March 2008, Oko
Lecture
(“Nichigon-ama gozen gohenji”)
Gosho Passage
Whether or not your prayer is answered depends upon
your faith; [if it is not,] the fault in no way lies with me, Nichiren. When
the water is clear, the moon will be reflected in it. When the wind blows, the
trees sway. One’s mind is like the water. Faith that is weak is like muddy
water, but faith that is resolute is like clear water.
(Gosho, p. 1519; MW-5, p. 305)
1. Nichiren
Daishonin’s Age, the Recipient, and Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote “Reply to Nichigon-ama” (“Nichigon-ama gozen gohenji”) in Minobu, when he was 59 years of age.
Nichigon-ama had sent Nichiren Daishonin a Gokuyo offering of one kan of coins [approximately 1000 stringed coins] and an unlined robe made of coarse fabric. She asked him to pray for the fulfillment of her personal prayer.
There is little detailed information about Nichigon-ama. Some records state that she may have been the wife of Takahashi Nyudo of the Fuji District of Suruga Province (presently the Fuji/Fujinomiya region of Shizuoka Prefecture). However, in Nikko Shonin’s “Gohonzon Distribution Record” (“Gohonzon bun’yo mokuroku”), Takahashi Nyudo’s wife is listed as Jimyo-ama. Thus, it is unlikely that Nichigon-ama was Takahashi Nyudo’s wife.
Her Buddhist title, Nichigon, literally means “sun-solemn,” and it is apparent that, true to her name, she was extremely dignified and was pure and assiduous in her faith and practice.
2. Summary of the Gosho Passage
In this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin reports to Nichigon-ama that, on the eighth day of the 11th month of the third year of Koan (1280), he placed before the Lotus Sutra (Gohonzon) a written petition in which she expressed her prayer. He further states that he reported the matter to the gods of the sun and the moon. The Daishonin cautions that whether or not her prayer is answered depends upon the sincerity of her faith. If her prayer is not answered, it is not his fault. He illustrates this point by describing how the moon is reflected when there is clear water and how the trees sway when the wind blows. The same is true for those who believe in True Buddhism. The Daishonin explains:
One’s mind is like the
water. Faith that is weak is like muddy water, but faith that is resolute is
like clear water. The trees are like the principles [of all things], and the
wind that sets them in motion is like the recitation of the [Lotus] sutra.
(ibid.)
In essence, the Daishonin explains that upholding the fundamentals of our faith and practice—diligently doing Gongyo and chanting Daimoku—will enable us to influence the principles [of all things] and successfully achieve our prayers.
3. Issues Concerning Faith
In the Annotations on the Great Concentration and Insight (Guketsu), Miao-lo wrote:
Even those who do not possess true determination in faith will receive
great benefits through their association with the true object of worship.
(Maka shikan bugyoden guketsu)
This passage illustrates how a person is able to amass
benefits and good karma through his association with the true object of
worship, regardless of the nature of his connection.
The True Object of Worship refers to none other than the Dai-Gohonzon of the Three Great Secret Laws, which we uphold. The power of the Buddha and the power of the Law possessed by the Dai-Gohonzon are limitless. Furthermore, the benefits and good karma of removing suffering and establishing happiness are completely contained within the Dai-Gohonzon, which will save all mankind in the Latter Day of the Law.
The Dai-Gohonzon is the Great Law of ichinen sanzen (three thousand realms in a single life-moment) of the Essential Teaching of the Buddhism of the Sowing. It is none other than the very entity of the life of Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha of the infinite past of kuon ganjo.
Thus,
when we recite Gongyo and chant Daimoku with strong faith in the Dai-Gohonzon,
our powers of faith and practice fuse with the powers of the Dai-Gohonzon. This
enables all of our prayers to come true without fail.
Nichiren Daishonin wrote the following in his Gosho, “Teaching, Practice, and Proof” (“Kyo gyo sho gosho”):
The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the heart of the Essential Teaching of the Lotus Sutra, contain all the benefits amassed by the beneficial practices and meritorious deeds of all the Buddhas throughout the past, present, and future. Then, how can this phrase not include the benefits obtained by observing all of the Buddha’s precepts?
(Gosho, p. 1109; MW-4, p. 129)
Furthermore, in “On Prayer” (“Kito-sho”), he wrote:
Though one might point at the earth and miss it, though one might bind up the sky, though the tides might cease to ebb and flow and the sun rise up from the west, it could never come about that the prayers of the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra would go unanswered.
