱えて感謝をしてから睡眠する習慣をつけて下されば、熟睡する事ができ、いつも家庭円満になります。　　　　　　

南無妙法蓮華経

Buddha Land

September 2019

SACRED WORDS 聖語 

我此土安穏　天人常充満　園林諸堂閣　種種宝荘厳

宝樹多花果　衆生所遊楽　諸天撃天鼓　常作衆伎楽

雨曼荼羅華　散仏及大衆

Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra

BUDDHA LAND

Rev. Shokai Kanai

Washing my face every morning for the last ten years, I say the above phrase from JIGA-GE and say “Oh the Eternal Buddha! I thank you for being able to help me materialize the Buddha Land.” 

The translation of the same phrases from our service book, the DHARMA on page 42 says,

“The jeweled tress has 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.”

Where is such a Buddha Land? Please look at the picture of the altar of the Nichiren Mission of Hawaii. I took this picture without any electric light but under the natural sun light. The altar is full of energy with beautiful Hawaiian flowers, golden ornaments symbolizing the Mandarava-flower petals raining down from heaven. That flower is said to bloom only once in 3,000 years. This means it is very rare to meet the Lotus Sutra. Two Buddhas sit side by side. Between them, the characters NAMU-MYOHO RENGE KYO with rays of Odaimoku lights the Buddha Land. Our founder, Nichiren Shonin is sitting and watching over us. Behind the statues, the Manadala Gohonzon of the Ten Realms is also enshrined. This Gohonzon also symbolizes the Buddha Land. I will talk about the Gohonzon some other time. We, ministers, offer chanting of the Lotus Sutra that was revealed by the Eternal Buddha and Odaimoku revealed by Nichiren Dai’Shonin every morning and evening.

The Buddha Land is the ideal peaceful and happy place for everyone. The Buddhas and Nichiren Shonin are always preaching the Lotus Sutra. Not only that, we the followers of the Lotus Sutra are trying to establish this peaceful and happy place here where we live. 

We will celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Birth of Nichiren Shonin on May 2021 in Honolulu together with ministers and lay-members from all over Japan. We must keep our temple building and mansion neat, clean, and beautiful as if the Buddha Land is here right now.

This is your temple where your ancestors dwell and eventually you will dwell here! From this place to the surrounding area to the Hawaiian Islands to the world, let us strive to establish the Buddha Land!

仏様の国

金井勝海

　私は毎朝洗顔の後、鏡に向かって「南無久遠実成本師釈迦牟尼、我此土安穏天人常充満．．.散仏及大衆の仏国土顕現のお手伝いをさせて頂き、ありがとうございます」と呪文を１０年以上も唱えています。 

　上記の聖語を正木晃著「現代日本語訳法華経」をそのまま引用させていただきます。「わたしがいる世界は安穏なのです。天人が舞い踊り、緑したたる樹林がありいろいろな宝石で飾られた絢爛豪華な建物があまたにあるのです。宝石でできた樹木や、花や実をつけた樹木が、たくさんあって、生きとし生けるものはみな、楽しく暮らしているのです。空のうえでは、つねに神々が太鼓を打ち鳴らし、さまざまな楽器をかなで、たとえようもなく美しい花が、雨のように、仏やその弟子たちの頭上に、降り注いているのです。」 

　どこにこのような理想郷があるのでしょうか。ハワイ日蓮宗別院の内陣をご覧ください。この写真は電気の明かりを全部消して、日中太陽の光（大宇宙のエネルギー）が注いでいる御宝前です。天井からは金色の花びらが常に降り注いでおり、須弥壇には釈尊と多宝如来が並座されその前には日蓮大聖人が鎮座されております。いつも果物や乾物がお供えしてあり、ハワイの花が供えられています。 

仏像のうしろ中央には「十界曼荼羅ご本尊」が奉られています。このご本尊も日蓮宗の理想郷である「仏国土」を象徴しております。曼荼羅ご本尊については、別の機会に説明させて頂きます。

