MYOICHI AMA GOZEN GOHENJI

Faith is nothing special. A wife loves her husband, the husband devotes his life to her, parents do not give away their children, and children do not desert their mother. Likewise, believe in the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha Sakyamuni, the Buddha Taho, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities. Then chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.” This is faith.

(Background : May 18, 1280, 58 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.] 749)

Explanatory note

This letter is impressive. Nichiren Daishonin always explained religious practice in daily life. Myoichi Arna must have imprinted on her subconcious to remember her master’s words in these simple daily matters. We do not know about her for certain, but it is said that she lived near Kamakura and lost her husband in her early married life. It is very hard for a wife to accept her husband’s death, because she still loves him even after he is gone. Nichiren Daishonin advised her to turn her love to faith in the Lotus Sutra.

It is easy to talk about faith but hard to understand it. An ordinary person is able to grasp the real meaning of faith through love.
In order to receive salvation, Buddhists must have a strong aspiration to Buddhas and deities in the Lotus Sutra with the same love found among husband, wife, and their children. When one is drowning, he must wish someone’s help very strongly. To have faith in the Lotus Sutra is just like that : having a strong aspiration.

Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities surely protect those who have faith in the Lotus Sutra and who chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.” That is Nichiren Daishonin’s teaching.

Rev. Kanai

SHOHO JlSSO SHO

Have faith in the Great Mandala Gohonzon, the most superlative in the world. Endeavor! Endeavor to strengthen your faith, so that you may be blessed with the protective powers of all Buddhas. Learn and practice to strengthen your faith. Without learning and practicing there is no Buddhism. To learn and to practice are a part of faith. Follow these yourself and influence others to do the same. Even if only a word or a phrase, spread it to others.

(Background : 1273, 51 years old, at Sado, Showa Teihon, p.728)

Explanatory note

It is most important for us who follow the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin to believe obediently in the Great Mandala Gohonzon. It is an object of faith and worship. It symbolizes the salvation revealed in the Lotus Sutra.

When the Buddha Sakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha Taho proved its truth, and Sakyamuni’s funjin (manifestations), who had been preaching in all other worlds, praised Him. Furthermore, all deities who had been deeply impressed by listening to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra promised to protect the people who would believe in the sutra.

When we wish to receive this protection, we must do two things — to learn and to practice.

We often distinguish learning from practicing. But we must learn while we devote ourselves putting the teachings of the sutra into practice. Nichiren Daishonin teaches us that it is impossible to be a true and faithful follower without learning and practicing.

Rev. Ogawa

SADO GOKANKI SHO

I, Nichiren, vowed to learn and to master Buddhism and to attain Buddhahood so that I would be able to save the people from whom I had received favors. To attain Buddhahood, one must not think selfishly even at the cost of his life.

(Background : October 10, 1271, 49 years old, at Echi, Showa Teihon, p.510)

Explanatory note

With the protection of guardian deities of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Daishonin narrowly escaped the execution at Tatsu-no-kuchi on September 12, 1271. But a month later, he was exiled to Sado Island in the Japan Sea. The above quotation was a part of a letter written by Daishonin before leaving for exile.

Most people see Nichiren’s vigorous actions which have appeared externally, but they do not try to see his religious point which has come from within his inner self.

For Nichiren Daishonin, “Ho-on” or gratitude was the nucleus of his religion. “Ho-on” means to show appreciation that you are living because of others. Any society is formed with each individual depending on others, so that we must show appreciation of all people. But if the appreciation is referred to only in our daily living, it is not real gratitude, or “Ho-on”.

According to Nichiren Daishonin, the real gratitude is to lead all people to the faith in the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, which was revealed by the Buddha Sakyamuni.

Nichiren might have received all sorts of earthly kindness from many people. But he never tried to return their kindness with worldly matters. Rather, in order to have real salvation for them, Daishonin preached Buddha’s teachings by sacrificing his own life. He cast away all attachments, even his own life. Daishonin’s four major persecutions and many other minor persecutions proved his willingness to sacrifice his own life. We, as his followers, should not be afraid of any obstacles to living in truth; then, we will be given power to overcome such obstacles.

