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日蓮大聖人『御書』解説

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2020年 08月 09日

19. Nichiren Decides Warning to the Nation (2)

             Japanese edition

19. Nichiren Decides Warning to the Nation (2)_f0301354_08003001.jpg
      “The Origin of ‘the Risso Ankoku-Ron’”


Nichiren decided. It is time to stand up.

There is the person who knows the method of riding out a national crisis called the foreign invasion. There is nobody but oneself for it in Japan.

The prime cause of the Mongol invasion is that the Kamakura Shogunate laid a wicked religion as the religion of nation protection and gave the wicked religious group a large amount of the offering. The sovereign's message was sent from Mongolia. This is the rare opportunity now he should warn the government again to let Tokimune Hojo believe in the Lotus Sutra and stop the offering to a wicked religion.

And the method to exterminate a wicked doctrine gathers the Buddhist priests of each sect in front of a king and has no choice but to do by "showdown at a public place" of selecting the right or wrong. Tendai Daishi and Dengyo Daishi did Kosen-Ruhu (propagation in the whole world) of the Lotus Sutra by the victory of this confrontation and are opening the peaceful times. Tendai Daishi preached in the 9th of 'the Profound Teachings of the Lotus Sutra', as "the Lotus Sutra is that a shakubuku and that breaks the temporary teachings". Nichiren either followed this equation.

Nichiren often mentions ‘the showdown at a public place' to his writings.


“The place where we decide right or wrong between the world or Buddha's world; it must be decided in a public place emphatically”. 'Letter of reply to Gonin'.


“Cannot express the pitch of the ability if do not discuss; cannot measure wisdom and folly if do not have a showdown”. The written imperial order, command from a noble and petition of Enryakuji Temple to expel the Nembutsu priest’.


The right or wrong of things are decided by discussion one-on-one. If this is done in the public place, the difference becomes even greater, and it is beneficial for the viewer and the listener. The democracy of modern times embodies this spirit. In other words, Nichiren was pursuing democracy in the Kamakura era of the thirteenth century. The settlement by power does not last long. It is a self-evident truth that a debate of the superior human wisdom draws a superior conclusion.

Nichiren was going to showdown with various sects by the Lotus Sutra, which preached "only Buddha and Buddha know the Law of all the universes exhaustively". ‘The Expedient Means in the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra’.

At first, he wrote a letter to a person called Hogan, who had power inside the Shogunate in April, and asked him for adjustment.


“When I observed the great earthquake and the great typhoon and famine that occurred in the Shoka era, as well as the major outbreak of pestilence that took place in the first year of the Shogen era, I, Nichiren, made a prediction, saying, 'These are omens indicating that this country will be destroyed by a foreign nation'. I may hear to be praising myself for having made such a prediction, but if our country should be destroyed, it would most certainly mean the destruction of the Buddha's Law as well.

However, the eminent Buddhist priests of our times seem to be of one mind with those who slander the Law. In fact, they do not even understand the true meaning of the teachings of their own sects. It is certain that, if they should receive an imperial command or instructions from the government authorities to offer prayers of eliminating the evils that beset the nation, they would only make Buddha and deities angrier more, and then the nation cannot help but face ruin.

I, Nichiren, know the method that should be taken to break this deadlock. Other than the sage of Mount Hiei, I am the only person in Japan. For example, nobody can compare with the saint, there are not two suns and moon. If these words of mine are false, I will be punished by the ten daughters of the demon who protect the Lotus Sutra, which I uphold. I am saying this opinion solely for the sake of the nation, for the sake of the Law, for the sake of persons, not for my own sake. I inform you of this for meeting you in person. If you did not adopt this, you will surely regret it later.

Sincerely yours,

      Nichiren

The fifth day of April in the fifth year of Bun'ei (1268).

To Reverend Hogan”. “The Origin of ‘the Treatise for Safety of the Country’”


    Continues to (3)


Life of Nichiren. Vol. 1. Contents



by johsei1129 | 2020-08-09 11:32 | LIFE OF NICHIREN | Trackback | Comments(0)


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