　つまり、「仏国土」とは仏様や日蓮聖人やご先祖様が居られる所です。と同時に日蓮宗ではその仏国土をこの現実の世に創造しようとしているのです。日蓮聖人ご降誕８００年を２０２１年５月に迎えます。それまでには、別院の内外を綺麗に致しましょう。別院は皆さまのご先祖が住む所であり、皆様もいずれはこの仏国に住む事になります。 

　さらには、世界が平和になり、全人類が幸せになる所が仏国土です。それを現実化させるのが私達の使命です。 

Study Class on the Lotus Sutra

July 2019

SACRED WORDS

The Lotus Sutra is called, “Zui-ji-I 随自意“namely it expounds the true mind of the Buddha. Since the Buddha’s minds is so great, even if one does not understand the profound meaning of the sutra, one can gain innumerable merits by just reading it. Just as a mug-wort among the hemp plants grows straight and a snake in a tube straighten itself, if one become friendly with good people, one’s mind, behavior and words become naturally gentle. Likewise, the Buddha thinks that those who believe in the Lotus Sutra become naturally virtuous.

“Zui-ji-i Gosho” by Nichiren Dai’Shonin

聖語

良き心なるゆえに、たとい知らざる人もこの経を読みたてまつれば利益はかりなし。麻の中のよもぎ、筒の中の蛇、良き人に睦ぶ者、なにとなけれども心も振舞いも言葉も直しくなるなり。法華経もかくの如し。なにとなけれども、この経を信じる人をは仏の良きものとおぼすなり。

日蓮大聖人「随自意御書」より

STUDY CLASS on THE LOTUS SUTRA

Bishop Shokai Kanai

The Study Class on the Lotus Sutra will start on Thursday, July 11th. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. every Thursday. The textbooks will include The Lotus Sutra for Children by Rev. Koge Matsumoto translated by Rev. Shokai Kanai, The Introduction to the Lotus Sutra by Shinjo Suguro, The Lotus Sutra for You by Rev. Shokai Kanai, and The Lotus Sutra, third edition by Senchu Murano. Please purchase only Introduction to the Lotus Sutra ($20), the rest of the materials will be provided in the class for free. The class is open to public.

I have started the Study Class on Nichiren Dai’Shonin on April 4th. The class ended on June 24th. We usually have six to eight adults attending the class every week. They appreciate gaining a better understanding of Buddhism, which leads to many great questions that spur on interesting discussions.

It is very important to know what the sutra teaches us. The Lotus Sutra is the most popular and best known amongst the 1,487 sutras that the Buddha revealed during his almost 50 years of propagation after His Enlightenment. Why are there so many sutras? It is because the Buddha revealed the teachings to the level of understanding of the listeners. He talked to all types of people at different levels of understanding at each place where He visited. Some of them had no education at all, some of them were children, women, merchants, farmers, peasants, and noble people like kings of big and small countries. Others were seekers of the truth, Buddha’s disciples (long term and short term), and monks in different faiths like ascetics, epicureans, and yogis.

Shakyamuni Buddha said that, during the forty or so years since He became the Buddha, He had expounded the Dharma in various ways but had never revealed the most precious Truth. Now, as He approached his final years, He was ready at last to reveal the Universal Truth, which is the Lotus Sutra.

By attending the study class, you will realize why you were born, why you become sick, how you can slow down becoming old, why you love a person while you hate someone else, and most importantly, how the universe and us are all related.

