Calendar of Events

Year of the Boar ends February 3, 2007

Year of the rat (mouse) begins February 4, 2008

Calendar of Events

As a normal rule these events are held as follows. Holidays or other events can change the times and events on any given day.

Morning Service is held on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. *Holiday services may change the time of Sunday Service.
Shodaigyo Meditation is held on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Study Classes and Beginers Classes are held on Sundays after service. (See the Calendars for dates)

Beginners, long time practitioners, students or just curious, everyone is welcome. I look forward to meeting you.

Please call , email or come over with any questions.

with Gassho

Rev. Ryuoh Faulconer

Please see the contact section for directions to Rev. Faulconers apartment

a link to download the current newsletter is at the bottom of this page

Their are several exciting events being planned for the Nichiren Order of North America and our local area for 2008.

Week long Retreat for the Nichiren Order of North America in August. A week long intensive of practice with some lectures and study. It will be the first of these annual. It will be held in different locations each year the first being in Texas. For more information go to the website at http://www.nichiren-shu.org/Houston/retreat.htm.

NONA conference will be held in Houston Texas in October (2008). The conference is for members of the Nichiren Shu in North America. We will be holding elections for a new lay president and bishop along with conducting buisiness of the North American Sangha. If you would like to attend please contact your local minister, sangha or Temple.

We will starting a weekly video Shodaigyo starting in July of this year. We will also have streaming video of our beginners class. Please check the video page for updates.

printable version of calendar

For more information about events, please call Rev. Faulconer in Boston at

617-314-7782, outside Boston area 1-866-585-4891 or e-mail us .

Simple Explanations

For more detailed explanations of Nichiren Shu style services please visit the Nichiren Buddhist International Centers site. NBIC

Morning (Daily) Service (Sutra Chanting):

During our morning Service on Sundays, we chant portions of the Lotus Sutra and also chant the Odaimoku (Namu Myoho Renge Kyo). This is a version of the normal daily service practiced by Nichiren Shu practitioners at home. The chapters from the Lotus Sutra are read in the traditional way (Chinese Characters with Japanese pronunciation) called Shindoku. Shindoku literally means faith reading and is a form of meditation in itself. It is not necessary to understand academically while chanting in Shindoku as it is a form of meditation practice. We regularly chant the Sutra also in English for our understanding. A small liturgy book is available from the NBIC with Daily service and also Shodaigyo meditation for practice at home. A CD with the service done in English and Japanese is also available.

Meditation:

Meditation services in the Nichiren Shu are called Shodaigyo. "Shodai" is chanting Odaimoku and "gyo" is practice. These services are a combination of silent meditation with chanting of the Odaimoku (Namu Myoho Renge Kyo). This is a very different practice from Sutra Chanting services (Daily Service). The small liturgy book from NBIC contains the Shodaigyo service. The CD also contians the meditation service. Video Page

Study Class:

The Nichiren Order follows the teachings of Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin. We study the Lotus Sutra, Basic Buddhist Concepts and contemporary world concerns as they pertain to Buddhism. Nichiren Shonin's teachings are used to help us understand the teachings and are included in the study program. The third Sunday of each month the study class is a Beginners' Introduction to Nichiren Shu Buddhism Class. The Last Thursdays will be study of the Lotus Sutra itself. Study classes will last approximately one hour. Classes do not need to be taken in order so you may join in at any time. For those wishing to attend classes on the Lotus Sutra or just wanting to learn more, please consider getting a copy of the Lotus Sutra and the optional companion guide which goes over chapter by chapter, "Introduction to the Lotus Sutra" by Shinjo Suguro. A couple copies of the Lotus Sutra are available for use during classes.

Beginners' Class:

See Study Class above. Video Page

Other Practices:

Our practices are based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and its teaching of keeping, reading, reciting, copying and expounding. The above practices cover reading, reciting and hopefully through study and practice we keep the Sutra. We also copy the Sutra and Odaimoku as a meditation practice. We pass on our practice to others through not only are words but also through our actions in daily life.

Monthly Sutra copying (Shakyo) and Buddhist image copying (Shabutsu). No prior experience in calligraphy or art is necessary. The practice will last about two hours and can be continued the following class. We will provide practice materiels but will be asking that each person consider making a contribution to cover the cost of paper, brushes, pens and ink. If you have an interest in this specific practice please talk with Rev. Faulconer.

Pilgrimage 2009

Multimedia practices

A Nichiren Shu Temple has been built in Second Life. Second Life is a virtual world on the internet. We will soon be opening the doors to the Temple of the Wonderful Dharma, Myoho-ji in Second Life. If you live in Second Life please visit the Temple in the Itsari Buddhist Temple complex. The SLURL is (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Itsari/15/98/200). This will take you to the Itsari complex. Facing the Temple, Myoho-ji will be to your left. We have a group under "Nichiren Buddhists of SL." Please join us.

Holidays and other services will be on the Calendar as scheduled.

NEWSLETTER

The newsletter for the New England Sangha can be downloaded in pdf format here. It will be published every 2 month and will contain the calendar and explinations of coming events as well as study material. If you would like to be on the mailing list for the New England Sangha newsletter please email Rev. Faulconer

or call in Boston 617-314-7782 outside Boston area 1-866-585-4891.

Current and past Newsletters of the Nichiren Shu headquarters in Tokyo Japan "Nichiren Shu News" and Nichiren Buddhist International Center in Hayward California "Bridge of America" are available on their site for download in pdf format. You will find many interesting articles and study material about our order in this publication. Print copies of current Nichiren Shu News and Bridge are also available at the New England Sangha's meeting place.

Dana is the first of the Buddhist Paramitas. It is the act of giving from the heart. A smile, shoulder to lean on, teaching or a listening ear can be given as Dana.

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