Yesterday I offered my view of the concluding paragraph of Nichiren’s Shōho Jissō Shō, which I have memorized and recite daily before chanting Daimoku. But that’s not the only translation of that paragraph or even the only interpretation.
Ryusho Jeffus Shonin preferred this translation:
Have faith in the Great Mandala Gohonzon, the Most Venerable One in the world.
Endeavor! Endeavor to strengthen your faith, so that you may be blessed with the protective powers of all the Buddhas. Pursue the two-fold path of practice and study. Without practicing and studying there is no Buddhism. Follow these yourself and influence others to do the same. Study and practice come from faith. Even if it is only a word or a phrase, please spread it to others.
Ryusho was adamant that this was the better translation. The difference is subtle. If anything, this translation best emphasizes that study and practice are linked to faith. But it is also true that faith is linked to practice and study. That’s something Rev. Ryuei McCormick has explained: “Faith inspires practice and study. Study informs faith and practice. Practice actualizes faith and study.” Faith, practice and study are the three legs of the stool upon which I sit before my altar.
There’s another aspect of this quote from Nichiren that I wish to comment upon. That’s the idea that faith in the Lotus Sutra encourages divine protection.
The Daily Dharma published here on Oct. 8, 2021, offered this:
Have faith in the great Mandala Gohonzon, the most superlative in the world. Endeavor! Endeavor to strengthen your faith, so that you may be blessed with the protective powers of all Buddhas.
Nichiren wrote this as part of his letter to monk Sairen-bō in his Treatise on All Phenomena as Ultimate Reality (Shohō-Jissō Shō). One way of reading this passage is that as we develop our faith in the Omandala Gohonzon, the Buddhas will provide more protection for us. Another way to read it is that as our faith develops, so does the power we have to protect others, free them from suffering and help them to awaken their Buddha nature. Either way, Nichiren shows us the practical results of our faith.
I understand that modern Buddhists might wish to downplay divine protection and instead emphasize the Buddhist law of dependent origination and personal responsibility, but I’m happy to accept all the help I can get. Clearly, that’s what Nichiren felt.
In Hokke Shoshin Jobutsu Sho, a letter written by Nichiren in 1277, he says:
A singing bird in a cage attracts uncaged birds, and the sight of these uncaged birds will make the caged bird want to be free. Likewise, the chanting of Odaimoku will bring out the Buddha-nature within ourselves. The Buddha-nature of Bonten and Taishaku will be summoned by the chanting and will protect the chanter. The Buddha-nature of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will be pleased to be summoned.
For me, this is an example of the interconnectedness of everything – Ichinen Sanzen.
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