SGI-USA Study Curriculum

Learning from the Gosho: The Eternal Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
by SGI President Ikeda

Lecture 19 - Reply to Myoho Bikuni (3)

Truth Unwelcome in a Society Pervaded With Lies

Lies erode sanity and distort common sense. Lies are the door to misfortune. They inflict a kind of violence.

Shakyamuni was once asked, "What here [in this world] is the best wealth a person can have?" He answered that the greatest treasure is faith, honest conviction in the truth. (1) This time we will consider how to conduct ourselves in a world where lies are rampant.

In trying to do away with Nichiren by making slanderous accusations against him, Ryokan and the others while reading the Lotus Sutra fail completely to comprehend it. And while hearing it are utterly deaf to its meaning.

They are drunk on the sweet old sake of the words of Shantao (2) and Honen (3) who say that "not one person in a thousand [can attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra]," or of Kobo (4) and Jikaku (5) who characterize the Lotus Sutra as "just empty theory" or of Bodhidharma (6) who claims that the true teaching of Shakyamuni was transmitted apart from the sutras. As a result, they have become deranged .

For are not people intoxicated who, while seeing the plain statement [in the Lotus Sutra] that the "Lotus is foremost" (LS10, 164), say that the Dainichi Sutra is superior to the Lotus Sutra, or that the teaching of Zen is the supreme Law, or that the Ritsu sect is truly respectworthy or that the Nembutsu is the teaching that actually matches people's capacity?

They are like people who say that stars are superior to the moon, that rocks are superior to gold, that east is west or that the sky is land. Because of their distorted minds, they feel tremendous animosity toward those who tell how things really are and explain that the moon and gold are superior to stars and rocks, that east is east and the sky is the sky.

Under such circumstances, should one blindly follow the majority? Today the majority is just a gathering of many people out of their minds.

I feel the greatest pity for all ordinary men and women who, because they base themselves on this distorted way of thinking, will experience the sufferings of hell. (Gosho Zenshu, pp. 1416-17) (7)

Nichiren Daishonin always told things exactly as they were. His actions strictly accorded with the words of Shakyamuni and the sutras. And he never distorted the teachings of the mentor (i.e., Shakyamuni and the Lotus Sutra) to suit his circumstances or because of emotionalism. Truly, in every way his actions mirrored the teachings of Buddhism.

But someone perfectly upright will be detested in a society that is crooked. The Huai-nan-tzu, a Chinese classic, contains a saying that something straight cannot be bundled together with a collection of bent objects; similarly, an upright, honest person will not be received in a society where dishonest people hold sway. (8)

Suppose, for instance, that someone repeatedly says the sun rises in the West. Eventually, 999 people out of a thousand may be brainwashed into believing it as fact. These people are as though intoxicated. Under such circumstances, someone who dissents and asserts that the sun rises in the East will be attacked and persecuted. It is an upside-down society in which falsehood has become endemic.

This was precisely the situation in militarist Japan during the war 50 years ago. Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda, the first and second presidents of the Soka Gakkai, who appealed for peace and human rights, were accused of being unpatriotic, of being enemies of the country and were thrown in prison.

Who were the true winners? The people in power who had these two men imprisoned? The Nichiren Shoshu priests, who sided with the authorities in persecuting them and other practitioners who faithfully followed the Daishonin's teachings? No, they definitely were not.

In an age gone mad, Nichiren Daishonin asked, "Should one blindly follow the majority?" With this question, he deftly exposed the tendency of the Japanese to blindly submit to the will of others.

In this letter, the Daishonin says of the propagation of the Pure Land, or Nembutsu teaching, "People, without giving careful consideration [to whether the teaching is correct], took faith in the Nembutsu one after another because it is easy to practice" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 1410).

Has the spiritual climate of Japan, the tendency of the Japanese to be carried away by the current of the times, changed over the centuries? Have the people of Japan developed the wisdom to reject lies and deception?

