Every month at Myosenji Buddhist Temple, the Oko Ceremony is conducted. In Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, the ceremony is held to repay our debt of gratitude for the profound benefit of the Three Treasures: Nichiren Daishonin (the Buddha), the Dai-Gohonzon (the Law) and Nikko Shonin (the Priesthood).
The ceremony begins with an offering of traditional foods to the Three Treasures and is then followed by the recitation of the Hoben and Juryo chapters of the Lotus Sutra. After chanting, the Chief Priest gives a lecture. The concept of acknowledging and repaying debts of gratitude, which is the basic spirit of the Oko Ceremony, is essential to a correct understanding of True Buddhism and our own lives.
Visit Myosenji Temple
To learn how you can begin your Buddhist practice, visit Myosenji Temple this Sunday, August 16th, at 2:00 pm for our next Introduction to Buddhism class. The lecture by Rev Murata will be the Buddhist Concept of the Ten Worlds. Following the brief lecture, our Chief Priest will conduct a Q&A session and teach you how to chant properly.
If you have decided to become a Buddhist or are interested in learning how to become a Buddhist, after Sunday’s meeting (about 3:30 pm) Rev Murata will be performing the Acceptance of the Precept Ceremony, the ceremony where you become a Buddhist.
Excerpted: Nichiren Shoshu Ceremonies, The Oko Ceremony: Lecture in Praise of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 52.
