KANJIN HONZON SHO

The Saha-world is the world of the Original Buddha and is the eternal Pure Land, which is free from the three calamities and the four kalpa. In this eternal world, the Buddha never disappeared in the past, nor is He to appear in the future. In consequence, all living beings under the Buddha in the Saha-world are one with Him and eternal. It is because those who believe in the Lotus Sutra, live in the land where they have united themselves with the Buddha and attained the truth of “the three thousand existences in one thought.”

(Background : April 25, 1273, 51 years old, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.712)

Explanatory note

The world of the Original Buddha Sakyamuni is permanently peaceful and blissful without the traumas of birth and death. Contrarily, in the Saha-world of human beings, there are various sufferings and anxieties caused by three calamities of fire, flood, and storms; and the four types of transitions (Four kalpa): origination, duration, destruction, and annihilation.

In fact, in the realm of the Original Buddha, all existences are absolutely pure and tranquil. The Buddha himself with all other existences has never disappeared in the past nor will He appear in the future. The Buddha and all His disciples are equally enlightened by the glory of the sacred power of Odaimoku.

All beings have already been saved by the Original Buddha and are identified as one with the Buddha.

Despite the Buddha-land being perfect and beautiful, many people still have perverted views in which everything is still burning by the fire of illusions.

Nichiren Daishonin has found truth in the Lotus Sutra which is neither extreme idealism nor extreme realism. According to his teaching, the Buddha-land is not different from the human world. This land is the Buddha-land because it is where the Buddha is expounding the Lotus Sutra.

We, human beings, are the real disciples of the Original Buddha Sakyamuni, and had been taught by Him and have accomplished the Supreme Enlightenment.

This is the sacred relationship between the Original Buddha and the human beings in the Latter Age of the Declining Law. While we believe in the Lotus Sutra and recite Odaimoku, we can recognize our own existence and be able to realize our own divine Buddhahood.

Rev. Syaku

HO-ON JO

I, Nichiren, believe my compassion is boundless because I am devoting myself to salvation of all mankind, overcoming many persecutions. Therefore, “Namu Myoho Renge Ryo,” the teaching for the people in the Latter Age of the Declining Law, will spread forever beyond the ten-thousand-year period. It has the merit of curing the (religious) blindness of all people and blocks the way to hell. This merit is superior to those of Dengyo of Japan, T’ien-t’ai of China, Nagarjuna of India, and Kasyapa, who was the Buddha’s disciple.

Therefore, the practice for a hundred years in the peaceful Pure Land is not worth the merit of chanting Odaimoku for one day in this defiled world. Propagation of the Lotus Sutra in the two-thousand-year period following the death of the Buddha does not give benefit as much as spreading Odaimoku for a while in the Latter Age of the Declining Law. This is not due to my wisdom; it is solely due to the time of the Latter Age in which I live.

(Background ; July 21, 1276, 54 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1248)

Explanatory note

What is the truth of humankind? This has been a long quest in human history. The development of human society was only possible through this quest, and our ancestors had sought the fundamental truth by physical and spiritual training. In other words, the history of humankind is the history of seeking happiness. Civilization has proved that happiness could be attained not by satisfaction of one’s own self but by faith in truth.

However, the quick development of the modern science made us forget this fundamental spirit of humankind, and the civilization that our ancestors have built up is in danger of being corrupted because modern people became more selfish and forgot to work together with others in harmony.
Buddhism also has tried to find true nature of humankind which Buddha taught us. In this modern age, we, Buddhists, should not neglect to find the true spirit of Buddhism and the true mind of the Buddha Sakyamuni.

It is easy to chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.” But it is difficult to understand and believe it, unless we find the true teaching and salvation of the Lotus Sutra, which the Buddha Sakyamuni revealed to us. “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” was what the Buddha had kept deep in the sutra, and Nichiren Daishonin has revealed it for the first time in the thirteenth century. Nichiren believed that Odaimoku was the most important virtue he could leave behind for us in Buddhist history and proudly announced it to people. He said that it is most important for us to have faith in the teaching and practice in this real world, rather than to practice it in the Pure Land.

Although we read this “Ho-on Jo” quite often without thinking deeply, we must think of the true meaning of the words which Nichiren showed us.
We receive Odaimoku and preserve it in our bodies. At the same time we attain Buddhahood as a natural result of accepting and maintaining the “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. ”

Rev. Akahoshi

SENJI-SHO

The ocean consists of water from many rivers.
Mount Sumeru consists of soil and rocks. When I, Nichiren, began to believe in the Lotus Sutra, I was like one drop of water in the ocean or a handful of soil of the mountain, compared to all people of Japan. However, if the number of the believers increases from two to three and to hundreds, thousands, millions; then, it becomes the huge Mount Sumeru of Buddhahood or the great ocean of nirvana.

