From 18th to 21st May 2017, the Togo District had the honor and privilege of hosting Rev. Shindo Imafuku, Chief Priest of Hokkeji Temple, accompanied by the Koto, Dr. Kwame Odame Boamah. This visit took place within the framework of the annual shakubuku meetings of the Togo district.
The Chief Priest and the Koto were welcomed at the Togo-Ghana border on the afternoon of 18th May 2017 by the District Leader, Mr. Koffi Etekpo, accompanied by Assistant District Leader, Mr Mensan Ayéna and Alain K. Afachawo, District General Secretary.
The delegation was taken to the Activity Center and then to the Mercure Sarakawa Hotel.
At 6 pm, a Leaders Meeting was held at the Center with the Chief Priest in attendance. Under the theme “Benefits resulting from the practice of Shakubuku”, this Meeting was attended by 24 Leaders (office, sub-districts, blocs, divisions and others).
After 1 hour of Daimoku, followed by Gongyo, Rev. Imafuku initially reminded us of the setting of the Togo district’s shakubuku target at 153, before discussing the importance of shakubuku. He asked a series of questions:
(i) Why do we do shakubuku?
(ii) How do we do shakubuku? and
(Iii) What are the benefits to be obtained in doing shakubuku?
In summary, the practice of shakubuku allows us to eradicate our negative karma and attained Buddhahood. This is possible only by doing the following:
(i) having a doubt-free faith in the Dai-Gohonzon,
(ii) chanting sincere Daimoku (Shodai),
(iii) the continuous sharing of the benefits of the practice with others or shakubuku
The following days (May 19 and 20) were devoted to shakubuku meetings in the cities of Tsévié, Atakpamé and Afagnan. And the date of May 21 was reserved for the general meeting of Lome.
The details of these meetings, including attendance and the number of Gojukai carried out, are set out in the following table.
| Dates | Cities | Distances to Lomé | Times | Attendance | Gojukai |
| 19-05-17 | Tsévié | 35 km | 9am-11am | 44 | 15 |
| Atakpamé | 161 km | 6pm-8pm | 107 | 17 | |
| 20-05-17 | Afagnan | 80 km | 10am-12am | 131 | 29 |
| 21-05-17 | Lomé | —– | 9am-1pm | 382 | 48 |
| Total | 664 | 109 | |||
During these shakubuku meetings, the sermon of the Chief Priest Rev. Imafuku focused on the “Parable of a Traveler” Through this parable, the fundamental purpose of faith and practice in our lives were highlighted.
Some of the questions which came out of these meetings are as follows:
(i) the meaning of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo?
(ii) the existence of witchcraft
(iii) Karma,
(iv) the concept of god,
(v) the meaning of life,
(vi) the purpose of Buddhism,
(vii) the concept of creation,
(viii) the explanation of Law of Cause and Effect,
(ix) the meaning of Gojukai,
(x) the meaning of Juzu.
Responding to these questions, the Chief Priest repeatedly referred to the law of cause and effect as taught by Buddhism. According to him, our difficulties in the present life are the results of the bad causes created in the past. He encouraged us to do the practice for oneself (by doing gongyo morning and evening consistently and chant lots of daimoku) and others (doing shakubuku) in order to create good causes to enjoy a happy life in this lifetime and have good circumstances in next life.
He also encouraged the new believers (those who have just received gojukai) to get rid of their previous beliefs and to have faith in Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching.
As the result of the Chief Priest’s visit, we are determined to achieve the shakubuku target of Togo District before Oeshiki ceremony and also achieve the target of 500 members participating in the Oeshiki ceremony at the Hokkeji Temple in Ghana this year.
