Essay on Recompense of Indebtedness

Nichiren’s compassion is boundless and therefore “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” will spread forever beyond the ten thousand year-period. It has the merit of curing the blindness of all people and blocks the way to hell. This merit is superior than those of Dengyō, Tendai, Ryūju and Kashō. The practice for a hundred years in the Pure Land is not worth the merit of chanting the Odaimoku for one day in this defiled world. Propagation of the Odaimoku in the two thousand Year-period after the death of the Buddha is not worth as much as spreading the Odaimoku for a while in the Latter Age of the Declining Law. This is not due to my wisdom; it is solely due to the time in which I live.

(Explanatory note)

Nichiren Shonin always called himself Nichiren. In this writing he said that his compassion to save people and lead them to salvation is so great that the Lotus Sutra would spread not only during the ten thousand years of the Latter Age of the Declining Law but also forever thereafter. His spreading of the Lotus Sutra today has the merit of opening the eyes of all the people of Japan, who had been blinded by the wrong religions to the true religion. This merit has also blocked the road to hell for those who unknowingly slandered the true jaw. This great merit, he claims, is greater than those of the great masters of true Buddhism such as Great Masters Dengyō and Tendai, the Bodhisattva Ryūju and the Venerable Kashō. Is it not logical that the merit accumulated in this world of suffering is much greater than the merit accumulated through the practice of a hundred years in the peace and tranquility of the Land of Paradise? Perhaps we could say that the merit of spreading the true law in the age of two thousand years following the death of the Buddha, when it was relatively easy though it is of course precious, could be said to be less than the merit of spreading the true teaching even for a short while in these dangerous and decadent days of the Latter Age. Nichiren Shonin said that this was not because his wisdom was greater than others, but it was because of the time in which he lived — Latter Age of the Declining Law — that he had the opportunity to accumulate greater merits.

Reply to Shijō Kingo

Accept suffering as suffering, joy as joy; life consists of suffering and joy; therefore recite “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” for either case. Isn’t this religious ecstasy? Please strive to keep firm faith.

(Explanatory note)

Life is half suffering and half joy. When things are difficult, there is no use in brooding; when things are going well, there is no need to be in the “seventh heaven” because there is no guarantee that he will not fall into illusion as extreme happiness turns into deep sadness. Therefore when you are suffering, you should openly accept and live with it. When joy comes to you, you should calmly accept it and enjoy it. Thus you should consider both suffering and joy as part of life and recite the Odaimoku with constant feeling. Isn’t this creating and living in the so-called religious ecstasy? There is no purer, higher, and holier spiritual stage than this. Therefore make effort to have a strong faith.

A Letter to Kōnichi-ama

For more than 2,200 years after the death of the Buddha, even His disciples and later scholars such as Kashō, Anan, Memyō, Ryūju, Nangaku, Tendai, Myōraku, Dengyō, have not preached the five letters of “Myō Hō Ren Ge Kyō” which is the essence of the Lotus Sutra and the eyes of buddhas. Now at the beginning of the Latter Age of the Declining Law, Nichiren is the first to show the good omen that it will spread throughout the world. My followers should follow me in the second and third battalions and rank above Kashō, Anan, Tendai and Dengyō. If you are afraid of the master of a small island like Japan, what would you do when the king of hell blames you? As I have said, those who are cowards while claiming to be the Buddha’s messengers are the lowest class of people.

(Explanatory note)

During the period of 2,200 years from the death of Sakyamuni Buddha until the time of Nichiren Shonin, those who succeeded the tradition of Buddhism such as Kashō, Anan, Memyō and Ryūju, Nangaku, Tendai, as well as Myōraku and Dengyō, have not spread the Odaimoku of “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo,” which is the heart of the Lotus Sutra and the eyes of buddhas. Now at the beginning of the Latter Age of the Declining Law — it began in 1052 and Nichiren Shonin was born in 1222, the one hundred and seventy-first year of the Latter Age — Nichiren Shonin claimed to be the first good sign of spreading the Odaimoku throughout the world. So he urged his followers, ministers as well as laymen, men as well as women, to follow him in second and third battalions and excel themselves above great followers of the Buddha such as Kashō and Anan, or great scholars of Buddhism such as Tendai of China and Dengyō of Japan. He warned his followers that if they do not follow him because they are afraid of the ruler of Japan, Regent of the Kamakura shogunate, they will certainly be condemned by the king of hell. Nichiren Shonin said that he had told his followers all the time that they need to live up to their name of being the Buddha’s messenger, and to be courageous.

An Instruction from Sado to Disciples and Followers

When all the people under the heaven and various schools of Buddhism are all converted to the one and real vehicle, and when only the Lotus Sutra flourishes and all the people recite “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” in unison, the howling wind will not blow on the branches, falling rain will not erode the soil, and the world will become as good as during the reigns of the Chinese Emperors Fu-hsi and Shen-neng. You will see that such times will come when the calamities cease to exist, people live long, and men and their faith become eternal. There should be no doubt about the proof of the tranquility in life.

(Explanatory note)

If such a time comes when all the people in the entire world and all the teachings of the world are converted into one supreme teaching of the Buddha, and when only the Lotus Sutra is believed and all the people recite the Odaimoku in unison, there will be no doubt that blowing wind and falling rain will become gentle and the world will become as peaceful as it was during the reigns of the sage emperors of ancient China. When such time comes, various calamities disappear, all people live long, and people as well as their faith will never disappear. As a result, the so-called perennial youth and immortality will be realized. Then the “tranquility in life” predicted in the Lotus Sutra will be proved.

