SENJI-SHO

Since we were born in this kingdom, our bodies must obey the ruler, but our mind and spirit never obey.

(Background : June 1275, 53 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1053)

Explanatory note

If you are to live each day without accomplishing anything, there is no need to think anything, and no need to be alert about anything. But if you are to ponder seriously about life, firmly ascertain the teachings of the true guidance, and to spread them to the world, then you must clearly be aware of the ground on which you stand.

“Senji-sho” is a tract in which Nichiren Daishonin showed his followers how to live in accordance with the faith in the Lotus Sutra. It was written at a time of crisis when the people of Japan lived in fear created by the imminent attack on Japan by the Mongolian Army which had conquered Turkey in the west and China and Korea in the east.

Nichiren’s words presented here tell us how the followers of the Lotus Sutra must behave. This world is governed by our original teacher, the Buddha Sakyamuni. But once we are born in a country, we must abide by the law of the land. However, no one can interfere with our faith that we are in the salvation of our original teacher, the Buddha Sakyamuni. Nichiren expresses the freedom of our mind and spirit. Therefore, the above quotation must be understood to be a cry from the heart of Nichiren. We, his followers, must act according to these words when circumstances push us to the very limit of our endurance.

Rev. Ikuta