E26179

     Mr. Yumiji Hongo has written on the psychological aspects of the word “disciple” which I occasionally use regarding members. I found this essay rather interesting, so I would like to add a few words. At present, my activities are directed mainly by the Tathagata of Divine Light, which is on the same level as the Shakyamuni Tathagata and the Amitabha Tathagata, so one can think of my followers in the sense of the often-used phrase, “the ten great disciples of the Shakyamuni Tathagata.” This manner of expression is easy to follow because it is easy to confuse those followers who have been with me since the days of purification therapy with usual church members.
     As Mr. Honjo says, I used to be called “Great Teacher” (Daisensei) by my followers. At that time, my work was the “Way of the Bodhisattva,” directed by the Bodhisattva Avaloketishvara, but since I have assumed the status of Tathagata, my name was changed to Meishu-sama or “Enlightened Leader.” The nom de plume Jikan (Myself; Kannon) I use derives from the fact that I am doing the work of Kannon, or Avaloketishvara. In addition, for poetry, I use the nom de plume Akemaro (Bright Me), and this comes from my connection to the birth of His Highness the Crown Prince [as of January 15, 2009, the Heisei Emperor] which was on December 23, 1933. It is a day I will never forget since I was born on a December twenty-third as well, and upon the recommendation of my followers, for the first time I celebrated my birthday on that day, December 23, 1933. In order to commemorate the announcement of the name of the Crown Prince as Akihito, I took the nom de plume for poetry, Akemaro, using Ake- as the pronunciation (one out of many) for the ideogram for “Bright” which was also the first ideogram, in this case pronounced Aki-, in the name of the Crown Prince.
     In a humorous vein, I also use the nom de plume Akegarasu Aho (Bright Crow Fool, the “bright” meaning “early riser”), and here is the background for this. At the beginning of the Meiji era, there was in Osaka a master of capped verse named Asanebo Kiraku (Late Riser Easy Going). He was rather well-received at the time, and the second person to inherit the name Late Riser was Onisaburo Deguchi of Oomoto who was called Asanebo Kanraku (Late Riser Leisure Easy). Oomoto members around me heartily recommended I take up capped verse and I became Deguchi’s poetry disciple. I enjoyed composing capped verse, and was rewarded for my labor by being named the third-generation Late Riser with the title Asanebo Kigetsu (Late Riser Bright Moon). The capped verse anthology Fountain of Laughter (Warai no Izumi) carries an account of this episode as well, but at one time I was a poetry judge, had over ten disciples around me, and was very active in promoting kanku. At that time I truly was a sleepy head, but I did want to wake up early, so I changed my name to the kanku nom de plume Bright Crow Fool. Intriguingly, from that time on I was able to rise early, a habit which continues to the present. The mystic power of words is not to be taken lightly.
     In consideration of my spiritual status and the work I do, God bestows names that are spiritually appropriate, so my name may change again. But then, it may not change either. When you think about it, though, in the world of speech, it is only a short step from Meishu to Meshiya (Messiah), so I am thinking that my name might become Meshiya.

Although not confirmed, it is thought that the essay Meishu-sama mentions in the first paragraph of “Watashi no Meishô ni Tsuite” (“My Names”) is most likely “Deshiron” (“Discipleship”) by Mr. Yumiji Hongo and carried in Issue 118 of Eikô, August 22, 1951. A translation of “Deshiron” (“Discipleship”) is carried in the Reference section of this site.