EExam pp.01-05 091113 - sgi-usa.org

SOKA SPIRIT

An Essay by SGI President Ikeda

On the Persecutions Befalling
Nichiren Daishonin

Faith is the struggle to bring the sun of must he suffer in such a desolate place, lacking
hope to rise in our hearts, in our homes in every basic necessity? How long will the
and in our communities. authorities keep persecuting our upstanding
Nichiren Daishonin was calm and composed teacher, who, far from having committed any
even as violent storms of persecution descended crime, is merely trying to spread the correct
upon him. For example, describing his frame of teaching in order to save Japan? Mongol emis-
mind, he writes: “How delightful! How grati- saries have repeatedly come to our shores,
fying”1 and “I feel immeasurable delight.”2 His and conditions suggest that an attack by the
sole concern was securing the happiness of Mongols is now imminent. Haven’t things
the people, and toward that end, he spared no turned out exactly as our teacher warned?
effort. What an immense state of life!
“Hasn’t his prediction of internal strife
Why was a person of such greatness perse- within the Hojo clan hit the mark with the Hojo
cuted? Why was the most just person publicly Tokisuke Disturbance?4 Where could you hope
denounced as if he were an unsurpassed villain? to find a more correct teacher of Buddhism? Yet
It may be the way of the world for people of look at how badly he is being treated!”
integrity to be ostracized and denigrated. But
if this continues, won’t the world be forever In such circumstances, one would assume
shrouded in darkness? Indeed, in the course people’s attention would have been riveted on
of history, how many around the world have Nichiren. In one writing, he observes, “Even a
lamented this state of affairs? tree or stone, or a bird or beast would be moved
and alarmed in such circumstances” (“Making
At the start of 1274, in a letter he sent from Clear the Meaning of Establishing the Correct
his exile on Sado Island, Nichiren instructed Teaching,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin,
that all his disciples and followers read the vol. 2, p. 506). Because his predictions had
letter together.3 At the time of writing it, he come true, all of Japan ought to have honored
had spent more than two full years in exile. him with the title of Great Teacher.5 But the
His followers, striving valiantly in faith in his reality was just the opposite.
absence, must have been increasingly anxious
about his welfare. Authorities cracked down harshly on
Nichiren’s followers, resulting in many people
They must have thought: “Our teacher has abandoning their faith—so many, in fact, that
been exiled for more than two years. How long Nichiren writes that 999 out of 1,000 did so.6

SOKA SPIRIT 51

Amid the persecution, some were murdered, In this letter, Nichiren describes how Hojo
and some were banished or had their lands Nobutoki, a member of the Council of State
confiscated. [who was also the governor of Musashi and the
constable of Sado], had issued orders against
Sadly, when Nichiren was being persecuted, him without going through proper channels.
it appears some followers just accepted it with Alleging that the Daishonin was “leading his
resignation, saying, “It can’t be helped.” Some disciples and others in plotting some evil
even criticized Nichiren, saying that he had action,” one such order strictly warned that
triggered the persecution through his harsh “those who follow that priest are to be severely
attacks on other schools and should instead punished” (“The Votary of the Lotus Sutra Will
spread his teachings in a gentler way. How Meet Persecution,” WND-1, 448).
foolish and shortsighted they were!
Nobutoki in fact issued such false orders on
Wasn’t he being persecuted precisely three occasions. Who was actually behind this?
because he dared to boldly confront evil and None other than Ryokan,7 the chief priest of
error that caused people profound suffering? Gokuraku-ji, a temple in Kamakura, who advo-
Wasn’t he fighting single-handedly, bearing the cated this course of action. Ryokan wanted to
brunt of all attacks, for the sake of his fellow continue harassing the Daishonin even in his
citizens? Shouldn’t his followers who remained place of exile.8
untouched by persecution have been ashamed
not to bear some of the hardships befalling Indeed, the Sado Exile itself was the result
him? Nichiren writes, “If they were people who of Ryokan’s scheming. Nichiren writes:
understood their obligations or were capable of
reason, then out of two blows that fall on me, In an attempt to have this sage
they would receive one in my stead” (“Reply to [Nichiren] executed, the Honorable
Yasaburo,” WND-1, 828). Those who abandoned Ryokan submitted a letter of petition
faith and turned on Nichiren were disciples to the authorities proposing that he
who failed to comprehend their teacher’s spirit. be beheaded; but for some reason the
execution was not carried out, and he
The Sado Exile: was instead exiled far away to Sado
The Work of Ryokan Island. Was this not the doing of the
Honorable Ryokan?” (“The Letter of
Nevertheless, the remaining followers Petition from Yorimoto,” WND-1, 807)
united and tenaciously persevered
in faith. And at the start of 1274, Nichiren Arrogant Priests Who
Daishonin sent them the letter from Sado Assume the Position
Island that I mentioned earlier. This letter is of Sages
today titled “The Votary of the Lotus Sutra Will
Meet Persecution” (WND-1, 447). Ryokan was revered by people high and
low as if he were a living Buddha or the
Citing passages from the sutras as well as reincarnation of Shakyamuni. Why did he
various treatises and commentaries, Nichiren then engage in such base actions? Because he
tells his followers they should recognize that feared Nichiren Daishonin. Because Nichiren
the slander and persecution he is encountering alone discerned Ryokan’s true nature. Indeed,
perfectly accords with Shakyamuni’s predic- he came right out and called Ryokan “a coun-
tions. If one reads the Buddha’s words without terfeit sage, a person of overbearing arro-
prejudice, it becomes clear that Nichiren is a gance” (“Letter to Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji,”
votary of the Lotus Sutra, who ranks alongside WND-2, 324).
Shakyamuni.

