Gosho: The Fourteen Slanders

The Fourteen Slanders

I have received the string of coins,¹ the horseload of polished rice and the white kimono which you sent.

Rolling fields and hills stretch out more than a hundred ri² to the south of this mountain. To the north stands lofty Mount Minobu, which joins the peaks of Shirane farther off. Jutting sharply up to the west is a peak called Shichimen. Snow remains on these peaks throughout the year. There is not a single dwelling other than mine in the area. My only visitors, infrequent as they are, are the monkeys that come swinging through the treetops. And to my regret, even they do not stay for long, but scurry back to where they came from. To the east run the overflowing waters of the Fuji River, which resemble the flowing sands of the desert. It is extraordinary indeed that you send letters from time to time to this place whose inaccessibility makes visitors rare.

I learned that Priest Nichigen³ of Jisso-ji temple, upon becoming a disciple of mine, was driven out by his own disciples and parishioners and had to give up his lands, so that he now has no place of his own. Nonetheless, he still visits me and takes care of my disciples. What devotion to the Way! How saintly! Nichigen is already unrivaled as a scholar of Buddhism. Yet he has discarded all desire for fame and fortune and become my disciple. He has lived the words in the sutra, "We do not hold our own lives dear."⁴ To express his gratitude to the Buddha, he has taught you and your fellow believers and inspired you, Matsuno, to make these sincere offerings. All this is truly amazing.

The Buddha stated that during the Latter Day of the Law, priests and nuns with the hearts of dogs would be as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges.⁵ By this he meant that the priests and nuns of that day would run like dogs after fame and fortune. Because they wear robes and surplices, they look like ordinary priests and nuns. But in their hearts, they wield a sword of evil, hastening here and there among their patrons and filling them full of countless lies so as to keep them away from other priests or nuns. Thus they strive to keep their patrons to themselves and prevent other priests or nuns from coming near them, like a dog who goes to a house to be fed but who growls and springs to attack the moment another dog approaches. Each and every one of these priests and nuns is certain to fall into the evil paths. Being the scholar that he is, Nichigen must have read this passage in the sutra. His unusual consideration and frequent visits to me and my disciples are deeply appreciated.

In your letter you write, "Since I took faith in this sutra [the Lotus], I have continued to recite the Junyoze⁶ and the Jigage⁷ and chant the daimoku without the slightest neglect. But how great is the difference between the blessings received when a sage chants the daimoku and the blessings received when we chant it?" To reply, one is in no way superior to the other. The gold that a fool possesses is in no way different from the gold that a wise man possesses; a fire made by a fool is the same as a fire made by a wise man.

However, there is a difference if one chants the daimoku while acting against the intent of this sutra. There are many forms of slander that go against the correct practice of this sutra. Let me sum them up by quoting from the fifth volume of the Hokke Mongu Ki: "In defining the types of evil, the Hokke Mongu states briefly, ‘Expound among the wise but not among the foolish.’⁸ One scholar⁹ enumerates the types of evil as follows: ‘I will first list the evil causes and then their effects. There are fourteen evil causes: (1) arrogance, (2) negligence, (3) arbitrary, egotistical judgment, (4) shallow, self-satisfied understanding, (5) attachment to earthly desires, (6) lack of seeking spirit, (7) not believing, (8) aversion, (9) deluded doubt, (10) vilification, (11) contempt, (12) hatred, (13) jealousy and (14) grudges.’" Since these fourteen slanders apply equally to priesthood and laity, you must be on guard against them.

Bodhisattva Fukyo of old said that all people have the Buddha nature and that if they embrace the Lotus Sutra, they will never fail to attain Buddhahood. He further stated that to slight a person is to slight the Buddha himself. Thus, his practice was to revere all people. He revered even those who did not embrace the Lotus Sutra because they too had the Buddha nature and might someday believe in the sutra. Therefore, it is all the more natural to revere those priests and lay people who do embrace the sutra.

The fourth volume of the Lotus Sutra states, "The offense of uttering even a single derogatory word against the priests or laity who believe in and preach the Lotus Sutra is even graver than that of abusing Shakyamuni Buddha to his face for an entire kalpa."¹⁰ The Lotus Sutra also states, "[If anyone shall see a person who embraces this sutra and try to expose the faults or evils of that person, he will in the present age be afflicted with white leprosy,] whether what he speaks is the truth or not."¹¹ Take these teachings to heart, and always remember that believers in the Lotus Sutra should absolutely be the last to abuse each other. All those who keep faith in the Lotus Sutra are most certainly Buddhas, and one who slanders a Buddha commits a grave offense.

