Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin On the Occasion of the November Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony
November 2, 2008
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
On the occasion of the November Kosen-rufu Shodai Ceremony, being conducted today at the Head Temple, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the large number of participants in attendance, including those who are on their Chapter Tozan.
We have entered the month of November in this “Year of Great Advancement,” with only two months remaining before the year’s end. I imagine you must be devoting yourselves day and night, based on the unity between priesthood and laity, with the spirit of many in body, one in mind (itai dōshin), in order to achieve your shakubuku goals.
“The Selection of the Time” (“Senji-sho”) reads: Those who wish to study the teachings of Buddhism must first learn to understand the time. (Gosho, p. 834; cf. MW-3, p. 79)
In other words, in Buddhism, knowing the time is extremely important. Therefore, it is taught in this Gosho that Shakyamuni Buddha did not teach his parents the Lotus Sutra, the supreme teaching. Instead, he preached the Sutra of the Meditation on the Buddha (Kambutsu zammai-kyo) for his father, King Shuddhodana, and the Maya Sutra for his mother. This is because the time [to preach the Lotus Sutra] had not yet come. The Daishonin teaches here how important it is to know the time.
Based on this, we must know how significant the present time is. “The Teaching, Capacity, Time and Country” (“Kyoki jikoku-sho”) reads:
At the present time in Japan, some two thousand two hundred and ten years after the demise of Shakyamuni Buddha, in the fifth five-hundred year period after his passing, the hour has come for the propagation of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. To understand this is to have an understanding of the time. (Gosho, p. 272; cf. MW-4, p.16)
In other words, this present moment, the Latter Day of the Law, is the time when the great Law of Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the teaching established by the True Buddha from the infinite past of kuon-ganjo that can save all living beings, will be propagated. And, it is essential that our practice of faith is suited to the time.
However, one may not realize the significance of this time. One might remain idle and sit silently in the midst of this precious undertaking, when one must offer oneself to propagate the Law and achieve the goal. Such faith does not follow the intention of the Daishonin.
The Daishonin teaches in “Letter from Sado” (“Sado-gosho”):
Even a word or phrase of the true Law will lead one to the path of enlightenment, if it suits the time and the capacity of the people. Even though one may study a thousand sutras and ten thousand doctrines, he cannot attain Buddhahood if those teachings do not fit the time and the people's capacity. (Gosho, p. 579; cf. MW-1, p. 35)
The Daishonin teaches that it is essential for one to practice the faith that is in conformity with the time. At present, Nichiren Shoshu is concentrating all efforts on welcoming the auspicious occasion of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron next year, making great advancements with the unity between priesthood and laity. Therefore, on this occasion, it is vital for each of us to know this crucial timing and devote ourselves to achieve our goals based on many in body, one in mind (itai dōshin).
In particular, the goal of “Doubling the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth,” shakubuku, is the important mission that both priests and laity must make all-out efforts to achieve. In conducting shakubuku, the root source is compassion.
Laozi once said, “With compassion, one becomes courageous.” In other words, true fortitude arises from one's heart of compassion.
Compassion, which is jihi in Japanese, originally means to give pleasure to all living beings, which corresponds to ji, and to remove one's sufferings, which corresponds to hi. This profound compassion will arise based on one's absolute faith in the Daishonin, the True Buddha. Without compassion, true courage will not develop.
Shakubuku is one's struggle against various obstacles. In the midst of the three obstacles and four devils vying with one another to interfere, one must summon up true courage to crush every obstacle and propagate the true Law and the true justice of the Daishonin. Courage that is based on compassion will never reach a deadlock.
The Daishonin teaches in “Reply to Lord Shijo Kingo” (“Shijo kingo dono-gohenji”):
The essence of strategy and swordsmanship arise from the mystic Law. One must choose faith over tactics. If you are cowardly, your prayer will never be answered. (Gosho, p. 1408)
The Daishonin teaches that everything, even strategy and swordsmanship, arises from the mystic Law. One must keep in mind that true compassion, and the true courage that is generated from true compassion, arise from the mystic Law.
Thus, the “Recorded Lectures” (“Onko kikigaki”) reads:
The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the parents who encompass the entire teachings. (ibid, p. 1850)
We only have two months remaining before the end of this year. I imagine that each one of you is devoting yourself to achieve your goal. I would like to conclude my address today by sincerely praying that you will again summon your true compassion and true courage, so that every chapter will attain its shakubuku goal this year without fail.