Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
Paziram Drareg
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/jqpublic/carego.html
Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
Words of Reverend Shoshin Kawabe, Myogyoji Temple, West Chicago.
Gohonzon bestowal ceremony
Congratulations on receiving the Gohonzon. The ceremony to welcome the Gohonzon to your home
signifies your gaining the source that leads to the most fulfilled life, founded upon faith. If is an
important and solemn ceremony to receive in your home the most noble and dignified True Buddha who
will correctly guide your life. The following are important points for the Gohonzon enshrinement
ceremony and handling and care of the Gohonzon. We sincerely hope for your thorough understanding
and observance of these points.
Please do not open the envelope and unroll the Gohonzon on the way home after the Gojukai
ceremony. You must wrap the envelope with a cloth (fukusa) and safely place it in a case or bag you
brought for that reason. When you carry the Gohonzon in a case or bag, please be careful to protect it
from any external pressure. Please keep the Gohonzon in the envelope until it is ready to be properly
enshrined.
The Gohonzon may be enshrined in just about any room of the house, be it on the first or second floor.
The important thing, however,is to consider the most suitable place for the Gohonzon. Places with
heavy foot traffic that stir up dust; those too near the distracting noises of the bathroom or kitchen; or
others that you may think are not appropriate for the Gohonzon should be avoided.
Before the Gohonzon enshrinement ceremony, you must prepare a Buddhist altar (butsudan) and
various Buddhist accessories (butsugu such as an incense burner, vase(s) for evergreens, candle
holder(s), a water cup, a bell and bell striker. Your Buddhist accessories should include either the
three-piece set of one incense burner, one vase and one candle holder (sangusoku); or the five-piece set
of one incense burner, two vases and two candle holders (gogusoku). If the Buddhist altar is freshly
painted, please make certain that the paint is dry before enshrining the Gohonzon. Also, the room should
be cleaned beforehand.
Ideally, a Buddhist altar is positioned so that the Gohonzon is facing south. This, however, is a
guideline; if the floor plan or the arrangement or the room does not allow you to place the altar in this
fashion, you can be flexible. In some cases the altar may face due east, and you would have to turn you
back to the Gohonzon when you recite the first prayer in morning Gongyo. To avoid turning your back
completely to the Gohonzon in such instances, you should position yourself slightly off line from the
Gohonzon during the first prayer. Also, if the altar is on the east wall and you cannot do the first prayer
with out directly facing the Gohonzon, again you should seat yourself slightly off line.
After all the necessary preparations are made, you can proceed with the enshrinement ceremony itself.
First, all participants should wash their hands and rinse their mouths. Secondly all participants, except
the one enshrining the Gohonzon, should start chanting Daimoku solemnly to the empty altar (the
enshriner should be chanting Daimoku silently). Next the enshriner should take away any accessories
that may interfere with the enshrinement and put them on a separate table. (If you wish, you may put a
white table cloth on this separate table).
The enshriner then places an evergreen clipping or a piece of white paper between his or her lips (do not
use incense). If a leafy green plant like shikimi, the traditional evergreen offering, is used, it is most
appropriate to have the glossy side up. Gloves should not be worn; the enshrinement of the Gohonzon
should be conducted with bare hands. The enshriner removes the Gohonzon from its protective
envelope.
Please show due respect to the Gohonzon and carefully remove the Gohonzon from the envelope. After
unrolling the Gohonzon halfway, the leader then hangs the Gohonzon by the string attached to the two
nails on the top of the Gohonzon. Then, holding the bottom wood part, unrolls the Gohonzon very
slowly, letting the weight of the wood do the work. Without using undo pressure, treat the Gohonzon,
which is made of wood and paper, with the utmost care. You can touch the brown frame part of the
Gohonzon if necessary, but please never touch the white part of the Gohonzon with the inscription of
the Chinese characters, handle the Gohonzon very gently with the utmost care and with the lightest
touch. The Gohonzon can be wrinkled if too much pressure is applied to it. No matter how long it takes,
please handle the Gohonzon carefully. Also, never breath on the Gohonzon.