(Background : June 1275, 53 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1054)

Explanatory note

The Nichiren Sect has traditionally held such a slogan as “Itten Shikai Kaiki Myoho,” or “Convert the entire people under the heaven within four seas to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.” Kenji Miyazawa, a poet and follower of the Lotus Sutra, stated, “There will be no individual happiness until the whole world becomes happy.

Nichiren Daishonin’s earnest desire for the attainment of Buddhahood through the recitation of Odaimoku does not stop at the level of individual salvation. The voice of the recitation should not only penetrate the heart of the individual who recites it but should also achieve the attainment of Buddhahood for the entire people.

He had appealed his religious view to Kamakura Government three times. They were 1.) “Rissho Ankoku Ron” completed and given to the government in 1260, 2.) appeal on the occasion of his persecution at Tatsunokuchi in 1271, and 3.) the appeal to the government in 1274. They were all his frantic efforts to materialize his sincere desire. The four major persecutions and the numerous lesser persecutions all befell him around the time he made these expostulations. They served as tests of his prayer for the happiness and attainment of Buddhahood for the entire world.

He kept his composure throughout these hardships, and stated that the vast ocean consists of drops of water, and Mt. Sumeru is composed of grains of soil. That is, each individual’s voice in the prayer of the Lotus Sutra which he advocated may not reach afar, yet the voice will gain compassion in due course of time and will spread far and wide, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the absolute spiritual awakening of our original teacher, the Buddha Sakyamuni. Nichiren had no doubt that the vast ocean of absolute salvation (i.e., nirvana) would reveal itself to the world. Thus, he confidently predicted the future of propagation and spread of his teaching.

Today, we receive our salvation through the prayer of the Lotus Sutra and enjoy its protection. But we must question to what extent we have responded to Nichiren’s great compassion.

Nichiren has led us to the world of great salvation of the Lotus Sutra. We must in turn do our utmost to spread the salvation of the sutra to the numerous individuals covering the entire land. We must realize that it is the proof of our faith to help to guide the whole world to happiness and attainment of Buddhahood.

Rev. Ikuta

MYOICHI AMA GOZEN GOSHOSOKU

Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are like the winter season for many hardships come incessantly. Winter is surely followed by spring. We have never heard nor seen that winter returned to fall. We have never heard that the believers in the Lotus Sutra go back to ordinary men. The Lotus Sutra says, “All people who listen to this sutra will attain Buddhahood.”

(Background : May, 1275, 53 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1000)

Explanatory note

Nichiren Buddhists believe tomorrow brings improvement. Nichiren Daishonin’s life was full of conStant persecutions. He had strong belief in the Lotus Sutra and believed in the Buddha’s protection; therefore, he never gave up his hope of attaining Buddhahood. His life was the practice of his belief and materialization of his faith. So he earnestly preached to us to have the same belief and hope in the sutra.

At his time, there were unseasonable weather, poor harvests, famines, epidemics, and social disorders. Nichiren sought causes of these natural disasters and social disorders in various sutras. As a result, he wrote “Rissho Ankoku Ron” which says at the end, “Ye men of little faith, turn your minds and trust yourselves at once to the unique truth of the righteous way! Then ye shall see that the triple worlds of the unenlightened will become the Buddhaland.” The disasters and disorders, he said, were caused by the people’s disbelief in the Lotus Sutra.

“Strong spirit to overcome any hardship” – this is Nichiren Daishonin’s foundation throughout his life. His strong spirit came out of “hope” which he always kept during many continuous persecutions. The hope was belief in the Eternal Lord Buddha who was watching and protecting him always.

Compared with Kamakura Era, we today are living in an unbelievably comfortable environment. But this comfortable living has many weak points as if we are standing on thin ice. It will easily melt.
Chapter 12 of the Lotus Sutra says that the Buddha Sakyamuni had accumulated merits by practising austerities in His previous lives for innumerable kalpa. To practice Buddha’s way, we must foresee our long steps to Buddhahood.

We adhere in small matters, and we are joyful or sad only for matters before our eyes. But we must open our eyes wide and keep the “hope” revealed in the Lotus Sutra deep in our minds.

Rev. Kanai

TSUCHI-RO GOSHO

Tomorrow, I (Nichiren) will be exiled to Sado Island. In this cold evening, I am thinking of you in the cold dungeon.