52 ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 1

Arrogant false sages constitute the third who will strip them of this mask. For Ryokan,
and most pernicious of the three powerful this person was Nichiren.
enemies9 described in the Lotus Sutra. They
are people who pretend to be sages, impos- Denouncing Ryokan’s true nature, Nichiren
ters who call themselves something they are lamented how Ryokan had deceived and preyed
not and have no qualification to be. Just as, upon people high and low and how, as a result,
for example, someone without a legitimate they would be plunged into suffering in their
title declaring himself to be king is called a present and future lives.11 It was a strict and
pretender or false monarch, or someone who thorough refutation. His case against Ryokan,
illegally seizes state power is called a usurper backed by sutra passages, reason and actual
or false ruler. Similarly, a false sage is someone fact, was lucid and powerfully persuasive.
who assumes the title and position of a sage
even though unqualified to do so. A false sage Terrified of being exposed, Ryokan hatched
is a thief who dons the mask of a sage. various schemes to silence Nichiren,12 to
muzzle him.
The Lotus Sutra describes arrogant false
sages, saying that, with evil in their hearts But Nichiren declared to his followers, “To
and obsessed with worldly affairs, they will hope to attain Buddhahood without speaking
borrow the name of forest-dwelling monks out against slander is as futile as trying to
and constantly make slanderous allegations find water in the midst of fire or fire in the
about the correct practitioners to the secular midst of water” (“The Essentials for Attaining
rulers (see The Lotus Sutra and Its Opening Buddhahood,” WND-1, 747). Thus the more he
and Closing Sutras, pp. 232–33). They create was persecuted, the more resolutely he spoke
an aura of mystique about themselves by out against Ryokan.
restricting their contact with others, but this
is only because, were they to interact closely, Ryokan and his colleagues trembled in fear.
in no time everyone would discern their true
nature. A Threat to the Influence and
Prestige of False Sages
The Daishonin says that Ryokan, whom
everyone thought upheld the precepts, could In addition, a situation arose that filled
in fact be described as wanton, greedy and Ryokan and his cohorts with trepidation,
stingy, jealous, holding erroneous views, and for it brought with it the very real possibility
lewd and disorderly.10 that many people might suddenly recognize
Nichiren Daishonin’s correctness. I am refer-
Devadatta, the enemy of Shakyamuni, ring to the fulfillment of Nichiren’s predictions
tried to elevate himself in people’s eyes by in “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for
appearing to adhere to even stricter precepts the Peace of the Land.”13
than the Buddha did. Ryokan, likewise, tried to
garner people’s respect by acting like a devout At the start of 1268, a little more than seven
observer of the precepts who would not harm a years after Nichiren had submitted this trea-
single blade of grass. In addition, he promoted tise to the government, a letter arrived from
charitable enterprises and public works, such the Mongol Empire threatening an invasion
as repairing roads and building bridges. In of Japan. The entire country was thrown into
collusion with the government, however, he turmoil. People’s perceptions of the Daishonin
collected a rice tax at checkpoints near major also changed. Their attitudes had softened,14
ports and levied tolls on travelers at barrier and they recognized the correctness of his
stations, thus causing people much hardship. assertions.

