Oko Lecture in Praise of Nichiren Daishonin
Reverend Shogu Kimura
April, 2010
"The Establishment of True Buddhism and the Spirit of “Not Begrudging One’s Life” (fu shaku shinmyo)
This year, 2010, marks the 758th anniversary of the establishment of true Buddhism. This anniversary celebrates the number of years since Nichiren Daishonin first chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Thus, 758 years have passed since the Daishonin chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for the first time. The Daishonin stated the following in the Gosho, “The True Entity of Life” (“Shoho jissō-shō”):
Although I, Nichiren alone, at first chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, two, three, and a hundred people gradually began to chant and propagate it. So shall it continue into the future. Indeed, this characterizes none other than the principle of “emerging from the earth” (jiyu). (Gosho, p. 666)
oday, just as predicted in this Gosho passage, Nichiren Shoshu true Buddhism has been propagated throughout the world, and numerous people chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. However, no one was aware of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, when Nichiren Daishonin, alone, chanted it for the first time. Therefore, he suffered tremendous hardships as a result.
The Daishonin continuously encountered both severe and slight persecutions throughout his life. In the Gosho, “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha” (“Shōnin gonan ji”), the Daishonin wrote:
Facing toward the south, inside the Jibutsu-dō hall of the Shobutsu-bō, I first spoke about the doctrine [Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo] at noon of the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Kenchō (1253). Twenty-seven years have passed since then, and it is currently the second year of Kō’an (1279). It took Shakyamuni Buddha forty-odd years, the Great Teacher Tiantai thirty-odd years, and the Great Teacher Dengyō twenty-odd years to accomplish the purpose of their advent. The great and severe persecutions that befell them during those years are indescribable. I, Nichiren, have already discussed this matter with you. It has taken me twenty-seven years. (Gosho, p. 1396)
The Daishonin chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for the first time when he established true Buddhism. He was 32 years of age when he, alone, chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month of the fifth year of Kencho (1253).
The Daishonin’s conviction in chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo was first based on the fact that, in light of the scriptures expounding the disappearance of the pure Law, the Lotus Sutra is the supreme teaching. All other sutras lead people to unhappiness. Secondly, it was based on his awareness of his mission as Bodhisattva Jogyo, to save all mankind in this chaotic world, by upholding the five characters of the Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo expounded in the Lotus Sutra. This is based on the principle that “the Lotus Sutra teaches shakubuku as the means to refute the provisional teachings” (hokke shakubuku ha gonmon ri). Specifically, the Daishonin revealed his profound compassion to save all people and his lofty sense of mission to eliminate all the calamities occurring in the nation. He valiantly and devotedly advanced without ever begrudging his life. The following passage is expounded in the Encouraging Devotion (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra:
In order to preach this sutra, we will bear these difficult things. We care nothing for our bodies or lives but are anxious only for the unsurpassed way. (Hokekyo, p. 377; The Lotus Sutra, Watson, pp. 194-195)
Just as this passage describes, the Daishonin propagated Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo without begrudging his life, regardless of the numerous persecutions he encountered. As the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, he maintained an ironclad resolve never to hold back on his determination.
At the age of 16, Nichiren Daishonin was formally ordained as a priest at Seichoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture. For over ten years, he traveled to Kyoto and Nara for study and research. As a result, he came to the realization that erroneous doctrines were the fundamental cause for misfortune and unhappiness. He developed the conviction that there was no means other than Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to bring salvation during these times.
However, he knew from the explicit explanation in the Lotus Sutra that once he started to preach this truth, he would encounter tremendous persecutions that would even threaten his life. Even though the Daishonin was well aware of these persecutions and the three obstacles and four devils that would vie with one another to interfere, he did not begrudge his life in order to bring salvation to all mankind. Thus, he declared the establishment of true Buddhism.
Early morning on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month, Nichiren Daishonin, at 32 years of age, stood alone in Kasagamori forest atop Seicho-zan Mountain and waited for dawn to break. As the sun rose over the ocean in the distant horizon, he solemnly and powerfully began to chant the Daimoku, “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.” The Daishonin announced the establishment of true Buddhism to the sun and all other entities in the universe. This Daimoku, which heretofore had never been chanted by anyone, was characterized by the practice for oneself and for others (jigyo keta). Nichiren Daishonin’s Daimoku represented an unprecedented doctrine of immediate enlightenment based on single-minded faith in this Law. True Buddhism teaches that all people can equally achieve salvation.