After it is enshrined, you may notice that the bottom of the Gohonzon curls upward. In time, it will
straighten out. If, however, the member is particularly concerned, the enshriner may take the Gohonzon
out of the altar, roll the Gohonzon backward one-third of the way and then roll up the Gohonzon again
in the normal direction halfway and re-enshrine it. (Never roll the Gohonzon backward while it is
enshrined in the altar). During this ceremony, only an experienced person should handle the Gohonzon.
Generally speaking, the bottom wood part of the Gohonzon should be at eye level. If the Gohonzon
hangs too high, you can adjust the level using the string. You may also adjust the height of the altar. If
you wish to adjust the height of the altar, however, you are encouraged to do so in advance. Please do
not move the altar once the Gohonzon is enshrined. Also, please avoid enshrining the Gohonzon too low
that you would look down at it.
After the enshrinement is completed, the enshriner bows deeply to the Gohonzon with palms together in
reverence. Then the enshriner places the Buddhist accessories in their proper positions. (Please be
careful not to spill the water or knock down the vases or candlesticks). In addition, sufficient distance
should be maintained between the Gohonzon and the Buddhist accessories to avoid any accident.
Next the candle(s) and incense should be lit, fresh water should be placed in a cup just for the
Gohonzons use and placed on the altar, and the leader and all participants begin the sutra recitation.
Please do not conduct either morning or evening Gongyo during the ceremony. The Hoben and Juryo
chapters (parts A, B and C of the sutra book) are then recited once, followed by about five minutes of
Daimoku. (This five minutes is a basic guideline). After chanting Daimoku, the following silent prayers
will be read: the second, the third, the second portion of the fourth and fifth prayers. During the second
part of the fourth prayer, it is recommended that you pray to deepen your faith, to expiate negative
karma created by the slander of the Law, that each successive generation of your family carries on the
practice of faith in the Mystic Law eternally, for the peace and prosperity of your family, and for the
achievement of Kosen-rufu (peace achieved by the wide propagation of True Buddhism).
After reading the silent prayer, the ceremony will be concluded by chanting Daimoku Sansho (three
times). Please use a candle snuffer to extinguish the candles, instead of blowing them out or fanning
them with your hand.
Since the Gohonzon is made of paper and wood, after many years it may become discolored or slightly
deformed. We must, however, try to prevent this as best we can. We must not begrudge our efforts to
keep the Gohonzon in good condition. For example, we should be careful not to splash wax or water on
the Gohonzon. Writing or painting on the Gohonzon is absolutely prohibited. We should also exercise
precautions to prevent any accidents caused by children or pets. The Gohonzon should not be exposed
to direct sun light. Unless you are conducting Gongyo chanting Daimoku or cleaning the altar the doors
or the altar should be closed to protect the Gohonzon.
Furthermore, the following conduct is strongly prohibited: sketching or painting and image of the
Gohonzon, photographing the Gohonzon, videotaping the Gohonzon, and photocopying the Gohonzon.
Please contact your local Nichiren Shoshu Temple for guidance should you find any thing unusual about
the Gohonzon, have questions about its care or accidentally commit any of the prohibited conduct. Now
that you have received the Gohonzon and enshrined it in your home, you can begin your sincere daily
practice with the True Buddha every day. Your daily Gongyo and Daimoku, as well as any other
offering (remember to offer fresh water everyday) to serve the Gohonzon, will become the source of
your infinite benefit and good fortune.
Luap5150
><HTML><PRE>Subject: Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
>From: ado...@ekuyihcak.com (Paziram Drareg)
Hi Craig.
Iesiat Imufasam
From:
luap...@aol.com (Luap5150)
><HTML><PRE>Subject: Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
>From: ado...@ekuyihcak.com (Paziram Drareg)
Hi Craig.
----------------------------------------------------
I do not know any Craig. I am Iesiat Imufasam from
Akoukuf City, Uhsuyk, Napaj
Now go take on the day
Iesiat Imufasam
I have seen the Buddha and the Buddha is me.
Margie, Proud SGI Buddha/Priest
Demolishing temples is not a sin.
Building them is.
