From: Nichiren Buddhist Community
Date: January 6, 2025
Subject: January 2025 NBC Newsletter


Happy New Year!

Happy January, everyone! A new year has arrived, and with it, a fresh start during our semester break. Welcome to 2025—the Year of the Wood Snake! This year encourages us to face challenges with creativity and flexibility. It's also a special year for our community, as we celebrate the first full year of the Nichiren Buddhist Community here at RIT! A big thank you to everyone who has participated and shared their insights on the Buddha Dharma. We’re so grateful for your presence and contributions! Here's to a year of growth and connection!

2024 Spirituality and Religious Life Study Break
As the semester wrapped up, we were excited to host our first Omamori event to bring some good luck to your final exams. Many of you stopped by the Spirituality and Religious Life Study Break at the Fireside Lounge to pick up your Omamori. If you received one, be sure to keep it close for any upcoming tests. We’ll be offering Omamori again for the Spring exams, so keep an eye on our newsletter for all the details.

Services On-line
We will continue holding our evening services online every Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm EST. Whether you’re a current student, a graduate, a community member, or part of the global sangha, you’re always welcome to join us!

Monday, January 6th
- The Eight Phases of the Buddha’s Life, #5: Subduing Demons
Monday, January 13th
- Ancestors service
Monday, January 20th
- The Eight Phases of the Buddha’s Life, #6: Attaining the Way
Monday, January 27th
- The Eight Phases of the Buddha’s Life, #7: First Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma, #8: Entering Nirvana

We’re holding an in-person Buddhist Refuge Ceremony on Wednesday, January 29th at the School House Wellness Center in Lockport, NY for our members outside of Rochester. This ceremony is a dedication to making the Buddha Dharma a guiding principle in your life. If you’re thinking about taking Buddhist refuge at RIT, please join us at our evening service for more details.

I look forward to learning and practicing Nichiren Shu Buddhism with you in 2025!

Gassho,
Rev. Ryumon Chad Grohman

From the Lotus Sutra

In the spirit of the creative energy of the Wood Snake, I’d love to share with you a beautiful section from the Lotus Sutra, chapter 2, Expedience.

The children who by playing drew

A picture of the Buddha

With a piece of grass or wood,

Or with a brush,

Or with the back of their fingernails,

Became able to accumulate merits one by one,

Having great compassion towards others,

They attained the enlightenment of the Buddha,

Taught only Bodhisattvas,

And saved many living beings.

Murano, third edition, p.42

The sutra goes on to extoll the meritis of even a bow to an image of the Buddha or bending their heads a little toward it also attained unsurpassed enlightenment. We can remember that all beings have Buddha nature, and when we honor each other, we’re also honoring the Buddha in each of us.