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N the first year of the era teaching life over a period of fifty years. I(), with the cyclical sign tsuchi- Even though all these were noe-tora, on the sixth day of the seventh gradually spread throughout the land of month, the lay nun Sennichi sent a let- India during the first thousand years ter via her husband, Abutsu-bo, from after the Buddha’s passing, they had still Sado Province to a mountain recess not been introduced in China or . called Mount Minobu, in Hakiri Vil- Even though it is said that lage, in Kai Province, in the same was first brought to China , years country of Japan. after the demise of the Buddha, the Lo- In the letter she says that, though she tus Sutra had still not been introduced. had been concerned about the faults Some two hundred or more years and impediments that prevent women after Buddhism was brought to China, from gaining enlightenment, since ac- a man known as the Tripitaka Master cording to my teaching the Lotus Sutra Kumarayana lived in a country called puts the attainment of by Kucha, located between India and women first, she relies upon this sutra China. His son, Kumarajiva, journeyed in all matters. from Kucha to India, where he re- One might ask, Who was the Bud- ceived instruction on the Lotus Sutra dha who preached the sutra known as from the Tripitaka Master Shuryasoma. the Lotus? To the west of this land of On entrusting Kumarajiva with the Japan, west again from China, far, far sutra, Shuryasoma said to him, “This west beyond the deserts and the Pamirs, Lotus Sutra has a deep connection with in a land called India, there was a crown a country to the northeast.”1 prince, the son of a great king named With these words in mind, Kumara- Shuddhodana. When the prince reach- jiva set out to carry the sutra to the re- ed the age of nineteen, he cast aside gion east of India, to the land of Chi- his rank, withdrew to Mount Dandaka, na. Thus it was more than two hundred and took up the religious life. At the years after Buddhism had been intro- age of thirty he became a Buddha. His duced to China, during the reign of a body took on a golden color, and his ruler of the Later Ch’in dynasty, that the spirit reflected the three existences. The Lotus Sutra was first brought to that Buddha, who illuminated as though country. in a mirror all that had happened in Buddhism was introduced to Japan the past and would happen in the fu- during the reign of the thirtieth sover- ture, taught all the various sutras of his eign, Emperor Kimmei, on the thir-

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL teenth day, a day with the cyclical sign tion, we find a passage that says, “In kanoto-tori, of the tenth month in the these more than forty years, I [Shakya- thirteenth year of his reign, a year with muni Buddha] have not yet revealed the cyclical sign mizunoe-saru (), by the truth.” In the first volume of the King Syöngmyöng of the kingdom Lotus Sutra, at the beginning of the of Paekche to the west of Japan. This “Expedient Means” chapter, we read, occurred four hundred years after the “The World-Honored One has long introduction of Buddhism to China, expounded his doctrines and now must and more than fourteen hundred years reveal the truth.” In the fourth volume, after the Buddha’s passing. in the “Treasure Tower” chapter, there Although the Lotus Sutra was among is a passage that clearly states, “The the texts introduced then, Prince Sho- Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law . . . toku, a son of the thirty-second sov- all that you [Shakyamuni] have ex- ereign, Emperor Yomei, sent an envoy pounded is the truth!” And the seventh to China for a copy of the Lotus and volume contains the splendid passage propagated it throughout Japan. Since that reads, “Their tongues reach to the then, more than seven hundred years Brahma heaven.”2 have passed. In addition to these passages, we Already, over , years have passed should note that the other sutras that since the demise of the Buddha. More- precede or follow the Lotus have been over, the lands of India, China, and compared to the stars, to streams and Japan are separated from each other by rivers, to petty kings, and to small mountain after mountain, river after mountains, and that the Lotus has been river, and sea after sea. Their inhabi- compared to the moon, to the sun, tants, their ways of thinking, and the and to such things as the great ocean, character of their lands all differ from a great mountain, and a great king.3 each other, and their languages and These statements are not my words. customs vary. How, then, can ordinary They are all the golden words of the human beings like ourselves possibly Thus Come One, and they are the understand the true meaning of the words that express the judgment of all Buddhist teachings? the Buddhas in the ten directions. All The only way to do so is to examine of the and persons of the and compare the words of the various two vehicles, Brahma, Shakra, and the sutras. These sutras all differ from each gods of the sun and moon, which hang other, but the one known as the Lo- in the sky now like bright mirrors, tus is in eight volumes. In addition to watched and heard these statements these, there are the Universal Worthy being made. The words of the deities of Sutra, which urges the propagation of the sun and moon also are recorded in the Lotus, and the Immeasurable Mean- this sutra. All the ancient gods of India, ings Sutra, which serves as an intro- China, and Japan were also present in duction to the Lotus, each consisting the assembly. The gods of Japan, such of one volume. When we open the as the Sun Goddess, Great Lotus Sutra and look into it, it is as Hachiman, and the deities of Kumano though we were seeing our own face and Suzuka,4 are unable to dispute these in a bright mirror, or as though the statements. sun had come out and we were able This sutra is superior to all other to discern the colors of the plants and sutras. It is like the lion king, the trees. monarch of all the creatures that run In reading the Immeasurable Mean- on the ground, and like the eagle, the ings Sutra, which serves as an introduc- king of all the creatures that fly in

