Everyone must be happy.
1 Jan 2013
A Happy New Year, everyone.
Now it is New Year's Day. Today, I am just installed as the Head Minister of this temple. I am Rev. Chishin Hirai. My wife is Ritsuko.
I know that most of you here know me already. Some may not know me. Let me introduce myself. I was born in the same Saga prefecture, Kyushu, Japan as Rev. Ikenaga was. I was born in 1963. I became a certified minister of Nichiren Shu in 1989 and came to this temple as a training overseas minister in 1992. I still remember when our airplane landed in the Honolulu International Airport. I didn't know why, but my body shook. I became a certified overseas minister and associate minister of the temple in the following year. 3 years and a half later, I transferred to Puunene Nichiren Mission, Maui, and then moved to Europe and established the Nichiren Buddhist Temple of London a year and a half later. In the year 2000, I moved back to this temple as vice-head minister and transferred to the general manager of the Nichiren Buddhist International Center in Hayward, California in 2007. Finally, I came back to this temple again after 6 years. I am so honored and pleased to serve the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin and meet you all again. I should show my gratitude for guidance of the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin, the precious effort that Ven. Ogawa made, kind cooperation shown by Rev. Ikenaga and other ministers, and the sincere request that Mr. Keith Nagai and the other board members submitted. I appreciate welcoming the New Year with you in Hawaii.
I said that I could stand here because of you all. Of course, there are some other people whom I appreciate. For example, if there was no understanding and support of the dignitaries and officers of the Shumuin, the Head Office of the Nichiren Shu, it would not have happened. The help of other ministers concerned with the international mission made this happen too.
As you may notice, I am wearing a purple robe today. Some of you know that colors of robes depend on ministerial rank. When my transfer was confirmed, I did not have a rank to wear a robe of this color. So, I submitted a request to raise my ranking to Shumuin. It is because this Nichiren Mission has the longest history and tradition, and is a prestigious overseas temple. I thought that I was supposed to be a minister wearing the same color robe as Ven. Ogawa did when I would be installed a head minister of a such temple. My request was granted sooner than I thought. And then, I ordered my robes and other items to a special store. Robes are very expensive clothing and it takes a long time to make it. It usually takes about a month. So, I did not think that it would be ready by January 1st. One day, a senior minister called me and asked if I would become a head minister of Nichiren Mission. I said yes. He asked me if I had an appropriate rank and robes. I answered that my ministerial rank would be OK, but I have no robes. He told me that he would give one of his robes to me so that I can wear it in Hawaii. I really appreciate his consideration. That's why I am wearing it today.
I am here today because of the understanding and supports of many people. I shall be grateful to everyone all my life. However, I don't think that I am the luckiest one. I am not a special person. There is no difference between you and me. I know that you are living with understanding and support from others. But, there is a big difference whether we notice it or not. To live knowing this and with gratitude is a happy life. To live without realizing it and with regret is an unhappy life. You can live happily or unhappily according to your way of view and thinking. In other words, if you change your way of view and thinking, everybody can live happily. How do you change your way? I think that to understand facts is a method of changing your way. If you notice that you are supported by so many people, you will realize how lucky you are. The Buddha teaches us that we are supported by many through his teaching of EN, causality. If you understand the teaching of causality, you would understand how we supported each other. We can understand how happy we are if we change our ways of viewing and thinking although our situations may remain the same. We can be happy as we are with the teaching of the Buddha. The purpose of Buddhism is to attain Buddhahood. Buddhahood is the eternal and highest happiness. Let us study and practice the teaching of the Buddha and live a happy life together.