My Religious Experience:

Many people visit Mt. Minobu because they are members of Nichiren Shu. In my case, I became a member of Nichiren Buddhism because I visited Mt. Minobu.

I lived in Japan from 1990 to 1996. On a visit to Shimobe Hot Spring in Yamanashi Prefecture, I picked up a tourist brochure which prominently featured Kuonji, the Head Temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism. The pictures of Kuonji Temple looked enticing and so the following weekend I headed by train for a day of sightseeing at Minobu.

The scenery by train from Fuji City is gorgeous: first snow-capped Mt. Fuji as the train winds its way through pine forest, and then the river with its wide sandy shores.

From Minobu Station I caught a bus to just below the two hundred and eighty-seven steep stone "Steps of Enlightenment" which lead to Kuonji Temple. I arrived at the top out of breath and intensely aware of the beating of my heart. I was facing the splendor of the newly rebuilt Main Hall, and to my right two very old and impressive cherry trees in full bloom. The beating of drums and the chanting of "Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" reached my ears as a gust of wind caused cherry blossoms to fall like a shower of snowflakes. I felt that I had reached the Buddha's Pure Land.

Mt. Minobu became my favorite attraction, and whenever a friend or family member visited me I invariably took them to Kuonji. My father has seen it in winter; my sister-in-law, my niece, and my sister have seen it in spring; and a lady friend from Mexico and an English friend have seen it in summer.

Due to the inspiration of Mt. Minobu, I have chanted Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo while walking across mountains and bathing in hot springs from Kyushu to Tokyo.

There's no reason to stop now, especially not after finding a Nichiren temple in Los Angeles named after Minobu itself. When I chant Odaimoku, wherever I am becomes Mt. Minobu and I re-experience the majesty and tranquility of that beautiful place where Saint Nichiren's heart resides forever.

By R. P.

Bulletin Lotus #28