Rev. Kanai

MATSUNO DONO GOHENJI

There are thousands of fish eggs, but few become fish. Hundreds of mango blossoms bloom, but few become fruit. It is the same with human beings, because most people are turned aside by evil distractions. There is an army of warriors wearing armor, but few are able to fight bravely. Many people search for truth, but few attain Buddhahood

(Background : December 9th, 1276, 54 years old, at
Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1269)

Explanatory note

Before the above quotation, Nichiren Daishonin said to Lord Matsuno that there was no difference between Odaimoku, “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,” chanted by Daishonin himself and by his followers. Therefore, he encouraged us to believe that if one chanted Odaimoku, he or she was surely able to reach the same stage as Daishonin.

People are volatile, quick to warm up and to cool down, but Nichiren Daishonin advised Lord Matsuno to have a constant faith like water, not short, enthusiastic faith like fire. It must be difficult to keep faith constantly. Nichiren is advising us that it is important to realize our own Buddha-nature within ourselves and to endeavor constantly at perfecting ourselves.

Rev. Kanai

MYOHO AMA GOZEN GOHENJI

I, Nichiren, have learned Buddhism since I was a child. One’s life is uncertain. Even if you exhale, you are not sure that you can inhale next. One dies quicker than the dew vanishes in the wind. The wise and the fool, the young and the old, are under the law of the transient life. Therefore, one should always know death comes to everyone and should accept it solemnly and spend the valuable life meaningfully.

(Background : July 14, 1278, 56 years old, at Minobu, Showa Teihon, p.1535)

Explanatory note

Nichiren Daishonin said, “One should always know death comes to everyone and should accept it solemnly and spend the valuable life meaningfully.” He meant that we should accept transiency of life and strive for positive works, and that the value of one’s life will be confirmed at the moment of his or her death.

The above quotation was the response of Nichiren Daishonin to a letter from Myoho Ama. According to her letter, her husband was sick but still chanted the Lotus Sutra day and night. Just before his death, he chanted “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” twice loudly.

Nichiren assured her that the last chanting of Odaimoku by her husband changed his wrong karma not only In this life but also in his previous lives to Buddhahood. Moreover, Nichiren assured her that since Myoho Ama’s husband carried through his faith in the Lotus Sutra, he was able to go calmly to Mt. Sacred Eagle, where the Buddha Sakyamuni is continuously preaching the Lotus Sutra.

To accept “death” solemnly helps us to resist our temptation to commit evil acts. This earnest attitude is the first step in becoming Buddhists.

Rev. Kanai

I established Myokakuji Betsuin Temple, a Nichiren Buddhist temple, in San Jose, California, U.S.A. five years ago. At that time, I made several trips to the U.S.A. visiting various Buddhist temples in America, including non-Nichiren temples, in order to grasp the real situation of their activities. I was greatly impressed to see generally beautiful temple buildings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities with ministers engaged in active missionary work. I learned, however, that they had one problem in common: a generation change in membership. Young members hardly understand Japanese. Consequently, more and more of them stay away from Buddhist temples, where Japanese is the means of communication and propagation. Aged, non-English speaking ministers are incapable of attracting young members. As the first- and second-generation members die, there are hardly any young members ready to take their place.

Confronted by such a serious problem, while thinking about our Founder Nichiren Daishonin’s slogan to “spread Odaimoku throughout the world,” I felt that we had not an inch to lose. Nichiren ministers stationed in North America agreed with me that we had to move, even one or two steps, forward. We all realized the need of active propagation in the English language. However, there hardly existed any English translations of writings of Nichiren Daishonin, which could form the basis for English language propagation.

I, therefore, was almost overjoyed to hear about the plan of Nichiren ministers in North America to translate “A Saying A Day” compiled by Dr. Hoyo Watanabe as an English language teaching material. So I proposed that our Overseas Propagation Promotion Association help them to implement the plan. It was agreed that the English translation be made by ministers in North America, that it be scrutinized by experts in Nichiren Buddhism, and that it be published and distributed by the association.

