Yesterday, Nov. 11, is the day traditionally set aside to mark what’s called the Komasubara Persecution of Nichiren. Here’s the official explanation:

“After returning from exile at Izu in 1264, Nichiren Shonin visited his home village in Awa Province to see his sick mother. After she recovered, Kudo Yoshitaka, the Lord of Amatsu, invited Nichiren Shonin to his residence. On their way in the evening of November 11, Nichiren Shonin and his retainers were attacked by Tojo Kagenobu and his followers at Komatsubara. Nichiren Shonin was injured on his forehead, and his disciple, Kyoninbo and Lord Yoshitaka were killed. A cotton hat is put on Nichiren Shonin’s statue from November 11 through Spring Higan (toward the end of March) or Rikkyo Kaishu-e Service commemoration the establishment of Nichiren Buddhism (April 28) to heal the injury on his forehead.”

After last year’s Komasubara Persecution service at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church, Rev. Kenjo Igarashi offered a sermon on faith and Dharma power and the protective deities. Here’s some of what he offered.

First, Rev. Igarashi explained that Nichiren Shonin survived being injured in the ambush at Komatsubara because he had strong Lotus Sutra faith. That faith, said Rev. Igarashi, caused the Lotus Sutra deities to offer their protection.

Rev. Igarashi offered a tale of his time caring for Nichiren followers in Brazil. One of these members was the owner of a large appliance store. The owner had been abducted from outside the store and taken to a remote location 100 miles away. The kidnappers took everything he had on him, even his clothes. He was left with only his underwear. Later, his store was broken into and all of the computers and televisions were stolen. The store owner asked Rev. Igarashi to pray for him and his shop, and Rev. Igarashi performed a purification ceremony for the man and gave him an amulet. The next time he went to Brazil the store owner asked him to pray for him and his store again. Afterward, the store owner and his wife invited Rev. Igarashi to dinner. During the dinner, the store owner wrote two Chinese characters on a napkin and gave the napkin to Rev. Igarashi. The store owner, who was Korean, did not speak English or Japanese and normally communicated through his wife, who knew a little Japanese. The characters on the napkin were Dharma and power. The store owner was commenting on the strength of Rev. Igarashi’s Dharma power. But Rev. Igarashi reminded the store owner that he had the strength of his faith, and that faith in the Lotus Sutra attracted the protection of the deities and the Buddha’s benefit.

Dharma power comes from faith in the Lotus Sutra, Rev. Igarashi stressed. If you don’t have strong faith you can’t get Dharma power, the deities’ power, the deities’ protection. When one has strong faith the deities offer their protection and the Buddha gives his benefits. That’s why, explained Rev. Igarashi, it is very important to strengthen your faith.