Reply to Shijo Kingo
Okyobi Sermon, October, 2004
Reverend Shogu Kimura
Because his mother was devoured by a tiger, a brave man named General Li Kuang shot an arrow into a rock that looked like the tiger, and the arrow struck deep, up to its quill. After he found it was rock, his arrows could never pierce rocks again. Later, he came to be known as General Stone Tiger. Because your faith in the Lotus Sutra is powerful, you are like him; even though enemies may have sought your life, could severe persecutions have disappeared in advance? Maintain your faith sufficiently in this way. ( "Shijo Kingo Dono Gohenji" Gosho, p. 1292; Ref.: MWND, Vol. I, pp. 227)
Today, Chief Priest Rev. Kimura is in Calgary for Gojukai Travel. A couple weeks ago, a Calgary member requested Gojukai Ceremony. It is very difficult to travel there when winter comes. Therefore, Rev. Kimura decided to have Gojukai Ceremony in a hurry.
The Gosho passage of this month is a portion of a reply to Shijo Kingo, which Nichiren Daishonin gave to Shijo Kingo on the 22nd day of the 10th month of 1278 (the first year of Ko’an). At that time, he was 57 years old. This is a letter of appreciation to Shijo Kingo for sending various offerings to Nichiren Daishonin, and the Daishonin cured his illness due to Shijo Kingo’s medication.
In 1274, Shijo Kingo did Shakubuku Ema, the Load of the region where he lived. As a result, he was demoted. Also, his rivals had been jealous of Shijo Kingo because he had received Load Ema’s trust. Therefore, they threatened to destroy relationship with Load Ema. He was also a man skilled in religious debate and was hated by people of other religions. Therefore, he was at risk of being killed by someone all the time.
Under these circumstances, Nichiren Daishonin was very concerned about Shijo Kingo. In the same Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin states in,
I was extremely concerned about your journey home last time, and I am overjoyed to hear that you arrived safely in Kamakura. Such was my anxiety that I asked everyone who came here from Kamakura about you. One said that he had met you at Yumoto, another that he had encountered you further on at Kozu, and when a third told me that he had seen you in Kamakura, I felt greatly relieved. (“Shijo Kingo Dono Gohenji” Gosho, p. 1291; Ref.: MWND, Vol. I, pp. 226)
The Daishonin asked everyone if Shijo Kingo arrived safely at Kamakura. This is how the Daishonin confirmed Shijo Kingo’s safe return. Nichiren Daishonin praised and encouraged Shijo Kingo, because it would have been only natural for him to be killed, but he survived. This is the protection of the Shoten Zenjin, due to his firm faith and practice to the Gohonzon.
General Li Kuang was an actual person who was a general of the Han dynasty of China. He was a great expert in archery. He was a very kind person to his followers and soldiers. It is said that he distributed his all rewards to his followers and soldiers. Also when his troops were suffering from hunger and thirst, he never ate or drank until all the soldiers received food and water.
One day, a tiger preyed upon his mother. General Li Kuang looked for an opportunity to obtain vengeance. One day, he found the tiger crouching close to the ground, and he shot it with all his might, convinced it was the tiger that devoured his mother. The arrow perfectly hit its mark and was deeply embedded in it. However, when he approached the tiger, he found it was a rock that looked very much like the tiger. After that, his arrows could never pierce rocks again. Actually, it is impossible for an arrow to pierce rocks, but his firm conviction and consideration for his mother made it possible.
One thing that we have to make sure is that Nichiren Daishonin dose not encourage taking revenge. In our faith and practice, we must never consider obtaining revenge. The important thing is that we must never forget the absolute conviction changes things, like making the impossible become possible.
Some members say, “I do not do Shakubuku my family members or friends, because they do not like me anymore or they see me like I am a strange person.” Some members also may give up quickly without having made our best efforts. With this kind of behavior, we can never accomplish anything.
Shijo Kingo did Shakubuku his Lord Ema and Load Ema confiscated his lands and threatened him to stop practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism as a result. He persevered through his misfortune and, in spite of his disfavor, he overcame this difficulty based on his strong faith and practice. He then acquired even greater trust from his Lord and received a great promotion. He spent three years and four months persevering through this.
The Ikegami brothers were disowned by their father twice, but they continued to do Shakubuku him, and their father finally converted to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. It took them twenty years. These are the actual experiences of our pioneers, not just mere stories. Even if it takes long time, if we do Shakubuku with absolute conviction to the Dai-Gohonzon, we can accomplish our Shakubuku.
Let us strive to do Shakubuku without forgetting this month Gosho, and let us strive to do Shakubuku with unshakable conviction to the Gohonzon.