What does someone who deceives society His followers were emboldened by this
by putting up a false front fear most? Someone turn of events and redoubled their efforts
at propagation. As a result, in a letter dated

SOKA SPIRIT 53

1270, Nichiren writes: “Ten or more years ago, They know they are living behind a façade.
virtually everyone was reciting the Nembutsu. Therefore, they constantly fear discovery.
But now, out of ten persons, you will find
that one or two chant only Nam-myoho- Ryokan, too, was plagued with anxiety.
renge-kyo, while two or three recite it along Even after Nichiren had been banished to Sado
with the Nembutsu” (“The Tripitaka Master Island, Ryokan could not feel at ease. Hardly
Shan-wu-wei,” WND-1, 178). He describes a anyone ever returned alive from exile to Sado,
remarkable growth in the number of people prompting Nichiren to write, “Even if . . . rain
chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Nichiren’s falling from the sky should fail to reach the
teaching was gaining momentum; it was a ground, I, Nichiren, still could not possibly have
perfect time to propagate the Mystic Law still returned to Kamakura” (“Letter to Konichi-bo,”
more widely. WND-1, 660). Nevertheless, Ryokan, unable to
put his worries to rest, saw fit to further perse-
But this great opportunity was also a cute Nichiren in his place of exile.
time of great crisis. Nichiren’s enemies had
united. Priests of various schools had scoffed Asuras are always anxious. When attacked
at and dismissed “On Establishing the Correct by someone of greater standing than them-
Teaching” and were delighted it had not elicited selves, they collapse like a punctured balloon to
any response from the government.15 But now their true puny form. This is as Nichiren indi-
they were alarmed to see its predictions coming cates when he writes, “An arrogant person will
to pass. If the nation’s rulers were to employ always be overcome with fear when meeting
Nichiren in overcoming this national calamity, a strong enemy, as was the haughty asura
they reasoned: “He will become the foremost who shrank in size and hid himself in a lotus
priest in this country. We, on the other hand, blossom in Heat-Free Lake when reproached
will lose our influence and prestige” (“Letter by Shakra” (“Letter from Sado,” WND-1, 302).
to the Lay Priest Nakaoki,” WND-1, 1008). So This shrinking and hiding is the true image of
they became flustered, jealous and resentful, an asura.
and they plotted against the Daishonin. They
were not the least concerned with the future of Persecution Based on
the country, the happiness of the people or the False Rumors
validity of different teachings. The only thing
that mattered was preserving the illusion of Ryokan, likewise, showed his true stature
their own influence and prestige. when confronted by Nichiren Daishonin.
In summer 1271, Ryokan was shamed before
Japan was truly a land where, as Nichiren the entire country when defeated by Nichiren
says, people’s thoughts are filled with jealousy.16 in a contest to pray for rain.18 How did Ryokan
Jealousy is the world of anger, or the world of respond? He reneged on his promise to
asuras—belligerent spirits or demons in Indian become Nichiren’s disciple if he failed to elicit
mythology that epitomize arrogance. rain, and he channeled even more energy into
conspiring covertly against Nichiren.
Asuras are said to be gargantuan, described
as eighty-four thousand yojanas17 in height, Hiding in the shadows is a characteristic
but this is an allegorical expression of their of arrogant false sages; they are ruled by
over-inflated sense of self-importance. It is an cowardice.
analogy to a false self swollen with arrogance.
A person in this state lacks the quiet self- With the Nembutsu priest Gyobin19 acting
confidence that derives from genuine ability. as his agent, Ryokan denounced Nichiren
to the government. Nichiren immediately
While arrogant false sages might try to composed a thoroughgoing refutation of
pass themselves off as true sages, they know Gyobin’s petition.20 Gyobin could not put forth
better than anyone that they are really frauds.

