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A New Year’s Message from Her Holiness Shinso Ito for 2025

January 01, 2025

Tokyo, Japan / Calligraphy of ideogram 巳 (“Snake”) by Shinso Ito, Seal: Shinso

The year 2025 is represented by the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The wood element evokes the image of a shoot bending as it breaks through its seed husk. The snake is associated with the concepts of “arising” or “awakening,” signifying a time when all things begin to stir and become vigorously active. In keeping with the connotations of this astrological year, I view 2025 as a time of budding, vibrant growth.

The Japanese word for the Year of the Snake is mi. It's a homonym for the English word "me," as in ourselves. It's also a homonym for the Japanese word for "fruit." Flowers bloom to bear fruit. Therefore, this year, let us make efforts to allow ourselves to blossom and bear fruit in spiritual care, joyous giving, and service.

This year, may we all grow, rising to follow the examples of those who inspire us and engage in acts of kindness wherever we find those in need.

This year, may we all grow, rising to follow the examples of those who inspire us and engage in acts of kindness wherever we find those in need. To do this, Shinnyo-en is carrying out acts of kindness across many fronts, reaching out to countries across the globe where the effects of climate change, ongoing wars, growing conflict, and rising poverty are creating dire situations.

In 1979, Master Shinjo, the founder of our tradition, shared this verse: “Acting with the heartfelt wish to support another gives rise to liberating forces that empower us both.” Similarly, one New Year shortly after World War II, our cofounder Master Tomoji had a vision of Bodhisattva Kannon, the embodiment of compassion, while chanting and came away with the message: “Loving kindness and compassion quell all conflict.”

A cropped image of a statue shows a flowing garment of red and blue, intricately decorated with gold floral patterns, hanging above a soft, white porcelain foot that stands atop a lotus-shaped pedestal.
A full length statue of a pale, serene, standing figure draped in colorful silken garments, adorned with a crown displaying ten smaller heads and aureole, holding a vase with lotus bud in its left hand, with its right hand hanging gracefully at its side is displayed before a large golden statue of the Buddha reclining at the moment of nirvana, a portion of which is visible in the background.
(Left) A close up of Kannon’s right foot as it steps forward. (Right) The full-length statue of Kannon bodhisattva displayed at Oyasono.

This year, Shinnyo-en will reconsecrate the image of Eleven-Faced Kannon at our Tokyo head temple complex. This figure symbolizes the gesture of stepping forward to deliver beings from suffering, and embodies the bodhisattva’s spirit of unceasing effort until every sentient being finds liberation.

In alignment with this gesture, our spiritual community will continue to turn the wheel of compassion symbolized by Kannon. We do this through Shinnyo-en’s philanthropic efforts to advance healthcare, education, and well-being, putting into practice this year’s focus of acting for others with loving care.

A gray haired Japanese woman wearing a dark suit jacket and dress, sits casually, facing the camera in front of an altar laden with flowers and other offerings, speaking into a microphone held in her right hand.
Her Holiness delivers remarks on New Years Day

I hope that this year we will all shed any “old skin” that hinders our personal growth. Now is the time to embrace a life committed to the happiness of others and bring forth the radiance of our spiritual nature.

I warmly wish you all a Happy New Year.

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