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2005-01-10 23:37:28 UTC
Soka Gakkai News
May 1, 1980
Formal Succession to High Priesthood
The ceremony to mark the formal succession to the high priesthood by
Nichiren Shoshu's 67th High Priest Nikken Abe was held on April 6 at
the head temple Taiseki-ji in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It
is regarded as the most important ritual of the temple.
High Priest Nikken Abe succeeded the 66th High Priest Nittatsu Hosoi,
who passed away on July 22 last year. The new high priest was installed
on August 8 last year, but the formal ceremony was deferred until this
spring.
High-ranking priests, (representatives of Soka Gakkai, including
Honorary President Daisaku Ikeda and President Hiroshi Hojo, and other
lay believers attended the rites held at the temple's Miei-do, a
ceremonial hall housing a life-size statue of Nichiren Daishonin.
The high priest led the participants in the recitation of the two most
essential chapters of the Lotus Sutra, in the midst of which the high
priest stood up and the recitation stopped.
He proceeded toward the Gohonzon, object of worship of Nichiren Shoshu,
and read a statement he had prepared for the special occasion. He
reported on the prosperous state of the religion to the "three
treasures" of Nichiren Shoshu--Nichiren Daishonin, the Gohonzon and
Nikko Shonin, Nichiren Daishonin's immediate successor, and the other
successive high priests. He also expressed his resolution to faithfully
continue the teachings and traditions as the successor to the orthodox
lineage.
After General Administrator Rev. Eido Fujimoto and representatives of
the priesthood and laity gave congratulatory speeches, High Priest
Nikken Abe addressed the gathering and spoke on the attitude to be
taken by both priests and lay believers. He made these three points:
1. Believers in Nichiren Shoshu should live up to the spirit of
Nichiren Daishonin, the priests by dedicating themselves night and day
to the practice, study and preaching of true Buddhism, and lay
believers by devoting themselves to the practice for the happiness of
oneself and for others, while respecting the "three treasures."
2. All followers of Nichiren Shoshu, priests and lay believers alike,
should exert their utmost to promote Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism to
bring about peace and happiness in the world.
3. Nichiren Shoshu believers should unite in the spirit of "many in
body, one in mind." After the ceremony, a congratulatory party was held
at the Grand Lecture Hall, with Fujinomiya Mayor Yoshitada Uematsu and
other guests attending.
In the evening, High Priest Nikken Abe "turned the Wheel of the Law"
for the first time by lecturing on a passage from Nichiren Daishonin's
writing. The phrase "turning the wheel" derives from an ancient Indian
concept and denotes the way in which the enlightened being preaches the
highest truths of the universe and mankind.
On the following day, the time-honoured annual "Omushibarai" ritual,
ceremonial airing of the temple treasures, consisting of the original
scriptures and writings of Nichiren Daishonin and successive high
priests, and other valuable objects and manuscripts, was observed at
the Grand Reception Hall, in the presence of the high priest. The
treasures are kept at the temple's Gohozo (Treasure House).
Special pilgrimages to the temple to celebrate the formal succession of
the high priest continued until April 17.
---
Derek Juhl
May 1, 1980
Formal Succession to High Priesthood
The ceremony to mark the formal succession to the high priesthood by
Nichiren Shoshu's 67th High Priest Nikken Abe was held on April 6 at
the head temple Taiseki-ji in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It
is regarded as the most important ritual of the temple.
High Priest Nikken Abe succeeded the 66th High Priest Nittatsu Hosoi,
who passed away on July 22 last year. The new high priest was installed
on August 8 last year, but the formal ceremony was deferred until this
spring.
High-ranking priests, (representatives of Soka Gakkai, including
Honorary President Daisaku Ikeda and President Hiroshi Hojo, and other
lay believers attended the rites held at the temple's Miei-do, a
ceremonial hall housing a life-size statue of Nichiren Daishonin.
The high priest led the participants in the recitation of the two most
essential chapters of the Lotus Sutra, in the midst of which the high
priest stood up and the recitation stopped.
He proceeded toward the Gohonzon, object of worship of Nichiren Shoshu,
and read a statement he had prepared for the special occasion. He
reported on the prosperous state of the religion to the "three
treasures" of Nichiren Shoshu--Nichiren Daishonin, the Gohonzon and
Nikko Shonin, Nichiren Daishonin's immediate successor, and the other
successive high priests. He also expressed his resolution to faithfully
continue the teachings and traditions as the successor to the orthodox
lineage.
After General Administrator Rev. Eido Fujimoto and representatives of
the priesthood and laity gave congratulatory speeches, High Priest
Nikken Abe addressed the gathering and spoke on the attitude to be
taken by both priests and lay believers. He made these three points:
1. Believers in Nichiren Shoshu should live up to the spirit of
Nichiren Daishonin, the priests by dedicating themselves night and day
to the practice, study and preaching of true Buddhism, and lay
believers by devoting themselves to the practice for the happiness of
oneself and for others, while respecting the "three treasures."
2. All followers of Nichiren Shoshu, priests and lay believers alike,
should exert their utmost to promote Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism to
bring about peace and happiness in the world.
3. Nichiren Shoshu believers should unite in the spirit of "many in
body, one in mind." After the ceremony, a congratulatory party was held
at the Grand Lecture Hall, with Fujinomiya Mayor Yoshitada Uematsu and
other guests attending.
In the evening, High Priest Nikken Abe "turned the Wheel of the Law"
for the first time by lecturing on a passage from Nichiren Daishonin's
writing. The phrase "turning the wheel" derives from an ancient Indian
concept and denotes the way in which the enlightened being preaches the
highest truths of the universe and mankind.
On the following day, the time-honoured annual "Omushibarai" ritual,
ceremonial airing of the temple treasures, consisting of the original
scriptures and writings of Nichiren Daishonin and successive high
priests, and other valuable objects and manuscripts, was observed at
the Grand Reception Hall, in the presence of the high priest. The
treasures are kept at the temple's Gohozo (Treasure House).
Special pilgrimages to the temple to celebrate the formal succession of
the high priest continued until April 17.
---
Derek Juhl