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL the sky. Sutras such as the Devotion enlightenment of women is expounded to Amida Buddha Sutra5 are like pheas- as a model. ants or rabbits. Seized by the eagle, For this reason, the Great Teacher their tears flow; pursued by the lion, Dengyo, the founder of Enryaku-ji fear grips their bowels. And the same temple on Mount Hiei, who was the is true of people like the Nembutsu first to spread the true teachings of the adherents, the Precepts priests, the Lotus Sutra in Japan, commented on priests, and the True Word teachers. this point as follows: “Neither teacher When they come face to face with the nor disciples need undergo countless votary of the Lotus Sutra, their color kalpas of austere practice in order to drains away and their spirits fail. attain Buddhahood. Through the pow- As for what sort of doctrines are er of the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful taught in this wonderful Lotus Su- Law they can do so in their present tra, beginning with the “Expedient form.”6 And the Great Teacher T’ien- Means” chapter in the first volume, it t’ai Chih-che of China, who expound- teaches that bodhisattvas, persons of ed the true meaning of the Lotus Sutra the two vehicles, and ordinary people first in that country, stated, “The other are all capable of attaining Buddha- sutras only predict Buddhahood ...for hood. But as of yet no examples exist men, but not for women; . . . This sutra to prove this assertion. It is like a guest predicts Buddhahood for all.”7 whom we meet for the first time. His Do not these interpretations make appearance is attractive, his heart is clear that, among all the teachings of brave, and on hearing him speak, we the Buddha’s lifetime, the Lotus Sutra have no reason to doubt him. Yet be- is first, and that, among the teachings cause we have never seen him before of the Lotus Sutra, that of women at- and have no proof of the things he says, taining Buddhahood is first? For this we find it difficult to believe him on reason, though the women of Japan the basis of his words alone. But if we may be condemned in all sutras other repeatedly see evidence to support the than the Lotus as incapable of attain- major points he makes at this time, we ing Buddhahood, as long as the Lotus will be able to trust what he says from guarantees their enlightenment, what now on as well. reason have they to be downcast? For all those who wished to believe Now I, , was born as a the Lotus Sutra and yet could not do so human being, something difficult to with complete certainty, the fifth vol- achieve, and I have encountered the ume presents what is the heart and Buddha’s teachings, which are but rarely core of the entire sutra, the doctrine of to be met with. Moreover, among all attaining Buddhahood in one’s present the teachings of the Buddha, I was able form. It is as though, for instance, a to meet the Lotus Sutra. When I stop black object were to become white, to consider my good fortune, I realize black lacquer to become like snow, an that I am indebted to my parents, in- unclean thing to become clean and debted to the ruler, and indebted to all pure, or a wish-granting jewel to be living beings. placed into muddy water [to make it With regard to the debt of gratitude transparent]. Here it is told how the owed to our parents, our father may be dragon girl became a Buddha in her likened to heaven and our mother to reptilian form. And at that moment the earth, and it would be difficult to there was no longer anyone who say to which parent we are the more in- doubted that all men can attain Bud- debted. But it is particularly difficult to dhahood. This is why I say that the repay the great kindness of our mother.

