Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
Craig Bratcher
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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.
Submitted by Craig Bratcher
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johnpetry
Craig Bratcher wrote:
> 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.
>
>
This is critical because you don't want to piss off the sun goddess
[which is why you turn and face east] or the transubstantiated plank
while you are doing gongyo. One has to be very careful when mixing
Shinto ceremonies with Buddhist ones.
Jim Cub 3D
Craig put up a speech by Kawabe on enshrining the Gohonzon. Just one
lil' ol' question:
>>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,<<
The priesthood has accused the Gakkai od distributing a "copunterfeit
Gohonzon" in part because the white part is not "mounted" on the border,
but is the same paper as the border. The Gakkai explains that "the
essebtial element of the Gohonzon is the white part with black lettering.
The frame around it is merely an ornament." ("Reaffirnming Our Right To
Happiness" p.72)
So -- isn't the above statement by Kawabe tacit agreement with the Gakkai
position?
Jim
johnpetry
Craig Bratcher wrote:
>
> Re: Care and Enshrinement of The Gohonzon
> From johnpetry <jonp...@slip.net>
> Organization Slip.Net
> Date Sat, 05 Jul 1997 10:58:18 -0700
>
> Hi John:
> Then may I suggest you get an eraser and remove the
> representation of the Sun Goddess from your
> Gohonzon. One has to be very careful about being
> a hypocrite don't you know.
>
>
Try again Craig, even Kathyshu can do better than this.
Paul
jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) wrote:
>Craig put up a speech by Kawabe on enshrining the Gohonzon. Just one
>lil' ol' question:
>>>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,<<
>The priesthood has accused the Gakkai od distributing a "copunterfeit
>Gohonzon" in part because the white part is not "mounted" on the border,
>but is the same paper as the border. The Gakkai explains that "the
>essebtial element of the Gohonzon is the white part with black lettering.
>The frame around it is merely an ornament." ("Reaffirnming Our Right To
>Happiness" p.72)
>So -- isn't the above statement by Kawabe tacit agreement with the Gakkai
>position?
>Jim
If "the frame around is merely an ornament" why do the Gakkai make it
intrinsically part of the area they worship.
Also can you explain why (even by stretching your logic) this is a
tacit agreement of the Gakkai's stance ????????????
;~)- ex-karla/ex-noddy
delete "nospam." when e-mailing me.
johnpetry
Bruce Maltz wrote:> (sniped)
>
> Haven't you guys ever read the Kanjin Honzon Sho?
> You cannot touch the Law!
> Paper is not the Law! Ink is not the Law!
> The white part ain't the law, the brown part ain't the law,
> Geesh.
>
I have to agree with Bruce on this portion of his post. The Gohonzon is
not a thing. Chanting to the Gohonzon is not idolatry. One portion of
that piece of paper is not more "sacred" than the other portions. This
isn't about magic and it sure isn't about any transubstantiated plank.
Or un-eye opened piece of xerox paper either.
Jim Cub 3D
Paul-
(I assume that's how we address you now?)
>>So -- isn't the above statement by Kawabe tacit agreement with the
Gakkai
>>position?
>>Jim
>If "the frame around is merely an ornament" why do the Gakkai make it
>intrinsically part of the area they worship.
The Gakkai does not make it "intrinsically part of the area" we worship.
Nichiren Shoshu SAYS the Gakkai makes in intrinsically part of the area we
worship. There's a huge difference.
>Also can you explain why (even by stretching your logic) this is a
>tacit agreement of the Gakkai's stance ????????????
Well, he says it's okay to touch the framing, which seems to me to mean
he's saying the framing is NOT the actual object of worship. That's
exactly what the Gakkai has been saying. BUT, he says, "don't touch the
white part", which I would take to mean he's saying the white part IS the
object of worship -- and that also is exactly what the Gakkai has been
saying.
Jim
paul
jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) writes: > Paul-
>
> (I assume that's how we address you now?)
You can call me anything you like, but don't call me late for dinner
>
> >>So -- isn't the above statement by Kawabe tacit agreement with the
> Gakkai
> >>position?
> >>Jim
> >If "the frame around is merely an ornament" why do the Gakkai make it
> >intrinsically part of the area they worship.
>
> The Gakkai does not make it "intrinsically part of the area" we worship.
> Nichiren Shoshu SAYS the Gakkai makes in intrinsically part of the area we
> worship. There's a huge difference.
>
I'm confused. Is the Gakkai Honzon made up of one part or two. If it is one part,
then the ornamental border and the worshippy bit are intrinsically the same area.
If not then they border & worshippy bit are separate. (It doesn't matter with your
honzon anyway as the whole thing is ornamental)
> >Also can you explain why (even by stretching your logic) this is a
> >tacit agreement of the Gakkai's stance ????????????
>
> Well, he says it's okay to touch the framing, which seems to me to mean
> he's saying the framing is NOT the actual object of worship. That's
> exactly what the Gakkai has been saying. BUT, he says, "don't touch the
> white part", which I would take to mean he's saying the white part IS the
> object of worship -- and that also is exactly what the Gakkai has been
> saying.
