Rinzai Myoshin-ji Zen Denomination Adds “No Nuclear Support Expense” into Regular Budget

Rev. Soeki Matsui, the Secretary General of the Rinzai Myoshin-ji Zen Denomination in Japan, announced during the convening of the denomination’s national Hanazono Association at the headquarters of the sect on January 25^th the creation of a new “No Nuclear Support Expense” item as part of the revised regular budget for the denomination for fiscal year 2012-2013 as well as the installation of a solar energy system at the head temple as part of the practice of non-reliance on nuclear energy. This budget item will be presented before the denomination’s regularly scheduled parliamentary meeting in February. The “No Nuclear Support Expense” will be part of extra expenses within the regular budget. This year’s proposed revised budget will exceed 17 million yen (US$185,000). In the fiscal 2013-2014 proposed budget, there will continue an increase of one million yen that will be approved by the finance committee on Feb. 17.

These budget measures will be used to install solar panels on the roof of the Hanazono Zen School. The Kyocera Solar Corporation has been contracted to start construction soon and estimated to complete by the Spring. At first, the denominational Headquarters Building and the Hanazono Meeting Hall were raised as candidates for installation, but in the end the project was narrowed down to one building.

The new budget will also enable a second non-reliance on nukes initiative based on the declaration made last year by the denomination’s chief priest, Kancho Taitsu Kono, to “gather accurate wisdom and create a place for the multifaceted study” of the issue of nuclear energy and alternative energy. It is expected that a formal study group on the nuclear issue will now be developed.

Secretary General Matsui explained that the point of the denomination supporting “non-reliance on nuclear energy” is that, “This is not an issue of the good or evil of nuclear energy. Rather, we are aiming towards actions people can do by themselves that will not endanger life, nor cause fear while safely realizing a rich daily life.” Rev. Matsui appealed for the understanding of the leaders of the Hanazono Association from each region in Japan.