［法華経］の勉強会

金井勝海

　［法華経］の勉強会が７月１１日（木）から始まります。毎週木曜日午後7時に行います。教科書は松本光華著「民話風法華経童話」の英訳版・勝呂信静著「法華経講義」・金井勝海出版予定「The Lotus Sutra for You」そして村野宣忠英訳「The Lotus Sutra」第3版です。その内「法華経の紹介」は20ドルで購入して下さい。他の書物はクラスでその都度無料配布致します。勉強会は一般公開ですのでどなたでも参加できます。

　今年４月に開始した日蓮聖人伝は６月２４日で終了しました。毎週６名から８名の参加があり、各自から質問と答えが出て、さらにお互いの意見交換の場となりました。

　法華経を理解する事は大変重要です。何故なら法華経は釈尊が成道されてから涅槃に入られるまでの約50年間に説かれた１４８７巻の経典の内で一番ポピュラーで一般によく知られたお経だからです。何故そんなにたくさんの経典があるのでしょう。それは隋他意と言って、聞き手の理解度にあわせて多種多様にまたその土地風土に合わせて説かれたからです。聴衆の中には無学な人や子供・男性・女性・若者・老人・商人・農夫・大国や小国の高貴な王や妃・真実を求め歩く声聞・縁覚、更には禁欲主義や快楽主義やヨガの行者もいた事でしょう。

　釈尊は「４０余年の間まだ真実の教えを説いていない。これからは覚りの真髄を説く」と宣言され、説かれた経典が隋自意の「妙法蓮華経」なのです。

　法華経の勉強会を通して、人は何故この世に生まれてきたのか、何故病気になるのか、どうしたら高齢になっても元気でいられるか、ある人達には好意を示しても、ある人には憎しみをもつのは何故でしょうか。宇宙と私たちとはどんな結びつきがあるのでしょうか、等などの疑問を法華経で解き明かしてもらえます。

　是非勉強会に参加してみて下さい。また日本語の勉強会を希望の方は申し出て下されば、日の明るいうちに勉強会を開くこともできます。

Lotus Flower (Symbol of Purity, Cause and Effect and Eternity)

June 2019

SACRED WORDS

The Lotus Sutra is called, “Zui-ji-I 随自意“namely it expounds the true mind of the Buddha. Since the Buddha’s minds is so great, even if one does not understand the profound meaning of the sutra, one can gain innumerable merits by just reading it. Just as a mug-wort among the hemp plants grows straight and a snake in a tube straighten itself, if one become friendly with good people, one’s mind, behavior and words become naturally gentle. Likewise, the Buddha thinks that those who believe in the Lotus Sutra become naturally virtuous.

“Zui-ji-i Gosho” by Nichiren Dai’Shonin

聖語

法華経と申すは「隋自意」と申して仏の御心を説かせ給う。仏の御心は良き心なるゆえに、たとい知らざる人もこの経を読みたてまつれば利益はかりなし。麻の中のよもぎ、筒の中の蛇、良き人に睦ぶ者、なにとなけれども心も振舞いも言葉も直しくなるなり。法華経もかくの如し。なにとなけれども、この経を信じる人をは仏の良きものとおぼすなり。 日蓮大聖人「随自意御書」より

STUDY CLASS on THE LOTUS SUTRA

Bishop Shokai Kanai

The Study Class on the Lotus Sutra will start on Thursday, July 11th. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. every Thursday. The textbooks will include The Lotus Sutra for Children by Rev. Koge Matsumoto translated by Rev. Shokai Kanai, The Introduction to the Lotus Sutra by Shinjo Suguro, The Lotus Sutra for You by Rev. Shokai Kanai, and The Lotus Sutra, third edition by Senchu Murano. Please purchase only Introduction to the Lotus Sutra ($20), the rest of the materials will be provided in the class for free. The class is open to public.

I have started the Study Class on Nichiren Dai’Shonin on April 4th. The class ended on June 24th. We usually have six to eight adults attending the class every week. They appreciate gaining a better understanding of Buddhism, which leads to many great questions that spur on interesting discussions.

It is very important to know what the sutra teaches us. The Lotus Sutra is the most popular and best known amongst the 1,487 sutras that the Buddha revealed during his almost 50 years of propagation after His Enlightenment. Why are there so many sutras? It is because the Buddha revealed the teachings to the level of understanding of the listeners. He talked to all types of people at different levels of understanding at each place where He visited. Some of them had no education at all, some of them were children, women, merchants, farmers, peasants, and noble people like kings of big and small countries. Others were seekers of the truth, Buddha’s disciples (long term and short term), and monks in different faiths like ascetics, epicureans, and yogis.