My thought is that you have read and practiced the Lotus Sutra with your heart and action, which would save your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, ancestors, and everyone around you. Other people read the sutra vocally without feeling in their hearts. Even though they might read it with their heart, they do not experience it as the sutra teaches. Compared with them, you are very precious since you are practicing the sutra in your actions, voices, and spirit.

(Background : October 9, 1271, 49 years old, at Echi, Showa Teihon, p.509)

Explanatory note

Nichiren Daishonin believed himself to be the Buddha Sakyamuni’s messenger and conducted his spiritual train. ing in accordance with the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. He put it into practice.

Nichiren said, “We must put into practice the teachings of the Lotus Sutra in all phases of life.” He asserted that it is not true practice if we only understand it with our minds. Instead, he said, we must devote our hearts and souls to the fullest when we read the sutra.
He was a practician of the Lotus Sutra and requested his disciples and believers to be the same.

The above quotation is the opening paragraph of a letter to his disciple Nichiro and who was arrested with Nichiren at the time of the Tatsu-no-kuchi Persecution and who was put into a dungeon. The night before Nichiren’s departure for Sado Island, Nichiren wrote the above letter to him.

Once he is exiled to the island, he might not be able to return to Kamakura. Even in such a circumstance, Nichiren worried about his disciples. We can see his compassion in this letter. He consoled those who were suppressed because of practicing the Lotus Sutra. He praised his disciples who practiced the sutra with their spirit and bodies.
Reflecting on people today, many are ill spiritually. How thoroughly do they understand themselves? How seriously are they seeking the true teaching? Most likely, people try to solve their problems superficially without going to the source. This is just a patchwork. In order to cure sickness of mind and body, we must find spiritual support. We must firmly believe in the Lotus Sutra and devote ourselves to it.

To practice the Lotus Sutra with one’s action, voice, and spirit is to hold it “through three karmas.” We hope to keep our daily lives in accordance with this phrase.

Rev. Ogawa

KONICHI BO GOSHO

A tiny needle sinks into the water. Rain falls – it cannot float in the air. These are natural laws. A person who kills a tiny ant falls into hell. Thus, a person who kills a human being falls into hell.

However, a huge rock can float on water if it is placed on a ship. A raging fire can be extinguished by the power of water. Without repentance, even a small sin can make a man fall into hell. On the other hand, with sincere repentance, even great sins can be erased.

(Background : March 1276, 54 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.] 158)

Explanatory note

According to Buddhism, a person who kills any living being falls into hell, even for killing a tiny ant. I know you may think that it is heavy punishment for just killing an ant. However, a tiny needle sinks into the water because its density is greater than that of water. The rule is applicable to the concept of falling into hell.

But is it possible that we, common people, do not kill any living being? Nichiren pointed out in “Ken Hobo Sho” that it is almost impossible even for a priest of Ritsu Sect, which adheres strictly to Buddhist precepts, not to kill any living beings throughout his life.

To repent one’s wrong conduct, he or she must have faith in the teachings of the Buddha Sakyamuni from the bottom of one’s heart. Instead of falling into guilty consciousness because of not keeping the precepts, one should rely on the Buddha’s teachings to be saved.

We should understand the parable which Nichiren revealed. It states that even a huge rock which is too heavy for a man to lift can still float on water, if it is carried aboard a ship.

If each one of us in the Latter Age of the Declining Law chants Odaimoku sincerely to repent wrong conduct, we will be able to experience appreciation of living in this great world.

Rev. Okuno

KAIMOKU SHO

To be filial(ko) means to be high (ko); heaven is high but not at all higher than being filial. To be filial (ko) also means to be deep(ko); the earth is deep but is not any deeper than being filial. Both sages and wise men come from filial families. How much more should students of Buddhism realize the favors they receive and show gratitude for them? Disciples of the Buddha should not fail to feel grateful for the four favors received from parents, people, sovereign (of nation), and Buddhism. Show gratitude to them.

(Background : 1272, 50 years old, at Tsukahara on Sado Island, Showa Teihon p. 544)

Explanatory note

Filial piety is the fundamental moral code. It is of the highest value in society – higher than even the heaven. Its meaning in human life is deeper than anything else – deeper than even unfathomable earth. Those people who are respected as sages and wise men are filial children at home because anyone without filial piety cannot be revered and respected by the people.

Most of us know that we owe our lives not only to our parents but also to many others : all the people in the society in which we live and the ruler of the land to which we were born. So we show our gratitude to them for what we owe by trying to fulfill our duties at home, in the local community, and to our nation.

