Guidance from Sixty-eighth High Priest Nichinyo Shonin
On the Occasion of the August Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony
August 7, 2016
Reception Hall, Head Temple Taisekiji
On this occasion of the August Kōsen-rufu Shōdai Ceremony, conducted here today at the Head Temple, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the large number of participants in attendance. The month of August already has begun in “The Year of Advancing Further in our Shakubuku Activities.” I imagine that all of you are devoting yourselves every spare moment to your practice, aiming toward the achievement of this year’s shakubuku goals.
The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra (Hokke shoshin jōbutsu-shō):
If they hear the Lotus Sutra, which enables people to attain Buddhahood, this [encounter] will sow the seed of [Buddhahood] into their lives and they eventually will attain enlightenment without fail. Therefore, Tiantai and Miaole follow this notion and expound in their commentaries that they should tirelessly teach the Lotus Sutra. It is like those who falter and fall to the ground and who are able to use that very ground to push themselves up to stand again. In the same way, even if they descend into hell, they will rise again before long and attain Buddhahood. The people in the world today have turned their backs on the Lotus Sutra and, for that offense, they will undoubtedly fall into hell. Therefore, in any case, one should strongly teach and make people listen to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. Those who follow and take faith in it will be able to attain enlightenment, and even those who slander it will likewise attain Buddhahood in the end through the poison-drum relationship. In any case, the seed of Buddhahood can be found nowhere other than the Lotus Sutra. (Gosho, p. 1316)
The text preceding this Gosho passage refers to the people of the two vehicles. Though the people of the two vehicles are sages who have severed their attachment to this lifetime, they are self-centered and escapist. They seek only their own enlightenment. The practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism (Great Vehicle) severely criticized them for neglecting the practice for benefitting others. It had been said that those of the two vehicles never could attain Buddhahood. Thus, Shakyamuni Buddha strictly admonished them, saying: “It is even better for one to arouse the mind of animals, such as a stray dog or a fox, than to have the mind of the two vehicles. Even if one may commit the grave offenses of the five cardinal sins or the ten evil acts and fall into hell, one should never have the mind of the two vehicles.” Indeed, those of the two vehicles will receive the following benefit:
A small benefit of not falling into the evil paths.
(ibid.)
However, this benefit is not the Buddha’s true intention. Even if one falls into hell, through hearing the Lotus Sutra, which constitutes the sowing of the seed of Buddhahood, the seed will mature and bear fruit, leading this person to attain Buddhahood. Both the Great Teachers Tiantai and Miaole instruct that one should strongly teach and make people listen to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, even though they do not believe in it.
In the Gosho, The Doctrine of Ichinen Sanzen (Ichinen sanzen hōmon), the Daishonin states as follows:
When one chants Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the Buddhahood inherent in one’s life will be manifested. Those who have the opportunity to hear it will be able to eradicate their negative karma that has been accumulating for infinite asamkhya kalpas. Those [who hear Myoho-Renge-Kyo] and rejoice for even a single life-moment, will attain Buddhahood in their present form. Even if they hear it but do not believe in it, this constitutes the sowing of the seed of Buddhahood. Thus, the sown seed will become mature and enable one to attain Buddhahood without fail. (Gosho, p. 109)
As this Gosho passage reads, the Daishonin indicates one’s faith and practice based on a single moment of rejoicing. At the same time, he shows the benefit of a reverse relationship. Even those who do not take faith in Myoho-Renge-Kyo and oppose it, can attain enlightenment without fail through hearing it. This is because hearing the Lotus Sutra will create the sowing of the seed of Buddhahood into their lives. This sown seed will become mature and enable them to attain Buddhahood without fail. Firmly believing in the absolute and boundless benefit of the Gohonzon that will save all people, whether they take faith in it or slander it, we must strongly teach and make others listen to the teaching of Myoho-Renge-Kyo and shakubuku as many people as possible.
Furthermore, now in the Latter Day of the Law, those without the seed of Buddhahood undoubtedly will fall into hell. This is because, even though they do not directly slander the Lotus Sutra, they believe in heretical teachings that go against the Lotus Sutra. Thus, whether they know it or not, they are committing the offense of slandering the Lotus Sutra, and this definitely will lead them to fall into hell. In any case, we should strongly teach people the Lotus Sutra. It is certain that those who follow and take faith in it will be able to attain enlightenment, and even those who slander it will likewise attain Buddhahood in the end through their poison-drum relationship.
The Daishonin teaches the following in the Gosho, On Discerning Cause and Effect in the Ten Worlds (Jippōkai myō inga-shō):
Even good people, who are not greedy and do not commit other sins, will fall into the world of hunger if they commit slanders, or if they unknowingly come to believe in slanderous teachings by closely associating with slanderers. Only a man of wisdom understands this. We certainly must be fearful.
(Gosho, p. 208)
We occasionally commit the same offense of slandering the Law by becoming friendly with those who slander. Before we know it, we are influenced by them. In order to avoid this, it is essential for us to strongly teach and make others listen to the Lotus Sutra, keeping in mind that those who take faith in it will attain enlightenment and even those who slander it will also attain Buddhahood through their poison-drum relationship without fail. Moreover, we ourselves also will be able to walk the Buddhist path of attaining Buddhahood, without committing slander.
Here, what is referred to as the “Lotus Sutra” is Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the meaning hidden in the depths of the Life Span chapter, the core of the Lotus Sutra.
The Daishonin teaches the following in The True Object of Worship (Kanjin no honzon shō):
The practices that Shakyamuni carried out and the virtues he consequently acquired are all contained in the five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. If we embrace these characters, the same virtues that Shakyamuni gained will naturally be bestowed upon us. (Gosho, p. 653)
The Daishonin further states the following in the Gosho, Questions and Answers between a Sage and a Foolish man (Shōgu mondō-shō):
This means that by the single practice of taking faith in Myoho-Renge-Kyo, there are no benefits that will not be drawn to you, and there are no benefits that will fail to come, and no good causes that will fail to be accumulated.
(Gosho, p. 408)
At this very time, Nichiren Shoshu is advancing, with unity between the priesthood and laity, as we aim toward our goal—to achieve a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021, the 800th Anniversary of the Advent of our Founder, Nichiren Daishonin. I believe what is most crucial for us right now, is to be convinced of the vast and boundless benefits of the Dai-Gohonzon and engrave the Gosho passages we have just heard into our hearts. As the Daishonin’s disciples and believers, let’s all engage in our vigorous shakubuku activities, based on the great aspiration of saving all living beings and achieving kōsen-rufu, the will of the True Buddha. Each one of us must aim toward our shakubuku goal with a sense of mission, based on the spirit of willing to give one’s life to propagate the Law.
I sincerely wish that each of you will strive in your practice for oneself and others more than ever, and that we definitely will fulfill our goal of achieving a membership of 800,000 Hokkeko believers by 2021. And then, your efforts will be equally witnessed by the True Buddha.