Nichiren Shu Buddhist Temple of London Newsletter

August -September 2007

Hello, how is everyone?

This is Rev. Tsukamoto. At last I am pleased to send you the first newsletter. I would like to send you the newsletter every other month. Please enjoy.

Already four months have passed since I came to London. During this time, I have met some of the congregation but there are still some I have not yet had the pleasure to meet. Service is held every Sunday followed by a Study Class. In the Study Class, I instruct you on the original Nichiren-Shu Buddhism and tradition which means you will not be able to hear or learn from books. Unfortuantely, there are no Nichiren-Shu temples in Britain only London. Won't you come over to our Temple and enjoy sharing the source of energy of life. Let us share Nichiren Shonin's teachings. I look forward to seeing you soon. Gassho Rev. Tsukamoto.

'O-Bon'

Every year, we have important events in Nichiren-Shu. O-bon is one of those big events. According to tradition it is said, around O-Bon time the lid opens for the pot of hell which means the door of the spiritual world opens and it is a time when our ancestors return to their home in this world. To Prepare for O-Bon members or relatives of the family gather and decorate their family altar in their home with flowers, incense and lanterns as well as fruits, vegetables, confectionary, noodles, sake and wine. They also visit Temple and the cemetery to pray and offer gratitude to the deceased spirits or ancestors. Nichiren Shonin often mentions O-bon in his writings.

The formal name of O-Bon is 'Urabon-e'. This comes from the Sanskrit 'Ullambana'. It meas 'Extreme suffering like hanging upside down'. There is a well known story about the Buddha's disciple which is how and why O-Bon was originated.

2500 years ago, when the Buddha was still alive, there was one disciple, who had supernatural powers. It is said that he is the top disciple of supernatural powers and that he could see the fture or the past, even all spiritual worlds, as well as Hell. His name was Mokuren. When he was young, his mother had died. Since he obtained his supernatural powers under the Buddha's trainng, he was concerned about his mother and tried to check where his mother was located. First he searched the top level, the Enlightened World but he could not find her. Then he searched the middle level and still he could not find her. Finally he found his mother in the lower level which is the Gaki suffering world, just before Hell. He was so upset, because his mother was hanging upside-down and suffering. She looked miserable; her stomach was swollen, her face was dark and the muscles had dropped, her eyes were sunken because of starvation and thirst. So he tried to feed her some food with his supernatural powers; first he tried to give her some food bt when she tried to approach her mouth with the food, it turned into fire and she got burnt. He was terribly upset and he tried to feed her cold water but as before when she tried putting the water to her mouth it turned to fire again and she was burned seriously. Mokuren rushed to the Buddha to consult about his mother and then the Buddha ased him, "Did you offer food or water to anyone else?". Mokuren replied, "No, just my mother". The Buddha explained, "you mother dropped into the Gaki suffering world because she was very stingy and did not share with others. If you want to save your mother, you must feed not only your mother but all suffering spirits."

The Buddha adviced Mokuren to invite as many monks as he could and prepare as much food and water as he could and then hold a service for all suffering spirits. Mokuren invited the monks when their summer training was completed on August 15th. Once Mokuren followed the Buddha's advice, his mother was able to have water and food and she also moved up to a better level of the spiritual world. Since that episode, August 15th became an important day to save all suffering spirits and became known as O-Bon. In Buddhism we are able to save all suffering spirits even spirits who have dropped into hell.

PRAYER

O-Bon, is a spiritual event to respect and give gratitude to our ancestors and to pray for all spirits. Why should we respect our ancestors? There is no complicated reason; all we require is a respect and gratitude sense for our ancestors and we should realize how wonderful and precious our life is. If there are no parents, grandparents and great grandparents or ancestors, you would not be here. Also, we should realize that our nature and characteristics have come from the genes of our parents, grandparents and great grandparents or ancestors. In other words, we should accept our genes as messages from our ancestors and know that we are located at the end of the message. This means you are also the messenger for the next new generation.

Actually, the closest ancestors that we know of are our great grandparents; we don't know the older ancestors who came before them. However, because of the unknown ancestors, it does not mean that we do not have respect for them. Although we don't know our ancestors individually, they know us very well. Therefore, as a mother is concerned for her children, your ancestors are concerned about you. In regads to the ancestors, if their children, or great grandchildren or descendants ignore them and do not take care of them by holding a Memorial Service, how sad they are. Nichiren shonin said,

"Even though we take our body from our parents, after your parents death if you do not take care of them and your ancestors - no memorial service, no prayers, no respect; do you think that your deceased parents cannot say anything? They will become malevolent spirits and curse not only you but also your children, grandchildren as well as future descendents."

Cursing means they will punish you with bad things. In fact, it is not a rare case where malevolent spirits have cursed a descendant, for example, meeting with a mishap, accident, sickness, domestic discord, human relations troubles, etc. We tend to see and think of everything based on only visible things, but we never think of spiritual influences. However, you might not believe that unexpectedly there are many cases; most of the happenings that happed around us are affected by spirits.

