107. The Holy Chief Abbot in the Whole World, Nichimoku Shonin.

Japanese

'The Way to the Emperor's Remonstrance.' Nichimoku Shonin heading to Kyoto. Nichizon and Nichigou follow him. By the monk Miyazawa Jikei. In the collection of Hōninji Temple.

Nichimoku, who succeeded Nikko, also strictly followed his teacher Nichiren's will. He continued to admonish the rulers of the samurai families of Kamakura and the court nobles of Kyoto, and did so as many as forty-two times.

In June of the first year of Shoan (1299), he realized his long-cherished wish to have a public confrontation, and at the Rokuhara Government in Kyoto, he completely defeated the Nembutsu monk Jusshu-bo Douchi, who was believed by Hojo Munenobu (the eleventh regent).

In the 3rd year of Genko (1333, Shokei 2), the Kamakura shogunate, which had lasted for 150 years, fell, and a political system was established in Kyoto with the emperor at its head. This meant that the head of state in Japan shifted from the regency, which had been held by the Hojo clan, to the emperor.

Nichimoku Shonin was already seventy-four years old, but he was determined that now was the time to admonish the emperor, and in November he left for Kyoto accompanied by his disciples Nichizon and Nichigou. On the way to Kyoto, however, he arrived at an inn in Tarui (present-day Tarui Town, Gifu Prefecture) in Mino, where he fell ill. He died on November 15 at the age of 74, leaving Nichizon and Nichigou his last wishes for the completion of warning to the emperor and for his successor, Shonin Nichido.

Thereafter, Nichizon went to Kyoto to follow Nichimoku's last wishes. Also, Nichigou returned to Taiseki-ji Temple in December with the remains of Nichimoku and buried them in Shimonobo. Hizon remained in Kyoto, and fulfilled his substitute role in the following year, the first year of the Kemmu Era (1334).

The following is Nichimoku's document to the emperor.

　“Nichimoku, Saint Nichiren's disciple, respectfully states to Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful for the blessings of the heavens, and Your Majesty must examine the order of the Buddha's teachings in his lifetime, and in the other, the order of the three times of the missionary method. You must also eliminate both the teaching of the pre-Lotus Sutra and theory of the Shoho and Zoho era. I submit these documents with a request to worship the true Dharma of the Myōhō Renge-kyo at this time of the Latter Day of the Law.

1. One Volume 1: Rissho-Ankoku-Ron: Admonition of ancestor Nichiren Shonin. The first year in the Bun'o era (1260).

2, One copy of a letter of application by the prior priest Nikko Shonin, 2nd year of the Gentoku (1330).

3, Three Periods of Propagation of Buddhism.　

I have carefully examined this provided, and it is my belief that the sermons are the legacy of Buddha Shakyamuni alone, and that left to the will of Buddha, while the propagation of the three periods are the teachings of the Tathagata, and are not able to be common mortals.

In the first place, there are more than 10,000 temples and pagodas that have been erected, and there are more than 3,000 temples and shrines that have been venerated without neglecting to perform the rituals of the Tathagata. However, even though the teachings of the Buddha are upheld, prayers of the great and secret laws of the Dharma are not being answered. Moreover, civil wars and invasions of other countries are increasing year by year, and God's thoughts are unmeasured and Buddha's will is becoming harder to contemplate.　

Then, in my shallow thinking, I opened the sutra only a little and found that there are three secret laws left by Shakyamuni, Ryuju, Tendai, and Denkyō during three periods of propagation during the 2,000-odd years after the Buddha's death. They are the so-called "Fundamental Gohonzon," the "Fundamental Precept Platform," and the "Five Characters of the Myoho-renge-kyo. If we believe in and respect them, we can ensure the safety of the nation and subdue rebellion throughout the land. This article is a clear statement of the Buddha's Golden Mean, and the interpretation of our Great Saint is also clear.

In particular, my dynasty is a province of God, and God will not be disrespected. The three worlds are all Buddhist lands, and Buddha warns against slander. Therefore, if the slanderous laws of the pre-Lotus Sutra and the theoretical teachings are eliminated, the Buddha will be happy and the gods will be happy. If the correct law of the Lotus is established, people will prosper and the nation will flourish. If you are to renounce the evil doctrines of the various religions and revere the Lotus Sutra, then there will be no more confusion over what is said in the Golden Sermon, and the chanting of the Mysterious Law will be constant. If Your Majesty is so gracious as to renounce the evil doctrines of the various religions and revere the Mysteries of the First Vehicle, Buddha will be pleased and God will be delighted. If the fundamental Law of the Lotus Sutra is established, people will prosper and the nation will flourish. I hope, I beseech you, that if Your Majesty would show your majestic presence and renounce the evil Dharma of all religions and revere the Mysteries of the One True Vehicle, the Golden Sermon will never err, the chanting of the Mysterious Law will never cease throughout the world, Your Majesty's body will be secure, and the boundaries of rank and heaven and earth will cease to exist. Nichimoku, in order to fulfill the original desire of my late teacher, I am now admonishing your Majesty. I am truly afraid and humbly submit this message. 　

Nichimoku, November of the 3rd year of Genkou (1333)”

This document, which was written in the spirit of Nichiren and Nikko without any doubt, was never finally delivered by Nichimoku's hand. What were his feelings as he approached his deathbed, with his admonition to the emperor in sight? The record of Nichimoku's death is based on a tradition told by Nichigou, who took care of the last Nichimoku, to his sect members.

“It is truly unfortunate that I could not deliver this document and finally meet my demise. Since I was born on this earth, I have not had any notable achievements, but now that I become a human once again, I would like to deliver this letter. If anyone should appear in the future to deliver this document, you should know that a reincarnation of Nichimoku has returned."

Since then, there has been a legend in Nichiren Shoshu that the priest Nichimoku Shonin will appear at the time of the worldwide propagation (Kosen-Ruhu).”

To be continued.