●General Guide Line of HBS(Honmon-butsuryushu)

3. HBS Chapter in Italy

In December of 1998, I went to Rome, Italy for five days and spent two nights at the home of Nicola Tini to preside over two 'Oko” services at his residence. A Oko service is a religious practice of HBS performed not only at temples but also at residences of lay followers.

The first Oko service was held on December 18 frorn 9 P.M. An earlier time was not possible because several practitioners had to work until late that evening.

I began the Oko service by reciting the Sumnlary Formula of Penitenance and Invocation of the Buddha and the Saints of One Session of the Fine Congregation in Japanese. The practitioners simultaneously recited the Romanized version of the prayers. The chanting of the Odaimoku then followed. Completing the chanting of the Odaimoku, the Homage Formula to the Buddha and Saints (Namukuon No Mon) were recited in both Japanese and English. The Oko service was then concluded. Subsequently, I held a “Ceremony of Vow” before the altar for six practitioners who vowed to become faithful parishioners of HBS who will uphold the principles of the Scripture and devote their time to daily religious practices.

I then held a sermon in English with Nicola translating it into Italian.
The second Oko service was held from 4:30 P.M. on December 21, 1998. A fervid chanting of the Odaimoku was demonstrated during both sessions.

Following was a Question and Answer session held on the first day:

Next. [Guideline] 3-a. The defference between an original sin and the hinderances