Japanese society is said to be one of the few essentially non religious societies in the world. The great Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) said: "The religion of those who do not recognize religion is to follow everything the powerful majority does. Simply put, it is the religion of submission to those currently in power." (9) This is truly a profound insight. Tolstoy put his finger on Japanese society's fundamental ailment.

Unless people possess firm conviction in their hearts --- unless they can honestly say to themselves, "I will never compromise on this point" and, "I will stake my life on defending this ideal" --- they will be swayed, unable to resist the pressures of the majority. And of course it will then be even more difficult for them to endure persecution at the hands of the authorities.

Ultimately, such people, in everything they do, will follow the powerful majority. They will have a wait-and-see attitude and take whatever action is expedient at the moment. With the hollow justification that "there's no other way," they will time and again capitulate to those in power.

As an example, we can cite Japan's collapse 50 years ago as a result of the Japanese people's inability to resist the current of the times and their repeated deferment to precedent. When Japan was in such dire straits, who risked their lives to raise a truly patriotic cry? Wasn't it Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda?

The Soka Gakkai is now changing the spiritual climate of Japan. The only way is to empower and enlighten the people. Unless people gain the ability to see the essence of things for themselves, Japan will be condemned again to go down the slope of decline. I do not think I am alone in my concern for Japan's future.

Nichiren Daishonin was treated as an enemy by 13th century Japan. Many groundless, defamatory rumors were spread about him. Yet despite relentless persecution, he courageously waged a lone struggle against great odds. "There are legions of enemies opposing the single king of the Law [Nichiren] and the handful who follow him," he says (The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 101).

But even though he was virtually alone, the Daishonin was calm and composed. He gazed down, as though from the sky above, on the events enveloping him as though they were illuminated by the brilliant sun of truth.

The Soka Gakkai, given the many great difficulties that have beset it, would likewise have fallen apart long ago if it were fraudulent or fake. But because we dedicate ourselves to the truth and because we are not dishonest, we resolutely face whatever challenges confront us without being alarmed or shaken in the least.

A Brilliant Struggle, a Triumphant Life

In the Nirvana Sutra, the Buddha says that in the Latter Day of the Law those who slander the Lotus Sutra and fall into hell will be more numerous than the dust particles that comprise the earth, while those who believe in the Lotus Sutra and become buddhas will be fewer than the specks of dirt one can pile on a fingernail.

You should consider things in light of these words. Is it possible that the people of Japan correspond to the specks of dirt on a fingernail and the one person Nichiren to the dust particles [of the worlds] in the 10 directions?

Nonetheless, what karmic relationship could have caused you and your sister-in-law to send me a robe? Your making of such an offering surely indicates your desire to join those who count themselves among the specks of dirt that can be placed on a fingernail.

The Nirvana Sutra also says that even though one might be able to dangle a thread from the Brahma heaven in a great wind and thread it through the eye of a needle set upon the earth, it is extremely difficult to encounter the votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.

The Lotus Sutra tells of a turtle that lives at the bottom of the sea. Once every 3,000 years the turtle rises to the surface. At that time, if he happens to find a hollowed-out sandalwood log, he can rest in its hollow to cool his belly while warming his back in the sun. Because the turtle is one-eyed and squint-eyed, he sees west as east and east as west. [And even if he is fortunate enough to find a log shaped just right, he may be unable to climb into its hollow (LS27. 315).]

These examples illustrate just how rare the men and women born in the evil age of the Latter Day are who can thread themselves through the needle 's eye or rest in the hollow of the Lotus Sutra and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. (Gosho Zenshu, p. 1417)

Shakyamuni once took a pinch of dirt and placed it on his fingernail. Pointing out that the dirt could easily fall off because of its precarious position, he asked his disciple Mahakashyapa, "Which is greater, the amount of dirt on this fingernail or the amount of dirt of the worlds in the 10 directions?"

Mahakashyapa replied, "The amount of dirt of the worlds in the 10 directions is of course incomparably greater than the amount of dirt on your fingernail."

