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日蓮大聖人『御書』解説

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2020年 07月 18日

8. Birth of Disciples and Believers who Supported the Life of Nichiren 1

             Japanese edition


マップ自動的に生成された説明

Residence of Gokenin (shogunal retainer). From Wikipedia.


The young Buddhist priests who would become disciples of Nichiren gradually increased.

Nissho was one of them too.

He became the disciple in November about six months later, after Nichiren declared the establishment of the denomination on April 28, 1253. The birth is Shimousa county, Kaijo province Note district. He is one year older than Nichiren. When he was about 15 years old, he became a priest in a temple of the Tendai denomination and learned Buddhism of Tientai in Mt. Hiei-Zan. Hearing the establishment of Nichiren denomination, he went to Kamakura and he became the disciple and trained himself in the thatched hut of the Matsuba Valley.

Nissho felt an indication of a person at the entrance of the thatched hut on that day and said to Nichiren.

“Teacher, it seems to be a guest.”

Nissho opened the door.

Shijo Kingo is standing.

Nichiren stood up smilingly.

“Oh, well! Well! The fine samurai of the other day!”

Kingo stiffly and awkwardly bowed his head.

Nichiren invited him willingly.

Kingo Shijo, who is usually the most stout-hearted person in the world, became small in front of Nichiren.

“I am ashamed of my behavior the other day.”

Nichiren waved his neck.

“Please don't worry about it. Then, I am glad you came to this poor thatched hut.”

Kingo sat up straight.

“I have a question about the sermon of the other day. That was the first talk that I listened to. I have not heard it at other temples. Can even a human like me attain Buddhahood like the speech of the monk?”

Nichiren has begun to talk calmly.

“A natural disaster, famine, and pestilence are spreading in this country at present. In the Law of Buddha, the world of these pains is called impure land. It is a dirty world. However, if the minds of all people are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are clean, so is their land. Pure land and impure land are not separate. This difference is solely from the virtue or evil of our minds.

It is the same for Buddha and a common mortal. When strayed, one is called a common mortal, but once gained enlightenment, one is called the Buddha. For example, even an impure mirror will shine like a jewel when we clean it. Likewise, a mind that is presently clouded by illusions originating from the fundamental darkness of life is like an un-cleaned mirror. Yet, once it is polished, it will become a clear mirror of absolute truth. Arise deep faiths, and diligently polish your mirror day and night. How should you polish it? If you chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo single-mindedly, this means polishing it.

You were born in the house of the samurai. Now, although there is not a war, you are having the fate to murder other people or not knowing whether you lose your life either. In addition, because you serve a lord, you must do an outstanding job, and be diligent to keep your territorial possession. However, it is the prosperity in the dream and is not rare, even if you got much fame and fortune. Single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and recommend it to others. This will remain as the only memory in this present life of yours of this world."

 The mind of Kingo was moved by Nichiren's every word.

“Yes, fame and fortune are... You're absolutely right.”

Nichiren grasped that the facial expression of Kingo included some shade.

“Lord Kingo, you seem to be worried about something, don't you?"

Kingo was surprised. Can this person read my mind?

“No, I feel my mind is refreshed hearing the teaching. But…”

Nichiren leaned forward to hear what he said.

Kingo faces down.

“In fact, I have a daughter, but she is weak from birth, and is lying down in the bed with an illness for a long time. I have a little knowledge of the medicinal herb, and I mix and use it too, but she has not been making any noticeable recovery. I prayed to the various gods and Buddha, but she did not recover.”

“I understood. I will pray for an important child of the Lord Kingo to the best of my ability. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the same as the roar of a lion. What sickness therefore can become an obstacle? The person who embraces the title, daimoku, of the Lotus Sutra will be protected by the good deities. But your faiths alone will determine all these things. A sword is useless in the hands of a coward. The sword of the Lotus Sutra must be wielded by a person having admirable faith. Your child's misfortune will change into good fortune. Decide your mind, summon faith, please pray for it.”

Kingo puts his hands on the floor on an impulse.

“I understand clearly what you mean. Shijo Kingo Yorimoto becomes the believer of the priest Nichiren from now on and chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!”

At the same time as Kingo's reply, voices rang out from behind him.

“Congratulations!”

There were a large number of people when he turned around in wonder. With that person, there was Toki Jonin, and feudal lord Yoshitaka Kudo of the Awa country Amatsu district. Furthermore, the Ikegami brothers of Munenaka and Munenaga whose father is the commissioner of buildings of the Shogunate. Also, Hiki Daigaku Saburo is the Confucianist Shogunate officer.

They had been hearing a sermon of Nichiren behind Kingo.

Kingo blushed and lowered his head to everyone.

Nichiren was 35 years old, Shijo Kingo was 26, 9 years younger than Nichiren at this time. Yoshitaka Kudo was 23 years old, Hiki Daigaku Saburo was 55.

Then after, Shijo Kingo and Ikegami Munenaka and Hiki Daigaku Saburo lived in Kamakura, and Toki Jonin and Yoshitaka Kudo lived in Shimousa and they became the followers of influential Nichiren. Though they will encounter many persecutions as the center of the believers, they will give their life to spread the Law of Buddha.

The propagation of Nichiren continues moreover.

The person who woke up to the Lotus Sutra in the vassal of the Shogunate appeared.

Shijo Kingo and Toki Jonin served as vassals of Shogunate, but the understanding person of the Lotus Sutra appeared in the nerve center of the Shogunate.

Yadoya Mitsunori was one of them. He became a priest as a layman, and he introduced himself as the lay priest Yadoya, but Yadoya is known as the closest aide to regent Tokiyori Hojo. According to the Mirror of the East, Mitsunori Yadoya, was one of seven vassals who were permitted to nurse Tokiyori on the occasion of the deathbed of later Tokiyori.

Nichiren encounters Yadoya, and exchanges opinions. Yadoya was interested with Nichiren who had an excellent discernment to the Law of Buddha, though he was unknown and not a high-ranking priest.

文字の書かれた紙自動的に生成された説明

  ‘Mirror of the East’. By Wikipedia


Continued to 2


Life of Nichiren. Vol. 1. Contents



by johsei1129 | 2020-07-18 20:05 | LIFE OF NICHIREN | Trackback | Comments(0)


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