Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the April Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony
April 6, 2008
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
On the occasion of the April Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony, conducted today at the Head Temple, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the large number of participants in attendance.
Nichiren Shoshu is currently making great advancements, with unity between priesthood and laity, toward the magnificent, auspicious event celebrating the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron, which is finally coming next year. At this juncture, in order to achieve the goals of “Doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth” and “Gathering at the Great Assembly,” and the success of the Commemorative General Tozan, it was decided that a Kick-off meeting, the “General Meeting for the Advancement of the Great Assembly of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth,” would be held at four locations in Japan. The Western Japan General Meeting already took place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on February 3rd, and subsequently, the Kyushu General Meeting was held at the Northern Kyushu Media Dome on February 24th. Both Kick-off Meetings were completed with great success.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the chairmen of the steering committees, as well as to all of the individuals involved for their tremendous efforts. Furthermore, on the 29th of this month, another Kick-off Meeting, the Hokkaido General Meeting, will be held at Makomanai Sekisuihaimu Ice Arena in Hokkaido, followed by the East Japan General Meeting at the Saitama Arena on June 15th. I am firmly convinced that these upcoming events will all be a great success.
As you are aware, this is the month when we celebrate the establishment of True Buddhism. The reason why Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha of the infinite past of kuon-ganjo, made his advent in the Latter Day of the Law and founded this Buddhism, is described in the Gosho, “On Remonstrating with Hachiman”:
Now, I, Nichiren, for the past twenty-eight years, from April 28th in the fifth year of Kencho (1253) to the present time, December in the third year of Koan, have done nothing other than try to have all the people in Japan chant the five or seven characters of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. This is like the compassion of a mother putting her milk into her baby’s mouth. (Gosho, p. 1539)
This passage indicates that out of deep compassion as the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin dedicated himself to lead all people in the Latter Day of the Law to chant the seven or five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo and enable them to reach their goal of attaining Buddhahood. Furthermore, the Daishonin states in the Gosho, “Repaying Debts of Gratitude”:
If Nichiren's compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity, for it has the beneficial power to open the blind eyes of every living being in the country of Japan, and it blocks off the road that leads to the Hell of Incessant Suffering. Its benefit surpasses that of Dengyo and Tiantai, and is superior to that of Nagarjuna and Mahakashyapa. (Gosho, p. 1036; MW-4, p. 272)
The limitless benefit of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is not restricted only to the Daishonin’s time. It extends throughout the 10,000 years of the Latter Day of the Law and into the infinite future, making it possible for the salvation of all people.
The passage stating, “it has the beneficial power to open the blind eyes of every living being in the country of Japan” refers not only to the people in Japan, but to everyone in the entire world. This means that the Daishonin’s Buddhism is the great Law that will save all the people in the entire world throughout the 10,000 years of the Latter Day of the Law and beyond.
The Buddha made his advent into this world not simply to satisfy himself by being awakened to the truth, but to save all living beings. Thus, if we can appreciate the Buddha’s mind, and practice faith in accordance with the Buddha’s intention, we will be able to correctly carry out our Buddhist practice, which will lead us to the attainment of enlightenment in our present form. On the other hand, if we do not follow the Buddha’s mind, then no matter how hard we practice, we will fail to achieve our goal of attaining Buddhahood.
Then, what is the correct faith that accords with the Daishonin’s mind? It is to correctly understand the Daishonin’s true intention—to lead the people to enlightenment and to single-mindedly devote ourselves to the realization of Kosen-rufu. This is the will that the Daishonin left to us. This is what we should pursue, based on the principle that our bodies are insignificant while the Law is supreme, and with the spirit to propagate the Law without begrudging our life.
The Daishonin states in “On the Buddha’s Behavior”:
Now we are at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law and I, Nichiren, am the first to set out on the worldwide propagation of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. These five characters are the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the source of the enlightenment of all Buddhas. My disciples, form your ranks and follow me, and you shall surpass even Mahakashyapa or Ananda, Tiantai or Dengyo! (Gosho, p. 1057; MW-1, p.176)
The Daishonin expounded this Buddhism throughout his life. His true intention was to save all people in the Latter Day of the Law. And the Daishonin served as a role model himself, based on the principle that one’s body is insignificant while the Law is supreme, and with the spirit to propagate the Law without begrudging one’s life. Thus, he states, “My disciples, form your ranks and follow me, and you shall surpass even Mahakashyapa or Ananda, Tiantai or Dengyo!”
Emulating the Daishonin’s behavior, all of us must dauntlessly follow him, the True Buddha, and challenge ourselves in the battle of shakubuku. He states in “The Selection of the Time”:
Little streams come together to form the great ocean, and tiny particles of dust accumulate to form Mount Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, first took faith in the Lotus Sutra, I was like a single drop of water or a single particle of dust in all the country of Japan. But later, when two people, three people, ten people, and eventually ten thousand billion people, come to recite the Lotus Sutra and transmit it to others, then they will form a Mount Sumeru of wonderful enlightenment, a great ocean of nirvana! (Gosho, p. 868; MW-3, p. 172)
As these golden words indicate, those who follow the Daishonin’s will and join the shakubuku battle may be small in number. However, if all of them have a firm determination and are united in harmony with the spirit of many in body and one in mind (itai doshin), Kosen-rufu will be accomplished without fail.
There is a saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” As long as one has an unwavering resolve to attain a goal, no matter what, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. The same applies to shakubuku. One’s firm determination comes from conviction and absolute faith in the Dai-Gohonzon.
In the “Letter to the Brothers,” the Daishonin states:
Whatever trouble may occur, consider it as transitory as a dream and think only of the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, p. 987; MW-1, p. 147)
Worries, obstacles, sufferings, and internal and external devils will all be crushed by chanting the Daimoku. When you devote yourselves to do shakubuku with a dauntless spirit, the results will come naturally. If we cannot see the results of shakubuku, then we should know it is due to our lack of efforts.
We have only one year remaining until we reach our objectives (set forth by the Honorable Retired High Priest Nikken Shonin). I would like to conclude my address by sincerely praying that for the remainder of this year, you will uphold the significance of this “Year of Advancement” and further devote yourselves to the attainment of our goals.