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Introduction
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Contents
1. Nichiren
Buddhism
* Nichiren Shu
* the Lotus Sutra
* Our Practice
* Major Temples
2. The Buddha
& Nichiren
Shonin
* Life of the Buddha
* Life of Nichiren Shonin
* History of Nichiren
Buddhism
3. History of
Nichiren Mission
of Hawaii
* Part
I (When the Nichiren
Buddhism came to Hawaii)
* Part
II (Before the World War
II)
* Part
III (After the World War
II)
4. Sunday
Service
* Morning Service
* First Sunday - Kito
Service
* Second Sunday -
Combined
Service
* Third Sunday -
Special
Service
* Forth Sunday -
Shodaigyo
Service
* Fifth Sunday -
Activity Day
* This
Year's Calendar of
Services and Events
5. Memorial
Service
* About
Memorial Service
* How
to hold Memorial
Service
6. Funeral Service
* About Funeral Service
* About other Services
related
to Funeral
Service
* How to hold Funeral
Service
7. Kito (Blessing)
Service
* About Kito Service
* How to hold Kito
Service
8. Wedding
Ceremony
* About Wedding
Ceremony
* How to hold Wedding
Ceremony
9. Other
Activities
* Columbarium (Niches)
* Eitaikyo (Perpetual
Memorial
Service)
Program
* Eitaikuyoto (Eternal
Peace
Tower)
* Visitation
* Class
* Counseling
* Sunday School
* Fujinkai (Women's
Auxiliary)
* Rainbow Conference
* Fundraise
10. Newsletter
* This Month's Newsletter
* Archive
11. This Month's
Sermon
* This Month's Sermon
* Archive
12. Facilities
and Map
* Facilities and
Pictures
* Map
13. Links
14. Contact us
15. Copyright |
THIS
MONTH SERMON
by Rev. Chishin Hirai
Today, I would like to talk about Gassho. Gassho is the basis of the bases
for Buddhism. However, many people don't know how to do it properly. Some
may say that he does it like his grandfather or grandmother. Some may say
that she does it like someone next to her. As you may remember, I once told
you how when I explained about Shodaigyo. Do you remember that? I am
afraid that you forgot it already. Let me check your memory. Do you
remember what you ate last night. I guess that many people couldn't recall
it at once. To tell you the truth, I don't remember it, either. Many
people don't recall even last night. Needless to say about Gassho. That's
why I am telling you again today. Please memorize it.
At first, please put your hands together. It is said that the right hand is
a sacred hand and it symbolize the Buddha. The left hand is an ordinary
hand and it symbolize us. Gassho symbolizes the unity of the Buddha and us.
Do not open your fingers. If you opened your fingers, the unity would fall
away among your fingers. That's why you need to keep them closed. Put your
hands on your chest while touching your chin with the tips of your middle
fingers. Turn your hands forward 45 degrees. Straighten your back, pull
your chin back, relax your shoulders and make some room under your arms as
if you are holding eggs under your arms. This is the perfect form of
Gassho. It sounds a little difficult, but it is not so hard if you try it.
Let me tell you again. Put your hands together. Keep your fingers closed.
Put your hands on your chest touching your chin with the tips of your middle
fingers. Turn your hands forward 45 degrees. Straighten your back, pull
your chin back, relax your shoulders and make some room under your arms.
Please memorize this form.
Some may say that he can't remember even last night. How can he remember
this form? Don't worry. I am quite sure you can do it. It is because you
eat different meals every day. That's why you can't remember it. However,
the form of Gassho never changes. The form of Gassho is always the same
whenever and wherever you go. People in Hawaii, the mainland US, Japan and
Europe do the same Gassho. Once you memorize it, you can use it here in
Hawaii and at Minobusan too. Do you know how you will memorize Gassho? How
do you avoid forgetting the form of Gassho? The answer is to do Gassho,
properly, everyday. Please chant Namu myoho renge kyo in front of your
family altar every morning and evening with Gassho. If you do it everyday,
you will never forget it. If you forget it, although you do it everyday,
please ask us again. You can ask us as many times as you want. And, if you
memorize it, please teach it to your family, relatives and friends. To
teach is to be taught. To teach it to someone keeps your memory fresh.
Don't you think that the form of Gassho is beautiful? Gassho means putting
hands together. Gassho is not only a form of hands, but also a form of the
whole body and a form of one's mind. Gassho is a form of respecting the
Buddha and praying peace. We can't do violence to anybody when we do
Gassho. Gassho is a form of non-violence or non-hostility. Gassho is the
form of faith. That's why Gassho is beautiful.
My first sermon of this year is about Gassho. Please memorize it. I pray
for your happiness this year with Gassho.
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