When one chants the daimoku bearing in mind that there are no distinctions among those who embrace the Lotus Sutra, then the blessings he gains will be equal to those of Shakyamuni Buddha. In the Kongobei Ron, Miao-lo writes, "Both the life and environment of Hell exist within the life of Buddha. On the other hand, the life and environment of Buddha do not transcend the lives of common mortals." You can surmise the significance of the fourteen slanders in light of the above quotations.

That you have asked me about Buddhism shows that you are sincerely concerned about your future life. The Lotus Sutra states that people who will listen to [and accept] this teaching are very rare.¹² Unless the Buddha’s true envoy appears in this world, who can expound this sutra in exact accord with the Buddha’s intent? And moreover, it would appear that there are very few who ask about the meaning of the sutra in an effort to resolve their doubts and thus believe in it wholeheartedly. No matter how humble a person may be, if his wisdom is in the least bit greater than yours, you should ask him about the meaning of the sutra. But the people in this evil age are so arrogant, prejudiced, and attached to fame and fortune that they are afraid that, should they become the disciple of a humble person or try to learn something from him, they will be looked down upon by others. They never rid themselves of this wrong attitude, so they seem to be destined for the evil paths.

The Hosshi chapter states in essence, "The blessings obtained by making offerings to a priest who teaches the Lotus Sutra are even greater than the blessings obtained by offering incalculable treasures to the Buddha for eight billion kalpas. And if one can then hear him teach this sutra for even a moment, he shall experience delight at the great benefit he has obtained."

Even an ignorant person can obtain blessings by serving someone who expounds the Lotus Sutra. No matter if he is a demon or an animal, if he proclaims even a single verse or phrase of the Lotus Sutra, you must respect him as you would the Buddha. This is what the sutra means when it says, "Most certainly one should rise and greet him from afar, and respect him in the same way as one does the Buddha."¹³ You should respect one another as Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha did at the ceremony¹⁴ in the Hoto chapter.

Priest Sammi-bo¹⁵ may be lowly, but since he can explain even a little about the Lotus Sutra, you should respect him as you would the Buddha and ask him about Buddhism. "Rely on the Law and not upon persons"¹⁶ should be your guideline.

Long, long ago there was a young man who lived in the Snow Mountains and was called Sessen Doji. He gathered brackens and nuts to keep himself alive, made garments of deerskin to clothe his body and quietly practiced the Way. As he observed the world with care and attention, Sessen Doji came to understand that nothing is permanent and everything changes, and that all that is born is destined to die. This weary world is as fleeting as a flash of lightning, as the morning dew that vanishes in the sun, as a lamp easily blown out by the wind, or as the fragile leaves of the plantain that are so readily broken.

No one can escape this transience. In the end, all must take the journey to the Yellow Springs, the land of death. When we imagine the trip to the other world, we sense utter darkness. There is no light from the sun, the moon, or the stars; not even so much as a torch to illuminate the way. And along that dark road, there is no one to keep you company. When one is in the saha world, he is surrounded by parents and relatives, brothers and sisters, wife and children, and retainers. Fathers may show lofty compassion, and mothers, profound loving sympathy. Husband and wife may be as faithful as two shrimps of the sea who vow to share the same hole and never to part throughout life. Yet, though they push their pillows side by side and sport together under the quilts embroidered with mandarin ducks,¹⁷ they can never be together on that journey to the land of death. As you travel alone in darkness, who will come to encourage you?

Though old and young alike dwell in the realm of uncertainty, it is part of the natural order for the elderly to die first and the young to remain awhile. Thus, even as we grieve, we can find some cause for consolation. Sometimes, however, it is the old who remain and the young who die first. No one feels more bitter resentment than a young child who dies before his parents. No one despairs more deeply than parents who see their child precede them in death. People live in this fleeting world where all is uncertainty and impermanence, yet day and night they think only of how much wealth they can amass in this life. From dawn to dusk they concentrate on worldly affairs, and neither revere the Buddha nor take faith in the Law. They ignore Buddhist practice and lack wisdom, idling their days away. And when they die and are brought before the court of Emma, the king of hell, what can they carry as provisions on the long journey through the threefold world? What can they use as a boat or raft to ferry themselves across the sea of the sufferings of birth and death to the land of Actual Reward or the land of Tranquil Light?¹⁸ When one is deluded, it is as if he were dreaming. And when one is enlightened, it is as if he had awakened. Thinking in this way, Sessen Doji resolved to awake from the dream of the transient world and to seek the reality of enlightenment. So he secluded himself in the mountains and devoted himself to deep meditation, sweeping away the dust of delusion in his single-minded pursuit of the Buddhist Law.

