New Year's Gongyo
Date: 1 January 2025 (Wed)
Time: 12am, 8am & 11am
Significance of Gantan Gongyo (New Year's Gongyo)
Making determinations and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo indicates the significance of New Year's Day. Even though one may be dressed in beautiful clothes and filled with determination for the new year, without chanting Daimoku, determinations will be short-lived and self-centered. When the festivities are over, one simply returns to a world of delusion and old problems.
In the strictest sense, a genuine New Year's Day Ceremony is carried out only by Nichiren Shoshu priests and believers who are sincerely practicing to the Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws. We, who bask in the benefit of the True Buddha's mercy, should recognize New Year's Gongyo as a most profound and auspicious ceremony that encompasses the meaning of the True Buddha's enlightenment of Kuon-ganjo (time without beginning, or eternity).
As Nichiren Shoshu believers, we should put New Year's Gongyo first, before other activities. By performing a vigorous first Gongyo of the year, we become determined to maintain sincere, steadfast faith. We should also strive to develop a confident practice for ourselves and others throughout the year.
Extracted from Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple, Taisekiji Official Website.
Kosen-rufu Shodai
Date: 4 January 2025 (Sat)
Time: 530pm
Date: 5 January 2025 (Sun)
Time: 10am
What is kosen-rufu?
The objectives of our faith are to attain Buddhahood in our position as common mortals and to transform the saha world into the entity of the Mystic Law, the Land of Eternally Tranquil Light, through embracing and practising the Three Great Secret Laws of Nichiren Daishonin. Our efforts in steadily advancing towards these objectives represent the attainment of enlightenment.
As more and more people aspire to attain Buddhahood not only in Japan but in every corner of the world, the Buddha land will naturally take form. This process is called Kosen-rufu. As we ceaselessly progress towards attaining this objective, we can establish the life condition of limitless joy within our lives.
Extracted from “The Great Objective of Kosenrufu (World Peace)”, A Lesson from the Sermon Rock, Sermons & Homilies (Part 2), Nichiren Shoshu Monthly February 1995, Kaimyo Magazine Issue 24
Oko Ceremony
Date: 10 January 2025 (Fri)
Time: 7 pm
Date: 11 January 2025 (Sat)
Time: 5 pm
Date: 12 January 2025（Sun）
Time: 10 am
Significance of the Oko Ceremony
“Ko” of Oko means to recite the sutra in reverence for the Gohonzon and our founder, Nichiren Daishonin and furthermore, to give a lecture on the doctrines and the sutras to repay the debts of gratitude. In Nichiren Shoshu, the priest conducts kenzen ceremony, recites the sutra and chants Daimoku to the Gohonzon enshrined in the main hall of the local temple. He then reads the Daishonin’s Gosho and gives a lecture on how one should practise his/her faith.
It is stated in “Letter to Niike” (Niike gosho):
“No matter what, be close to the priest who knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra, keep learning from him the truth of Buddhism and continue your journey of faith.”
(Gosho, p. 1457 MW-1, p.255)
As this passage teaches, it is important for one to visit the priest who knows the Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws, the basis of the Life Span chapter of the Lotus Sutra. In other words, one should visit his/her chief priest at the local temple and learn about the profundity of Buddhism and deepen his/her faith.
Furthermore, based on such faith, devoting oneself to the propagation of the True Law is itself repaying the debts of gratitude to the Daishonin. This will lead to one’s faith to an attitude of appreciation of the Gohonzon on a daily basis.
Extracted from “The Benefits of the Gohonzon and the Faith of Repaying Debts of Gratitude”, 2008 Summer Study Tozan, Kaimyo Magazine Issue 38
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