Shakyamuni Buddha said that, during the forty or so years since He became the Buddha, He had expounded the Dharma in various ways but had never revealed the most precious Truth. Now, as He approached his final years, He was ready at last to reveal the Universal Truth, which is the Lotus Sutra.

By attending the study class, you will realize why you were born, why you become sick, how you can slow down becoming old, why you love a person while you hate someone else, and most importantly, how the universe and us are all related.

［法華経］の勉強会

金井勝海

　［法華経］の勉強会が７月１１日（木）から始まります。毎週木曜日午後7時に行います。教科書は松本光華著「民話風法華経童話」の英訳版・勝呂信静著「法華経講義」・金井勝海出版予定「The Lotus Sutra for You」そして村野宣忠英訳「The Lotus Sutra」第3版です。その内「法華経の紹介」は20ドルで購入して下さい。他の書物はクラスでその都度無料配布致します。勉強会は一般公開ですのでどなたでも参加できます。

　今年４月に開始した日蓮聖人伝は６月２４日で終了しました。毎週６名から８名の参加があり、各自から質問と答えが出て、さらにお互いの意見交換の場となりました。

　法華経を理解する事は大変重要です。何故なら法華経は釈尊が成道されてから涅槃に入られるまでの約50年間に説かれた１４８７巻の経典の内で一番ポピュラーで一般によく知られたお経だからです。何故そんなにたくさんの経典があるのでしょう。それは隋他意と言って、聞き手の理解度にあわせて多種多様にまたその土地風土に合わせて説かれたからです。聴衆の中には無学な人や子供・男性・女性・若者・老人・商人・農夫・大国や小国の高貴な王や妃・真実を求め歩く声聞・縁覚、更には禁欲主義や快楽主義やヨガの行者もいた事でしょう。

　釈尊は「４０余年の間まだ真実の教えを説いていない。これからは覚りの真髄を説く」と宣言され、説かれた経典が隋自意の「妙法蓮華経」なのです。

　法華経の勉強会を通して、人は何故この世に生まれてきたのか、何故病気になるのか、どうしたら高齢になっても元気でいられるか、ある人達には好意を示しても、ある人には憎しみをもつのは何故でしょうか。宇宙と私たちとはどんな結びつきがあるのでしょうか、等などの疑問を法華経で解き明かしてもらえます。

　是非勉強会に参加してみて下さい。また日本語の勉強会を希望の方は申し出て下されば、日の明るいうちに勉強会を開くこともできます。

Mount Sacred Eagle (My task as the priest of NMH is to lead souls to Mt Sacred Eagle)

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。

Why Was Shakyamuni Buddha Born

April 2019

SACRED WORDS

The Buddhas, the World-Honored Ones, appear in the worlds in order to cause all living beings to open the gate to the insight of the Buddha and to cause them to purify themselves. They appear in the worlds in order to show the insight of the Buddha to all living beings. They appear in the world in order to obtain the insight of the Buddha. They appear in the world in order to cause all living beings to enter the Way to the insight of the Buddha. This is the one great purpose for which the Buddha appear in the worlds.　 (Chapter 2 of the Lotus Sutra)

聖語

諸仏世尊は衆生に仏智見を開かしめ、清浄なる事を得せしめと欲するが故に、衆生に仏智見を示さんと欲するがゆえに、衆生をして仏智見を悟らしめんと欲するがゆえに、衆生をして仏智見の道に入らしめんと欲するが故に世に出現したもう。これを諸仏はただ一大事の因縁をもっの故に、世に出現してもうとなづく。

『妙法蓮華経方便品』

WHY WAS SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA BORN?

Rev. Shokai Kanai

December 9th was the day I was installed as the head priest of Nichiren Mission of Hawaii. It was about two weeks before the winter solstice (the longest night). It was very dark when I opened the curtains of the mansion building and walked to the Hondo, main hall, for the morning service. So, I always used a flash light as I made my way to the Hondo.

