In last week’s discussion of Chapter 14, I made a big deal about the Peaceful Practices without discussing the other side of that coin – the war we are asked to fight.
“Mañjuśrī! I will tell you a parable. Suppose a powerful wheel-turning-holy-king demanded surrender of the kings of smaller countries by threat of force. They did not obey his demand. He led soldiers, and went and suppressed them. He was very glad to see that some soldiers distinguished themselves in war. According to their merits, he gave them paddy fields, houses, villages, cities, garments or ornaments; or various treasures such as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, shell, agate, coral or amber; or elephants, horses, vehicles, menservants, maidservants or subjects. But he did not give a brilliant gem which he was keeping in his top-knot to anyone because the gem on the head of the king was the only one [in the world]. If he had given it to anyone, the followers of the king would have been much surprised.”
We can make light of Nichiren’s ardor in his battle to save Japan and establish an ideal buddha land in this world, suggesting he was just the high-spirited son, but we shouldn’t ignore the task we are asked to accomplish.
“Mañjuśrī! I am like the king. I obtained the world of the Dharma by my powers of dhyāna-concentration and of wisdom, and became the king of the triple world. But the kings of the Maras did not assent to my demand for surrender to me. Therefore, my army led by generals, that is, by sages and saints, fought with them.”
We are asked to be soldiers. We fight not just for our own benefit but for the defeat of the Maras, the victory that brings everyone peace. Can we do that without the ardor of Nichiren?
Yes, this is not Medieval Japan and we are not challenging the authority of a state religion, at least not hear in the United States. But we have the highest goal before us. “Sentient beings are innumerable; we vow to save them all.”
As with everything, we must seek a middle path. This is just as true with our faith. As Nichiren wrote in Ueno-dono Gohenji, A Reply to Lord Ueno:
“Of the people who put faith in the Lotus Sūtra today, some have faith like fire while others have it like water. Those who have faith like fire refer to those who become enthusiastic upon listening to the preaching but their passion cools down as times goes by, and eventually forget the teaching. On the other hand, those whose faith is like water mean those whose faith is like a ceaselessly flowing water, namely those who retain their faith without retreating.
Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 126
We are asked to fight a war. We will win some battles and we will suffer setbacks, but with faith that is like ceaselessly flowing water we can carve a path to our goal.
Table of Contents Next Essay