In 1260 (the first year of the Bun’o era), Nichiren Shōnin presented his Treatise on Spreading Peace Throughout the Country by Establishing the True Dharma, in Japanese Risshō Ankoku-ron, to the former regent of Kamakura Shogunate, Lord Tokiyori Hōjō.

“You should promptly discard your false faith and take up the true and sole teaching of the Lotus Sūtra at once. Then this triple world of the unenlightened will all become Buddha lands. Will Buddha lands ever decay? All the worlds in the universe will become Pure Lands. Will Pure Lands ever be destroyed? When our country does not decay and the world is not destroyed, our bodies will be safe and our hearts tranquil. Believe these words and revere them!”

We can summarize the passage above with a series of four questions:

• Question 1: How can we find security for our bodies and peace of mind? Answer: We need first to improve our society.
• Question 2: How can we improve our society?
  Answer: We need to change the focus of our devotion.
• Question 3: How can we change the focus of our devotion? Answer: We need to know the transgressions we commit.
• Question 4: How can we know our transgressions?
  Answer: We need to know our true lord and his right teachings.

The answer to the last question realizes the doctrine of Establishing the correct teaching for the peace of the land, in Japanese Risshō Ankoku. This doctrine guides us to know ourselves, recognize our transgressions, convert our religion, and as a result, contribute to a better society. Thus, we establish the Buddha’s Land where the safety of our bodies and the peacefulness of our minds are guaranteed.