Oeshikiceremony

OESHIKI CEREMONY
By Reverend Raido Hirota

The Oeshiki ceremony is the most important Buddhist service and celebrates Nichiren Daishonin's eternal life. Having an Oeshiki Buddhist service deepens each of our faiths.

During gongyo, at the Ni-setsu-ge-gon passage of the Juryo chapter, just before the Jiga-ge section, we stop the recitation of the sutra and read in a loud voice a passage of the "Rissho Ankoku Ron" from, "The host exclaimed with delight: As the proverb says, the dove has changed into a hawk, the sparrow into a clam!" to the end of the gosho.

In a formal Oeshiki ceremony the shakubuku letter written to the Kamakura government by ninth High Priest Nichiu Shonin, Nichiren Daishonin's "Rissho Ankoku Ron", Daishonin's shakubuku letter to the Kamakura government, the shakubuku letter of second High Priest Nikko Shonin to the Kamakura government, the shakubuku letter of third High Priest Nichimoku Shonin to the Kamakura government, the shakubuku letter of fourth High Priest Nichido Shonin to the Kamakura government and the shakubuku letter to the Kamakura government by fifth High Priest Nichigyo Shonin are read by the priets one after another in this order in front of the Gohonzon. This is so we do not change our faith after Nichiren Daishonin's death. No matter what time period, we must make it paramount to work for the sake of kosen-rufu; and the enlightenment of all living beings.

You should make paper flowers and decorate the left and right sides of the Gohonzon, specifically because even though Nichiren Daishonin died in autumn--October 13th--the cherry blossoms bloomed throughout the country. The lotus flower symbolizes the teachings of Shakyamumi of India; after 2000 years during the Latter Day of the Law Buddhism came to Japan where the essence of Buddhism was elucidated by Nichiren Daishonin. The cherry blossom symbolizes the passage of true Buddhism to Japan.

The center of the body of the vase in which the flowers are placed from the Buddhist perspective symbolizes the Law of Buddhism and is represented by Mt. Sumeru. The height of Mt. Sumeru is 84,000 yojana above sea level (1 yojana (an Indian measurement) is 7-9 miles), and 84,000 yojana below sea level. At the base of the flowers are paper decorations representing stars, waves and mountainsThe three belts encircling the vase which support Mt. Sumeru represent the gold wheel, the water wheel, and the wind wheel. The mounted white mountain-shaped papers symbolize Mt. Sumeru's seven surrounding mountains and seven
oceans. In the sea surrounding the seventh gold mountain there are 4 continents. The southern most continent is Jambudvipa (Jap. Embudai) where humans live. If you are not born into this world of Jambudvipa, you cannot connect with Buddhist teachings. The cherry blossoms decorating the summit of Mt. Sumeru symbolize kosen rufu; and the enlightenment of all living beings.

In conclusion, in Nichiren Shoshu; Buddhism we do not offer colorful flowers to Gohonzon, except at Oeshiki.You may leave the flowers decorating the altar until the end of the year. Then, in order to avoid the misunderstanding that Nichiren Shoshu decorates the Gohonzon with colorful flowers, at the end of the year please destroy and throw the cherry blossoms away.

Translated and edited by Udumbara Foundation staff.

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