Before long, many disciples and followers congregated to listen to his sermons. As they continued to listen, they could hardly contain their astonishment. As the notion of the Latter Day of the Law was explained to them, they learned that Shakyamuni’s Buddhism had lost its power. The Daishonin firmly declared that Zen Buddhism is the teaching of devils and that Nembutsu leads to the hell of incessant suffering. Furthermore, he explained that there would be utter chaos and natural disasters in the world, because the people embrace these erroneous doctrines. Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo is the only means by which to bring salvation to this chaotic world in the Latter Day of the Law. He urged all people to quickly discard their belief in the heretical doctrines of such religions as Zen and Nembutsu and to take faith in the Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo. Upon listening to this unprecedented declaration, many people who embraced those heretical doctrines were outraged and began to hate him. Thus, Nichiren Daishonin’s establishment of true Buddhism definitely was not a tranquil event. It was accompanied by a great deal of hardship and suffering.
However, the Daishonin proceeded with his declaration to establish true Buddhism, based on his profound compassion and devotion and without begrudging his life, in order to illuminate the darkness of the ten thousand years of the Latter Day of the Law. Following his establishment of true Buddhism, the Daishonin encountered numerous severe persecutions. He wrote the following in his Gosho, “Reply to Sairen-bo” (“Sairenbō-gohenji”):
They have not endured what I have experienced. During the Kocho era, I was banished to the province of Izu; during Bun’ei, I was exiled to the island of Sado; and I was taken to the execution grounds of Tatsunokuchi. I have encountered various other persecutions on countless occasions. (Gosho, p. 586)
The Daishonin endured the Matsubagayatsu Persecution, the Izu Exile, the Komatsubara Persecution, and the Tatsunokuchi Persecution. During the Komatsubara Persecution, Nichiren Daishonin, himself, suffered a wound on his forehead. One of the five cardinal sins of Buddhism is “injuring a Buddha and causing him to bleed.” Tōjō Kagenobu, who inflicted the wound on Nichiren Daishonin at the time, went insane and died shortly thereafter.
It is clear that Nichiren Daishonin established true Buddhism, even though he was well aware that he would face numerous persecutions. The Lotus Sutra precisely predicted that the votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law would encounter great persecutions.
Today, we are all able to correctly uphold Nichiren Daishonin’s true Buddhism. Circumstances are such that we are able to freely do shakubuku. We must each embrace Nichiren Daishonin’s spirit of “never begrudging one’s life” for the sake of the Law (fu shaku shinmyo) and put forth our best efforts in our practice for ourselves and for others, in order to achieve kosen-rufu. Nichiren Shoshu is now advancing toward a new objective. Our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin presented us with the following guidance:
Extreme confusion clouds the hearts of people in this evil and deluded world, and the only effective means of saving these persons is for each of us who embrace the true Buddhism of our master Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, to uphold the principle that “Buddhism is like the body and society like its shadow.” We must understand our mission as the bodhisattvas of the Earth. We must each stand tall in our efforts to accomplish the great objective of salvation for all mankind and share the Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo with as many people as possible through shakubuku. (Daibyaku-ho, Vol. 780)
We are aware of the cause of utter chaos in our world. We know that the guardian deities and sages who protect the land have departed, because the people in society have forsaken true Buddhism and taken faith in evil doctrines. Devils and demons have rushed in and filled the void. The fundamental cause for all this chaos is the widespread permeation of heretical doctrines and religions. As priests and lay believers of Nichiren Shoshu, we are the only individuals who are able to remove and eradicate these incorrect teachings. We must uphold the spirit of “not begrudging our lives” for the sake of the Law and do shakubuku for the salvation of all mankind and the achievement of kosen-rufu.
Seven-hundred-and-fifty-eight years ago, Nichiren Daishonin, alone, chanted the Daimoku. Today, the Daimoku has been propagated to various regions throughout the world and we can all chant together in unison. The Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo consisting of the five characters is extending into the world and steadily advancing forth. The Daishonin wrote:
Therefore, coming across this sutra is as extraordinary as witnessing the flowering of the udumbara plant, occurring once every three-thousand years, or a one-eyed turtle [locating a perfect piece of driftwood], occurring only once in innumerable, boundless kalpas. (Gosho, p. 355)
Let’s rejoice together that we have been born into this world and have encountered true Buddhism, which is extraordinarily difficult to encounter. We must further rejoice that we are able to contribute to the achievement of kosen-rufu at this most significant time of supreme prosperity of Nichiren Shoshu. Let us advance together with great devotion toward our objectives for the years 2015 and 2021. As Nikko Shonin instructed in “The Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikkō” (“Nikkō yuikai okimon”):
Until kosen-rufu is achieved, propagate the Law to the full extent of your ability, without begrudging your life. (Gosho, p. 1884)