"That's right," Shakyamuni said, nodding. "Although people are fortunate enough to have been born as human beings, those who persevere in following the correct path and attaining the Buddha's state of life are comparable to the specks of dirt that can be placed on a finger nail. Whereas those who deviate from the correct path and tall into an evil path are comparable to the dust particles of the worlds in the 10 directions." (10)

There are two paths in life: correct and evil. One path deviates from the state of life of eternal happiness and descends into misery. That is the life of those who fall into the category of "dust particles of the earth" --- it is a state of inexorable downward momentum. just as in gravity pulling everything down to earth. The other path is of those who embrace the Mystic Law throughout their lives and ascend the slope of limitless growth and advance. It is a positive life of upward momentum --- a life of struggling against the gravitational force of decline and defeat to soar vibrantly into the blue skies of happiness. It is the life of those who have a place among the "specks of dirt on a fingernail."

Nichiren Daishonin thus assures Myoho Bikuni that she is following the supreme way of life.

Even after the Daishonin was no longer in Kamakura and had retired to Mount Minobu, persecution continued. The storm of oppression against Shijo Kingo, the Ikegami brothers and other followers in the capital grew fierce. Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji temple tried in various ways to pressure key figures among the Daishonin's followers to abandon their faith.

In the Suruga region, present-day Shizuoka Prefecture, authorities lay in wait for any chance to destroy the community of the Daishonin's followers. This culminated in the Atsuhara Persecution in 1279, the year after this letter was written. But signs of the impending attack were already evident in 1278.

In April 1278, there was a rumor in Kamakura that the Daishonin would be exiled for a third time. Under these circumstances, Myoho Bikuni determined to advance with the Daishonin and take action on his behalf. And she was not alone in cherishing this resolve. Her determination was shared by the wife of her elder brother. This sister-in-law made an offering to the Daishonin of a robe (Gosho Zenshu, p. 1406).

It is a marvel that they possessed such sincerity, such faith, even while surrounded by persecutors of the Daishonin as numerous as "the dust particles of the earth." The Daishonin praises both of them and attributes their faith to a profound karmic relationship. It was a karmic relationship with the Daishonin that impelled them to act as they did; there was nothing coincidental about it.

Encountering the Mystic Law is even more difficult than dangling a thread from heaven to earth in a strong wind and threading it through the eye of a needle. It is more difficult than for a one-eyed turtle to find a piece of floating wood in the middle of the ocean with a hollow in it that is just the right size to enter.

We have the rare good fortune to have been born at this time of unprecedented kosen-rufu. This is due to a profound and unbreakable karmic relationship. Our mission is ever so profound! The important thing, therefore, is that we always continue to uphold the Mystic Law and realize ultimate victory in our lives.

The Daishonin says, "One who perseveres through great persecution and embraces the sutra from beginning to end is the Buddha's emissary" (MW-3, 290). At times of great persecution, we must summon forth strong faith, chant resolute daimoku and speak out for justice. We have to offer prayers with the spirit to squarely face the persecution and struggle selflessly. Those who do so will become Buddhas. They correspond to the "specks of dirt on a fingernail."

Cultivating Good Relations-the Key to Happiness

What karma or relation from the past could have made you want to present an offering to this person [Nichiren]? When we read the Lotus Sutra, we find it explains that this spirit arises in a person when Shakyamuni Buddha enters his or her life.

This is comparable to how when someone becomes drunk on sake an unexpected spirit may arise in them and they may want to give things away to others, even though they previously had no such inclination. Thus, someone who would otherwise fall into the world of Hunger on account of stinginess and greed may, through the external cause of sake, be possessed by the spirit of a bodhisattva.

Dirty water becomes clear when a jewel is placed in it. When a person faces the moon their mind begins to wander.

