Gosho Passage Explanation
May, 2004
Reverend Shogu Kimura
In addition, you should not presume to fathom [the blessing of the Gohonzon]. Whether or not your prayer is answered depends upon your faith; [if it is not,] the fault in no way lies with me, Nichiren. When the water is clear, the moon will be reflected in it. When the wind blows, the trees sway. One’s mind is like the water. Faith that is weak is like muddy water, but faith that is resolute is like clear water. The trees are like the principles [of all things], and the wind that sets them in motion is like the recitation of the sutra.
Explanation:
Today, on this occasion of the Okyobi, the sutra day for May, I have recited the sutras and chanted Daimoku together with you and have sincerely prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased individuals for whom you requested a memorial. Moreover, I have offered my heartfelt prayers for all of you to be able to eradicate your negative causes from your past and present existences; for you to redouble your faith; for you to enjoy a tranquil and long life; for peace and safety to prevail in your homes; for the eternal continuation of the heritage of the Law; and for the ever-increasing development of the Myoshin-ji Chapter of the Hokkeko.
The Gosho for this month is the “Reply to Nichigon-ama” (Nichigon-ama gozen gohenji). Little is known about Nichigon-ama, since there is no historical information available today on her. This Gosho represents a letter that the Daishonin sent to her on the 29th day of the 11th month of the 3rd year of Koan (1280), when he was 59 years of age.
In this passage, the Daishonin explained that it is up to our faith, whether or not our prayers will come true. He taught us that we should leave all matters up to the Gohonzon. I am frequently asked the question: “I have been practicing for decades, but my prayers have not come true. How much Daimoku must I chant for this to happen? And how should I offer my prayers?”
The length of our practice does not necessarily determine whether or not our prayers will come true. Not all our prayers are answered just because we offer them. Moreover, the amount of Daimoku we chant does not necessarily determine whether or not our prayers will come true.
No matter how long a person has been practicing, if he does not perform gongyo and Daimoku and if he does not bother to attend services at the temple, it would be difficult for him to receive benefits from the Gohonzon. Conversely, a new believer who assiduously puts forth his utmost efforts in his daily practice would encounter immeasurably tremendous benefits. Furthermore, depending on a person’s karma from previous lifetimes, he may find that he needs to chant more Daimoku than he had thought was necessary.
In our prayers to the Gohonzon, it is essential to possess an attitude of sincere appreciation towards the Daishonin and a determination to achieve kosenrufu.
There may be people whose prayers are controlled by greed, as they pray, for example, for large amounts of money and for lovely houses in which to live. The Gohonzon, revealed by the Daishonin, is the supreme object of worship that can make all prayers come true. However, in the numerous works of the Gosho, written by the Daishonin, there is no mention of people being able to accumulate money by praying for it or individuals being able to live in a lovely house by praying for such a place.
The prayers that we offer to the Gohonzon must be singularly characterized by our appreciation to the Daishonin and the achievement of our great objective of kosenrufu. We may know people who have, in fact, accumulated a great deal of money or who have been able to live in a beautiful house in this lifetime, as a result. We must remember, however, that these represent results received in this lifetime and not those based on people’s prayers focused only on achieving those material possessions.
In short, prayers based on rampant greed will not come true. As you know, our life extends into the three existences of past, present, and future. The benefits that we amass through assiduous faith and practice in this lifetime may not be tangible and visible to our eyes. Even after our physical form ceases to exist, however, we would be able to take the amassed fortune with us to our next lifetime. By contrast, money and material treasures that are tangible and that draw forth our covetous nature represent nothing but entities of desire that are limited only to this lifetime.
Buddhism expounds the principle of cause and effect. Positive karma created by good causes in a past lifetime may promote a materially luxurious life. However, this does not guarantee happiness.
It is most essential for us to be wealthy at heart and to uphold pure faith. We must chant sincere Daimoku, offer our appreciation to the Daishonin, pray for kosenrufu, and receive benefits. Only by doing so can we receive true benefits and cultivate wealth of the heart. This wealth of the heart is none other than true happiness.
We are all disciples of the Daishonin and the Hokkeko believers of Myoshin-ji Temple. We must not be controlled by the inferior desires that are limited to this lifetime. We must chant sincere Daimoku and maintain purity in our hearts at all times, like an eternally flowing stream of clear water. By so doing, we would receive a great deal of benefits; thus, we should maintain purity in our lives until we take our last breath.
I ask all of you in attendance today not to become completely attached to tangible, material objects of your desire that are only limited to this lifetime. I would like for you all to maintain a truly wealthy heart, as you chant Daimoku and advance forth to achieve kosenrufu of True Buddhism in our lives.
I would like to conclude my address for this month’s okyobi, sutra day, by sincerely praying for your continued good health and your steadfast advancement.
Thank you very much.