Yesterday I happened to pass by a Nichiren temple I had noticed once before. It was not especially impressive, to me, because it is an example of a temple built in a modern, not very Japanese style. Yeah, I know, prejudices. As I walked through the temple grounds, I noticed more 'cool' features like a bamboo grove, and an ossuary that seemed to be floating above the glassy surface of an artificial pond. As I approached the main hall, I heard chanting. It was very vigorous, with elaborate drum rhythms and the addition of something like a xylophone or a Japanese festival hand gong. I stood there listening (the windows of the building were wide open in the heat). A woman came out of the lobby and invited me to enter. So I went in and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The building itself could have been a Protestant church in the US--in other words, rather undistinguished, but a large space that even had very quiet stained glass accents. There were four clerics. One was chanting into a microphone while beating a metal plate gong (that I thought sounded like a xylophone). Another man was beating a large drum that could be the Japanese equivalent of the tympani. Rather than just playing once for each beat (five-beat Daimoku), he was playing multiple notes on some beats, giving an effect something like what wadaiko players do. There were only about five or six congregants in the large room, which seemed able to seat a few hundred. The floor was carpet, and everyone sat on padded benches (no backrest). The sound of their Daimoku was unlike any I had ever heard. Also, a lusty chorus of cicadas was clearly audible outside (a Japanese poet once noted that their voices can pierce stone). At the same time, a thunderstorm passed by, adding dramatic rumbles and bangs. Once again, I was in a fantastic sonic environment, but without my recording walkman at hand.

The Gohonzon was in a frame on the wall, with a statue of Nichiren in front of it. There was no closeable 'ozushi' that I was accustomed to seeing in SGI/Nichiren Shoshu. The Gohonzon was written in a very florid cursive script that I couldn't read. There was also a pulpit in the center, facing the congregation. This made me think that the sermon might be important in this group--it looked a bit like a Methodist church. The congregants were moving a fist in time with the Daimoku, as if they were hitting a mokugyo or something. One man was shifting his head and shoulders like a jazz drummer. It was as if body movement is at least as important as the sound of chanting. After some time, the Daimoku stopped, and the clerics started some recitation that didn't sound like anything I recognized. I think this was a prayer at the end of Gongyo. After that, they did seven-beat Daimoku without the drums, lasting a few minutes.

On my way out, I picked up a newsletter, where I confirmed that the temple is part of the Honmon Butsuryushu. It seems that evening Gongyo started at 4:00 (I got there around 4:30) and ended at 5:00. I think this temple is a possibility for a random drop-in meditation session. Just be polite to the people at the front desk.

This was my first encounter with Honmon Butsuryushu.
Here is a bit of an introduction: http://www.honmon-butsuryushu.or.jp/englis...what/index.html

Regards,
T

Hm, very interesting. This is the first time I've heard of honmon butsuryushu. A cursory google search shows that the group is more or less a descendant of Nichiren's teachings, but I can't find much beyond that.

Yes, the English website explains that it broke off from the Honmon Hokke Shu (another one I had never heard of) in the 19th century. There are a lot of Nichiren groups that you don't hear much about.

Anyway, the two people I encountered at Jyosenji were very nice. The web site had some information for those interested in starting the practice, but I suspect that shakubuku/conversion activities get much less emphasis compared to SGI, for example.

To be honest, I was in the neighborhood a few days later, around the time of evening gongyo. However, I decided not to go again so soon, worrying that they might get to excited about a foreigner coming back for more...

I will go again after they have had more time to forget about me.

Regards,
T

You slick gaijin you..

Thanks for describing the temple and service. I've never met (online or off) a member of the HBS. From what I understand they are very small outside of Japan and only have a few temples in Hawaii.

Yeah, there are lots of small Nichiren groups that are floating around. In fact the Reiyukai has daughter and grand-daughter organizations that have developed over time so who knows how many little groups have developed from there.