January 2009

Dawn Worship Service Marks Arrival of New Year

At dawn on January 1, members took part in their first worship service of the year in the Great Sacred Hall at Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters in Tokyo and at all of the organization's Dharma Centers throughout Japan. Some 3,500 members attended the service in the Great Sacred Hall, which began at 6:30 a.m. They were led in the sutra recitation by President-designate Kosho Niwano, and President Nichiko Niwano offered vows for the new year before the image of the Eternal Buddha.

In offering the vows, President Niwano mentioned the significance of installing an icon of the Eternal Buddha and the Dharma titles of the founder and the cofounder at the home altar of each member worldwide, and he confirmed that Rissho Kosei-kai would continue the project this year. He said that as Rissho Kosei-kai moves towards its centenary, all members should strive with Buddhist wisdom and compassion to save others as well as themselves. He added that members should promote dissemination by gaining a correct understanding of the Buddha's teachings and help younger members grow spiritually as bodhisattvas in preparation for taking on the work of the world. He emphasized that the Buddha teaches that we should perfect ourselves before trying to perfect others.

After the service, President Niwano paid homage at the Precious Stupa of the One Vehicle with a New Year's offering of spiced sake.

January 1, 2009

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