World Religions in Greater Boston: Home

History

The Myogyo Ji Buddhist Temple of Greater Boston belongs to the Nichiren Shu Buddhist Order and aims to serve this buddhist community in the New England area. Founded in the thirteenth century by Nichiren Shonin (1222-1282), a Japanese monk, the Nichiren Shu Buddhist Order adheres to the Lotus Sutra (“Saddharma-Pundarika-Sutra" in Sanskrit). The overseas minister of the Myogyo Ji in Newton is Reverand Kobun Sasaki, who was assigned by the Nichiren Shu Order. The Nicherin Shu community has been active in greater Boston since 1993 when a small group of Nicherin Shu followers arrived in the area. In 1999, the group finally obtained their own property in Newton thanks to donations from Myogyo Ji Temple in Japan. The group officially changed their name to the Myogyo Ji Buddhist Temple of Greater Boston to express their gratitude.

The Order of the Lotus Sutra

The Lotus Sutra is one of the most significant texts in Mahayana Buddhism, a major school of Buddhism that emphasizes social concern and salvation. According to this sutra, any human can attain Buddahood; the sutra also emphasizes that the Buddha is eternal. On their website, the Myogyo Ji Buddhist Temple of Greater Boston reiterates that their object of worship is the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha (historical buddha), and that they follow the teaching of Nichiren Shonin. Nichiren is believed to be the manifestation of Jogyo Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who forgoes nirvana so that he can save others, and who “swore to spread the Lotus Sutra in the age of degeneration” (www.nichiren-shu.org/boston/).

The Minobusan Kuonji Temple in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan is the Head Temple of the Nichiren Shu Order and was established by Nichiren Shonin in 1274. The administrative headquarters located in Tokyo governs over 5,300 Nichiren Shu temples. The original Myogyo Ji temple in Japan was a Zen temple until 1408 when Zen priest Shunyo converted it into Nichiren Shu temple on the recommendation of a Nichiren Shu high priest named Nichiei.

Merits of the Lotus Sutra

“The LotusSutra is the true teaching because the Buddha Sakyamuni preached it from the bottom of his heart exactly as he was enlightened. Other sutras were taught according to listener's level of understanding. The Buddha teaches righteousness. The chanting of the sutra will lead us to righteousness unconsciously. For example, the creeping mugwort grass among the hemp will grow straight, or the body of a snake will become straight if it goes into a straight pipe, or if one has good friends, his attitudes will become good. Likewise, one who believes in the Lotus Sutra will attain Buddhahood."

--- Nicherin, 1278, 56 years old, at Minobu from "Nichiren Shonin's Words" (www.nichiren-shu.org).

Description of Center

Members of the Myogyo Ji formerly attended services in Dorchester. The Newton temple is a small converted house located on busy Route 9 West. The façade of the building is unassuming, with the lotus emblem above the doorway being the only indication that the house is religiously affiliated; the lotus flower is a symbol of the Buddha's pureness. When one steps through the entrance, he or she enters a small room that functions as the temple's service area. To the right are cubbies to place shoes, and to the left is an elaborate shrine. A vibrant purple flag depicting the lotus separates these two areas. The shrine contains a statue of Nichiren Shu, a handwritten copy of the Lotus Sutra framed on the wall under an ornate brass awning, a statue of the female deity Kishi Mojin, offerings of apples, candles, and incense, among other objects. A row of six or seven chairs sits in front of the shrine, with cushions in the corner of the room if one should prefer or need to sit on the ground. Various pieces of Nichiren Buddhist literature from the International Center are also available, including pamphlets on Karma (the law of cause and effect) and Juzu (beads used for counting prostrations). There are also over a dozen copies of the Lotus Sutra and a photograph of the Myogyo Ji temple in Japan on the wall. A kitchen lies adjacent to this main room. In the middle of meditation, one may notice the dull roar of cars whizzing by outside.

Activities and Members

Each Sunday, the Myogyo Ji Temple holds services at 4 PM with study of the Lotus Sutra and Shodaigyo meditation alternating every other week. This type of meditation consists of chanting the mantra of the Lotus Sutra, O Daimoku: "Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo." This translates into "Adoration to the Scripture of the Lotus of the Perfect Truth" (www.nichiren-shu.org). Membership is approximately 25-30 people, several of whom are of Japanese descent, but the majority of whom are Caucasian. They hail from Arlington, Chestnut Hill, Boston, and the Back Bay, as well as Connecticut and Maine. Shami Michael "Kojin" Hewitt (a "shami" is a male Buddhist novice who has vowed to observe certain precepts of his order) who runs the temple notes that the practice of Buddhism is one that many members have adopted in adulthood. Hewitt himself was raised in a loosely Methodist household in rural Pennsylvania. Most of the Japanese members of the Myogyo Ji do not attend weekly services as it is not in their custom to do so, and instead meditate several times a day at home. The number of service attendees remains small, with approximately 3-4 people attending each Sunday. Special occasions, such as Obon (the Buddhist festival held in July or August that welcomes the return of the spirits of ancestors) usually attracts 7-8 members. Hewitt hypothesizes that Lotus Sutra buddhism is not the most popular form in the U.S. because it focuses on devotional recitations and Westerners are more often searching for meditational instruction.

Challenges

Shami Michael “Kojin” Hewitt cites his own personal work schedule as a major obstacle in expanding membership and performing more activities. Hewitt admits that the time of service, Sundays at 4 PM, is inconvenient for most. He does not, however, foresee a more accommodating work schedule becoming available in the near future. Eventually, Hewitt hopes to travel to Japan in order to study to become a full priest.