54 ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 1

a counterargument. Had he responded, there Shigetoki, acting through his son, the sixth
would have been a motion for the two to be regent, Hojo Nagatoki, had been the person
brought together in direct debate. Ryokan’s directly responsible for exiling Nichiren to Izu.
side wanted to avoid such a confrontation at all Ryokan had close ties with both Shigetoki and
costs. They knew only too well they could not Nagatoki. In fact, his temple, Gokuraku-ji, had
win. Given this situation, they had effectively been donated by Shigetoki. Tokimune’s mother
lost their case against Nichiren. was also Tokiyori’s widow.

What did Ryokan and his cohorts do next? It seems Ryokan and others alleged to
They further intensified their behind-the- her that Nichiren had said the late Tokiyori
scenes scheming, spreading lies about Nichiren and Shigetoki had both fallen into the hell of
and his followers. incessant suffering.24 This no doubt filled her
with deep indignation. Presumably, she went
When they realized they could not rival straight to her son, the regent Tokimune, and
Nichiren in wisdom, they first petitioned the demanded Nichiren be put to death.
government. After this action failed, they
maligned him to the wives and widows of high- Ryokan and his colleagues made similar
ranking officials.21 Ryokan and his group also slanderous allegations to the wives of other
directly appealed to key government figures influential government officials. As a result,
and pressed them to punish Nichiren. these women insisted that investigation was
unnecessary and that Nichiren should have his
The Lotus Sutra describes the conduct of head cut off at once.25
arrogant false sages saying:
It is a wonder, however, that they didn’t
They constantly try to defame us, appear at all hesitant about executing a priest.
they will address the rulers,
Unscrupulous Attempts
high ministers, To Discredit a Person of
Brahmans, and householders, Justice and Integrity
as well as the other monks,
slandering and speaking evil of us The fact that Nichiren Daishonin was
viewed as a “priest who broke the precepts”
(LSOC, 233). may have greatly contributed to the animosity
against him.
And this is exactly what Ryokan and his
cronies did. Without seeking to confront Ryokan and his fellow conspirators may
Nichiren in person, they hurriedly petitioned have told the women that the grave offense of
government offices to bring charges against killing a priest would not apply in Nichiren’s
him;22 in other words, they went crying to the case because, they alleged, he had transgressed
authorities. Moreover, and most cravenly, they the priestly code by having forbidden relations
did so under the guise of “appealing for justice.” with women. Women tend to react strongly
Since this lobbying took place in clandestine when it comes to men’s illicit sexual affairs,
meetings, Nichiren and his followers who were and Ryokan and his colleagues must have tried
the target of the slanderous rumors had no to take advantage of these feelings in their
opportunity for rebuttal. This eventually led to appeals to high-ranking women.
the Tatsunokuchi Persecution.23
Nichiren says of himself: “Though I have
The central figure among the women of the neither wife nor child, I am known throughout
Hojo clan, with whom Ryokan and his cohorts the country as a monk who transgresses the
had ingratiated themselves, was the mother code of conduct, and though I have never
of the eighth regent, Hojo Tokimune. She was killed even a single ant or mole cricket, my bad
also the daughter of Hojo Shigetoki, the former
cosigner to the fifth Hojo regent, Tokiyori.