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If, in desiring to repay it, we seek to of Amida’s name their foundation. And do so by following the non-Buddhist the few women who seem to be devot- scriptures, such as the Three Records, ing themselves to the Lotus Sutra do the Five Canons, or The Classic of Filial so only as though whiling away time Piety, we can provide for our mother in waiting for the moon to rise, or as this life, but we cannot hope to do though reluctantly spending time with anything for her next life. Although we a man who does not please them until can provide for her physically, we will they can meet their lover. be unable to save her spiritually. Thus among all the women of Ja- Turning to the Buddhist scriptures, pan, not one is in accord with the we find that, because the more than spirit of the Lotus Sutra. They do not five thousand or seven thousand vol- chant the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, umes of and sutras which is essential for their loving moth- teach that it is impossible for women to ers, but instead devote their hearts to attain Buddhahood, it is impossible to Amida. And because they do not base repay the debt owed to our mother. themselves on the Lotus Sutra, Amida The Hinayana teachings flatly deny that extends no aid. Reciting the name of a woman can attain Buddhahood. The Amida Buddha is no way for a woman in some cases seem to to gain salvation; rather it will invari- say that a woman may attain Buddha- ably plunge her into hell. hood or may be reborn in a pure land, In grieving over what is to be done but this is simply a possibility men- if we wish to assist our mothers, [I have tioned by the Buddha, and no exam- realized that] the recitation of the name ples of such a thing actually having of Amida Buddha creates karma that happened are given. destines a person to the hell of in- Since I have realized that only the cessant suffering. Such recitation is not Lotus Sutra teaches the attainment of included among the five cardinal sins, Buddhahood by women, and that only and yet it is worse than the five sins. the Lotus is the sutra of true requital A person who murders his father and for repaying the kindness of our moth- mother destroys their physical bodies, er, in order to repay my debt to my but he does not condemn them to fall mother, I have vowed to enable all into the hell of incessant suffering in women to chant the daimoku of this their next existence. sutra. The women of Japan today, who The women of Japan, however, have could without fail attain Buddhahood all been led astray by priests like Shan- through the Lotus Sutra, have been tao of China, or Eshin, Yokan, and Ho- deceived into reciting exclusively the nen of Japan, so that throughout the formula Namu Amida Butsu. Since it entire country not one of them chants does not appear to be evil, they have Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which should been misled. Since it is not the seed be their foundation. All they do is of Buddhahood, they will never be- chant Namu Amida Butsu once a day, come Buddhas. By clinging to the mi- ten times, a hundred, a thousand, ten nor good of reciting Amida Buddha’s thousand, or a million times a day, or name, they deprive themselves of the thirty thousand or a hundred thousand major good of the Lotus Sutra. Thus times. All their lives, every hour of the this minor good of the Nembutsu is day and night, they do nothing else. worse in its effect than the great evil Both those women who are steadfast of the five cardinal sins. in their pursuit of enlightenment and It is like the case of Masakado, who those who are evil make the invocation during the Shohei era (–) seized

