Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the March Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony
March 4, 2007
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
Today, on the occasion of the March Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the large number of participants who have come here today despite your busy schedules.
As you may already know, the doctrine of the Five Guides for Propagation (Goko-han) is expounded by Nichiren Daishonin in several of his Goshos, such as the “Teaching, Capacity, Time and Country” (“Kyoki jikoku-sho”), the “Opening of the Eyes” (“Kaimoku-sho”), and the “True Object of Worship” (“Kanjin no honzon-sho”). The Five Guides for Propagation consist of the teaching, the capacity, the time, the country, and the sequence of propagation. This principle is also known as the Five Guides for Religion or the Five Concepts for Religion. Along with the Three Proofs, which are documentary proof, theoretical proof, and actual proof, the Five Guides for Propagation is a fundamental standard to evaluate the relative merit and profundity of religions in order to determine which is the correct Buddhist teaching.
Regarding this, Nichiren Daishonin stated the following in the Gosho, “Conversation Between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man” (“Shogu mondo-sho”):
Now, in widely propagating the Buddhist teachings and bringing salvation to all people, one must first take into consideration the teaching, the capacity, the time, the country, and the sequence of propagation. (MW-5, p. 102)
Among these Five Guides, we must first understand the teaching. This means to discern [through the Fivefold Comparison] the most supreme teaching from among the Buddhist and non-Buddhist teachings, Hinayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Provisional Mahayana, True Mahayana, and so on.
In order to perceive the capacity, we need to evaluate whether living beings have the ability and capacity to accept and practice the true teaching that is being preached.
Next, to understand the time, one must be able to recognize the time period when the Law is to be propagated. In other words, it is to know the appropriate time to propagate the Law in accordance with the period.
As for understanding the country, we must discern the nature of a particular nation, the people, social environment, history, and beliefs and customs in order to propagate True Buddhism.
To understand the sequence of propagation means to understand the progression of the propagation of Buddhism from a broad view.
Now, by comparing the relative merits of the lifetime teachings of Shakyamuni using each of the Five Guides for Propagation, we first judge the teaching using the doctrines of the Fivefold Comparison, the Three Divisions of the Fivefold View and so on. These principles reveal that the Buddhism of Sowing hidden in the depths [of the Juryo chapter] preached by the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin is the most supreme and revered teaching among all teachings.
Next, we judge the capacity of common mortals in the Latter Day of the Law, who do not possess the seed of Buddhahood (honmi uzen). They will be able to attain enlightenment in their present form for the first time and attain happiness through the Mystic Law (Myoho) of the Buddhism of Sowing, which is Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo hidden in the depths of the Juryo chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the Law possessed by Nichiren Daishonin.
By judging the time, we see that Shakyamuni’s Buddhism has already lost its effectiveness in the midst of the Latter Day of the Law. The True Buddhism of Sowing will be preached and propagated through the advent of the leader of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, Bodhisattva Jogyo, whose inner realization [and true identity] is the True Buddha of the Infinite Past of kuon ganjo, Nichiren Daishonin.
When judging the country, we find that the country of Japan is where the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin made his advent. In contrast to Shakyamuni’s period where Buddhism spread from India, the Mystic Law [of Sowing] will now spread from Japan to the rest of the world.
When we judge the sequence of propagation, it is clear that after the demise of the Buddha [Shakyamuni], the Former and Middle Days of the Law passed, and the Latter Day of the Law has begun. Now, the Great Law of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of Nichiren Daishonin, hidden in the depths of the Juryo chapter of the Lotus Sutra, will appear for the salvation of all living beings and shall be ceaselessly propagated into the eternal future.
All of these points become clear through the Five Guides for Propagation. The Five Guides demonstrate that only Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism will enable all living beings to attain enlightenment in their present form throughout the ten thousand years of the Latter Day of the Law. There are no other teachings in the entire world other than the most profound Great Law, the Buddhism of Sowing of the True Cause of the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin, that can bring salvation to livings beings in the present age of the Latter Day of the Law.
Today, as believers of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, we are doing our best to repay our gratitude by undertaking a part of the great mission to save all living beings. This great mission, the salvation of all living beings, is manifested through the action of doing shakubuku. We must save those people who are suffering from the poison of slander of the True Law, which brings unhappiness, conflicts, and sufferings. As a result of performing shakubuku, the merit that we receive will enable us to build absolute happiness throughout the Three Existences of past, present and future. The act of doing shakubuku is an important Buddhist practice that is inseparable from our faith and is the key that will enable us to lead stable and enriched lives.
The fundamental doctrine of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism is to relieve the misery of living beings suffering from the poison of slandering the True Law. One will be able to relieve one’s own suffering and attain the highest state of practice through the compassion acts of saving other people from their sufferings, giving them happiness, and helping them change their delusions into awakenings. The most important point is having correct faith based on a strong and secure life force and being able to powerfully face any problems or sufferings that we encounter, thus filling our lives with great vigor. This is the faith of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, with which we are able to share the happiness in our lives with as many people as possible.
Today, we, the priesthood and laity, are working hard together toward the achievement of our goals for 2009. What is important for us to do now is to work hard toward the achievement of “Doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “Gathering at the Great Assembly.” Once we are able to achieve these goals, we will be able to welcome the joyous occasion of the “750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron” both in name and in reality in 2009.
Therefore, with another two years left to achieve our goals, each and every one of us must put forth our utmost efforts toward “Doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “Gathering at the Great Assembly.” This is for the sake of the world, for the people, and for ourselves. Let’s move forward together in unison and in itai doshin.
By doing this, first our own attitude in faith will change, and when our attitude changes, we will find our lives beginning to be invigorated and becoming worthy in all aspects. Our surrounding environment will also start to change. This is precisely as taught in the phrase, “Buddhism is like the body and society is like the shadow.”
In conclusion, I express my hope that you will keep in mind what I have said. I sincerely pray for your continued efforts in shakubuku and the advancement toward the achievement of our goals.