As we welcome the New Year, the 772nd since the establishment of Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism, I am delighted to see Nichiren Shoshu priests and lay believers
all greeting the New Year in good spirits and with renewed resolve to further advance in
faith and practice.
This year’s slogan—and our course of action for 2024—is the “Year of Further
Progress in Shakubuku.” Let’s make it a truly significant year, one of great progress in
our quest to bring about kosen-rufu! In a spirit of repaying our debt of gratitude to the
three treasures of true Buddhism, let’s focus all our energy into putting shakubuku into
practice, priesthood and laity unanimously united, many in body, one in mind with
Nichiren Daishonin!
The reason is simple. All you need to do is look at the world today—in particular, the
situation in the wake of the lingering COVID pandemic —through the lens of Buddhism.
In the Rissho ankoku-ron (On Securing the Peace of the Land through the Propagation
of True Buddhism), Nichiren Daishonin elucidates:
…All people have gone against the correct Law and become wholly devoted to
evil doctrines. This is why all the guardian deities have abandoned this country and
sages have left this land, not to return. Seizing this opportunity, devils and demons
rush in, bringing disasters and calamities. This is most fearful. We must speak out!
(Gosho, p. 234; The Gosho of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 2, p. 3)
His opening words, “All people have gone against the correct Law and become
wholly devoted to evil doctrines,” are clear. We need to realize that at the root of the
world’s misfortune is the toxin of people’s slander (hobo); namely, their rejecting the
correct teaching and instead following false doctrines.
Given this perspective, though we are many in body, it is essential that we, priests and
lay followers alike, be of one mind and concentrate all our energy on advancing the
worldwide propagation of the mystic Law.
In “Questions and Answers between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man” (“Shogu
mondo-sho”), the Daishonin states:
To bestow benefit upon all people through the propagation of Buddhism, one first
must have a thorough understanding of the teaching, capacity, time, country, and
sequence of propagation. As for the periods [of propagation], there are the Former,
Middle, and Latter Days of the Law. As for the Law, there are both Mahayana and
Hinayana teachings. As for the practices, there are shoju and shakubuku. If one
carries out shakubuku during the period when shoju should be practiced, this will
be inappropriate. On the other hand, if one performs the practice of shoju during
the era when shakubuku must be used, this will be an offense. Thus, it is of
foremost importance to know first whether the present time is for shoju or
shakubuku. The time to practice shoju is when the Lotus Sutra spreads throughout
the nation and there is not a single evil teaching or master. At that time, one should
withdraw to the forests and devote oneself to the practice of observing one’s mind
and the Law, carrying out the practices such as the five practices, the six practices,
and the ten practices. However, during the time of shakubuku, one should not act
in this manner. When erroneous doctrines of various sects become rampant and
compete against each other, gaining acclaim by taking the stance that their
respective doctrines are superior to others; and when incorrect teachings are
viewed as equal to the correct Law, and Mahayana and Hinayana followers fight
with each other over what is correct—this is the time, above all else, to refute these
slanderers. This is the practice of shakubuku. The Lotus Sutra and the Nirvana
Sutra both state that if one is unaware of this principle and is mistaken about the
implementation of shoju and shakubuku, one will be far removed from receiving
the benefit of attaining Buddhahood. Rather, one will fall into hell. This is also
clearly stated in the interpretations provided by Tiantai and Miaole. What I mention
here is critical in conducting Buddhist practices.
(Gosho, p. 402)
In light of this passage, and in view of the current turmoil in Japan and the world
today, we need to realize that now, as at no other time, is when each of us needs to take
action, steadfast in the conviction that we are refuting errant teachings and proclaiming
the correct one, and translate into practice the Daishonin’s mandate found in “On
Practicing according to the Buddha’s Teachings” (“Nyosetsu shugyo-sho”) where he
writes:
Whomever you may meet, conduct shakubuku to the people and refute the
teachings of the other sects. Proclaim repeatedly with all your might that the Lotus
Sutra is the only teaching that will lead the people to Buddhahood, and that the
various other teachings obstruct them from attaining enlightenment and are the root
cause for leading them to fall into hell.
(Gosho, p. 673)
In closing, let me say that I sincerely hope you will etch this passage into your hearts,
and that the many members of your temples will be of one mind in aiming towards
kosen-rufu of the whole world. I look forward to your waging a great campaign of
courageous shakubuku so that you and all humanity can achieve Buddhahood in this
lifetime!
New Year’s Address High Priest Nichinyo Shonin January 1, 2024