Julian Stevenson, Proud SGI member
'I do not believe that your NST "gohonzon" has any more magic
powers than any other mandalas issued by any lay group. I would even
venture to say that the KHK mandala may be a notch above the NST mandala"
Proud SGI member, ~ Lady_D...@rocketmail.com
"To say praying to the Gohonzon is the ONLY POSSIBLE way to manifest one's
Buddhahood, is to apply a restriction that the Daishonin did not."
> "Can SGI members now photograph the Gohonzon - and if not, why not ?"
"I can do whatever I please. This is not a "police religion" like NS."
S. A., SGI member
" I would try, to the best of my ability, to inscribe a Gohonzon, in English if I
had to. I would draw it on a cocktail napkin if that was all I had, or
paint it on the side of a mountain!"
Marilyn Carino, SGI Member
Odd that you SAY you like cartoons, but have never made a >pilgrimage to the
Magic Kingdom.
Jim Cub, Official SGI World Tribune Midwest Correspondent, expounds upon the Significance of Tozan
Yes, Jim, anyone can draw a picture on anything. Yes, Jim, even a cocktail
napkin. TGWD never said anything that would indicate otherwise. Again, his
life's mission was to spread the Joy of animation... not to build some
exclusive club!
Mari Zap.
'So, is a particular Gohonzon mandala necessary? Well, if it is, the Dasihonin
was quite unmerciful in not giving one to ALL of his followers.
...by "envisioning the ultimate reality", or "knowing that to see
one's mind is to see the Buddha" one is in the presence of the Buddha
and the Law. Which means you CAN manifest your
faith and practice, and achieve kyochi myogo,
while looking at your computer screen.'
Jim Cub
"I think President Ikeda is the Buddha for the
Modern Age"
"All Soka Gakkai International members in Japan and other
128 countries are the priests who know the heart of the
Lotus Sutra"
Richard Hower, proud SGI member
"When SGI members say "Gohonzon" it specifies the Gohonzon inscribed by
High Priests of Nichiren Shoshu. For that reason, All Gohonzons are the same"
Steve Sonoda, Toda Institute Official
> One thing for sure- our HP has never wined and dined Gorbechev,
> Noriega, Castro and other communist despots in his house like Ikeda has.
Why do you think that Pres. Ikeda is rewarding these people for their past actions?
What he's actually doing is opening their eyes to a more meaningful way of living.
Alan Graham, SGI member
"there was no "special transmission" from Nichiren to Nikko in the first place.
Therecords of the funeral cortege, in Nikko's hand, attest to his
low place (5th) in rank of celebrants at Nichiren's funeral.),there
have been many breaks."
" The popular version today is that the wooden mandala was taken by
Nikko from Minobusan to Taisekiji, but there is no mention of such a
large wooden mandala being brought to Taisekiji.Nichido, the author
of biographies of Nichiren, Nikko and Nichimoku doesn't mention such a
honzon at all. In fact, there were no wooden Nichiren honzons until
the Muromachi period. Nikko Shonin forbade the inscription of wooden
honzons... "
56th..Nitchu, received the transmission of the heritage from Nissho
Shonin. Later he was impeached, and said:
"the Itahonzon produces evil men."
adir micha, SGI member
He passed away, after all, thinking he had SIX major disciples. Did he leave a
secret note saying "5 of them are actually 'priests of other sects', so
whatever they do doesn't count."??
Jim Cub
Mr. Lockwood askes: "Why is the transfer document I have seen not in Nichiren's
own writing?"
Because Nichiren Daishonin did not write it.
No honest (and knowledgable) person has said that he did.
Terry Ruby, Ingrate
"We are not disputing the lineage, per se.
Why bring those passage up?"
SGI Wong KC (MIA)
Kenneth W. Burchell
In article <199806160112...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
luap...@aol.com (Luap5150) wrote:
> >I do not know any Craig. I am Iesiat Imufasam from
> >Akoukuf City, Uhsuyk, Napaj
> >
> >Now go take on the day
> >
>
> You're sure inventive with those names, Craig. How many names do you post
> under anyway?
