The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-20


AS soon as he began the mission the
priests of other sects became jealous
of the daily progress of the new doc
trine and slandered him and his disci-
pies to the government In conse-
quence of this, he was confined to the
province or Yechigo, and the propaga-
ton of the doctrine was stopped
After five years. when this restriction
was removed by the government. he
Travelled through the northwestern
provinces, spreading the doctrines of
the sect The more he was prosecuted.
the more his mission fiourished Re
turning to kyoto he preached there for
many years, and died in that city on
January 16, 1852, at the age or ninety
years.
AT thirty-one years of age he mar
ried the daughter of Prince K Kujo
This was one of the extraordinary
events, not only in his life, but in the
history of Buddhism, marriage having
been forbidden to the priesthood here
tofore.
According to the general rule the
priests of other sects cut their hair
short, wear religious vestments, and
show the general appearance of bon
yes, but IN our sect, since the doctrine
is so easy of attainment, and austere
observance of the other sects are not
considered essential they are allowed
to marry and to eat flesh and fish,
which privileges are strictly forbidden
to the priests of the other sects. Thus
the priests of our sect are allowed to
act freely in such matters. This is
called the manner of non-priests and
non-laymen," which was established
by the founder of our sect, and is pc
culiar to it alone.
Therefore, the system of our sect is
tere ascetics who desire for them
selves the future world only, put the
present world in oblivion, and look
upon the rise and fall of the country
with Indifference. Ours is truly a ma
tional religion, that desires. at the
same. time. prosperity in this life and
happiness in the next. It encourages
the national spirit, adopts itself we'll to
the manners and customs of the place
al which it prevails, and maintains
the peace of the country. This at once
revealed the traits of the Japanese
mind in by-gone ages, and helped to
form the characters of the rising gem
Grafton.
In short, the doctrines of our sec,
consist of the two systems; spiritual
truth and moral truth. The principle
of spiritual truth is to have faith in
the power of Anita Buddhas prayer
to rest assured of future bliss through
that faith; and that of moral truth is
to lead an upright and moral life here,
to the welfare and happiness of man
kind, always remembering the mercy
of Anita Buddha, and keeping a com
passionate heart.
This is the reason why, in Japan, our
sect is in a 1ourishing condition, and
has the tendency to introduce itself
into foreign countries while the be-
levers of the other sects are dimin-
ishing in number.
Now in this celebration, the only
way we can manifest our gratitude to
this great teacher, outside of keeping
his memory forever. is to express
thankfulness for the reception of the
doctrine from the founder, whose
teachings are so benevolent, and as
welcome as light in a dark night. (And
shall now thank the kind friends who
so readily respond to our invitation
and come to help US in our commem-
oration.)