Worshipping the Moon

More than 700 years ago, St. Nichiren wrote a letter to a woman. "If you feel dear to see me, worship the sun and the moon. My reflections are in the sun and in the moon."

This woman was Lady Koh on Sado Island. She and her husband became St.

Nichiren's followers while Nichiren was exiled on Sado Island. Later, Nichiren Shonin was pardoned from the Kamakura military government, and then retired to Mt. Minobu, hundreds of miles away.

Today, if we want to talk to someone, we just pick up a telephone. If we want to send something to someone, we just mail it. If we want to see someone, we can travel by car, train, bus, or airplane. However, there were no such things over 700 years ago. There were no photographs either. However, love of or being dear to someone was no different from it is today. Lady Koh wished to see St. Nichiren, but she could not, because she lived hundreds of miles away. Therefore, Nichiren Shonin wrote that she could worship the sun and the moon. The sun and the moon reflect the image of himself.

Even when two people are in different locations, they can see the sun and the moon. So they can see the reflection of loved ones far away, if they can imagine it so. While the sun is too bright to look at, the moon is less bright and more romantic to see. However, for those who live in big cities, they hardly see the moon because of the bright city lights and all the building in the way.

I often enjoy seeing the moon when I travel out of town by myself. It is one of the best time for me to worship the moon. There is no distraction of building or noises of the city. I can imagine various things on the face of the moon. I naturally chant the Odaimoku, "Namu Myo-ho Ren-ge Kyo.'

July 16, 1987