The god Taishaku looked down from heaven and observed Sessen Doji in the distance. He thought to himself, "Though the baby fish are many, there are few that grow up to be big fish. Though the flowers of the mango tree are many, there are few that turn into fruit. In like manner, there are many people who set their hearts on enlightenment, but only a few who continue their practice and in fact attain the true Way. The aspiration for enlightenment in common mortals is often hindered by evil influences and easily swayed by circumstances; though many warriors don armor, few go without fear into battle. Let me go test this young man’s faith." So saying, Taishaku disguised himself as a demon and appeared at Sessen Doji’s side.

At that time the Buddha had not yet made his appearance in the world, and although Sessen Doji had sought everywhere for the Mahayana teachings, he had been unable to learn anything of them. Just then he heard a faint voice saying, "All is changeable, nothing is constant. This is the law of birth and death." Sessen Doji looked all around in amazement, but there was no one in sight except a demon standing nearby. In appearance it was fierce and horrible; the hairs on its head were like flames and the teeth in its mouth like swords, and its eyes were fixed on Sessen Doji in a furious glare. When Sessen Doji saw this, he was not frightened in the least. He was so overjoyed at the opportunity to hear something of the Buddhist teaching that he did not even question it. He was like a calf separated from its mother that hears the faint sound of her lowing. "Who spoke that verse? There must be more!" he thought, and once more he searched all around, but still there was no one to be seen. He wondered if it could have been the demon who recited the verse. But on second thought that seemed impossible, since the demon must have been born a demon in retribution for some evil act in the past. The verse was certainly a teaching of the Buddha, and he was sure it could never have come from the mouth of a lowly demon. But as there was no one else about, he asked, "Was it you who preached that verse?" "Don’t speak to me!" replied the demon. "I’ve had nothing to eat for days. I’m starved, exhausted, and almost out of my mind. I may have uttered some sort of nonsense, but in my dazed condition I don’t even know what it was."

"For me to hear only the first half of that verse," said Sessen Doji, "is like seeing only half the moon or obtaining half a jewel. It must have been you who spoke, so I beg you to teach me the remaining half." The demon replied sarcastically, "You are already enlightened, so you should feel no resentment even if you don’t hear the rest of the verse. I’m dying of starvation and haven’t the strength to speak--say no more to me!"

"Could you teach me if you had something to eat?" asked Sessen Doji. "If I had something to eat, I might be able to," said the demon. Elated, Sessen Doji said, "Well then, what kind of food would you like?" But the demon replied, "Ask no more. You will certainly be horrified when you hear what I eat. Besides, you would never be able to provide it."

Yet Sessen Doji was insistent. "If you will just tell me what you want, I will try to find it for you." The demon answered, "I eat only the tender flesh of humans and drink only their warm blood. I fly through the air far and wide in search of food, but people are protected by the Buddhas and gods so that even though I want to kill them, I cannot. I can only kill and eat those whom the Buddhas and gods have forsaken."

Hearing this, Sessen Doji decided to give his own body for the sake of the Law, so that he could hear the entire verse. "You food is right here," he said. "You need look no further. Since I am still alive, my flesh is warm, and my blood has had no time to turn cold. Therefore, I ask you to teach me the rest of the verse, and in exchange, I will offer you my body." Then the demon grew furious and demanded, "Who could believe your words? After I’ve taught you the rest of the verse, who can I call on as a witness to make you keep your promise?"

Sessen Doji replied, "This body of mine is mortal. But if I give my life for the Law, casting away this vile body which would otherwise die in vain, in the next life I will certainly be able to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha. I will receive a pure and wonderful body. It will be like throwing away a piece of crockery and receiving a precious vessel in exchange. I call upon Bonten and Taishaku, the Four Heavenly Kings, and all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions to be my witnesses. I could not possibly deceive you before them."

