“Year for building solid foundations in Nichiren Shu throughout Europe”

1.Let’s renew our faith and return to the prime point: Chant the Lotus Sutra with abundant Odaimoku everyday and every evening.

Let’s strengthen and deepen our faith, and begin to feel the joy of practicing Buddhism by chanting the Lotus Sutra and abundant Odaimoku everyday. I further suggest to chant at least 30 minutes – one hour of Odaimoku per day. In doing this, with the Mandala Gohonzon and our daily faith and practice as the centre of our life, you will create a base to radically change and improve your life over time.

In addition to Sutra recitation and chanting the Odaimoku, please observe meditation for at least a few minutes once per day, in which we can reflect on our growth, our life, our character, our faith, certain aspects of Buddhism, how one can become a better Buddhist, contribute to Nichiren Shu community, grow as a human being and contibute to those around us and all of society.

In starting each day, as soon as we wake up (we wash our face and dress ourselves, but before eating), greet the Mandala Gohonzon, the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin by saying “good morning!” as you offer a cup of tea and fresh water, light the candles and incense. After morning prayers during Otsutome, service to the Buddha, enjoy a nice warm cup of tea or coffee, and a healthy breakfast, before starting your day, work, studies, etc..

Upon return home from work, before eating our evening meal, let’s report our days activites to the Mandala Gohonzon, the Buddha and Ncihren Shonin as we offer the recitation of the sutra and Odaimoku. After serving the Three Treasures, then let’s enjoy nice meal with our family, discuss the day and enjoy time together with our loved ones. Before going to bed, please chant the Odaimoku 3 times, while saying good night to the Three Treasures enshrined in you family altar.

In observing our faith in this way, the Four Powers (the power of the Buddha, the power of the Dharma, the power of faith and the power of putting Buddhism into practice) will unite together, to greatly enrich our lives with limitless merit, benefit and happiness.

2. Let’s live our life with gratitude

During evening Otsutome, let’s observe a few minutes of meditation, and report to the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin about your day. During this time, strive to recall 5 nice things that happened that day, and say thank you, followed by Odaimoku chanted in gratitude. It is easiest for us to recall bad things, and often difficult to recall good things. But by acknowleging the kindness one has bestowed upon you, and expressing your heartfelt gratitude, enriches your life and the life of those who have been kind to us. It also keeps our life in more of a positive mode and invites joy into our lives. A positive and joyful person, will then invite more positive and joyful things. A frowning, constantly complaining or angry person, will only scare them away and invite more negativity. Therefore, let’s return to our prime point of faith and living: Faith in the Mandala gohonzon, a strong daily Buddhist practice and living with awareness of kindness and good brought into our life, accompanied with heartfelt gratitude. These are the keys to beginning a healthy and solidly positive life. Let’s also encourage all those around us to do the same.

3. Let’s strive to build a solid Nichiren Shu Buddhist Community throughout every country of Europe.

This past year of 2010 was a great turning point for the Renkoji Buddhist community of members, beleivers and friends. Nichiren Shu grew enormously throughout Europe this past year. Throughout the past years, we had scattered believers in Italy, France and Spain, but this past year has seen the formation of small solid groups not only in many new areas throughout these countries, but also in Poland, and other countries. We are now taking the first steps towards actually building a truly solid foundation for Nichiren Shu in Europe. Furthermore, amongst many wonderful events and projects we are now working on, this next year will see the creation of Sutra books in Spanish and Polish, The Lotus Sutra and Goibun translations as well as varied study materials in Italian, and all France General Pilgrimage and Retreat at Renkoji, and the re-launching of our new (multi-language in Italian, French, Spanish and English) website of the Nichiren Shu Renkoji Buddhist Community, as well as hosting the official opening of Renkoji Temple, this upcoming 10-11 September here in Cereseto. 2011 promises to be a busy and productive year for all of us!

Many of us have many years of Buddhist practice, with other Nichiren schools or groups, or even other Buddhist tradtions. Some of us have also studied quite a bit and have many rich experiences with Buddhism. Some of less experience with Buddhism and are new to our faith. However, let’s strive to remember, that in order to always grow in Buddhism and receive the maximum benefit of our practice, we should remain humble and nurture the spirit that we are all together students striving to learn more about Buddhism, strengthen and deepen our understanding, faith and practice. Let’s warmly encourage and support each other, and let no one feel that they are more advanced or know best, criticize, gossip, or take advanage of the others in our Sangha. Let’s treat each other with kindness, respect and dignity. Let’s also strive to conduct ourselves in a –noble- manner: with insight, tranquillity, kindness and politeness. All of us want to be treated well and with respect. Let us then first strive to treat others with respect, warmth and kindess. In turn, you will see that others will treat you in the same manner as you have first offered them.

Finally, let’s also remember that as we strive to study the Dharma, deepen our faith and propagte Nichiren Shu we will also work hard to build up the groups of believers in the various areas. Everyone should strive to not only receive but also to contribute greatly to the well-being of the groups and our overall Nichiren Shu Buddhist community. Let us also not loose sight, that the local group is not the main focus of our faith and Buddhist learning, but it is instead our temple which is the Dojo and our participation in Renkoji activities that will help us to learn more about Buddhism, and experience many things to help to truly grow in faith and understanding. The local groups are only an auxilary support and an outlet of our temple, just as our individual altars with the Mandala Gohonzon are an extension of Renkoji into our own home. Our prime source of Buddhist learning and training begins in our temple of Renkoji, under the guidance and instruction of the priests. In this way, we can learn how to properly learn the faith, practice and proper spirit in Nichiren Shu Buddhism in accordance with the teachings of Nichiren Shonin.

With this in mind, let’s strive with all our might… with our daily faith and life, to grow into truly noble Buddhists - sons and daughters of the Buddha.

Nichiren Shonin taught us in his writing, Embracing the Lotus Sutra:

If one acts in accordance with the Buddha's will, one will be able

to repay the debt of gratitude we owe to the Buddha. 

Let’s together be united in supporting each other with kindness and gentleness, and finally, let’s all work together to do the Buddha’s and Nichiren Shonin’s work here in each of our respective countries throughout Europe and accomplish our Founders’s great dream of Itten Shikai in helping hundreds and thousands of people to embrace the Lotus Sutra and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, enjoy the fruits of Buddhist faith and practice: being free from stress and suffering, while instead embracing a secure and tranquil heart, blessed with happiness and an enlightened life.