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Upholding Faith Throughout Our Lives

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Upholding Faith Throughout Our Lives Lecture in Praise of Nichiren Daishonin July 2014, Oko Lecture Upholding Faith throughout Our Lives Nichiren Daishonin states the following in Reply to Shijō Kingo (Shijō Kingo dono gohenji): Accepting is easy, but continuing is difficult. But one must maintain one’s faith in order to attain Buddhahood. (Gosho, p. 775) Nichiren Daishonin wrote this Gosho on the sixth day of the third month of the 12th year of Bun’ei (1275) in Minobu, when he was 54 years of age. He addressed it to Shijo Kingo. The Gosho is alternatively known as The Difficulty of Upholding the Sutra (Shikyō nanji-sho). Indeed, this passage constitutes the essence of this Gosho. Shijō Kingo repeatedly received guidance and encouragement from Nichiren Daishonin, as he continued to shakubuku his superiors. No matter what difficulties he encountered, he courageously endured them. He was a believer with strong, pure faith, who manifested actual proof of the true benefits of the Lotus Sutra. In the ninth year of Bun’ei (1272), Shijō Kingo received from Nichiren Daishonin Opening of the Eyes (Kaimoku-shō), the Gosho that reveals the Object of Worship in terms of the Person (nin honzon). We can surmise from this fact that Shijo Kingo was one of the central figures among the believers of the time. In the ninth month of 1274, six months before writing this Gosho, Nichiren Daishonin sent Kingo the Gosho, On Recommending This Teaching to Your Lord and Avoiding the Sin of Complicity (Shukun no mimini kono hōmon wo ire yodōzaiwo manukaruru koto). He praised Shijo Kingo for his exemplary faith in his shakubuku efforts toward his superior lord, Ema Mitsutoki, who was a devout follower of Ryōkan of Gokurakuji Temple. He further praised Kingo for avoiding the sin of complicity in slander and opening the path to enlightenment. At the same time, he urged Kingo to be extremely careful about the major persecutions that would occur. He wrote: You should take great precaution. Those who hate you will be ever more vigilant in their efforts to harm you. (Gosho, p. 744) Six months later, when Nichiren Daishonin wrote The Difficulty of Sustaining Faith/(Reply to Shijō Kingo), Shijo Kingo was despised by his lord and peers, as expected, because he had urged them through shakubuku to uphold true Buddhism. He was in a tremendously difficult position. The Daishonin saw the dire circumstances of Shijo Kingo’s life, in which he was “deluged with great difficulties, just like torrential rain” (Gosho, p. 775). The Daishonin wrote this Gosho in order to clear away the confusion in the mind of Shijo Kingo, who was struggling to grasp how he should confront these great difficulties. In his Exegesis on the True Object of Worship (Kanjin no honzon-shō mondan) Twenty-sixth High Priest Nichikan Shonin discussed the principle of embracing (juji), which is expressed with the two Chinese characters for “receive” (ju) and “uphold” (ji): There are two ways to embrace (juji). One is to embrace the general, and the second is to embrace the specific. (Gosho mondan, p. 227) The principle of embracing in terms of the general way of interpretation (sotai no juji) means to uphold comprehensively the five practices of embracing, reading, reciting, teaching, and transcribing. The principle of embracing in terms of the specific way of interpretation (bettai no juji) corresponds to the first item of these five practices. In the opening Gosho passage of this Oko lecture, the phrase “Accepting is easy” refers to “embracing” in terms of the general way of interpretation, and it includes both faith and practice. There are two aspects: receiving (ju) and upholding (ji). In order to dispel Shijo Kingo’s confusion, the Daishonin focused on the element of “upholding” and explained its importance. Shijō Kingo received instruction from Nichiren Daishonin for the first time when the Daishonin was carrying out propagation in the Matsubagayatsu area of Kamakura. Kingo gradually came to believe in the Lotus Sutra. Since the Nembutsu and Zen sects were powerful at the time, it was not an easy feat for anyone to discard heretical doctrines and uphold true Buddhism. However, the Daishonin states in this passage that “accepting is easy,” because embracing Buddhism is relatively easy when compared to continuing faith. This shows how continuation is all the more important and difficult. In the Reply to Kyo’o (Kyo’o dono gohenji), Nichiren Daishonin explains: Cherish [the Gohonzon that I sent] a while ago for her protection and never abandon it even for a moment. No one knew about this Gohonzon in the Former and Middle Days of the Law, to say nothing of anyone inscribing and revealing it during those times….I, Nichiren, with sumi ink, have infused my life [into the Gohonzon]. So believe in it. The will of the Buddha is the Lotus Sutra, but the spirit of Nichiren is nothing other than Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. (Gosho, p. 685) Here, the Daishonin instructs us to sincerely embrace and worship the Gohonzon of the Lotus Sutra, that is, the great Law of Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, hidden in the depths of the sutra. