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"This Person Will Practice among the People"

BACKGROUND:

Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter at Minobu to Ikegami Munenaka, the elder of the Ikegami brothers, on the third day of the twelfth month, 1279.

In this Gosho, the Daishonin indicates that he is Bodhisattva Jogyo, who will appear in the world in the Latter Day of the Law and propagate the Mystic Law according to predictions made in the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren Daishonin states that, just as Bodhisattva "Jogyo" will practice among the people and dispel the darkness of all beings," he himself is now propagating the Mystic Law to save the people in the Latter Day. He also says that the bodhisattva will be subjected to persecutions such as exile and execution, as the sutra predicts. Here the Daishonin alludes to passages in the Kanji (thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra which states: "Again and again we will be banished," and "There will be many ignorant people who will ... attack us with swords and staves." "Exile" indicates the Daishonin's banishment to Izu from 1261 to 1263, and to Sado Island from 1271 to 1274. "Execution" refers to the Tatsunokuchi Persecution in 1271, when the Daishonin was nearly beheaded.

In conclusion, Nichiren Daishonin encourages Ikegami Munenaka in faith by praising him as one who is helping Bodhisattva Jogyo propagate the Law.

Designed by Will Kallander