Those who practice the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, which never fails to turn into spring. Never have I seen or heard of winter turning into autumn. Nor have I ever heard of any believer in the Lotus Sutra who remained a common mortal. A passage from the sutra reads, “Among those who hear of this Law, there is no one who can not attain Buddhahood.”
written by Nichiren Daishonin in 13th century Japan
New Year’s Day has been celebrated in various ways since ancient times and marks the renewal of a person’s determination to open the way to happiness. For Buddhists, making determinations to improve your life 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 Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, determinations will be short-lived and self-centered. When the festivities are over, one simply returns to a world of delusion and old problems.
By chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, our lives, which have been poisoned by negative karma, will transform into lives of enlightenment. In Buddhism, the word “revive” means to transform our evil nature into a higher life-condition and to attain Buddhahood.
New Year’s Day – Visit Myosenji Temple
Start the new year, 2017, doing something truly different. Visit our Buddhist Temple and learn how to change your Karma and change your life for the better. Here’s what you will experience:
- Brief lecture on Buddhism and Karma by our Chief Priest.
- Learn how to chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and properly use the Juzu Beads, Buddhist prayer beads.
- Q&A with our Chief Priest.
- The meeting starts at 2:00 pm and concludes around 3:15 pm.
If you have decided to become a Buddhist or are interested in learning how to become a Buddhist, Rev Sakabe will be performing the Acceptance of the Precept Ceremony, the ceremony where you become a Buddhist, immediately following the meeting.
Call or email the Temple if you have questions. Hope to see you at the Temple New Year’s Day!
[Photo taken at Head Temple Taisekiji, Japan]