I hope in this way Nichiren Daishonin’s letters and tracts will gradually be translated and introduced to followers of Nichiren Buddhism in America, so that they will be able to deepen their correct understanding of Nichiren Daishonin’s true faith and salvation.

In accordance with the importance in aim and significance, the draft of the English translation made by ministers in America was sent to Japan, where it was strictly scrutinized by the English Translation Committee established by the Nichiren Shu Overseas Propagation Promotion Association. The committee meetings, attended by Dr. Hoyo Watanabe and other experts in Nichiren Buddhism as well as Reverends Ryusho Matsuda and Shokai Kanai from America, tried hard to polish up the draft. I believe that the finished product in the form of this booklet is solid in content, readable for English speaking people, and correct in interpretation. My special thanks go to ministers abroad and members of the English Translation Committee for their time to make this publication possible.
Last but not least I would like to express my gratitude to Nichiren Shu Shumuin (Administrative Office) and its Sogozaidan (General Foundation) for their generous donations. Without their help this publication would not have been possible.

Reverend Shingaku Oikawa
President, Nichiren Shu Overseas Propagation Promotion Association

“A PHRASE A DAY” is aimed for the Nichiren Buddhists to understand Nichiren Daishonin’s words and practice them in their daily life. The original phrases of “A PHRASE A DAY” or “Ichinichi Ichikun” was published in Japan in 1981 at the time of the Septicentennial (700th) Memorial Anniversary of the death of Nichiren Daishonin. Later an explanatory book on the “Ichinichi Ichikun” was written by Dr. Hoyo Watanabe, President of Rissho University.

A few years later, the ministers of the Nichiren Order of North America decided to translate the explanatory book. After a long struggle with difficult translation work, we were finally able to publish it in this booklet form. The translation into English was based on Dr. Watanabe’s explanatory book; however, some ministers translated Nichiren’s words more freely for English speaking people to better understand Nichiren.

Please note the “Background” of each day. First, as for the date of the letter written by Nichiren Daishonin, who sometimes wrote only the month and year. Second, Nichiren Daishonin’s age is counted in the American way breaking off the traditional Oriental way of counting age. Third, the place where Nichiren Daishonin wrote is very important because his belief in the Lotus Sutra became intense after he was exiled to Sado Island. Lastly, the page number is shown on the Showa Teihon. The Showa Teihon is the most reliable and official source for Nichiren Daishonin’s writings.

Finally, I, who have been placed in charge of collating together this booklet, thank Dr. James Ward, a retired eye surgeon. He is not a Buddhist but thinks in Buddhistic ways on many occasions. I hope this English translation is understandable even to non-Buddhists. Therefore, I am glad to have accepted suggestions from such an appropriate person.

1986

Reverend Shokai Kanai,
Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church

Translator, Commentator in English (1986)
Rev. Ryusho Matsuda, San Jose Myokakuji Betsuin
Rev. Shokai Kanai, Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church
Rev. Nippo Shyaku, San Francisco
Rev. Kanshu Ikuta, Gardena Honpoji Betsuin
Rev. Zuigaku Kodachi, Portland Guhoji Betsuin
Rev. Joyo Ogawa, Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church
Rev. Kenjo Igarashi, San Francisco Nichiren Buddhist Church
Rev. Kyoryo Okuno, Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church
Rev. Ryuken Akahoshi, San Jose Myokakuji Betsuin
Rev. Kyotsu Hori, Professor, Tokyo Rissho Junior College for Women

Japanese-English Edition (1986)
Overseas Propagation Promotion Association, English Translation Committee:
Rev. Kyotsu Hori, Professor, Tokyo Rissho Junior College for Women
Rev. Zencho Kitagawa, Assistant Professor, Rissho University
Rev. Taikyo Yajima, Kokokuji Temple
Rev. Keiryu Shima, Jikoji Temple
Rev. Chiko Ichikawa, Myoanji Temple
Rev. Ryoko Mochizuki, Daikyoji Temple

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