The Gomonshu is the spiritual head of our denomination based in Kyoto, Japan. The current Gomonshu is His Eminence Monshu Kojun Ohtani, the 25th-generation descendant of Shinran Shonin to head the Hongwanji. Here is his New Year’s message.
New Year’s Greeting
At the beginning of this New Year, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to you.
Last September, I had the opportunity to visit the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii as Monshu for the first time. It was wonderful to have met with so many people at each temple, and I would like to extend my appreciation for everyone’s warm hospitality.
At Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan, from October 1, 2016 until this past May 31, the Commemoration on the Accession of the Jodo Shinshu Tradition was conducted with attendance of about one hundred fifty thousand people from throughout Japan and our overseas sanghas. Since the days of our founder Shinran Shonin, for nearly 800 years, the Jodo Shinshu teaching has been cherished and carefully handed down to us today by our predecessors. Reflecting on this, I am truly grateful to have been able to recite the Nembutsu together with many of you who took part in the services whether it be in person or through the internet.
Being enabled to hear the working of Amida Buddha’s voice calling to us, we become aware of our true self, in which we have the difficulty of accepting things just as they are, and being caught up in our own selfish mindset. That is why it becomes all the more important that we continue to listen to the teaching of Amida. As we appreciate the Buddha’s great wisdom and compassion, we are naturally guided to care for and aspire to live together with one another.
In this New Year, let us continue to listen to the teaching while following the Nembutsu path together with everyone.
January 1, 2018
OHTANI Kojun Monshu Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
年頭の辞
新しい年のはじめにあたり、ご挨拶申し上げます。
昨年9月に、門主として初めてハワイ開教区を訪問させていただきました。各お寺へお参りいただきました皆さまと貴重な時間を過ごすことができましたことに、改めて、感謝と御礼を申し上げます。
また、一昨年10月1日より昨年5月31日まで京都の本山本願寺でお勤めしました伝灯奉告法要には、海外開教区を含む世界各地から約15万人の方にご参拝いただきました。宗祖親鸞聖人以来、浄土真宗のみ教えが約800年間にわたって今日の私たちにまで伝わってきていることを尊いご縁だと感じました。そして、多くのご参拝の皆さま、インターネットの中継を見られた方々と共にお念仏できることをありがたく思います。
阿弥陀さまのおはたらきを聞かせていただく時、私たちは、自分の都合や思いにとらわれて、物事をありのままに受け止めることが難しい私の姿に気付かされます。ですから、阿弥陀さまのおはたらきを聞き続けることが大切であり、そのことによって、その大智大悲のお心に促され導かれて、他の人々とともに生きるという生き方に自分自身の生き方も変わってくるのです。
本年も浄土真宗のみ教えを聞き、南無阿弥陀仏とお念仏申す日々をともに過ごさせていただきましょう。
2018年1月1日
浄土真宗本願寺派 門主 大谷光淳