The demon, somewhat mollified, said, "If what you say is true, I will teach you the rest of the verse." Sessen Doji was overjoyed and, removing his deerskin garment, spread it out for the demon to sit upon while he preached. Then Sessen Doji knelt, bowed his head to the ground and placed his palms together in reverence, saying, "All I ask is that you teach me the rest of the verse." Thus he offered his heartfelt respect to the demon. The demon, seating himself on the deerskin, then recited these words: "Extinguishing the cycle of birth and death, one enters the joy of nirvana." The moment he heard this, Sessen Doji was filled with joy, and his reverence for the verse was boundless. Resolved to remember it even until the next life, he repeated it over and over again and etched it deep in his heart.

He pondered, thinking to himself, "I rejoice that this verse, [though it came from a demon,] is no different from the teaching of the Buddha, but at the same time, I lament that I alone have heard it and that I am unable to transmit it to others." Thereupon he inscribed the stanza on stones, cliff faces and the trees along the road, and he prayed that those who might later pass by would see it, understand its meaning and finally enter the true Way. This done, he climbed a tall tree and threw himself down before the demon. But before he had reached the ground, the demon quickly resumed his original form as Taishaku, caught Sessen Doji and gently placed him on a level spot. Bowing before him reverently, Taishaku said, "In order to test you, I held back the Buddha’s holy teaching for a time, causing anguish in the heart of a bodhisattva. I hope you will forgive my fault and save me without fail in my next life."

Then all of the heavenly beings gathered around to praise Sessen Doji, saying, "How wonderful! He is truly a bodhisattva." Thus, by casting away his body to listen to half a verse, Sessen Doji was able to transcend the realm of birth and death for twelve kalpas. This story appears in the Nirvana Sutra.

In the past Sessen Doji was willing to give his life in order to hear but half a verse. How much more thankful should we be to hear a chapter or even a volume of the Lotus Sutra! How can we ever repay such a blessing? Indeed, if you care about your next life, you should make Sessen Doji your example. Even though you may be too poor to offer anything of value, if the opportunity should arise to give up your life for the sake of the Buddhist Law, you should offer your life in order to study Buddhism.

This body of ours in the end will become nothing more than the soil of the hills and fields. Therefore, it is useless to begrudge your life, for though you may wish to, you cannot cling to it forever. Even people who live a long time rarely live beyond the age of one hundred. And all the events of a lifetime are like the dream one dreams in a brief nap. Though one may have been fortunate enough to be born as a human being and may perhaps have even renounced the world in order to seek the truth, if he fails to study Buddhism and to refute its slanderers but simply spends his time in idleness and chatter, then he is no better than an animal dressed in priestly robes. He may call himself a priest and earn his livelihood as such, but in no way does he deserve to be regarded as a true priest. He is nothing but a thief who has stolen the name of priest. How shameful and frightening!

In the theoretical teaching of the Lotus Sutra there is a passage which reads, "We do not hold our own lives dear. We value only the supreme Way."¹⁹ Another passage from the essential teaching reads, "They do not begrudge their lives."²⁰ The Nirvana Sutra states, "One’s body is insignificant while the Law is supreme. One should give his life in order to propagate the Law."²¹ Thus both the theoretical and essential teachings of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the Nirvana Sutra, all indicate that one should give one’s life to spread the Law. It is a grave offense to go against these admonitions, and though one cannot see it with the eye, the error piles up until it sends one plummeting to hell. It is like heat or cold, which has no shape or form that can be seen with the eye. Yet in winter the cold comes to attack trees and grasses, men and beasts, and in summer the heat comes to torment people and animals.

As a layman, the most important thing for you is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo single-mindedly and to provide support for the priests. And if we go by the words of the Lotus Sutra, you should also teach Buddhism to the best of your ability. When the world makes you feel downcast, you should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, remembering that although the sufferings of this life are painful, those in the next life could be much worse. And when you are happy, you should remember that your happiness in this life is nothing but a dream within a dream, and that the only true happiness is that found in the pure land of Eagle Peak,²² and with that thought in mind, chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Continue your practice without wavering up until the final moment of your life, and when that time comes, look carefully! When you climb the mountain of wondrous enlightenment and gaze around you in all directions, then to your amazement you will see that the entire universe is the land of Tranquil Light. The ground will be of lapis lazuli, and the eight paths²³ will be set apart by golden ropes. Four kinds of flowers²⁴ will fall from the heavens, and music will resound in the air. All Buddhas and bodhisattvas will be present in complete joy, caressed by the breezes of Eternity, Happiness, True Self and Purity.²⁵ The time is fast approaching when we too will count ourselves among their number. But if we are weak in faith, we will never reach that wonderful place. If you still have questions, I am waiting to hear them.