SOKA SPIRIT 55

reputation has spread throughout the realm” Fabricated Scandals About
(“The Four Debts of Gratitude,” WND-1, 42). Shakyamuni
These words are from a letter written during
his exile to Izu,26 a fairly early period of In the letter I cited earlier—“The Votary of
Nichiren’s efforts to spread his teachings. the Lotus Sutra Will Meet Persecution,”
written in 1274 while on Sado—Nichiren
The Izu Exile was also a punishment meted Daishonin says of the persecutions he faced, “I,
out based on groundless charges; the spurious Nichiren, have personally suffered each of the
rumors of his being an immoral priest were nine great ordeals [that Shakyamuni under-
likely an excuse for this exile. The priests of went]” (WND-1, 448).
other schools who saw the Daishonin as an
enemy may have spread such rumors out of Of Shakyamuni’s nine great ordeals, two
malice. had to do with alleged sexual misconduct
with women. The “slander of Sundari” refers
Nichiren had many female followers, and to an instance in which a group of Brahmans,
these no doubt included some who practiced jealous of the Buddha’s high moral standing,
faith despite opposition of family members. had a courtesan named Sundari frequent the
These women must have struggled on with place where Shakyamuni was staying, and then
his encouragement as their sole spiritual they had her spread rumors she was having an
support, and they must have greatly admired affair with him. These Brahmans then killed
the Daishonin’s immense compassion. Others Sundari to prevent her from revealing the truth
seeing this likely felt jealous and resentful. and buried her body under a tree at Jetavana
Spreading rumors of sexual misconduct or Monastery, making it appear that this had been
other moral scandals is a standard tactic the doing of the Buddha’s followers. Also, in
employed by the unscrupulous to discredit what is known as the “slander of Chincha,” a
those of justice and integrity. It is simple Brahman woman named Chincha, strapping a
enough for the side doing the criticizing tub to her belly under her robe, claimed that
because it involves only spreading a negative Shakyamuni had impregnated her.
image. For those being criticized, however, it is
much more difficult to prove there is nothing In due course, Shakyamuni’s name was
to the charges. That’s why it is the choice cleared in both incidents. But untold numbers
method for ruining a person’s good name. in human history have had their reputations
destroyed and been consigned to oblivion
Once a rumor has been started, it arouses as a result of similar schemes and malicious
people’s curiosity and takes on a life of its rumors.
own. Because credibility has been so severely
damaged by a rumor, people will not listen to Manufacturing Negative
what the maligned person has to say, no matter Images To Malign and
how right it may be. When adverse rumors are Discredit
circulated about Buddhist practitioners, the
unfavorable impression etched in people’s False accusations are the prime catalyst
minds can become a psychological barrier behind persecution. Conspirators, building
to their accepting the correct teaching. The a case on lies, align themselves with those in
offense of spreading malicious rumors is grave power. The latter are deceived—or perhaps
indeed. merely pretend to be deceived—and then use
these lies to justify ousting someone they
This was part of a scheme to invent false- regard as a troublemaker.
hoods solely to do away with Nichiren.27

