The following is a Gokyoka (poem) by Nissen Shonin who is the founder of HBS.
Ureshisa wa hina no yamiji wo fumikaete
Miyako ni kaeru akebono no sora
This Gokyoka means, “I am heading for a capital city under the light of daybreak, changing my way from the dark country road with unsteady steps. How fortunate I am!”
This delightful feeling of Nissen Shonin in this Gokyoka should not only be that of Nissen Shonin alone, but of all of us HBS followers as the ultimate prayer.
The word hina in the Gokyoka means ‘a remote country road’, but it actually means the world where people encounter various sufferings. The word miyako in the poem means ‘a capital where a king lives in a palace’, but really means the Pure Buddha Land where the Buddha lives.
The Gokyoka expresses a joyful feeling in upholding the Fine Dharma, the Odaimoku, which guides him (Nissen Shonin) to the Pure Buddha Land. However, it does not mean Nissen Shonin only. When we, as HBS followers, realize that we also are given the opportunity to escape from the darkness of bad realms to the bright, holy realm called Jakko Jodo, it can be said that we have received the great Goriyaku called Jogo Noten (changing bad karma to good karma).
If we neglect or forget to offer such an important prayer, spending efforts on religious activities will be wasted.
Changing One’s “Karma” - Jogo Noten
Ureshisa wa hina no yamiji wo fumikaete
Miyako ni kaeru akebono no sora