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Damion Freestone, Momotaro
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No money to be made with recycling in Japan...anymore.
Keiko Ahner painting on display at Megane No Good, Minamai Nobeoka, Japan
Joke by Howard Ahner, election time in Japan...
Kare wa tokidoki gehin na kotoba wo tsukau.
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Kitaura Matsuri October 10, 2009 on Saturday
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Howard Ahner's MS Paint Art - Slide Show
Whitey Ahner - November 23-2008
Howard, Mia, Jun, Mare and Whitey Ahner
What is Myo?
November 11, 2008
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Great View - Southern Hyuga, Miyazaki Ken, Japan November 11, 2008
Best Youchien in Kawaminami
Artist in Nobeoka
What color was the carpet at the Tokyo film festival?
Takachiho Sen Update
Have you had any frozen green beans lately?
Will Ex-Nova students get their money back?
If gas costs $3 a gallon in the US, how much is a liter in Japan?
Nobeoka Grass
"Kankei Nai" Town
His Flowers in Nobeoka
Driftwood in Nobeoka
Beachwood in Nobeoka
Nobeoka Holes
A "Mamacheri" Bicycle is For Mother's
Okatomi Means, "Rich Hill."
My Friend Lost His Bicycle Key in Nobeoka
Mamacheri Bicycles in Japan
English Classes in Nobeoka with Howard Ahner, an American from California
Nobeokanese
My MS Paint Art
Ahner Small Talk
A Day on Nagahama Beach in Nobeoka - Autumn
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

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Damion Freestone

General Stone Tiger

On the twenty-second of this month I received all that you sent me from Shinano--three kan of coins, a sack of polished rice, fifty rice cakes, one large and one small bamboo container of sake, five bundles of dried persimmons and ten pomegranates, as well as the list you enclosed with these gifts.

A sovereign is supported by the people, and they in turn live under his protection. Clothes protect us from cold and food sustains us, just as oil keeps a fire burning and water supports fish. Birds nest high in the trees in fear that men will harm them, but they come down to feed and are caught in snares. Fish living at the bottom of a pond fear that it is too shallow and dig holes to hide in, yet lured by bait, they take the hook. No treasure possessed by man is more precious than food and drink, clothing and medicine.

I, Nichiren, am not as healthy as others, and in addition, I dwell in this remote mountain forest. This year was especially difficult, with widespread epidemics and famine in spring and summer, which worsened in autumn and winter. My sickness grew worse again, too, but you prescribed various medicines and sent them to me along with quilted silk clothes. Thanks to your remedies, I improved steadily; I have now recovered and feel much better than before. The Yuga-ron of Bodhisattva Maitreya and the Dairon of Bodhisattva Nagarjuna both state that if one's illness is caused by immutable karma, even the most excellent medicine will turn to poison, but if he believes in the Lotus Sutra, poison will change into medicine. Although unworthy, Nichiren propagates the Lotus Sutra; hence devils have competed to deprive him of food. Understanding this, I have no complaint, but I believe that I survived this time only because Shakyamuni Buddha sent you to assist me.

So much for that. I was extremely concerned about your journey home last time, and I am overjoyed to hear that you arrived safely in Kamakura. Such was my anxiety that I asked everyone who came here from Kamakura about you. One said that he had met you at Yumoto, another that he had encountered you further on at Kozu, and when a third told me that he had seen you in Kamakura, I felt greatly relieved. From now on, you must not come to visit me in person unless absolutely necessary. When you have something urgent to tell me, send a messenger. Indeed, I was deeply worried about your last trip. An enemy will try to throw you off guard so that he may attack. If you should have to travel, do not spare the cost of a good horse. Bring along your best soldiers to defend you against a surprise attack, and ride a horse which can easily carry you in your armor.

In the eighth volume of the Maka Shikan and in the eighth volume of Miao-lo's Guketsu it is said, "The stronger one's faith, the greater the gods' protection." This means that the protection of the gods depends on the strength of one's faith. The Lotus Sutra is a keen sword, but its might depends upon the one who wields it.

Among those who propagate this sutra in the Latter Day of the Law, who could compare with Shariputra, Mahakashyapa, Kannon, Myo'on, Monju and Yakuo? Shariputra and Mahakashyapa, who were of the two vehicles, had destroyed all illusions of thought and desire, thus freeing themselves from the six paths. The others, all bodhisattvas, had eradicated the forty-one illusions and were approaching perfection, like the harvest moon on the night before it reaches fullness. Nevertheless Shakyamuni Buddha refused to entrust the mission of propagation to any of these people and gave it instead to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Thus these Bodhisattva of the Earth are the ones who had thoroughly forged their faith.

The mother of the mighty warrior General Li Kuang was devoured by a ferocious tiger. He spied the beast and shot it with an arrow, but then discovered that what he had seen was only a rock. The arrow lodged itself deep in the rock. He was surprised and tried to duplicate his feat but could not penetrate the stone a second time. Later he came to be known as General Stone Tiger. Your strength of purpose is comparable to his. Though enemies lurk in wait for you, your resolute faith in the Lotus Sutra has forestalled persecutions before they could begin. Realizing this, you must strengthen your faith more than ever. It is impossible to say all I want to in one letter.

With my deep respect,

Nichiren

The twenty-second day of the tenth month in the first year of Koan (1278)

  

As I have often said, unseen virtue brings about visible reward.

 

"No affairs of life or work are in any way different from the ultimate reality."

 

If gas costs $3 a gallon in the US,
If gas costs $3 a gallon in the US, how much is it
how much is a liter in Japan?

Will Ex-Nova Students Get Their Money Back?
Students of Nova
Nova Pays Back....

Have you had any frozen green beans lately?
Tainted
Tainted Green Beans

What color was the carpet at the...
What color was the carpet?
Tokyo film festival?

Nothing Ever Changes in Nobeoka
East Kyushu Says Kankei Nai Often Enough
Kankei Nai in East Kyushu Japan

Nobeoka Grass
Nobeoka Grass
Nobeoka Grass

Nobeoka Holes
Nobeoka Holes
Nobeoka Holes

Beachwood in Nobeoka
Beachwood in Nobeoka
Beachwood in Nobeoka

Driftwood in Nobeoka
Driftwood in Nobeoka
Driftwood in Nobeoka

His Flowers in Nobeoka
His Flowers in Nobeoka
His Flowers in Nobeoka

Lost Bicycle Key
lost-bicycle-key-cost-1000-yen-for-new-one.jpg
Cost to Replace is High

Okatomi Means Hills-Rich
okatomi-rich-hill.jpg
in Nobeoka

MamaCheri Bicycle for Shopping Mother's
mamacher-bicycle-for-shopping-and-mothers.jpg
in NOBEOKA JAPAN

My Microsoft Paint Art
in Nobeoka
by Howard Ahner

English Classes in Nobeoka
English Teacher in Nobeoka
Miyazaki English

Nobeokanese
Nobeokanese
Nobeokanese

Nobeoka Grass
Nobeoka Grass
Nobeoka Grass

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Ahner Small Talk
and Miyazaki Prefecture Japan
in Nobeoka

Howard Ahner Art
Nobeoker Does Microsoft Paint in Nobeoka
Microsoft Paint Art by Howard Ahner

Email Howard Ahner:
 
Telephone: 0982-34-5666
 
 

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