Craig was manifesting many names before your father blew his first bone
(not you, Jim:)
--
Ken Burchell
For genuine information on Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism:
http://www.primenet.com/~martman/ns.html
http://home.iSTAR.ca/~glenz/nikken.html
http://home.iSTAR.ca/~glenz/gongyo.html
http://www.angelfire.com/nd/NST
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/jqpublic/lectures1.html
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/jqpublic/sgi.html
For info on Thomas Paine:
http://www.mediapro.net/cdadesign/paine
To reply by e-mail remove "nimrod" from the address above. Hope this eliminates some of the JUNK MAIL SPAM that loads my mailbox virtually every day ;)
Luap5150
>From: ke...@nimrod.nidlink.com (Kenneth W. Burchell)
>Date: Tue, Jun 16, 1998 14:50 EDT
>Message-id: <kenb-16069...@pm3d2-37.nidlink.com>
>
>After all,
>the DaiGohonzon is the living embodiment of the Daishonin in this world >today
and it is the High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu along with his >disciples (the
priesthood of Nichiren Shoshu) and their lay-followers who >TO THIS VERY DAY
and for the last 750 YEARS protect and preserve this
>great Treasure bestowed on mankind.
A museum curator merely preserves and protects something. Buddhism is
"practice for oneself and others"..what has the priesthood and Hokkeko done to
SPREAD the True Law for the past 750 years? Only SGI can lay claim to this.
"Afterall,you must regard the vow to saw innumerable beings as foremost among
the 4 universal vows of bottisattvas. Now Nichiren and his followers are
leading people to the shore of Buddhahood. This and nothing else is what is
meant by the vow to save innemerable beings. This is what is meant by:
Mai ji sa ze nen ( this is my constand thought)
I ga ryo shujo (How can I help all beings)
Toku nyu mujo do (to attain the highest way)
And quickly attain Buddhahood (Soku Joju Busshin) (Gosho Zenshu p 846)
You're recting this 8 times a day...what did Nikken Shoshu ever do to make this
come true? Excommunicating the MAJORITY of sincere practicioners of True
Buddhism. Failing to do shakabuku and stealing SGI members. Having priests
who only regard their own comfort. Where's the action by Nikken Shoshu to
realize Kosen Rufu?
If you believe in actual proof then
>you must believe that there can be no greater fortune in this life than to >be
able to sit before DaiGohonzon and chant to the Law and Person of
>NamMyohoRengeKyo, manifesting your highest lifecondition as you do so.
"It is not the case that he (the votary of the sutra) leaves his place and goes
to some other place..Now the place where Nichiren and his followers chant Nam
Myoho Renge Kyo, be they "moutain valleys' or 'wilderness' are all the Land of
Eternally Tranquil Light Gosho Zenshu p 781.
Whenever I chant to my Gohonzon, then I'm chanting to the DaiGohonzon as long
as I manifest the correct faith and practice by striving for Kosen Rufu. By
comparision, if someone who's slandering the law (Like Nikken or Kempon Hokke
Kai) chants to the DaiGohonzon, then they can't connect with it.
By the way Ken, you might try asking whether Nikken does gongyo regularly or
not. And how many people he's actually shakabukued. Answer: Rarely and none.
Paul
Mr T
In article <199806171118...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
luap...@aol.com (Luap5150) wrote:
this
> come true? Excommunicating the MAJORITY of sincere practicioners of True
> Buddhism. Failing to do shakabuku and stealing SGI members. Having priests
> who only regard their own comfort. Where's the action by Nikken Shoshu to
> realize Kosen Rufu?
>
> Paul
But this is your own fantasy and does not reflect my, or anyone else's I
know experience with practicing directly with Nichiren Shoshu.
I do shakubuku and the priests I know do the same.
It is the SGI leadership who "stole" sincere beleivers away from the
religion that they vowed to protect and uphold, not the other way around.
--
Kurt
My new anti-spam measure:
to reply send to: martman at primenet dot com
Scott E. Baird
On 17 Jun 1998 11:18:45 GMT, luap...@aol.com (Luap5150) wrote:
ALRIGHT! ALL SGI MEMBERS ON ARBN.......
Remember when we were trying to explain how the DaiGohonzon wouldn't
work for slanderer's, and all you could reply was "how does it get
turned off?"..... Let's let luap (whose logic is as backward as his
name most of the time), in a moment of seriousness, say this on behalf
of NST just one more time...
