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The Establishment of True Buddhism 1. Introduction Nichiren Daishonin was born on the 16th day of the second month in the first year of Jo’o (1222). He entered the priesthood when he was twelve years old. After striving in his study and practice, the Daishonin established True Buddhism when he was thirty-two years old. The Life of Nichiren Daishonin states: Before dawn on the 28th day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Kencho (1253), Rencho (Nichiren Daishonin) climbed to the peak of Kasagamori on top of Mt. Kiyosumi that still lay fast asleep and bathed in morning dew. He quietly waited for the sun to rise from above the horizon on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Then, at the very instant the morning sun began to shine above the dark blue waters of the sea and rays of sunlight colored his entire body in gold, Rencho solemnly chanted the magnificent Daimoku: “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo!” Shakyamuni Buddha did not entrust the founders of other Buddhist sects to propagate Buddhism after his passing. They arbitrarily founded their own sects based on their biased views and thoughts. The Daishonin founded True Buddhism based on the entrustment of the True Law of the Lotus Sutra. The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin is the teaching of the Ultimate Truth. 2. The Lotus Sutra and its propagation in the Latter Day of the Law Shakyamuni Buddha preached various sutras for fifty years. For the first forty-two years, he preached the Flower Garland Sutra (Kegon), the Agama Sutras (Agon), the Expansion Sutras (Hodo), and the Wisdom Sutras (Hannya). These were expedient teachings that led the people to the Lotus Sutra. Shakyamuni preached the Lotus Sutra during the last eight years of his life. This was the True Teaching, and the true purpose of his advent. He taught the Lotus Sutra for the purpose of saving the people in the Latter Day of the Law rather than the people in the Former Day of the Law. The Lotus Sutra and various other sutras stated that the age of the Latter Day of the Law would be a time of serious complications and miserable conditions; therefore, the Provisional Teachings would be deficient in leading the people. The Buddha predicted this in the Lotus Sutra, and emphasized that he expounded it in order to save the people in the Latter Day of the Law. It is a very difficult task to widely teach and encourage people to practice the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law. The people live in a society where moral and ethical virtue is lacking, and they easily abandon their faith in the True Law. The Lotus Sutra explains that when the votary propagates its teachings, fierce opposition will arise without fail. Therefore, this votary will encounter severe persecutions that are beyond description. 3. The Transmission of the Lotus Sutra to be propagated in the Latter Day of the Law After describing how difficult it would be to propagate the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law, Shakyamuni asked his disciples, “Is there anyone who would dare to carry out this difficult task?” The Treasure Tower (Hoto; eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra states: In this saha world, who is the most capable of extensively expounding the Mystic Law? Now is, indeed, a most significant time. (Kaiketsu, p. 347) With firm determination, many bodhisattvas inspired by the words of the Buddha made their vow to carry out this task. They asked Shakyamuni for approval. However, Shakyamuni reconsidered. In the Emerging from the Earth (Yujutsu; fifteenth) chapter he declared: Desist men of devout faith! There is no need for you to protect this sutra. In this saha world, there are bodhisattvas who are as numerous as the sands of sixty thousand Ganges rivers. (Kaiketsu, p. 408) Shakyamuni rejected their offer to propagate the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law. Instead, he called upon numerous bodhisattvas who sprang up from the earth. They are called the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. 4. Bodhisattva Jogyo These bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth were dignified in appearance and virtuous in character. Witnessing this, the multitude of bodhisattvas were surprised. On behalf of them, Bodhisattva Maitreya asked Shakyamuni Buddha to explain. With doubt, he exclaimed, “We have never seen them before.” Shakyamuni Buddha introduced Bodhisattva Jogyo and the other bodhisattvas and explained that they were his disciples. At that time Bodhisattva Maitreya said: I cannot believe that these bodhisattvas are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, who became a Buddha only forty years ago. These bodhisattvas are extremely dignified. It is hard for us to believe such a thing! Suppose, for example, that a young man of twenty-five, with a ruddy complexion and hair still black, should point to someone who was a hundred years old and say, “This is my son!” … That would be hard to believe. (Kaiketsu, p. 422) Beginning with this story, the Essential Teaching proceeds into the Life Span (Juryo; sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra in which Shakyamuni revealed the Buddha’s True Land. In the Mystic Powers (Jinriki; twenty-first) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni transmitted the Essential Teaching (Honmon) of the Lotus Sutra, as the Essential Law in Four Phrases for propagation in the Latter Day of the Law, to Bodhisattva Jogyo of the Essential Teaching. The Mystic Powers (Jinriki; twenty-first) chapter reads: As the light of the sun and the moon will dispel all darkness, this person shall practice in the world and eradicate the darkness of all humanity. (Kaiketsu, p. 516) 5. Having forbearance in order to propagate in the Latter Day of the Law The Fortitude (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra teaches that when the votary propagates the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law, various persecutions will arise. The last paragraph of the twenty-line verse in that chapter predicts that the Three Powerful Enemies will persecute those