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL control of eight provinces in the Kanto sures, the Buddhas of the ten direc- region, or like Sadato, who during the tions, the bodhisattvas, the people of Tengi era (–) took possession the two vehicles, Brahma, Shakra, and of the region of Oshu. Because these the four heavenly kings deal with this? men caused a division between the If I am in error, show me how! In people of their region and the sover- particular, the gods of the sun and eign, they were declared enemies of moon are right before me. And since, the imperial court and in the end were in addition to listening to the words of destroyed. Their plots and rebellions Shakyamuni Buddha, you also vowed were worse than the five cardinal sins. to punish those who persecute the vo- today is exactly tary of the Lotus Sutra, saying, ‘Their like this. It is merely plots and re- heads will split into seven pieces,’8 what bellions in a different form. The Lo- then do you intend to do?” Because tus Sutra represents the supreme ruler, Nichiren strongly called them to task while the True Word school, Pure Land in this manner, the heavenly gods have school, Zen school, and the Precepts inflicted punishment on this land, and priests, by upholding such minor sutras these epidemics have appeared. as the Mahavairochana Sutra and the By rights the heavenly gods should Meditation on the Buddha Infinite Life command another nation to punish our Sutra, have become the deadly enemies country, but too many people on both of the Lotus Sutra. And yet women sides would perish. Thus, the design of throughout Japan, unaware of the igno- the heavenly gods is to avoid a general rance of their own minds, think that conflict and instead to first destroy the Nichiren, who can save them, is their people [in this epidemic]—which is foe, and mistake the Nembutsu, Zen, in effect cutting off the ruler’s hands Precepts, and True Word priests, who and feet—thereby compelling the ruler are in fact deadly enemies, for good and high ministers of this nation [to friends and teachers. And because they honor the Lotus Sutra]. In this way look upon Nichiren, who is trying to they intend to wipe out the enemies of save them, as a deadly enemy, these the Lotus Sutra and make way for the women all join together to slander him propagation of the correct teaching. to the ruler of the country, so that, after Nevertheless, when I was exiled to having been exiled to the province of the province of Sado, the constable of Izu, he was also exiled to the province the province and the other officials, of Sado. following the design of the ruler of the Here I, Nichiren, made a vow and nation, treated me with animosity. And declared: “There is absolutely no fault the people went along with those or- on my part. And even if I should be ders. In addition, the Nembutsu, Zen, mistaken, the fact remains that I have Precepts, and True Word priests in made a vow to save all the women Kamakura sent word that by no means in Japan, and that sincerity cannot be should I be allowed to return from the ignored—especially since what I am island of Sado, and Ryokan of Goku- saying is in complete accord with the raku-ji and others persuaded the former Lotus Sutra. governor of the province of Musashi9 “If the women of Japan do not to issue his own letters of instruction, choose to put faith in me, then they which were carried to Sado by Ryo- should let the matter rest there. On the kan’s disciples, ordering that I be perse- contrary, however, they set about hav- cuted. Thus it seemed that I could not ing me attacked. But am I in error? possibly escape with my life. Whatever “How will Shakyamuni, Many Trea- the design of the heavenly gods in the

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL matter may have been, every single concern for someone who is before steward and Nembutsu believer wor- our very eyes, but quite a different thy of the name kept strict watch on my thing when that person is far away, hut day and night, determined to pre- even though in our heart we may not vent anyone from communicating with forget him. Nevertheless, in the five me. Never in any lifetime will I forget years, from the eleventh year of the how in those circumstances you, with Bun’ei era () to this year, the first Abutsu-bo carrying a wooden contain- year of the Koan era, that have already er of food on his back, came in the passed since I came to live here in the night again and again to bring me aid. mountains, you have sent your husband It was just as if my deceased mother from the province of Sado to visit me had suddenly been reborn in the prov- three times. How great is your sin- ince of Sado! cerity! It is firmer than the great earth, Once in China there was a man deeper than the great sea! known as the governor of P’ei.10 Be- When he was Prince Sattva in a pre- cause there were signs indicating that vious existence, the Thus Come One he would become the ruler, the First Shakyamuni gained by feeding Emperor of the Ch’in dynasty decreed his body to a starving tigress, and when that unparalleled rewards would be he was King Shibi, he gained merit by bestowed upon anyone who would kill giving his flesh to a hawk in exchange him. The governor thought it would for the life of a dove. And he declared be too dangerous to try to conceal him- in the presence of Many Treasures and self in the country villages, and so he the Buddhas of the ten directions that entered the mountains, where he re- he would transfer this merit to those mained hidden for seven days, and then who believe in the Lotus Sutra as you for another seven. At that time, he be- do in the Latter Day of the Law. lieved that his life was as good as lost. You say in your letter that the But the governor had a wife of the eleventh day of the eighth month of Lü family who went searching for him this year marks the thirteenth anniver- in the mountains and from time to sary of your father’s passing. You also time would bring him food to keep him note that you are enclosing an alive. of one thousand coins. It is extremely Being the governor’s wife, she could kind of you to do so. Fortunately, I not help but feel compassion for him. happen to have a copy of the Lotus But in your case, had you not been Sutra in ten volumes12 that I would like concerned about the life to come, to send you. When you think longing- would you have shown me such devo- ly of me, have Gakujo-bo13 read it and tion? And that is also the reason why please listen to it. And in a future exis- you have remained steadfast through- tence, you may use this copy of the out, even when you were driven from sutra as a token of proof with which to your land, fined, and had your house search me out. taken from you. In the Lotus Sutra, it is In view of the epidemics that raged said that one who in the past has made the year before last, last year, and this offerings to a hundred thousand mil- year, I was so concerned about how lion Buddhas will, when reborn in a all of you were faring that I prayed later existence, be unshakable in faith.11 earnestly to the Lotus Sutra, but still I You, then, must be a woman who has felt uneasy. Then, on the twenty-sev- made offerings to a hundred thousand enth day of the seventh month, at the million Buddhas. hour of the monkey (:–: P.M.), In addition, it is easy to sustain our Abutsu-bo appeared. I asked him first

