Nichiren Daishonin is the founder of Nichiren Shoshu. He passed away on October 13, 1282. The Oeshiki Ceremony is the celebration of the eternal life of Nichiren Daishonin. The Head Temple Taiseki-ji as well as local temples, like Myosenji Temple, decorate the altar with colorful paper cherry blossoms.
At the core of Buddhist doctrine is the revelation of the concept of oneness. The fact that at the time of the Daishonin’s death there was an earthquake as the cherry trees bloomed out of season teaches us the Buddhist concept of oneness. The oneness of the common mortal and Buddha. The oneness of life and its environment, the oneness of body and mind and the oneness of death and birth cannot be separated from each other. Therefore, at the moment of the True Buddha’s physical death, the earth shook in farewell, but the cherry trees bloomed out of season in welcome. Thus, the Daishonin’s passing reveals the principle of oneness.
October is the month we celebrate the passing of Nichiren Daishonin. The Oeshiki Ceremony is held at Myosenji Temple every October.
To learn more about this ceremony, you can read pages 40-44 in the book, Nichiren Shoshu Ceremonies.