Buddhism described the world as very dark before Shakyamuni Buddha attained Enlightenment. During the era when Siddhartha Gautama was born, there were wars here and there. He was a very sensitive boy crying to see a bird descending to the ground and carried off a small worm which had been turned up by a farmer’s plough. Then a big bird caught the small bird in the sky. The prince who had lost his mother soon after his birth was deeply affected by the tragedy of these little creatures. “Alas! Do all living creatures kill each other?”

A world where the stronger prey upon the weaker has not changed even today such as sexual and power harassments and “My country is number one!” It is the world of self-centeredness.

Suppose we are in a dark room, a sage appeared and said, “Open the window and look outside!” He show beautiful flowers and birds singing outside. He continued to say, “Let’s go out! Feel the fresh air of spring!” And he led them out. Then, he told them to cultivate the soil and plant flowers and vegetables. “Experience and enjoy Spring!”

The Eternal Buddha who attained Buddhahood in the eternal past appeared in this world in the form of a human being in India just like us. He attained Enlightenment and became a Buddha. He opened the window of the dark room and showed what the reality of all things are. Let us obtain the reality and enter the way to the insight of the Buddha. This is the one great purpose for which Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world.

Have you ever thought why you were born? I enjoy being a minister of Nichiren Mission of Hawaii now and teach Dharma to all members of the temples in the Islands of Hawaii and pray for all people.

釈尊はなぜこの世に生まれたの？

金井勝海

　ハワイ日蓮宗別院に赴任したのは１２月９日でした。夜が一番長い冬至の約２週間前でしたので、午前６時過ぎにマンションのカーテンを開けて、朝勤の為本堂に行く外の通路はまだ真っ暗で、懐中電灯を照らしながら本堂へ向かいました。今ではお彼岸（夜と日中の長さが同じ）も過ぎ明るくなりましたので、日の出前でも懐中電灯なしで歩けるようになりました。

　仏教では、釈尊が覚りを開かれる前の世の中を暗闇であったと表現します。ゴータマ・シッダールタがお生まれになられた時代は弱肉強食の戦国時代でした。王子は生まれて数日後に母を亡くし、とても繊細な感情の方でした。ある春の日、農夫が耕す畑から出てくるミミズを小鳥がついばみ、その小鳥を大きな鷲が鋭い口ばしでとらえ、飛び去って行く様子に王子は涙を流し悲しみました。なぜ生き物は弱いものを餌食にしてころしあるのだろう？当時、インドは戦国時代でもありました。

　今の時代でも同じです。現代的にいうとパワハラ・セクシャルハラスメント・自国第一主義の経済戦争の時代で、怒りと貪欲と無知の世相はまさに暗闇の部屋です。

　その部屋に１人の聖者が現れ「ほら、窓を開けてごらん！」と言われました。「外は明るく、何でも良く見えるでしょう！」と窓の外を示されました。「さあ！外へ出て春の新鮮な空気を吸って、草花を見てみましょう！」と外へ誘い出し、春とはどういう感じがするか悟らせます。「春を感じるだけでなく、畑をたがやして花や野菜を植えて楽しんでみましょうよ！」と言って、春を体験するよう導いて下さったのです。

　久遠実成本師釈迦牟尼仏（釈尊は久遠の昔から実際に成仏されていた）は私たちに釈尊と同じように成仏するという事を目覚めさせるために、人間の姿でこの世に誕生され、この世の真理を悟り、人間仏陀となられました。同じ肉体を持つ我々に諸法実相（すべての事物の真の様相）を開き、示し、悟らせ、真実一路の道を歩むよう導く為にこの世にお生まれになられたのです、と法華経方便品に説かれています。

　皆様も「私は、何故この世に生まれ、今生きているのだろうか？」と考えてみてはいかがでしょうか。私は今、ハワイ日蓮宗別院の主任としてハワイ諸島の信徒とサポーターに妙法を説きハワイ全島の人々の平和と幸せを祈る事を使命と思い、日々楽しく暮らしています。

Middle Way (Avoiding extremes one way or the other. The shore and other shore)

March 2019

SACRED WORDS

“I (Shakyamuni Buddha) will cause all living beings to cross the ocean of birth and death if they have not yet done so. I (the Buddha) will cause them to emancipate themselves from suffering if they have not done so. I will cause them to have peace of mind if they have not yet done so.

