Today was the prayer meeting at Shokoji Temple.
Through introspection at the prayer meeting, we reaffirm important things and use them as a foundation for living a peaceful life. If we manage to live a peaceful life, we will chant the Nembutsu so that we can be welcomed into the Pure Land at the end.
This may seem like a pointless argument, but since the Buddha saw everything as a repetition of the results of past events, it is thought that he did not place much importance on prayer and other such things.
Honen Shonin also warned against blind faith in prayer. If we could be cured of illness and live longer just by praying, there would be no trouble.
On the other hand, Honen Shonin said that it is a good thing if various activities help to chant the Nembutsu.
That means if praying gives you the strength to achieve your goals, then there's nothing wrong with it.
We are ordinary people, and even though we know that praying will not bring us any physical benefits, we cannot help but pray.
On the other hand, I think that the fact that we cannot help but pray is proof that we are living each day to the fullest, because it is only after putting in our utmost effort that we can reach the state of mind where we can pray wholeheartedly and ask for help.
At today's prayer meeting, each person's wish was the catalyst for them to offer up prayers and chant the Nembutsu, hoping that their future lives would be peaceful.
English 
Japanese