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin summarized this Gosho passage and focused on embracing the Gohonzon: Here, the Daishonin explains that those who embrace the Gohonzon will encounter hardships without fail. Since those difficulties tend to control people and make it difficult for them to continue upholding faith, the Daishonin explains that “to continue is [particularly] difficult”…..No matter what may occur, we must continue to embrace the Gohonzon. By so doing we are able to overcome all obstacles and establish happiness that is absolute and irreplaceable. (Dainichiren, No. 776, p. 36) When we remember the original intention in our practice and recall the pledge of the Gojukai Ceremony, we actually pledged to continue to uphold our faith in true Buddhism. This pledge meant that, regardless of what difficulties and obstacles we may encounter, we will embrace the true Law until the end of our lives. The following excerpt is from the Treasure Tower (Ken hōtō; eleventh) chapter of the Lotus Sutra: This sutra is hard to uphold; if one can uphold it even for a short while I will surely rejoice and so will the other Buddhas. A person who can do this wins the admiration of the Buddhas. This is what is meant by valor, this is what is meant by diligence. (Hokekyo, p. 354; The Lotus Sutra, Watson, pp. 180-181) In the Orally Transmitted Teachings (Ongi kuden), Nichiren Daishonin states the following about this passage from the sutra: Those who uphold the Lotus Sutra must be prepared to encounter hardships. In this present age, Nichiren and his disciples are chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo upholding this spirit. Thus, they can attain Buddhahood as described in the passage “instantly attaining the unsurpassed Buddha Way.” (Gosho, p. 1755) Nichiren Daishonin’s doctrine represents the one and only true Buddhism. This is why evil functions seek to obstruct our efforts when we continue our faith, causing us to encounter hardships. Indeed, we are able to gain further benefits and attain enlightenment precisely by overcoming these obstacles, deepening our faith, and assiduously doing Gongyo, Shodai, and shakubuku. The Daishonin states the following in the Gosho, Letter to the Brothers (Kyōdai-shō): If you spread the word about this doctrine, devils will come forth without fail. If the devils do not compete to oppose you, there is no way of knowing that this is the true Law. A passage in the fifth volume explains: “When you practice assiduously and strive to strengthen your understanding, the three obstacles and four devils will compete in disorderly confusion with one another to impede your progress….You should not follow them or fear them. If you follow them, each of you will head down the evil paths. If you fear them, they will prevent you from practicing true Buddhism.” (Gosho, p. 986) Shijō Kingo sincerely practiced, following the directions of Nichiren Daishonin, and he introduced true Buddhism to his lord. As the golden words from the previous passage state, Shijo Kingo’s slanderous peers, who did not believe in true Buddhism and who hated Kingo’s actions, made false accusations against him. As a result, his lord turned against him and Kingo encountered numerous difficulties. In the end, however, the lord, himself, was touched by Shijo Kingo’s words and deeds. As a result, Shijo Kingo was given additional land. He obtained the great effect of an increased fief under his possession. Kingo’s life was a true manifestation of the conditions described by the phrase “to continue is difficult.” However, he showed us with his very life the actual proof that benefits and enlightenment truly are inherent in our precious faith and practice. We have less than six months remaining this year. All Hokkeko believers in the various countries around the world are upholding our High Priest’s directions and putting forth their utmost efforts to successfully achieve the designated objective of increasing the Hokkeko membership by 50 percent by next year, the 770th anniversary of the birth of Nikko Shonin. We have come upon a truly significant time when we must complete our shakubuku goal successfully. High Priest Nichinyo Shonin states: The road to accomplish the designated objective may be steep and treacherous. However, we must overcome difficulties with our strong faith. We will experience exquisite joy when we accomplish our goal. This is what is meant when the Daishonin states the following in The Rulers’ Fate (Ueno dono gohenji): “Even if you must endure some hardship for a while, your future happiness is assured.” (Gosho, p.
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