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL how you were, and how the lay priest and she will no doubt recall my words. of Ko14 was. He told me that neither of Regardless of the fact that he had a you had fallen ill, and that the lay priest hall in his house dedicated to Amida of Ko had set out along with him, but Buddha, Amida Buddha will never save because the early rice was nearly ripe, an enemy of the Lotus Sutra. On the and because he had no sons to help contrary, such a person renders himself him harvest it, he had had no choice a foe of Amida Buddha. After his but to turn back. death, he must have fallen into the evil When I heard all this, I felt as if I paths of existence and been filled with were a blind man who had recovered deep regret. It is a great pity. his sight, or as if my deceased father I am mindful, however, that the lay and mother had come to me in a priest Ichinosawa on several occasions dream from the palace of King Yama, saved my life by hiding me in a corri- and in that dream I had felt great joy. It dor of his residence, and I have there- is a strange and wonderful thing, but fore tried to think of something that both here and in Kamakura, very few can be done for him. Will you please of my followers have died from this ask Gakujo-bo to read the Lotus Sutra plague. It is as if all of us were riding in regularly at his grave? Even so, I do not the same boat and, though it would be think that this will enable him to reach too much to expect that we should all enlightenment. Please tell his wife, the survive, still, just when disaster seemed lay nun, that I grieve at the thought of to be upon us, another boat came out how desolate and lonely she must feel. to rescue us. Or it is as if the dragon I will write more at another time. deities were watching over us and mak- Nichiren ing it possible for us to reach the shore in safety. It is indeed wondrous! The twenty-eighth day of the Concerning the lay priest Ichino- seventh month sawa,15 please tell his wife, the lay nun, To the wife of Abutsu-bo, in the that I am grieved to hear of his death. provincial capital of Sado But I have already told her quite clear- ly how matters stand with her husband,

Background This letter was written at Minobu on ment to Sado after the Jokyu Distur- the twenty-eighth day of the seventh bance of , but it is more likely month of the first year of Koan (), that she was a native of the island. She the day after Abutsu-bo, a lay follower, and her husband were devoted follow- arrived on his third journey from Sado ers of the Daishonin and supplied him Island to visit Nichiren Daishonin. This with food, writing materials, and other letter is the Daishonin’s answer to one necessities for more than two years, that Abutsu-bo had delivered from his until his pardon in . After the wife, the lay nun Sennichi. Daishonin’s move to Minobu, the lay Some scholars maintain that the lay nun sent her husband with offerings to nun Sennichi served as an attendant to visit him there at least three times. a court lady accompanying the Retired In the first portion of this letter, the Emperor Juntoku during his banish- Daishonin emphasizes the superiority

