Preparatory Event for the 2023 Celebrations at the Shinshū Honbyō
750th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Honbyō
Message from Abbot Chōyū ŌtaniOn this occasion of the Preparatory Event for the 2023 Celebrations at the Shinshū Honbyō and750th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Honbyō, I wish to offer my greetings to all of you.
Today, we are taking an important step to the bicentennial celebrations in 2023 by holding thePreparatory Event together with all of you around the world through the livestreaming on theinternet. I express my deepest gratitude for this remarkable opportunity.
For more than one year, we have been confronted with a number of challenges and difficulties
caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Many people lost their lives or their loved ones to thedisease. I express my heartfelt condolences to those of you who have suffered from the illness.
There is still no end in sight to the novel coronavirus which has raged throughout the world.
The disease has marked a major global turning point because of its devastation. It is at this time ofcrisis that we find ourselves at an important phase in the preparation for the 2023 Celebrations.
In Japan, the administration of the vaccine for Covid-19 has finally begun. I sincerely hope thatthe whole nation will put all of its energy into the vaccination effort. This will enable us to put an
end to the pandemic so we no longer have to be afraid of infection.
Today’s Preparatory Event has provided each of us with an important opportunity to reconfirm
our commitment to the observance of the major celebrations. If Shinran Shōnin had not been born
into this world and had not dedicated his entire life to seeking the truth, and if he had not written
his major work, Kyōgyōshinshō, we would never have had a chance to receive the teaching of thenenbutsu. In addition, without the Shōnin’s effort in clarifying the teaching of Jōdo Shinshū, wemay not have been able to find our direction in life.
As the Bishop Tajima stated at the beginning of this event, June 11 of this year will mark the40th anniversary of the creation of the newly amended Constitution of the Shinshū Ōtani-ha. Thenew Constitution is the product of the long history of the Dōbōkai movement and the series ofcrises in our denomination. In clear terms it states, “We vow to expound the spirit of the foundationof our religious community and its significance in the present world, and to fulfill the responsibility
we bear for the society we are a part of.” As one of those who have been fortunate to be able toobserve such events of profound significance, I pledge to devote all of my energy towards therealization of the vow as stated in the Constitution.
I receive today’s crises as the window of opportunity for propagating the Right Dharma andrediscovering the true meaning of having been born as a human being. Through listening to theteaching of the nenbutsu and reflecting upon myself while living in these difficult times, I sincerely
hope that I can serve to share the importance of this teaching with as many people as possible sothat we can prepare to observe the 2023 Celebrations together with people around the world.
Since I was appointed as Abbot last year, it has been my wish that we could all join together,though the internet has allowed us to livestream our services. It is my heartfelt wish that we can see
each other again on your next visit to the Shinshū Honbyō so that we may be able to listen to theteachings together.
In conclusion, I express my heartfelt appreciation for your attendance today.
Abbot Chōyū Ōtani (Shaku Shūnyo)