> By comparision, if someone who's slandering the law (Like Nikken or Kempon Hokke
>Kai) chants to the DaiGohonzon, then they can't connect with it.
So this SGI member has been taught that you can connect to the
DaiGohonzon, but only if you follow the True Law. When I said that,
you all threw rocks at me for days. Now it seems that the SGI may be
teaching this particular belief. Of course, they have the slanderer's
wrong, but that is to be expected.
Next thing you know, the SGI will start doing Toba's for people.
Nahhhh....
Scott
Even non-Buddhist, ficticious people get the point once in a while:
"Those who sit back and wait for events to unfold face a bleak and
uncertain future. To have any hope of controlling one's destiny,
one must take action."
- Mack Bolan
NEW DIRECTIONS for anti-spam. Apparently, changing the
user-name of your Email address does nothing but generate
another message by your domain server informing them of
"No such user", thus creating ANOTHER worthless message.
To prevent this, according to Windows magazine, you must
alter the DOMAIN name in your email address. Address' with
faulty domain names don't leave the spammers server and no
message is sent at all. ACCORDINGLY, REMOVE THE WORD
"SPAMJAM" after my domain name if you want to send Email.
Jim Cub 3D
In article <3589d0da...@news.whidbey.com>, lo...@whidbey-spamjam.net
(Scott E. Baird) writes:
>
>> By comparision, if someone who's slandering the law (Like Nikken or Kempon
>Hokke
>>Kai) chants to the DaiGohonzon, then they can't connect with it.
>
> So this SGI member has been taught that you can connect to the
>DaiGohonzon, but only if you follow the True Law. When I said that,
>you all threw rocks at me for days. Now it seems that the SGI may be
>teaching this particular belief. Of course, they have the slanderer's
>wrong, but that is to be expected.
>
>
Hold on Scott -- I don't remember any rock throwing over a statement of yours
like that. I hope not - it's pretty much what we have ALWAYS believed.
I don't remember if it was you in particular, but there have been statements on
which we have disagreed, such as that you can only connect to the Dai Gohonzon
by being in its physical presence; and you can only connect to the Dai Gohonzon
by believing that the high priest is the one-and-only conduit for all that is
good.
But I don't remember any disagreement over statement to the effect that "You
can only connect to the Dai Gohonzon through Nam-myoho-renge-kyo", which is how
I take "follow the True Law".
Jim
Visit <bekkoame.or.jp/~bone>
Scott E. Baird
On 19 Jun 1998 21:46:57 GMT, jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) wrote:
>Hold on Scott -- I don't remember any rock throwing over a statement of yours
>like that. I hope not - it's pretty much what we have ALWAYS believed.
I'll have to go hunting thru the dejanews files. It happened. Of
course, not ALL of you threw rocks, but a few did.
>I don't remember if it was you in particular, but there have been statements on
>which we have disagreed, such as that you can only connect to the Dai Gohonzon
>by being in its physical presence;
Wasn't me. I agree with you on this one. I do however, believe,
that being in the physical presense of the DaiGohonzon is an honor
that brings forth GREATER benefits.
>and you can only connect to the Dai Gohonzon by believing that the high
>priest is the one-and-only conduit for all that is good.
Well, the interpretation of this differs depending on who you talk
to, but remember that we in NST believe the HP to be the BOE (or
whatever your acronym was a few months back)......
Now, as to whether or not you can only connect with the DaiGohonzon by
believing that is a different story. There is no variance in beliefs
when it concerns this matter. We in NST, as you are aware, fully
believe in the Heritage and all it entails. This does include the
belief in the HP and his responsibilities, including that of the
protector, the teacher, and of course, the BOE.
Kenneth W. Burchell
> On 19 Jun 1998 21:46:57 GMT, jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) wrote:
> >I don't remember if it was you in particular, but there have been
statements on
> >which we have disagreed, such as that you can only connect to the Dai
Gohonzon
> >by being in its physical presence;
No Nichiren Shoshu member has ever made this statement and you can search
the archives until the end of time and never find it........'cause it
exists only in your mind.