(Gosho, p. 630; MW-7, p. 46)
Through these passages, the Daishonin explains the benefits of embracing the Gohonzon and teaches us that the prayers of the votaries of the Lotus Sutra will never go unanswered.
However,
we must be mindful that simply having the Gohonzon is not sufficient. In fact,
the Gosho passage on which we are focused this month states:
Whether or not your prayer is answered depends upon your faith.
(Gosho, p. 1519; MW-5, p. 305)
The Daishonin states that, in order to make our own prayers come true, we must first exert our most sincere efforts in faith and practice toward the Dai-Gohonzon. He further explains:
One’s mind is like the water. … [F]aith that is resolute is like clear water.
(Gosho, p. 1520; MW-5, p. 305)
This illustrates the great importance of upholding
absolute faith (conviction) and never doubting the Gohonzon. The Daishonin
teaches that, in order to achieve this, we must continue to maintain faith and
practice like flowing water, which never stagnates under any circumstances.
The only way to successfully make all of your prayers come true is to uphold pure faith in your daily lives with no doubts (mugi wasshin).
High Priest Nichinyo Shonin stated the following about the principle of faith characterized by no doubts:
I am certain that this does not pertain to all of you gathered here today, but there are individuals who complain, “I am chanting this much Daimoku, and yet … .” There are many such persons. People encounter the effects of their negative causes from a past existence, and there are variations in the severity of the karma that individuals possess. Thus, even if people chant the same Daimoku one hundred times, the effects that they will experience will differ based on their individual karma. One person cannot necessarily expect to achieve happiness after chanting a hundred Daimoku, only because he witnessed someone else doing so after chanting the same amount. The most essential issue here is to cultivate absolute faith. It is to sincerely believe in this doctrine. What is faith? It is none other than faith characterized by no doubts (mugi wasshin). Having faith means having no doubts. In other words, if you have doubts, then you do not have faith. Therefore, if you assert that you uphold faith and practice, you must never doubt the benefits of the Gohonzon.
(Fifth Hokkeko Summer Training Meeting,
“Essentials on Benefits,” Daibyaku-ho, No. 730)
Based on this guidance by our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin, I ask all of you to advance with great devotion, upholding faith characterized by no doubts.
This is an extremely important year, when we must fulfill the great objectives of the doubling of the number of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth and the achievement of the Great Assembly on the auspicious occasion, next year, of the 750th Anniversary of Revealing the Truth and Upholding Justice through the Submission of the Rissho ankoku-ron. There is no doubt that various obstacles will arise, as we proceed toward this significant occasion.
In his Gosho, “On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings” (“Nyosetsu shugyo- sho”), Nichiren Daishonin stated:
Understand then that the votary who practices the Lotus Sutra exactly as the Buddha teaches will, without fail, be attacked by the Three Powerful Enemies.
(Gosho, p. 673; MW-1, pp. 105-106)
We must be aware that, with absolute certainty, obstacles with arise one after another, both internally and externally, and attempt to impede our advancement.
However, I am firmly convinced that the cultivation of the great momentum for the achievement of Kosen-rufu of True Buddhism can be accomplished by defeating the most challenging enemies and by driving the winds of the Mystic Law (myo fu) throughout Japan and the entire world, to secure the peace of the land through the propagation of True Buddhism (rissho ankoku). This year has been designated the “Year of Advancement.” This significance can only be manifested through our ever-continuing devotion and advancement in our daily lives.
I ask all of you to sincerely carry out the objectives for practice, set forth for the overseas believers, during this “Year of Advancement”:
1. To earnestly do Gongyo and chant Daimoku.
2. To constantly take action to do shakubuku.
3. To develop capable members and promote the 2009 General Tozan.
I ask you to achieve the absolute unity of itai doshin and advance with great devotion, based on the guidance of our High Priest Nichinyo Shonin.
The following passage is from “Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra” (“Jimyo hokke mondo-sho”):
I pray you will embrace the Mystic Law (Myoho), which guarantees that one “will enjoy peace and security in this life and good circumstances in the next.” This is the only glory that you need seek in your present lifetime and is the action that will draw you toward Buddhahood in your next existence. Single-mindedly chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and urge others to do the same; that will remain as the only memory of your present life in this human world.
(Gosho, p. 300; MW-5, p. 38)
As the Daishonin teaches, let us proceed with our strong practice for ourselves and for others (jigyo keta), based on faith characterized by no doubts. Let us amass infinite benefits and good karma, as we advance with great devotion to achieve Kosen-rufu.