I will cause them to attain Nirvana if they have not yet done so.

(Chapter 5 of the Lotus Sutra)

聖語

「未だ度せざる者は度せしめ、未だ解せざる者は解せしめ、未だ安ぜざる者は安ぜしめ、未だ涅槃せざる者は涅槃を得せしむ。」

（妙法蓮華経薬草諭品第５）

MIDDLE WAY

Bishop Shokai Kanai

Shakyamuni Buddha could not attain Enlightenment even after the six-years ascetic practices. However, he did not return to his luxurious life in his native palace. How did he attain Enlightenment? He washed his dirty body in a river after the ascetic practices, he received a girl’s offering of milky mushed rice, gained strength, sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated. He attained the Universal Truth seeing the morning star shinning in the eastern sky.

One of the Universal Truth was to avoid extreme one way or the other. Why is it wrong? Because it is egoistic. The ascetic practice often leads to becoming a person who is a selfish saint while extreme pleasure leads to selfish satisfaction and not to caring about others.

The Middle Way of Shakyamuni Buddha is to avoid extremes and to obtain an easy and quiet mind. The universe also practices the Middle Way. It says that hot or cold lasts till the time of equinox in Spring and Autumn. The equinox day is usually 21st day of March and September when the sun rises exact east and sets exact west. So, the distance from this shore to the other shore is the closest during the year. Three days before and after the equinox day is called Hi-gan. During the time of the seven days, please visit your temple or cemetery and pray for your ancestors. Please recite the Lotus Sutra and chant the sacred title of the sutra, O’Daimoku, and send the merits you have obtained to your ancestors.

Please read the above Sacred Words from the Lotus Sutra again, the Buddha continued to say, “Having heard these teachings, they became peaceful in their present lives, they will have rebirths in good places. Enjoy pleasures by practicing the Way and hear these teachings.”

中 道

金井勝海

　お釈迦様は６年間の難行苦行をされましたが覚りに至ることはできませんでした。しかし、生まれ育った快楽の王宮には戻りませんでした。何をされて覚者となられたのでしょう？苦行で汚れた体を洗い、道行く娘さんからミルク粥を頂き肉体に力がよみがえり、菩提樹の下に座り瞑想の後、翌朝東の空にキラキラと輝く明けの明星を見て宇宙の真理を覚られました。

　その真理の一つは極端な道を歩まないということです。苦行と楽行の両極端を避けることです。なぜいけないかというと、エゴイズムだからです。苦行すれば自分が聖者なればいいのだと考えがちになり、楽行は自分さえ楽しければ他人はどうなっても良いと思ってしまいます。

　釈尊の説かれた「中道」とは極端をさけてゆったりした心持になる事です。大宇宙も中道を実践しています。それは「暑さ寒さも彼岸まで！」と言われるように春と秋の「彼岸の中日」の時期が一番覚りへの道が開けてきます。太陽が真東から登り真西に沈む彼岸の中日は３月と９月の２１日です。中日を挟んで前後７日間を「彼岸」と言います。この時期がこちら（此）の岸とあちら（彼）の岸が一番近いのです。どうぞこの時期にお寺参りやお墓参りをしてお経を読みお題目を唱えて、その功徳をご先祖様に回し向けましょう。これが「回向」の本当の意味です。

　上記の聖語をもう一度読み直して下さい。このお言葉に続いて、釈尊は「人々がお寺にお参りして、法話を喜んで聞き終わった時、現世安穏にして後に善処に生まれる」と説かれておられます。