Concerning the Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Toki 真間釈迦仏御供養逐状

Concerning the Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha Made by Toki 真間釈迦仏御供養逐状　

Original text

■ Time of writing: September 26, 1270 (the Bun'ei 7), 49 years old

■ Place of Authorship: At his hermitage in Kamakura.

　Daishonin received a letter from Toki Jonin informing him that he had built a hall in his estate and constructed the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha there.

　The book contains the instructions to have Iyo-bo (later to become Niccho, one of the Six Elder Monks), Jonin's adopted son, perform the opening of the Buddha's eyes as soon as possible. "Nevertheless, you had best lose no time in having Iyo-bō perform the eye-opening ceremony. Have him recite the Lotus Sutra in its entirety and imbue the six sense organs of the Buddha with it. And in this manner change the statue into the living body of the lord of teachings, Shakyamuni, and reverently welcome and enshrine him."

　In the year Bun'ei 7, one year before the Tatsunokuchi Persecution, Daishonin had not yet revealed the Gohonzon of the mandala of the ten realms, but had allowed believers to build a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha as the principal image. However, he stated in this book that by reading a part of the Lotus Sutra (28 chapters) into the six roots of Shakyamuni Buddha, he would become Shakyamuni Buddha as a living being, and that it was essential to make offerings to open the eyes of the Buddha statue.

　In addition, the text states that "The Buddha's wish to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings.... In truth the time since I attained Buddhahood is extremely long."

　"The Buddha's wish to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings," the Expedient Means in the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra, explains the cause of the Buddha's appearance in this world.

"In truth the time since I attained Buddhahood is extremely long." This verse is the sixteenth Tathagata Life Span chapter of the Lotus Sutra and indicates that Buddha Shakyamuni actually attained Buddhahood through the Nam Myoho-renge-kyo long before his birth in India.

■Autograph: Not extant.

[The text]

　　With regard to the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha you have made, in fact you have made and revealed the Buddha of three thousand realms in a single moment of mind, which since time without beginning had never been revealed. I am eager to go at once and face it. This is what is meant by the words “The Buddha's wish to open the door of Buddha wisdom to all living beings,” and “In truth the time since I attained Buddhahood is extremely long.”

Nevertheless, you had best lose no time in having Iyo-bō perform the eye-opening ceremony. Have him recite the Lotus Sutra in its entirety and imbue the six sense organs of the Buddha with it. And in this manner change the statue into the living body of the lord of teachings, Shakyamuni, and reverently welcome and enshrine him. I also think that this will be impossible without the presence of you and your son. Regarding the Buddhist hall on your estate, disciple Daishin-bo knows about it. You must make absolutely certain to face the Buddha image in prayer and form a bond with the Buddha.

You once made offerings to the god Daikoku, and I wonder whether, after that, you encountered nothing to lament in your daily life. This time, please believe that your good fortune will increase, as the sea tide swells and as the moon waxes full, and that your life will lengthen and you will be reborn on Spirit Eagle Mountain .

Nichiren

The twenty-sixth day of the ninth month

Reply presented to Toki

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