[The Way of HBS]
How to practice, How to live
as a HBS Practitioner
Rev. Nisso Fukuoka
Priest: Kyoke is a practice of converting others to the true faith of the HBS religion through education, influence, and resolution of doubts. Incidentally, on what religious teachings does HBS base its faith?
Q: Isn't it the Lotus Sutra?
A: Yes. The Lotus Sutra is our basic text. Please explain the fundamental basis of faith that Shakyamuni Buddha elucidated in the Lotus Sutra.
Q: We believe he taught it on the basis that there is no discrimination between people and to create a person who possesses a sympathetic soul of compassion and mercy. It is, namely, a Bodhisattva, isn't it?
A: Yes. Shakyamuni Buddha did not provide us with the Odaimoku or the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to satisfy his personal gain or greed. The aim of the Lotus Sutra was to build Bodhisattvas that can spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. What type of person is referred to as Bodhisattvas? The following Instructive Poem stated:
“Bodhisattvas, regardless of whether they are laymen or priests,
Are persons who help others".
How can one help? It is stated:
“A parishioner that endeavors to convert others
Is a Bodhisattva".
A parishioner cannot help others by their own power. They need the aid of the Gohonzon. Converting others to the HBS religion is to have them practice the chanting of the Odaimoku of the Lotus Sutra.
Q: Proselytism is a very important practice to realize the intentions of Shakymuni Buddha and Great Master Nichiren, isn't it?
A: Yes.
The Shortest Path to Receive Merits
Q: It seems that we, ordinary people, are practicing the faith to gain personal merits rather than endeavoring to convert others to the religion of HBS.
A: The following Instructive Poems is intended for those persons:
“By bestowing merits and virtues on others
Its reward will be returned to you".
"When endeavoring to aid others
It is also upon one's own body
Upon converting others
the merits of good deeds will be returned to you.
You will be happy and so will they."
It is said that the practice of converting others will benefit you as well as the converted. Its merits will be returned to you. Why is this the shortest path to gain protection?
Q: Isn't it because it is the main objective of the Buddha and Great Master Nichiren?
A: Yes. That is known as:“The correspondence between the Buddha's power and man's receptivity (Kanno Dokyo)". When the power of the Gohonzon, the Buddha power embodied in the Gohonzon, the power of the Odaimoku and the power of faith of the practitioners all come together, phenomenal merits will appear.
One must adjust the channel to that of the Buddha and Great Master Nichiren. If not, the correspondence between the powers of the Buddha or Great Master Nichiren and man's receptivity will not be accomplished. What then is the spirit of the Lotus Sutra and Buddha's true objective? It was stated:
“To spread the five words of the Odaimoku
Is the true objective of the Lotus Sutra".
The core of the teachings of the Lotus Sutra is to chant, Namumyohorengekyo, by oneself and to spread it to others. This is the only religion that can fulfill the will of the Buddha and Great Master Nichiren. Therefore, a person having the soul to convert others was elucidated as follows:
“Having a soul to pray for assistance to convert others
Its wishes will be contained in the prayer".
"It is a grateful law in aiding others
As one's wishes are contained therein"
Explanation:
By proselytizing, your own wishes will unknowingly be granted to you through the correspondence between the Buddha's power and man's receptivity.
Preparations Required To Convert Others
A: Can you elaborate on the steps to be taken to convert others?
Q: Is it to firmly offer a prayer asking for assistance before the Gohonzon?
A: Yes. To convert others cannot be accomplished by one's own power or ability. First of all, a petition must be offered to the Gohonzon asking for assistance and to pray day and night.
Q: We ask the Gohonzon for a “fulfillment of our earnest wishes" or “recovery from illness" without any hesitation, yet when it comes to converting others, we usually forget to offer a prayer don't we?
A: One should not neglect to offer a prayer to the Gohonzon to convert others and to pray on a daily basis. However, before approaching a person whom you wish to convert, pray at your home or at the temple's altar. In doing so:
“By the power of the Odaimoku
One can help others through their effort"
Q: Isn't it important to persuade as many people as possible with perseverance? Some people say, “I cannot think of anyone that I can attempt to convert".
A: Such people should examine carefully some of their associates. There must be someone among them that needs a prayer of “sowing the seeds of Buddhahood" into their soul. An Instructive Poems says:
“While having a conversation of current topics
Use it as a key to convert others"
Take an opportunity to convert others during conversations with neighbors or friends.
Q: There are times when an opportunity arises to persuade others to this religion but to accomplish it is extremely difficult.
A: It may be difficult to come out directly and ask, “Would you be interested in becoming a practitioner of the HBS religion?" But undoubtedly, there are many other ways one can approach a person.
Q: Some people have a misconception that they should do it alone when attempting to convert others, but shouldn't it be done through mutual cooperation with other parishioners?
A: Attempting to convert another requires a case—by—case technique. A parishioner should carefully assess the facts and circumstances of the individual before approaching the individual by themselves or with other parishioners. The following is an Instructive Poem, which outlines the basic knowledge that one must have to convert others;
“Do not attempt to spread the law by definition.
Just to chant is important,
And to receive merits is important"
In order to be successful in converting others, one must maintain simplicity. It cannot be accomplished by defining complicated teachings of Buddhist doctrines. The power to convert others is to have one imitate them by chanting the Odaimoku and to have them receive merits. An Instructive Poem states:
“People of this world who are grateful
Through persuasion, the law will spread".
Attaching provisions to convert others is forbidden. As stated in the following Instructive Poem, doing so always fails:
“Do not attach bargaining points
Because people despise this
Only sow genuine religious seeds".
Q: People who are good at converting others share the same characteristics. They are kind and considerate, aren't they?
A: Yes. They have “an atmosphere of a good parishioner of HBS" They are neither eloquent nor have a high social status, yet, strangely, they have a knack of converting others to the religion.
Nissen Shonin stated:
“A model parishioner who has a reputation of aiding others
Will attract others to the HBS religion".