A demon depicted in a painting has no spirit, but is still frightening. A courtesan in a painting cannot steal your husband, but it can still elicit envy. One will not want to enter even fine brocade bedding if the image of a snake is woven into if. When we feel hot, a warm breeze is unpleasant.

The same is true of people 's minds. Since you are a woman who devotes herself to the Lotus Sutra, it must be that the dragon king's daughter (11) has entered your heart. (Gosho Zenshu, pp. 1417-18)

The mind changes in response to external causes or relations. The examples the Daishonin gives are superb. A spirit like the bodhisattva spirit may, on account of drink, even manifest in a person ordinarily not inclined to be charitable, prompting him or her to give things to others. Just viewing the painting of a demon can arouse fear.

Our lives are determined by the relations we form. And the SGI is a cluster of relations of the very best kind. In a society pervaded with cruel relations, where many people delight in others' misfortunes, we can find, with our fellow members, the greatest solidarity and peace of mind. We have to resolutely protect the noble gathering of the SGI members.

The most important relationship we form in life is with a mentor. No one is happier or more fortunate than one who advances with his or her mentor. l have reached my 50th year of practice; I joined the Soka Gakkai on Aug. 24, 1947. On an evening 10 days prior [Aug. 14], I met my mentor, Josei Toda, for the first time. Mr. Toda was 47 and I was 19.

Half a century has passed. I have given myself totally to fulfilling my destiny in this lifetime in which I have encountered the Mystic Law --- which is so difficult to encounter --- and have had the great fortune of meeting so rare and exceptional a mentor. I have thoroughly dedicated myself to the path of the oneness of mentor and disciple.

There have been days of storms, violent winds and raging seas. Still, I can say with full conviction that these 50 years of living with President Toda have been days of unsurpassed happiness. During these 50 years with my beloved, courageous fellow Bodhisattvas of the Earth, I have made Nichiren Daishonin's will of kosen-rufu a reality. And these 50 years, as a true disciple of the Daishonin, I have won completely in the continuous struggle against the great hardships the Gosho predicts the Mystic Law's practitioners will face. My life is completely free of regret, like a cloudless blue sky.

And I will continue to advance, to struggle-solely out of the hope for the growth and dynamic advance of the youth. I will continue single-mindedly advancing for kosen-rufu, to fulfill the vow that I made to President Toda and open a brilliant path for all of you.

The Journey to spread the Mystic Law is long
Yet encouraging each other,
We continue onward hand in hand.

In accordance with these lines composed by President Toda, let us ever continue advancing in eternal unity.

Notes:

1. The Book of the Kindred Sayings, a translation of the Sanyuttaikaya (Grouped Suttas) by Mrs. Rhys Davids (Oxford: Pali Text Society 1993), p. 59.
2. Shan-tao (613-81): the 3rd patriarch of the Chinese Pure Land school.
3. Honen (1133-1212): the founder of the Japanese Pure Land school.
4. Kobo (774-835): the 3rd patriarch of the Japanese Shingon school.
5. Jikaku (794-866): the 3rd patriarch of the Japanese Tendai school.
6. Bodhidharma (6th century C.E.): the founder of the Chinese Ch'an (Jpn Zen) school.
7. "Myoho Bikuni Gohenji" (Gosho Zenshu, pp. 1406-19), written in September 1278 when the Daishonin was 57.
8. Liu An (d. 122 B.C.E.), Huai-nan-tzu.
9. Translated from Japanese: Torusutoi Zenshu (Complete Works of Tolstoy), trans. Toru Nakamura (Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 1974), vol. 15, pp. 135-36.
10. Sutra of the Great Nirvana, vol. 33.
11. Dragon king's daughter: the daughter of Sagara, one of the eight dragon kings said to dwell in a palace at the bottom of the sea. According to the "Devadatta" (12th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, she conceived the desire for enlightenment when she heard Bodhisattva Monjushiri preach the Lotus Sutra in the dragon king's palace. Later, she appeared before the assembly at Eagle Peak and attained enlightenment immediately, without changing her form.

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