> Jim
Surely the issue is that in NS, the white & brown parts are treated separately
in terms of worship AND are actually separate, but in SGI they may say that they
are separate in terms of worship but in reality it's all part of the same print.
I'll come clean & admit that I don't know if the white part is the only area that
has the Eye Opening ceremony. I do know that on my recent Tozan I had my Gohonzon
cleaned. 10 years of practice had lead to an incense dust build up. It took two weeks
but when I picked it up the white part had been cleaned and remounted on a new brown
framing.
Paul
smiley
Bruce Maltz <fuju...@cris.com> wrote:
>Paul wrote:
>> jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) wrote:
>>
>(sniped)
>Haven't you guys ever read the Kanjin Honzon Sho?
>You cannot touch the Law!
>Paper is not the Law! Ink is not the Law!
>The white part ain't the law, the brown part ain't the law,
>Geesh.
>Bruce
>
That's easy to say Bruce, but you forgot two VITAL points :
1) Nobody listens to anything you say...ever
&
2) You know nothing about Buddhism.
Surely this negates any opinions you ever post on this ng.
Love n hugs
Linda Welker
smiley <ipcr...@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote
> Bruce Maltz <fuju...@cris.com> wrote:
>
> >Paul wrote:
>
> >Haven't you guys ever read the Kanjin Honzon Sho?
> >You cannot touch the Law!
> >Paper is not the Law! Ink is not the Law!
> >The white part ain't the law, the brown part ain't the law,
> >Geesh.
>
> >Bruce
> >
> That's easy to say Bruce, but you forgot two VITAL points :
>
> <snipped>
> Love n hugs
> ;~)- ex-karla/ex-noddy
> delete "nospam." when e-mailing me.
>
Paul,
Does this mean you have not read the Kanjin Honzon Sho?
Linda
Jim Cub 3D
Paul-
>>I'm confused. Is the Gakkai Honzon made up of one part or two. <<
There seems to be some conception in Nichiren Shoshu that the way it is
mounted defines the object of worship.
Would you please explain this concept to me, using the gosho?
Jim
paul
jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) writes: > Paul-
With the Gakkai Honzon it is irrelevent. None of it is an object of worship.
The method of production is only relevent in pointing out what a shoddy
mass produced piece of work it is.
Julianlzb87
paul wrote:
> jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) writes: > Jon-
> >
> > >
> > >> Haven't you guys ever read the Kanjin Honzon Sho?
> > >> You cannot touch the Law!
> > >> Paper is not the Law! Ink is not the Law!
> > >> The white part ain't the law, the brown part ain't the law,
> > >> Geesh.
> > >>
> > >
> > >I have to agree with Bruce on this portion of his post. The
> Gohonzon is
> > >not a thing. Chanting to the Gohonzon is not idolatry. One
> portion of
> > >that piece of paper is not more "sacred" than the other portions.
> This
> > >isn't about magic and it sure isn't about any transubstantiated
> plank.
> > >Or un-eye opened piece of xerox paper either.
> >
> > And I have to agree with the basic concept. But it's not a matter
> of
> > someone accidentally touching the ultimate center of the universe or
>
> > something. It's merely a matter of respect for the physical
> expression of
> > that essence, as it was expressed by Nichiren Daishonin.
> > Jim
>
> So, to clarify this Jim;
>
> Do you believe that the Gohonzon is the physical expression of the
> core of the universe
> expressed by Nichiren Daishonin, and not the "actual life" of the
> Buddha ?
Oh come on P/N/K/S.... aren't you keen for enlightenment?
What other people believe is irrelevant to your path.
Julianlzb87
Mr T
In article <19970706031...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
jimc...@aol.com (Jim Cub 3D) wrote:
> Craig put up a speech by Kawabe on enshrining the Gohonzon. Just one
> lil' ol' question:
>
> >>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,<<
>
> The priesthood has accused the Gakkai od distributing a "copunterfeit
> Gohonzon" in part because the white part is not "mounted" on the border,
> but is the same paper as the border. The Gakkai explains that "the
> essebtial element of the Gohonzon is the white part with black lettering.
> The frame around it is merely an ornament." ("Reaffirnming Our Right To
> Happiness" p.72)
>
> So -- isn't the above statement by Kawabe tacit agreement with the Gakkai
> position?
> Jim
Jim, that's NOT the reason the SGI deems them counterfeit and you know it.
Who are you trying to snowball with your feigned ignorance on this one.
The fact that the Gakkai did a cheezy printjob is absolutely irelevent to
the main issue that it was not done it accordance with the 700 year
teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, taught always by Nichiren Shoshu and
taught for 50 years prior to the split by the SGI. No Ketchimyaku, no
Gohonzon.
But your new teachings certainly allow you in theory to each inscribe your
own object of worship. You've essentailly done that, except that all the
cumbersome details were arranged by your "priestly" senior leaders in Japan
instead of by someone with good caligraphy skills locally.
Anybody could have made what you chant to today according to the SGI, and
it would be a valid object of worship. There is nothing in Gakkai doctrine
today that says otherwise.
Kurt
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