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
Happy New Year, everyone! At the beginning of this New Year, I would like to extend my best regards to you all.
Over these past couple of years, we have had to adjust our lives in accordance with the scale of the spread of COVID-19. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to those who fell victim to the disease and express my sympathies to those who are undergoing treatment. I would also like to express my respect and sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and frontline medical professionals who have been engaging in the treatment of infected people, as well as all essential workers who have made it possible for us to continue with our lives.
This infectious disease has not only greatly affected the life of each one of us, but also revealed many issues that had been contained in our society. Sakyamuni Buddha, who passed on the Dharma to us, made clear of the fact that we cannot see the truth because we are too attached to our own thought. Therefore, it is only natural that conflicts and divisions come about in a society in which those who, like us, fundamentally self-centered beings, act in accordance based on one’s own thought.
In the following wasan poem, Shinran Shonin deeply reflected on himself and described what we humans are like,
Although I take refuge in the true Pure Land way, it is hard to have a true and sincere mind. This self is false and insincere; I completely lack a pure mind. (Hymns of the Dharma-ages)
As the wasan shows, we are basically incapable of accepting the reality of this world, such as, dependent origination, impermanence, and no-self. And because of this we constantly suffer. Only through being aware of and appreciating Amida Buddha’s compassionate and salvific working, are we enabled to accept our true self. Shinran Shonin clarified that such ignorance is the very reason why Amida Buddha’s salvific working has reached every one of us. Keeping in mind that we are always embraced in Amida’s compassionate Light, let us live each day to the fullest, even though we have yet to see the end of the tunnel.
I feel truly assured hearing that many of you have been making efforts to share the Jodo Shinshu teaching within the greater society through various and innovative ways despite the current situation. It is my hope that your temples will continue serving as your spiritual home, and therefore, I humbly ask for your understanding and cooperation in support of your temples. I would like to conclude my new year’s greeting with my heartfelt appreciation to you all.
January 1, 2022
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。
昨年も一昨年に引き続き、私たちの生活は新型コロナウィルス感染症(COVID-19）の流行に対応したものとなりました。ここに、新型コロナウィルス感染症によりお亡くなりになられた方々に謹んで哀悼の意を表しますとともに、罹患されている皆さまに心よりお見舞い申し上げます。また、治療・対策にあたられている医師、看護師をはじめとする医療従事者の方々、ライフラインの維持に努めておられる方々に深く敬意と感謝を表します。
この新型コロナウィルス感染症は、私たち一人一人の生活に大きな影響を与えました。それは、同時に社会の問題も浮き彫りにしています。仏教を説かれたお釈迦様は、自分自身の考えにとらわれ、真実をみることのできない私たちの姿を指摘されています。私たちが自分の思い通りに行動したら、社会の中に対立や分断を生むことになります。
親鸞聖人は、ご和讃に「浄土真宗に帰すれども 真実の心はありがたし 虚仮不実のわが身にて 清浄の心もさらになし」とうたわれました。阿弥陀さまのおはたらきによって知らされる私たちの本当の姿は、縁起や無常、無我というこの世界の真実をそのままに受け入れることができずに悩み苦しむ姿です。親鸞聖人は、そのような私たちに阿弥陀さまのおはたらきが届いていると明らかにされました。いまだに新型コロナウィルス感染症の収束が見通せない世界ですが、阿弥陀さまのおはたらきを聞き、それを依りどころとして日々の生活を過ごしてまいりましょう。
現在の厳しい状況の中でさまざまな試みを重ねながら、今までとは違った方法で浄土真宗のみ教えを広く社会へ伝える取り組みもなされていると聞き、たいへん心強く思います。これからもお寺が皆さまの心の支えとなりますよう、お寺の活動にご理解とご協力を頂きますことをお願い申し上げ、年頭のご挨拶といたします。
2022 年 1 月 1 日
浄土真宗本願寺派
門 主 大 谷 光 淳
See Also
2022 New Year’s Message from Bishop Eric Matsumoto
2022 New Year’s Greetings from President Warren Tamamoto