[General Guideline of HBS]
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
What was your motive(s) in becoming a parishioner of HBS?
Did it stem from:(a).Illness, (b).Monetary problems, (c).Overcoming mental stresses, (d).No specific reason, (e).Earnest persuasion by a parishioner or (f). Because parents' were already members of HBS? At any rate, unless one is not confronted with need, a soul for religion does not arise.
By the way, do you have a savings account? Undoubtedly, you are saving by skillfully managing your family budget. Why are you saving money? It is to prepare oneself to overcome any apprehensions one might have, isn't it? Religion is exactly that. Even when one does not have an immediate request, one can accumulate virtuous deeds through daily practices which will surely be useful in overcoming any unforeseen future crisis.
HBS's religion differs from the other Buddhist religions. The more one engages in HBS's religious activities, the more rewards one will receive from the Gohonzon. Let us now think about what one should do to receive rewards when it is needed. I will tell you now. Now that you have entered a mountain full of treasures, you should do the following basic duties as a parishioner to receive the treasure.
Okyuji (Serving the altar)
——————— Treat it as a living Buddha———————
From ancient time, HBS's duties were to serve the Gohonzon; to engage in religious practices; to study the doctrines if time permits and to revere the Scripture and priests. Even though one does not know what religion is at first, serve it with sincerity. By doing so one will spontaneously be able to understand the value of the religion. Then, let us think together, in detail, what should one do:
a). Do you have all the necessary tools? Do you have a cup for the altar, a duster, several wiping cloth, matches, and a facial mask to cover your nose and mouth?.
b). Are you offering water every morning to the altar? The water is not to be taken directly from the faucet into the cup for the altar. It should be taken into a separate container first and then poured into the cup for the altar.
c). Let us clean the altar every day. Make sure to wear a mask while serving the altar. Do not wear inappropriate clothing, such as an apron or a tee shirt. It is impolite to the altar.
d). Offer the altar with fresh goods. Make sure that they are purified by the use of a flint.
e). Adorn the altar with fresh flowers in fresh water. Remove any withered flowers.
f). Ask your priest for any questionable matters.
Cleaning and adorning the altar must be a daily practice of a parishioner. Get accustomed to it.
Gokyoka:
“Cleaning the altar and adorning it with fregrance, flowers, and votive light will become one's storehouse of virtues".
Okankin (Chanting of the Odaimoku)
HBS is also known as a “Chanting Sect". The religious practice of HBS is to chant the Odaimoku as many times as possible.
No matter how many dietetic experiments are conducted, the experments alone are not nutritious, one must consume food to build energy. It is the same with religion. No matter how grateful one may feel within their heart, unless the Odaimoku is chanted by mouth it cannot store energies of virtues. The founder of HBS, Nissen Shonin stated: “If chanting is religion, feeling grateful only by soul is not religion". There are some parishioners who know that unless the Odaimoku is repeatedly chanted it serves no purpose (in vain), but they do not really understand “for what reasons it is being chanted". The founder of HBS, Nissen Shonin stated: “To chant the Odaimoku is a religious practice. To feel only grateful within one's heart is not religion. “ Let us learn from the following teachings of Nissen Shonin as to why chanting is necessary:
A). It is to eradicate sins:
Whether we lead a happy or unhappy daily life depends on the seeds one sowed into their subconscious mind. That is the fundamental teachings of Buddhism. Let's leave the factor of happiness alone for this moment, and think about the causes for unhappiness and misfortunes. After all, we cannot overlook the fact that we are carrying on our back, sins and hindrances (bad karmas) of the past world. Therefore, it is most important to filter and eradicate the bad karmas through practices of religion. That is the reason for chanting the Odaimoku.
B). That Which One Desires or Aspires To Be Answhed:
We all want our wishes and desires to be fulfilled, whether they are large or small. There are some that cannot be accomplished by one's own power. Moreover, people are exposed to unexpected dangers. Therefore, we must rely on the power of the Odaimoku to assist us in keeping a healthy and safe life. For those reasons, it is important to chant the Odaimoku out loud by mouth.
C). Merit‐Transference for Our Ancestors:
For the benefit of our ancestors, their pain should be removed in order to provide them with comfort. That can be done through the merit‐transference of chanting of the Odaimoku. To care for them is tantamount to caring for your own life. Why? Because our life was granted and inherited from our ancestors. Let us have a sense of gratefulness to our ancestors. Those who care for their ancestors will lead a successful life. There are many such examples. Let's conduct merit‐transference services for the benefit of our ancestors as well as for ourselves by chanting the Odaimoku.
D). To Spread The Teachings:
Persons who engage in HBS religion should not be an egoist. They should share their happiness with others, and not keep it to themselves. We want others to be happy, too. For that reason, let us counsel as many people as possible to belive in our true religion. To build such a soul, let's endeavor to conscientiously chant the Odaimoku.
E). One who is ungrateful to the religion of the Lotus Sutra is referred to as a beast.
Let us not forget that we are being protected by the Gohonzon at all times. To show our gratefulness and gratitude to the Gohonzon, let us chant the Odaimoku conscientiously.
Keep in mind the five briefly summarized items mentioned above, and we should diligently chant the Odaimoku.
"It is better to chant the Odaimoku a million times more
than just a thousand times to receive 'Goriyaku'(rewards)"
said Nissen Shonin. By doing so, pleasure and gratefulness for the religion will be born.
Let's make it a daily practice to chant the Odaimoku in front of the altar by all members of the family.