Respectfully,
Nichiren

The ninth day of the twelfth month in the second year of Kenji (1276)

Footnotes:

A string of coins: One thousand coins bound together by a string. At this tme, coins had a square hole in the center and were usually strung together in hundreds or thousands to form larger monetary units. The string, or Kan, of coins formed the basic exchange rate for rice.
Ri: Unit of linear measurement. A Ri was defined as 6 Cho (0.65km), but from the Heian period (794-1185) onward, it was commonly understood as 36 Cho (3.93km).
Nichigen (d. 1315): The priest of the Jisso-ji temple in Suruga Providence, which belonged to the Tendai sect. He became a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin after the latter's retirement to Mt. Minobu. Later, he returned to Jisso-ji and converted other priests, building many temples in Musashi and Suruga provinces.
Lotus Sutra, chap. 13.
This statement appears in the Nirvana Sutra.
Junyoze: Strictly speaking, the portion of the Hoben (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra which reads, "The true entity of all phenomena can only be understood and shared between Buddhas. This reality consists of appearence... and their consistancy from beginning to end." Here, However, it presumably indicates the part from the opening of the chapter: Niji seson ju sanmai anjo ni ki (At this time the World Honored One serenely arose from meditation) through the passage on the ten factors ending with Hommatsu kukyoto (consistancy from beginning to end).
Jigage: The verse section which concludes the Juryo (16th) chapter. It begins with the phrase Ji ga toku burrai (Since I attained Buddhahood) and ends with the phrase Soku joju busshin (quickly attain Buddhahood), restating the teaching of the eternity of the Buddha's enlightenment revealed in the foregoing prose section of the same chapter.
The Hiyu (3rd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra says that one should not expound this sutra among the foolish, in order to protect them from committing the evil of slandering the sutra.
One scholar: Tz'u-en (632-682), the founder of the Chinese Hosso school. He was among the most outstanding disciples of Hsuan-tsang.
A restatement of the Lotus Sura, chap.10.
Ibid., chap.28.
This is mentioned in the Hoben (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra.
Lotus Sutra, chap. 28.
In the Hoto (11th) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni assembles all the Buddhas from throughout the universe and then opens the Treasure Tower. Taho Buddha invites him to share his seat, and the Ceremony in the Air begins.
Sammi-bo: One of the Daishonin's earliest disciples. Born in Shimosa Province, he was highly esteemed among the Daishonin's followers for his great learning and debating skill. He assisted Nikko Shonin in the propagation efforts around the Fuji area, but he later became arrogant about his knowledge and renounced his faith around the same time of the Atsuhara Persecution.
Nirvana Sutra, vol. 6.
Mandarin ducks: A symbol of conjugal happiness. The male and female are said to remain faithful to each other throughout their lives.
Land of Actual Reward and the land of Tranquil Light: Two of the four kinds of lands. The land of Actual Reward signifies a land inhabited by the bodhisattvas who have reached or surpassed either the first stage of development in the fifty-two stages in the practice of the specific teaching, or the first stage of security in the practice of the perfect teaching. The land of Tranquil Light is a land where a Buddha lives.
Lotus Sutra, chap.13.
Ibid., chap. 16.
This passage actually appears in Chang-an's commentary on the Nirvana Sutra, Nehangyo Sho, vol. 12.
Pure Land of Eagle Peak: Here the Buddha Land or the state of Buddhahood. Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism teaches that faith in the Gohonzon enables one to attain Buddhahood in the present world. However, because otherworldly concepts were prevalent among the people in those days, as epitomized by the doctrines of the Nembutsu (Pure Land) sect, and because the recipent of this letter was concerned about his next life, the Daishonin explains the power of faith in this way. To "reach Eagle Peak" is to realize the indestructable state of happiness which transcends the sufferings of birth and death by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Eight Paths: Also eightfold path, an early teaching of Buddhism setting forth the principles to be observed in order to attain emancipation. They are: (1) correct views, (2) correct thinking, (3) correct speech, (4) correct action, (5) correct way of life, (6) correct endeavor, (7) correct mindfulness and (8) correct meditation.
Four kinds of flowers: Mandara (white lotus), mahamandara (great white lotus), manjushaka (white heavenly-flower) and mahamanjushaka (great white heavenly-flower), flowers said to bloom in heaven according to Indian tradition.
Eternity, happiness, true self, and purity: The four virtues or noble qualities of the Buddha's life expounded in the Nirvana and other sources.

Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 3.

Designed by Will Kallander