“The Selection of the Time” (Part I)
(Senji
sho)
Okyobi Sermon, February, 2005
Reverend Shogu Kimura
Question: If one preaches the great Law to persons who do not have the capacity to understand it, then the foolish ones among them will surely slander it and will fall into the evil paths of existence. Is the person who does the preaching not to blame for this?Answer: If a man builds a road for others and someone loses his way on it, is that that fault of the road-builder? If a skilled physician gives medicine to a sick person but the sick person, repelled by the medicine, refuses to take it and dies, should one blame the physician? (Shimpen gosho, p. 834; MWND-3, p. 79)
Today, on this occasion of the Okyo-bi Ceremony for February, I have sincerely recited the sutras and chanted Daimoku together with you. I have also offered my heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of all the deceased individuals for whom you have requested a memorial. Moreover, I have sincerely prayed for you to eliminate your sins and negative karma from this and past lifetimes; for you to redouble your faith; for you to enjoy a safe and long life; for peace and harmony to reign in your home; and for the ultimate continuation of the Law. I have also prayed for the further advancement of the Myoshin-ji Chapter of the Hokkeko.
We have also performed the Koshi-e Ceremony today. Through this ceremony, we commemorate Nikko Shonin on the anniversary of his death on the seventh day of February; furthermore, we unite as priests and lay believers in our repayment of gratitude to Nikko Shonin, who received the correct heritage of True Buddhism from the Daishonin and ensured its correct transmission for all future generations.
It is precisely because Nikko Shonin strictly protected and upheld the correct tenets of True Buddhism that we have been able to encounter the doctrines of the Daishonin at this time – the doctrine that will enable us to achieve the supreme life condition of enlightenment. Thus, in Nichiren Shoshu, Nikko Shonin is revered as the Treasure of the Priesthood.
At the time of the Atsuhara Persecution, Nikko Shonin worked alongside the Daishonin to instruct the believers and, as a result, the priests and lay believers were able to form a solid unity that made it possible for them to overcome this persecution.
Following the passing of the Daishonin, the five senior disciples other than Nikko Shonin committed slander against the Daishonin and eventually lost sight of his correct teachings. Nikko Shonin did not in the least distort the Daishonin’s doctrines and continued to uphold the truth. Mimbu Niko and Hakiri Sanenaga, the steward of the Minobu area, committed the four slanders, such as creating statues of Shakyamuni and worshiping at Shinto shrines. As a result, Nikko Shonin departed from Minobu. At the time, he transferred the Dai-Gohonzon and all the treasures to Fuji. He followed the Daishonin’s last wishes to the word and established the foundation for the achievement of kosenrufu. He was able to establish Taiseki-ji, through a donation from Lord Nanjo Tokimitsu. Thereafter, he devoted himself to instructing and developing his disciples, collecting the Gosho, performing shakubuku, remonstrating against the national government, and taking the lead on the path to achieve kosenrufu. Then, after a long and productive life of 88 years, he entered into nirvana in the second year of Shoka (1333).
The Gosho passage that we are focusing on today is from “The Selection of the Time” (Senji sho). In the heritage of our continued faith, the Daishonin, Nikko Shonin, Nichimoku Shonin, and all the successive High Priests have expounded the direct path to the attainment of enlightenment. However, there have been people who oppose that path and deviate from it. Some may blame this on karmic bonds, but such karmic bonds can be conquered and overcome through one’s own faith and practice. The correct path has been forged and opened forth before us, but there are those who cannot bring themselves to tread upon it. Whose fault is it that they cannot set forth on this path?
Those who are unable to understand True Buddhism tend to blame those who expound the Law. In other words, they always pretend to be good and pure. In the long history of Nichiren Shoshu, there have been groups, such as the SGI, that have been excommunicated. The people in these groups invariably present themselves as being virtuous. They blame the High Priest for the bizarre and crazy transformation of their faith. This is completely ridiculous! However much they blame the person who taught the Law, if they themselves were unwilling to correctly follow the teachings, then how could they ever expect to receive positive results?
A doctor may prepare an excellent medicine, but if his patient does not take that medicine as prescribed, then how could the patient expect his condition to improve?
No matter how much a person blames the teachings of the Daishonin, if that person’s own faith is unstable, then he cannot expect to manifest growth in faith.
Nikko Shonin inherited the entire heritage of the Daishonin’s teachings, and those doctrines have been transmitted to this day, to our current High Priest. We must offer our most sincere gratitude to Nikko Shonin and the successive High Priests and advance forth in our daily faith and practice.
There is no doubt that the Daishonin’s Buddhism is a strict doctrine. Absolutely no slander is allowed. Furthermore, we cannot expect to receive benefits and attain enlightenment unless we assiduously perform daily gongyo and Daimoku and engage in shakubuku.
However, we can also characterize the Daishonin’s Buddhism as a benevolent doctrine. If we assiduously perform our daily daily gongyo and Daimoku and engage in shakubuku, then we can attain the life condition of Buddhahood, without fail, in this lifetime.
It is only human nature to pray for happiness and financial wealth, but true happiness cannot be achieved if we lose sight of the Gohonzon.
Such prayers are offered by those who possess a narrow mind. We are the true disciples of the Daishonin. Our prayers should not represent the small-scaled appeals limited to the attainment of our own personal happiness. In fact, we must pray for the achievement of kosenrufu and the happiness of all life. Such is the mission that we all possess.
I ask you all to thoroughly understand the significance of this month’s Gosho passage and to possess a correct, sincere attitude, as you assiduously uphold your faith and practice, based on the directions set forth by our High Priest.
On this occasion of the Koshi-e Ceremony today, I would like to conclude my address by sincerely praying for your ever-increasing devotion in faith.
I sincerely appreciate the efforts that you have made to attend this ceremony today.