In the early morning of April 28, 1253, Nichiren Daishonin, age 32, stood alone in Kasagamori forest at the top of Seicho-zan Mountain waiting for dawn. As the sun rose above the Pacific Ocean, Nichiren Daishonin joined his hands in prayer and began to chant the Daimoku: “Nam-Myoho-renge-Kyo…”
Nichiren Daishonin stated in “Letter to the Priests at Seicho-ji Temple”:
To repay my debt of gratitude to Bodhisattva Kokuzo, on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Kencho (1253), south of the image hall in Dozen-bo’s lodging in Seichoji Temple in Awa Province, I began preaching the Law to the priests and lay believers assembled there, such as Josen-bo and some others. (Gosho, p.946)
Each year in April, every Nichiren Shoshu Temple celebrates the Risshu-e Ceremony. The significance of the annual Risshu-e Ceremony is to express our gratitude to Nichiren Daishonin, the founder of True Buddhism.
Myosenji Temple will celebrate this ceremony on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 10 am.
Reference: Nichiren Shoshu Ceremonies book and The Doctrines and Practice of Nichiren Shoshu book.