who propagate the Lotus Sutra. The twenty-line verse explains the attitude that the votaries of the Lotus Sutra must have. The Daishonin stated: I recall the twenty-line verse of the Kanji chapter of the fifth volume of the Lotus Sutra in which the eighty myriads of millions of nayutas of bodhisattvas describe the persecutions they will endure after the Buddha's death for the sake of the Lotus Sutra. If I, Nichiren, had not been born in this land of Japan, then the words of the Buddha predicting such persecutions would have been a great prevarication, and those countless bodhisattvas would have been guilty of the same crime as that of Devadatta, of lying and misleading others. The Kanji chapter says: "There will be many ignorant people who will curse and speak ill of us, and will attack us with swords and staves, with rocks and tiles." Look around you in the world today—are there any monks other than Nichiren who are cursed and vilified because of the Lotus Sutra or who are attacked with swords and staves? If it were not for Nichiren, the prophecy made in this verse of the sutra would have been sheer falsehood. (Gosho, p. 541; MW-2, pp. 118-119) Nichiren Daishonin was the person who honestly read the Lotus Sutra and put it into practice. He was the Votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law, just as the sutra predicted. The Fortitude (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter describes the Three Powerful Enemies, the three groups of people who will persecute the Votaries of the Lotus Sutra. They will attack the Votary with curses, denunciation, scowls, insults, scornful laughs, false accusations, banishment, and attacks with swords and staves. Shakyamuni taught that when the Votary is persecuted, he should don the armor of perseverance in order to propagate the Lotus Sutra. (Kaiketsu, p. 377) The Teachers of the Law (Hosshi; tenth) chapter states: If there are good men and good women who, after the Thus Come One has entered extinction, wish to expound this Lotus Sutra for the four kinds of believers, how should they expound it? These good men and good women should enter the Thus Come One’s room, put on the Thus Come One’s robe, sit on the Thus Come One’s throne, and then for the sake of the four kinds of believers widely preach this sutra. … The Thus Come One’s robe is a mind that is gentle and forbearing. (Kaiketsu, p. 329; Ref.: Watson, p. 166) Just as Shakyamuni predicted in the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren Daishonin lived his entire life enduring one persecution after another. 6. The Establishment of True Buddhism At the age of thirty-two, Nichiren Daishonin established True Buddhism on the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Kenji (1253). At noon on that day, he gave his first sermon on Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Buddhism of the Sowing in Jibutsudo Hall at Seichoji Temple. In his sermon, the Daishonin refuted the errors in the teachings of Nembutsu and Zen, which were the most popular sects of Buddhism at that time. Using reasonable, documentary, and actual proof, the Daishonin clearly taught that the Lotus Sutra was the ultimate Law and that only the teaching of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the Essential Teaching of the Lotus Sutra, could save all people in the Latter Day of the Law. The steward of the area, Tojo Kagenobu, who was an avid Nembutsu believer, became furious upon hearing the Daishonin’s sermon. He expelled the Daishonin from Seichoji Temple. Thereafter, the Daishonin was persecuted time and time again throughout his life. He did not enjoy even a moment of peace. Nichiren Daishonin submitted the treatise, “On Securing the Peace of the Land Through the Propagation of True Buddhism” (Rissho ankoku-ron) to the Kamakura Government to point out the errors of taking faith in heretical religions. He declared that disasters could be prevented only if the people in the nation took faith in the Lotus Sutra. After that, the Daishonin encountered severe persecutions, such as the Matsubagayatsu Persecution on the 27th day of the eighth month in 1260, the Izu Exile on the 12th day of the fifth month in 1261, the Komatsubara Persecution in the first year of Bun’ei (1264), the Tatsunokuchi Persecution on the 12th day of the ninth month in the eighth year of Bun’ei (1271), and the Sado Exile. Nichiren Daishonin stated in “Repaying Debts of Gratitude” (Ho’on-sho): If Nichiren's compassion is truly great and encompassing, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo will spread for ten thousand years and more, for all eternity. (Gosho, p. 1036; MW-4, p. 272) The True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin chanted the Daimoku with great mercy and compassion . This Daimoku of Myoho-Renge-Kyo, will illuminate the darkness of the ten thousand years in the Latter Day of the Law and will truly save all the people in the world. 7. Conclusion Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin gave the following guidance at the General Meeting of the “Year to Stand Up and Take Resolute Action” at the Head Temple on January 3rd of this year: After all, with our absolute faith in the Dai-Gohonzon as our foundation, and in our capacity as the Buddha’s disciples, we must conduct shakubuku. It is here that we will find enlightenment. Again, we will be endowed with fortune for ourselves and for others and be able to live a truly worthwhile life. (Daibyakuho, 685) Only the teaching of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, which was first chanted by Nichiren Daishonin will save the people from the disasters and calamities breaking out all over the world. The Nichiren Shoshu priesthood and laity understand this reality. After he established True Buddhism, Nichiren Daishonin practiced shakubuku without begrudging his life (fushaku shinmyo). We must carry out the practice for oneself and others in order to fulfill our mission as the followers of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth. Let’s exert our utmost efforts with strong determination to accomplish our shakubuku goals without fail this year, the “Year to Stand Up and Take Resolute Action.” |