The long lasting O.J. Simpson's double homicide trial has finally ended. A lot of people were surprised with the verdict, not guilty. Fred Goldman whose son, Ron, was murdered said, "Justice was not served." On the other hand, Simpson and his family were happy with the juror's decision. The prosecutors' evidence of O.J.Simpson's guilty claim did not convince the jurors. An attorney who analyzed the verdict said that the trial was lacking in conclusive evidence, such as a knife or a witness. In this country, the juror's verdict is final. We must accept it. Whether our system of court is good or bad, we must follow the decision.
A law is like a ruler which measures that the length is right or wrong, a law measures whether an action is right or wrong in a society. Needless to say, laws are necessary to keep social order. Every society has its own law to preserve its order.
St. Nichiren's propagation of the Odaimoku was to restore the laws that Sakyamuni Buddha had attained. For St. Nichiren, Sakyamuni Buddha was the only supreme and original Buddha even though there are many Buddhas. For St. Nichiren, the Lotus Sutra was the only scripture which reveals the truth or the universal law even though there are many sutras and scriptures. The Lotus Sutra teaches that this world shall be a land of bliss, with gods beating heavenly drums and playing celestial music, with trees abound with blossoms and fruits, and with people enjoying happiness. It is in Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra.
St. Nichiren wanted to establish such a peaceful land on this earth. According to him, if everyone on the earth chanted the same Odaimoku, a land of bliss shall be materialized. It is very difficult that all people on the earth chant the Odaimoku, but at least a place where we chant the Odaimoku should be the land of bliss. So this place is a land of bliss.
Let me give you an example. One of my major concerns since I had been installed as a head minister one year ago was the crack on the head of St. Nichiren's statue. I put a bandage on the crack as I do when I have a small cut on my head. But it was just temporary. The crack was too big for me to fix.
Last June, while I was chanting the Odaimoku in the morning service, I promised St. Nichiren, "I shall fix the crack by the time of the Oeshiki service in October." Then, I wrote a letter to Ikegami Honmonji for a help. The answer came back to me over one month later and said, "Find someone who can fix it in L.A." Who can fix that here? Nobody! I knew that. That was why I asked Honmonji.
A few days later, while I was chanting again, I got a message, "Taiji Taguchi of Suiundo Co." Mr. Taguchi is an acquaintance of mine for over 25 years. He is a vice president of Suiundo Company which sells all sorts of Buddhist altar items. A few days later, he sent me a fax saying that he is going to Los Angeles at the end of August and wishes to see me.
On August 30^th, he visited this temple and looked at the statue. He simply pulled the head off of the statue. "Look, I can take only this part and take it to Japan and fix it." When I heard his words, it was unbelievable. I thought that he must take all body of the statue.
He left for Japan with the head next day. It took a month to fix it. He said that he would ship the mended head. But I felt that it would be too rude to ship the head of St. Nichiren's statue because we had prayed to the statue for many years.
Next, I found out that Mrs. Seiko Horiuchi would leave Japan on October 5. I wrote her to find out her if she would at her convenience bring back the head of St. Nichiren. She was most welcome to bring it back.
Three days ago, she came back to Los Angeles with the mended head. I placed it back to the statue. You are looking at the new face of St. Nichiren's statue now. Thank you very much, Mrs. Horiuchi.
Today, we are holding the Oeshiki Service, it is a time for us to remember the great compassion of St. Nichiren. By chanting the Odaimoku, we can create happiness. The head of the statue was broken, but through the help of the chanting, the head was fixed.
The statue of St. Nichiren can be separated from a body and a head. There is an empty space inside the body after the head part is removed. The space is often used as a time capsule. Traditionally, the records regarding the statue are kept inside.
Now, my wish is that I would like to put the pictures of the head before it was fixed, and a list of names of donors to fix the head. 50 or 80 or 100 years later, so that it may be opened to find out the history of the statue.
We have not paid for the cost of mending the head yet. So I humbly ask your generous contribution toward the new head. I promise you that your names will be written on the record and placed in the time capsule. Thank you.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo - Namu Myoho Renge Kyo - Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

Thank you...

With Gassho,

Kanai Shonin