September 2026: Let Each of Us Light a Single Lamp

The President’s Dharma is that each individual should display a single lamp. In the sunlight of the garden, President Ritsushō of the Just Assembly laments the darkness. Yet, even now, in many parts of the world, many people suffer due to war and oppression. Pope Leo XIV of the Roman Catholic Church has called upon all people of the world to make efforts to end war and promote peace and youth. He emphasized: Let us abandon the accumulation of weapons and money; let us abandon the old ways of power; true strength is demonstrated in the direction toward life. However, in an unprecedented manner, there are also leaders of nations who direct words of evasion toward such messages of strong results. It is regrettable that the mind and the ability to use words, which were graciously given to humanity, are used to invite conflict and discord. And it is we who, lamenting such a situation, have no choice but to fall into error. Nevertheless, there is a strong appeal from Ritsushō that even in a world that appears to be shrouded in the darkness of an uncertain future, there are things each individual can do. This is known as the “One-Lamp Small Industry, Ten-Thousand-Lamps Great Industry,” authored by Mayor Masahiro of the Eastern City, who is known for his comprehensive approach to the Eastern City. Rather than lamenting the darkness, let us light one lamp; first, let us become a single lamp that illuminates the darkness around us; let us illuminate, however faintly, one lamp. Let us pierce through the darkness everywhere within our reach. If each person lights one lamp, then ten thousand people light ten thousand lamps; Japan will stand up and become bright. This is our One-Lamp Small Industry, which is immediately the Ten-Thousand-Lamps Great Industry. Let us earnestly strive together in this worldly practice. The part concerning Japan within Ritsushō’s words is perhaps more appropriately described as “the world.” Furthermore, I understand the phrase “worldly practice” not as an individual bringing about some great change, but as a call for practical action in one’s immediate surroundings, lying on the same line as the idea of “lighting a fire for others” that I spoke of last month. The Pope’s result is that, with even a tiny amount of faith, as humanity and together with humanity, we can face together this turbulent time in history. We can expect a bright future for the Earth, a world of light, a star of the world’s light. The exhortation to string together transparency everywhere within our reach, within this Ritsushō, within the reach of our hands, teaches us that a practice that is easily done by oneself within one’s reach becomes a light that illuminates the leaves of darkness. It does not seem coincidental that on the 10th of this month, our assembly will welcome the Dharma Grace of the 5th Day of the Long沼 Myōkō, which is the birthday of Waki So-sama. Waki So-sama is known for guiding people he touches as if they were his own children, with warmth that is sometimes strict. He is said to have practiced self-cultivation such as stringing together lamps everywhere; if there was a person in distress before his eyes, he would give them food, futons, money, or even his own clothes without hesitation, accepting everything as entrusted by the Buddha and continuing to display a single lamp. If we direct our gaze to our daily lives and look at what is within our reach, we see that, of course, family, neighbors, people seated next to us on trains or buses, and people standing before or behind us in convenience store lines are all people within our reach. Smiles and expressions of gratitude toward such people, as well as extending a hand to those in distress, become lamps that illuminate our surroundings. Words of care and gratitude toward the nation become lamps that brighten and warm the home. Prayers for people in distant countries within the southern district are also a precious single lamp. And without a doubt, people all over the world are hoping that, transcending differences of nation, ethnicity, and religion, the lamps of peace, sharing the same thoughts, will spread widely. The lamps that illuminate one another for the sake of others never fade away. Through the words of the Founder, let us continue the practice at our feet, neither burying nor relying on it. With this, I conclude the reading of the President’s Dharma for the 9th month of the Reiwa 8th year of Kōsei.

会長法は、一人一人が一頭を展示よう 庭の日光、立昇公正会会長、暗黒を嘆くよりも、今現在も世界の各地で多くの人が戦争や押性のために苦しんでいます ローマ・カトリック教会の教皇・レオ14世生かは、この春以降、戦争を終わらせ、平和と若いを促進する努力を、と世界のすべての異性者に呼びかけ 事故数杯と金銭数杯を辞めよう、力の古児を辞めよう、真の強さは命への方針において示される、と強調されました ところが、前代未聞のことに、そうした強行成果のメッセージに避難の言葉を向ける一国の指導者もいて、人間にせっかく与えられた心と言葉を使う能力が争いと不調はを招くことに使われるのは残念に思います そして、そういう状況を嘆いて、冒陥するしかない私たちなのです。ただ、そのような先行きの見えない暗黒にも映る世の中であっても、一人一人にできることはあると、力強く訴える立現があります 東洋市総合として知られる野草化マサヒロ市の手になる、一頭小工業、万頭編小業というものです 暗黒を嘆くより一頭をつけよう、まず我々の周囲の闇を照らす一頭になろう、かすかなりとも一頭を照らそう 手の届く限りいたるところに頭描を貫めよう、一人一頭なれば万人万頭である、日本は立ちまち明るくなる、これ我々の一頭小工業、即万頭編小業である 互いに真剣にこの世直修行に励まうではないか、立現の中の日本はの部分は、もはや世界はといったほうが適切でありましょう また、世直修行とあるのも、一人で何か大きな変化をもだらすことではなく、先月お話しした人のために火を灯せばの延長線上にある、身近な実践を呼びかける言葉と私は受け止めています ローマ教皇成果は、ほんのわずかな信仰さえあれば、人類として、人類とともに、この歴史の激動の時に、ともに立ち向かうことができる、とおっしゃっていますが この世界の光の世界の光の星にくさわしい、明るい地球の未来が期待できるのです 手の届く限り、この立現の中の手の届く限り、至るところに透明をつらねようの一切も、手の届く範囲でとよめば自分にも無理なくできる身近な修行が、暗黒の葉を照らす光明となることを教えています と今月の10日に本会の和木そさま 長沼妙行の5名日である法恩恵を迎える ことが偶然ではないような気も するのです和木そさまは触れあう 人を皆お腹を痛めた我がこの ように思い時に厳しくも暖かな 指導をしたことで知られています まさに至るところに頭明をつら ねるような自秘行にてし目の前 に困っている人がいれば食べ物も 布団もお金もその時来ている自分 の副さえも溜めらうことなく差し あげたそうですすべてをお避けさま からの預かり者と受けとめ一頭 を展示つづけたのでした私たち の日常に目を展示て手の届く 範囲を見てみれば家族はもちろん 隣近所の人や電車やバスで隣 合わせた人コンビニのレジに並んだ 前後の人なども手の届く範囲 の人ですそういう人たちへの笑顔 や感謝それに困っている人 に手を差し伸べることも周囲を 照らす灯し日となります 国への至りや感謝の言葉は家庭 を明るく温める友し日となり 区南の中にいる遠い国の人を思う 祈りもまた尊い一頭です そして国や民族や宗教の違いを 超えて今世界中の人が同じ思い で平和の友し日が余ねく広がる ことを念じているに違い ありません 他のために天事帯一遇を照らす 友し日はいつまでも消えることは ないのですという介祖様の言葉 を通して私たちは足元の実践を 埋まず頼まず続けて参りましょう 以上で厚生令和8年9月後 会長先生ご法和の労読を終了 させていただきます