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL of the Lotus Sutra from the standpoint that truly enables one to requite one’s of its teaching that women can attain mother’s kindness. Nevertheless, the Buddhahood. The provisional teach- women of Japan reject both the Lotus ings, he says, deny that women can be- Sutra and its votary, and chant only the come Buddhas; only the Lotus Sutra name of Amida Buddha. But, says the clearly reveals that they are able to do Daishonin, Amida will never protect so. The Daishonin declares that the en- an enemy of the Lotus Sutra. Thus lightenment of women as taught in the he shows that the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra shows that all living beings Lotus Sutra is the basis of all Buddhist can attain Buddhahood in their present teachings. form. While in exile on Sado, the Daisho- He then takes up the subject of nin was harshly treated by many of the repaying one’s debt of gratitude to islanders. The lay nun Sennichi and her one’s parents, especially to one’s moth- husband, however, risked their person- er. Since the Lotus is the only sutra al safety to serve him and maintained that guarantees the enlightenment of their faith despite many hardships. women, he says, it is also the only one

Notes 1. The Afterword to the Lotus Sutra Trans- 8. Lotus Sutra, chap. . lation, a work written by Seng-chao (– 9. The former governor of the province ), one of Kumarajiva’s disciples, attributes of Musashi refers here to Hojo Nobutoki, this statement to Shuryasoma. the constable of Sado Province, who lived 2. Lotus Sutra, chap. . in Kamakura. 3. These are among the ten compari- 10. The governor of P’ei refers to Liu sons set forth in the “Medicine King” Pang (– B.C.E.), the founder of the chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Former Han dynasty. He and another war- 4. Kumano refers to the three Shinto lord, Hsiang Yü, contended for power, tak- shrines located in the Kumano district of ing advantage of the confusion following Wakayama Prefecture. They are Kumano the death of the First Emperor of the Ch’in Nimasu Shrine, which enshrines the god to raise troops and attempt to overthrow Ketsumiko no Kami; Kumano Hayatama the dynasty. A protracted struggle between Shrine, which enshrines the god Kumano the two ended in the victory of Liu Pang, Hayatama no Kami; and Kumano Nachi who founded the Han dynasty in  B.C.E. Shrine, which enshrines the god Kumano The episode referred to in the text appears Fusumi no Kami. Suzuka refers to a district in Records of the Historian. in Ise Province (now northern Mie Prefec- 11. Lotus Sutra, chap. . ture), the location of an important barrier 12. “The Lotus Sutra in ten volumes” station on the route connecting Yamato and refers to the entire Lotus Sutra, consisting Ise provinces. It is the site of many old tem- of eight volumes together with the one- ples, shrines, and archaeological remains. volume Immeasurable Meanings Sutra and 5. Devotion to Amida Buddha Sutra: the one-volume Universal Worthy Sutra, The Amida Sutra. The Daishonin may have which serve respectively as prologue and referred to it this way to indicate its as- epilogue to the Lotus Sutra. sociation with the Nembutsu, the chanting 13. Gakujo-bo (d. ), a disciple of of Amida Buddha’s name in the formula the Daishonin, is said to have lived at Ichi- Namu Amida Butsu (Devotion to Amida nosawa on Sado Island. Originally a True Buddha), a practice that was widespread in Word believer, he converted to the Dai- his day. shonin’s teaching and devoted himself to 6. The Outstanding Principles of the Lotus propagating it, founding a temple called Sutra. Jisso-ji. 7. The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Su- 14. The lay priest of Ko was a follower tra. of the Daishonin. Ko means a provincial

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THE SUTRA OF TRUE REQUITAL office or its location; the lay priest was so was a follower of the Pure Land school. called because he lived in Ko, the provincial The Daishonin lived for a large part of his seat of Sado Island. He and his wife made exile on Sado at his residence. Ichinosawa offerings to the Daishonin and helped pro- never abandoned his Pure Land beliefs, but tect him. made efforts to protect the Daishonin. 15. The lay priest Ichinosawa (d. )

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