A Letter to Monk Sairenbō

Tears roll down when I think of the great hardship which I have to endure today, but I cannot stop tears of joy when I think of Obtaining Buddhahood in the future. Birds and insects cry without shedding tears. Nichiren does not cry but tears keep falling. These tears are shed not for worldly matters. They are solely for the sake of the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, they could be said to be tears of nectar.

(Explanatory note)

When Nichiren Shonin realized that all the difficulties he had to undergo in his life were for the sake of the Lotus Sutra, he was moved so deeply that tears rolled down; and when he thought of the possibility of obtaining Buddhahood in the near future by virtue of the merits he accumulated, he could not stop shedding tears of joy. Birds and insects cry without shedding tears. Nichiren Shonin did not cry but continuously shed tears. What were these tears for? They were not for the worldly happiness, anger, sadness or joy; they were all for the spreading of the Lotus Sutra and leading people in the right way. Therefore, these tears could be said to be tears of nectar.

Opening the Eyes

I have made a vow. Even if someone says that he would make me the ruler of Japan on the condition that I give up the Lotus Sutra and rely upon the Amida Sutra for my salvation in the next life, or even if someone threatens me saying that he will execute my parents if I do not say “Namu Amida-butsu,” and no matter how many great difficulties fall upon me, I will not submit to them until a man of wisdom defeats me by reason. Other difficulties are like dust in the wind. I will never break my vow that I will become the pillar of Japan, I will become the eyes of Japan, and I will become the great vessel of Japan.

(Explanatory note)

Nichiren Shonin made a vow. Even if the ruler of Japan induces him saying that he would give him the kingship of Japan providing that he gives up the Lotus Sutra and believes in the Amida Sutra for the salvation in the next life, or threatens him saying that he will execute Nichiren’s parents if he does not say “Namu Amida butsu,” he will never submit himself to any kind of inducement or threat unless someone wiser than Nichiren Shonin himself appears and defeats him by reason. Any great difficulties other than that are like flying dust. Nichiren Shonin made his three great vows, “I will be come the pillar of Japan, I will become the eyes of Japan, and I will become the great vessel of Japan; “ and he was determined to keep them by all means.

Opening the Eyes

Filial piety of the Confucian School limits itself to this life. Since it does not help the parents in the future life, its sages and wise men are empty names without reality. Other non-Buddhist schools may know about past and future lives but they have no way of saving parents. Only Buddhism helps parents in their future lives. Therefore, those in Buddhism are worthy of the name of “sage and wise man.” Even in Buddhism, however, various scriptures and sects expounded before the Lotus Sutra were unable to help people obtain enlightenment themselves, much less their parents. They have only words without meaning. Only when the Lotus Sutra was expounded and said that women could obtain Buddhahood, our mothers’ obtaining Buddhahood became possible; and when it said that even a wicked man like Devadatta could obtain Buddhahood, our fathers’ obtaining Buddhahood also became possible. This is the sutra of filial piety among all Buddhist scriptures.

(Explanatory note)

After all, Confucianism is merely a school of moral teachings. Therefore its concept of filial piety is limited to this world, and it does not tell about filial piety of life in the future. However, unless one’s filial piety extends to his future life, he is not worthy of being called a sage or a wise man. If he is called so, he enjoys an empty name. Although philosophical schools of India tell about the past and future, they are in general concerned with a cold logic. Since they are not religions of warm faith, they do not expound filial piety in the future life. In this sense Buddhism is worthy of the teachings of the sage and wise man because it expounds filial piety in the future life as well as the way to attain Buddhahood. However, many schools of Buddhism which have their basis on sutras expounded before the Lotus Sutra for example Amida, Shingon and Zen Schools cannot obtain their own Buddhahood, much less helping parents obtain Buddhahood. No matter how wonderful they may sound, they are but empty words. When the Buddha expounded the Lotus Sutra and showed the attainment of Buddhahood by Dragon Princess as an example of a female obtaining Buddhahood and that of Devadatta as an example of a wicked person, it became clear that we can help our parents to obtain Buddhahood. In this sense the Lotus Sutra is indeed the most filial sutra among all the Buddhist scriptures.

A Letter to Monk Sairenbō

All my disciples and followers, considering the relationship among themselves to be the relationship between fish and water, should recite “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” in one mind. This is the “blood” succession of the most important matter in our life and death. After all, this is what I, Nichiren, am trying to spread. If this is done, my great wish of disseminating the Lotus Sutra will be accomplished. Moreover, if there is anyone among Nichiren’s disciples who does not agree with others, he is like a defender of a castle who is breaking it from the inside.

(Explanatory note)

When all the disciples and followers of Nichiren Shonin discard individualistic egoism, believe in the inseparable relationship among themselves like the relationship between fish and water, and recite “Namu Myoho Renge-kyo” in one heart, there is the direct succession of the most important matter in our life and death, that is, faith directly related to the Eternal Buddha. After all, what Nichiren Shonin was trying to spread at the risk of his life was for the purpose of making all human beings know that they were directly related to the Eternal Buddha. If members of the Nichiren Sect unite themselves as members of a religiously blood-related one family, there is no doubt that Nichiren Shonin’s great wish of spreading the Lotus Sutra throughout the world will be achieved. If there is anyone among the followers of Nichiren Shonin who breaks this unity, he is like a traitor among the defenders of a castle who secretly helps the enemy to destroy the castle.