Praying for our ancestors is an important and wonderful thing, however without respect and a sense of humbleness it is difficult to pray for our ancestors. Please try to think and know about your ancestors and raise within you this sense of respect. As in the story of the Buddha's disciple, when we pray for our ancestors we need to show more compassion not only to save our ancestors but all suffering spirits too, and then we will be able to save and make peace for our parents, great grandparents, ancestors and others. Buddhism teaches us about entire happiness rather than partial happiness. Therefore, we should think of a way to make all beings happy rather than only our own happiness. This is a faithful way of life as a Nichiren-Shu Buddhist. The O-Bon Segaki Service will be observed on August 19th at 11:00am. Around that time, together with compassion, please pray for your ancestors as well as all suffering spirits with Toba. This Segaki Service hols special merits for everyone. If you are able, please attend this Service. Gassho.

Announcement

O-BON SEGAKI SERVICE -Sunday, 19th August, 2007 at 11:00am

O-Bon is a special event for Buddhist. Every year, August 13th to 16th is O-Bon week. Around this time, your ancestors' souls will return to their beloved one's home. In order to welcome them, please prepare O-Bon; visitng ancestors' cemetery for cleaning and praying, and offering seasonal fruits, vegetables, flowers, sweets and Shojin (vegetable meal), before your Butsudan (Buddhist Altar) and pray for their peace.

On the 19th August, we will observe O-Bon Segaki Service for suffering spirits and our ancestors. Nichiren Shonin said "The merits of the O-Bon Segaki Service extend not only to seven generations of ancestors but also t all suffering spirits." When we pray for our ancestors, we offer Toba (wood tablet) for each spirit, because Toba has a role to deliver your heart, love and compassion to the spirit. As you know on Toba cost £5.00. Please write the name of your ancestors: parents, grandparents, relatives and others on the PRAYER APPLICATION FORM and return it to the Temple by Friday, 17th August or send email to Rev. Tsukamoto: revtsukamoto@yahoo.co.jp

AUTUMN O-HIGAN SEGAKI SERVICE - Sunday, 23rd September at 11:00am

Autumn O-Higan Segaki Service will be held on Sunday, September 23rd at 11:00am. When we pray for spirits, we offer Toba (wood tablet) for each spirit like Obon, because Toba has a role to deliver your heart, love and compassion to the spirit. One Toba costs £5.00. Please write the name of your ancestors: parents, grandparents, relatives and others on the PRAYER APPLICATION FORM and return it to the Temple by Friday, 21st September or send email to Rev. Tsukamoto: revtsukamoto@yahoo.co.jp

AUTUMN O-HIGAN

The world that is filled with worldly desire is called 'Higan'. The enlightened world beyond the ocean of worldly desire is called 'Shigan' and 'O' is honorific. O-Higan is held twice every year, the equinox week of Spring and Autumn. It is said that when daytime is the same length as night time, a human beings' mind tends to be induced into a religious mind. It is a time to emphasize practicing and studying Buddhism. During this time, we reflect on our daily life and refresh our heart by Buddha's teachings and practices. There are six important precepts, "The Six Paramitas" to practice for enlightenment:

1. Fuse (Donation without any expectation of return)
            Wealth: Offering money, wealth or time.
            Labour: offering time or labour
            Relief: Removing other’s fear to make person peaceful.
            Teaching: Offering the Buddha’s teachings to others as a guide.

2. Jikai (Keeping the Five Precepts)
            No killing
            No stealing
            No adultery
            No lying
            No pointing others faults
            No slander
            No greed
            No anger
            No drinking
            No slandering the Buddha and priests

3. Endurance: being patient, keeping calm and don’t be angry.

4. Endeavour: making steady efforts and doing your best always.

5. Meditation: keeping calm constantly to observe everything as it is.

6. Wisdom: considering what is the truth.

O-Higan week begins on Thursday, September 20th until Wednesday, Septemer 26th. Please practice the Six Paramitas for your meaningful life.

STUDY CLASS

We hold a study class after Sunday Service. The Purpose of the Study Class is to learn the proper understanding of Nichiren-shu Buddhism. Rev. Tsukamoto teaches and explains Basica Buddhism to the Doctrine of Nichien-shu Buddhism clearly and easily. Please feel free to participate.

Acknowledgement

April 2007

Mr. Nigel Wray, Ms. Giedre Sarilionyte, Ms. Erica Kelly, Ms. Valentina Michaels, Mr. Aleem McKenzie, Ms. Marthe Stigter, Mr. Basil Youdell, Ms. Vanessa Mori, Mr. Simon Robins, Miss Jodie Kindred, Ms. Metter Ashby, Mr. Ben Capon, Mr. David Alder

Thank you very much for your donations.

*Anyone who wishes to recieve the Newsletter in Japanese, please advice and I will forward to you.

 

*I, Rev. Tsukamoto, am looking for a reliable car. If you know some one who wants to sell a car, please contact Rev. Tsukamoto. 02083481433 or send email revtsukamoto@yahoo.co.jp

Gassho

 

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