However, this is not all that is expected of us, followers and disciples of the Buddha. We are all surrounded by the boundless benevolence of the Three Treasures (the Eternal Buddha, His ultimate teaching expounded in the Lotus Sutra, and His messenger, Nichiren Shonin). It is, therefore, important for us to realize it always and show our gratitude for what we owe the Three Treasures by carrying out our duties as Nichiren Buddhists.

Rev. Hori

Jl RI KUYO GOSHO

Water is essential for fish to live. Soil is essential for plants to grow. Food is essential for man to live. To live is most essential for all.

(Background : 1276, 54 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1261)

Explanatory note

Nichiren Daishonin emphasized the importance to respect our life as well as to seek eternal life. He said, “To maintain our life is more valuable than gaining a million pieces of gold.” However, these words will be in vain if we forget to have a prayer for eternal life.

According to Buddhism, one equals all. In other words, one would contain whole things and the whole things would be attributed to one. After all, one and all are identified without hindrance. Nichiren Daishonin goes a step further and finds the absolute unity between self and others in this reality. In other parts of his teaching, he says, “The true life will be found in matters in our society.” Therefore, in our daily lives, it is necessary to make efforts to maintain our physical life as well as to seek eternal life.

The dignity of man’s life is expressed as “Not-killing” in Buddhism. Fear of wars and nuclear weapons can not be erased from our minds. We are in danger all the time as Damocles who, looking up, found a sword suspended above his head by a single hair. At this age, we must listen with attention to the important message of the Buddha “Do not kill.” At the same time, we must always be thankful for the fact that we have life in this world.

It is a common ethic throughout the world to be grateful for living on this earth. Oriental people express their gratitude through veneration, especially of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. It is called “kuyo” and it is the most essential morality of their religious lives.
Thus, we show our gratitude for the teachings of the Buddha and favors of the land, by refraining from any negative act of human dignity.

Rev. Matsuda

KYODAI SHO

To be a woman is to be obedient, and consequently she will have her way.

(Background : April 16, 1275, 53 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon p.932)

TOKI AMA GOZEN GOSHO

An arrow is directed by the power of its bow. The clouds move with the power of wind. The works of man (husband) are seeded by woman (wife).

(Background : March 27, 1276, 54 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon p.1147)

Explanatory note

The above two letters are often quoted at wedding ceremonies addressed to the brides. They are not only beneficial for women but also for everyone. The quotation means not to push one’s desire or plan disregarding others, rather to see reality and to follow the reality, then one’s desire or plan will be materialized.

Nichiren Daishonin is telling us that husband and wife should demonstrate individual ability in their union and that any partnership is the same. It is the wife’s skill that helps the husband to be successful in his work and his faith.

Rev. Kanai

UENO DONO GOHENJI

A wife treasures her husband while he sacrifices his life for her.

(Background : January 3, 1279, 56 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1621)

SENNICHI AMA GOZEN GOHENJI

A husband is like a pillar of a house and his wife its beam. When the pillar falls, the beam collapses. Man is like legs and woman is like body. A bird’s body being the wife and its wings her husband, when the wings fail, the bird cannot fly. Likewise, you must feel that you have lost your own soul after the death of your husband.

(Background : July 2, 1280, 58 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1762)

Explanatory note

Nichiren Daishonin often sent letters to his followers who lost their loved ones. He taught them how to overcome their sadness through faith. These letters were always warm-hearted.

When Sennichi Ama lost her husband, Abutsubo, Nichiren sent her a long letter. The quotation above is a part of the letter which explains the important close relationship between husband and wife.

What is the ideal relationship between husband and wife? What is a good family? These questions have been answered in many ways throughout our history. However, all thinkers agree that the most essential factor is to strengthen the union of husband and wife as well as to fortify their families with respect and trust for each other.

Even though our family system and life style have been changed so much, the fundamental and affectionate relationship within a small circle of intimate associates like a family has not changed. Love and trust between a husband and his wife are the basis for all human relations, because the essence of the family is not only physical closeness but consciousness of joint interaction.

Our lives have become very comfortable through the development of science and technology, and at the same time, we live in an age when we are easily influenced by desire for instant gratification, which could often destroy a wonderful relationship in a family. Therefore, we must have strong will and determination not to fall to temptations around us. But if we do not have thoughts of mutual understanding and a spirit of compassion within our family life, it is difficult to have such a strong will and determination.

By affirming love and affection for each other, we cultivate the spirit of a strong will and determination from within.

Nichiren taught us that a harmonious family with the spirit of strong will and determination will be present when we live truthfully everyday by chanting “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” with faith in the eternal Buddha.

Rev. Matsuda