Gosho Passage for today Saturday September 17th, 2010
Gosho Passage for today Saturday September 17th, 2010
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, September 18, 2010:
"I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province."
Passage from: "The Properties of Rice"
Written to the lay priest Takahashi, date unknown
Background from WND p. 1117
Only a fragment of this letter remains, and its recipient and the date of its writing are not known. It was once thought to represent the concluding portion of The True Aspect of All Phenomena, written on Sado Island in the fifth month of 1273, but in view of its style and content it is now considered to be a fragment of a letter written after Nichiren Daishonin moved to Mount Minobu. Likewise, it is thought that it may have been sent to the lay priest Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe, who lived at Kajima in Fuji District of Suruga Province. Takahashi’s wife was Nikko Shonin’s aunt, and Takahashi and his family appear to have actively supported the propagation movement in the Fuji area.
It is worthy of note that, in closing, the Daishonin entrusts the letter’s recipient with the responsibility for propagation in his province, suggesting that the recipient had strong faith and was a leading figure among the believers in that area.
My understanding of this passage:
From this small fragment portion, we can understand that Nichiren had(s) great compassion, even to those who slandered him and his teaching by saying: "While the rice itself is the same, rice that nourishes a slanderer of the Law supports the life of one who destroys the seeds of Buddhahood, enabling him to become a more powerful enemy than ever. And yet, does it not sustain his life so that he will in the end be won over to the Lotus Sutra?"
Nichiren, states in the passage that he entrusts us to propagate Buddhism in our local community in exact accord with the spirit of his words depicted in his letters of encouragement. Hence, to put the Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (the LS) as our corner stone of our conviction. He is NOT even once insinuates that our relationship with him is the "corner stone" of his Buddhism therefore we should engage in the practice and propagation of the Law. it is the other way around!
It is for the sake of the LAW that we practice Nichiren's teaching and therefore become in oneness with the mind and life of Nichiren by placing the Gohonzon in the center of our practice first and foremost. All of Nichiren's encouragement are there, so we can attain true enlightenment in this lifetime saying:
"Once you leave the haven of inherent enlightenment, what is there to bring you joy? I pray that you will embrace the Law [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo], which guarantees that people “will enjoy peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences."
pb
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Link to the page:
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1117
IT is also this way with rice. While the rice itself is the same, rice that nourishes a slanderer of the Law supports the life of one who destroys the seeds of Buddhahood, enabling him to become a more powerful enemy than ever. And yet, does it not sustain his life so that he will in the end be won over to the Lotus Sutra? On the other hand, rice that nourishes the votary of the Lotus Sutra must be rice of the utmost compassion, because it benefits all living beings. This is what is meant by the Buddha’s relics turning into rice. I cannot express my joy at your having sent a messenger all the way here at such a time. Can it be that Shakyamuni Buddha or the Bodhisattvas of the Earth have entered into your body?
I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province. It is stated that “the seeds of Buddhahood sprout as a result of conditions, and for this reason they preach the single vehicle.”1 If Jibu-bo, Shimotsuke-bo,2 or the others should arrive, I will send them without delay. And if you have an opportunity to see Matsuno,3 please carefully explain what I have said.
Gosho Passage for today Saturday September 17th, 2010
Daily Wisdom
From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Saturday, September 18, 2010:
"I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province."
Passage from: "The Properties of Rice"
Written to the lay priest Takahashi, date unknown
Background from WND p. 1117
Only a fragment of this letter remains, and its recipient and the date of its writing are not known. It was once thought to represent the concluding portion of The True Aspect of All Phenomena, written on Sado Island in the fifth month of 1273, but in view of its style and content it is now considered to be a fragment of a letter written after Nichiren Daishonin moved to Mount Minobu. Likewise, it is thought that it may have been sent to the lay priest Takahashi Rokuro Hyoe, who lived at Kajima in Fuji District of Suruga Province. Takahashi’s wife was Nikko Shonin’s aunt, and Takahashi and his family appear to have actively supported the propagation movement in the Fuji area.
It is worthy of note that, in closing, the Daishonin entrusts the letter’s recipient with the responsibility for propagation in his province, suggesting that the recipient had strong faith and was a leading figure among the believers in that area.
My understanding of this passage:
From this small fragment portion, we can understand that Nichiren had(s) great compassion, even to those who slandered him and his teaching by saying: "While the rice itself is the same, rice that nourishes a slanderer of the Law supports the life of one who destroys the seeds of Buddhahood, enabling him to become a more powerful enemy than ever. And yet, does it not sustain his life so that he will in the end be won over to the Lotus Sutra?"
Nichiren, states in the passage that he entrusts us to propagate Buddhism in our local community in exact accord with the spirit of his words depicted in his letters of encouragement. Hence, to put the Gohonzon of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (the LS) as our corner stone of our conviction. He is NOT even once insinuates that our relationship with him is the "corner stone" of his Buddhism therefore we should engage in the practice and propagation of the Law. it is the other way around!
It is for the sake of the LAW that we practice Nichiren's teaching and therefore become in oneness with the mind and life of Nichiren by placing the Gohonzon in the center of our practice first and foremost. All of Nichiren's encouragement are there, so we can attain true enlightenment in this lifetime saying:
"Once you leave the haven of inherent enlightenment, what is there to bring you joy? I pray that you will embrace the Law [Nam-myoho-renge-kyo], which guarantees that people “will enjoy peace and security in their present existence and good circumstances in future existences."
pb
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Link to the page:
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 1117
IT is also this way with rice. While the rice itself is the same, rice that nourishes a slanderer of the Law supports the life of one who destroys the seeds of Buddhahood, enabling him to become a more powerful enemy than ever. And yet, does it not sustain his life so that he will in the end be won over to the Lotus Sutra? On the other hand, rice that nourishes the votary of the Lotus Sutra must be rice of the utmost compassion, because it benefits all living beings. This is what is meant by the Buddha’s relics turning into rice. I cannot express my joy at your having sent a messenger all the way here at such a time. Can it be that Shakyamuni Buddha or the Bodhisattvas of the Earth have entered into your body?
I entrust you with the propagation of Buddhism in your province. It is stated that “the seeds of Buddhahood sprout as a result of conditions, and for this reason they preach the single vehicle.”1 If Jibu-bo, Shimotsuke-bo,2 or the others should arrive, I will send them without delay. And if you have an opportunity to see Matsuno,3 please carefully explain what I have said.
