The chief representative of Shogyoji Temple, a direct descendant of the man who built Shogyoji four hundred and thirty years ago, told us that it was at the last Summer Training Assembly that he first came across the idea that the ‘significance of existence’ in the here and now was the true foundation of the ‘meaning of life.’
For him, he said, the ‘significance of existence’ was simply the fact that he had born in this country of ours, something he felt strongly whenever he came to 920 Futsukaichi, the address of Shogyoji Temple.
This ‘significance of existence’ the chief representative speaks of turns out to be the same for every Dharma friend and thus extends to all the followers of the temple.
One certainly gets a sense here of how daily conversation amongst Dharma friends can give rise to sacred teachings.
Respectfully
Chimyo Takehara
September 2003
四三〇年前、正行寺を建立した方の子孫である筆頭総代さんが申された。
「″生き甲斐″の元にある″居り甲斐″という話を正行寺錬成会でお聞きした。
私の″居り甲斐″は、この郷土に生まれたということです。そして正行寺のある″二日市九二〇番地″にお参りしている時にそれを実感します」と。
総代さんのこの″居り甲斐″は、同行一人一人の″居り甲斐″となって門信徒へ波及する。
同行の日常の会話から聖教が生まれてくる確かな予感がする。