56 ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 1

Nowadays, attempting to discredit and oust Also, people who already harbored resent-
someone from a position of influence in society ment or ill will toward Nichiren and his
usually involves collusion with elements of the followers may have quickly latched onto the
mass media, sometimes referred to collectively negative rumors that conveniently corrobo-
as the fourth estate.28 rated whatever they would like to believe.
Moreover, the fact that Ryokan and other
Those intent on spreading slanderous influential priests were all saying the same
rumors seek to paint the targeted individual thing must have lent additional credence to
or group in a negative light. Disregarding the allegations. Or people may have simply
facts, the only thing that matters is that people concluded that since the authorities had previ-
receive an unfavorable impression. ously punished the Daishonin, he must indeed
be a criminal.
The success of such defamatory rumors
is described by Nichiren Daishonin when he Sadly, when authorities and other powerful
tells how ready the government officials were forces in society unite to persecute a person or
to believe allegations that his followers were group, few among the general populace will
responsible for various crimes. dare raise their voices in protest, even if many
privately feel something is amiss. But the delib-
Before Nichiren’s exile to Sado, his enemies erate spread of unfavorable images is not only
took advantage of the confusion to commit a problem for those being targeted. If nothing
various crimes in Kamakura. There were seven is done to prevent such unreasonable persecu-
or eight instances of arson and a succession of tion against innocent people, it will lead to the
murders. He explains: “Slanderers went around corruption and decay of public morality, finally
saying that Nichiren’s disciples were setting destroying the very fabric of society.
the fires. The government officials thought this
might be true and made up a list of over 260 Scandal Means “Trap”
of my followers who they believed should be
expelled from Kamakura” (“The Actions of the The English word scandal comes from the
Votary of the Lotus Sutra,” WND-1, 769). Greek skandalon, which means “trap.”
Ancient Athens around the time of Socrates
In fact, the fires had been set by followers of was also a society of envy. When an outstanding
Ryokan and by Nembutsu adherents. To vilify person emerged, people could not help trying
Nichiren, however, they spread rumors that his to pull him or her down. As a result, Athens
disciples were behind such acts of arson and declined.
murder.29 Further, they claimed the followers
had burned wooden images of Amida Buddha There was a man who voted in favor of the
and Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’s banishment of Aristides, an eminent Athenian
Sounds and that they were gathering together political leader. The leader, disguising his
rioters,30 creating the impression that they identity, asked the man if this Aristides had
were a dangerous and violent group. ever done him any wrong. The man’s response
exemplifies the pathology of a society of envy:
If someone had tried to confirm the facts, “None at all. Neither know I the man; but I
the truth would have been readily apparent. am tired of hearing him everywhere called the
The allegations, if calmly considered, would Just.”31 A just person is not safe in an envious
obviously not add up. But because it concerned society.
“other people,” no one bothered to investigate
in any detail. People would half listen to what In Athens, there were even people whose
was being said, and then more or less accept it, occupation was to spread defamatory rumors
thinking, Yes, I suppose that could be true. This toward ousting individuals from positions of
is what is so frightening about the calculated
manufacturing of negative images to malign
and discredit a person or group.

SOKA SPIRIT 57

power. These people were known as dema- Their vilifications—alleging, for example,
gogues. Verbal violence, one could say, was that the sutra’s practitioners are “greedy for
their trade. profit and support” or “hope to gain fame
and renown”—merely reflect their own base
Socrates was falsely painted as a villain and desires.
sentenced to death. The key point, however, is
that he received this sentence not because of A Struggle Against the
his manufactured image. The false allegations Authorities Who Disdain
were only a pretext. Socrates was punished the People
because he was actually the foremost philoso-
pher in Greece and because many could not Why, then, was the Kamakura govern-
bear to see the continued existence of such a ment receptive to slanderous allega-
noble, upright person. tions against Nichiren Daishonin? Why did it
find it necessary to crack down on him? The
In the same way, though Nichiren was following may shed some light.
persecuted based on a fabricated image of
villainy and immorality, that, too, was only On September 13, 1271, the government
a pretext. In fact, he was targeted for attack ordered that retainers with fiefs in Kyushu [the
because he was the wisest person in all Japan. southernmost of Japan’s four main islands]
As he indicates, “Stones are split open for their should prepare for a Mongol invasion by either
hidden gems, deer are slain for their hides and departing for Kyushu themselves or sending
meat . . . and a beautiful woman is envied for deputies to oversee the preparations. That was
her beauty” (“The Swords of Good and Evil,” the day after Nichiren’s arrest. The attempted
WND-1, 451), it was none other than envy of execution at Tatsunokuchi, since it occurred
true excellence. in the predawn hours of September 13, took
place on the very day the government issued
Envy is a futile emotion. If we allow this order.
ourselves to admire greatness, our own lives
are elevated and enriched; but envious people Without going into detailed discussion,
are incapable of this. In the words of the suffice it to say that beginning around August
ancient Greek philosopher Antisthenes, “As 1271, the government formulated a strategy for
iron is eaten away by rust, so are the envious dealing with the Mongol threat. It is conceiv-
consumed by their own passion.”32 Envious able that the suppression of Nichiren was part
people are themselves corrupted. People moti- of this larger plan.
vated by envy try to bring others down to the
same low level they themselves occupy. What precisely did this strategy entail?
Around this time, the Kamakura govern-
The Lotus Sutra predicts that arrogant false ment was shifting from the council system
priests will criticize the Lotus Sutra’s practitio- that had been in place since the start of the
ners by making such claims as follows: Kamakura regime to a dictatorship centering
on the main line of the Hojo clan. It was in
These monks are greedy for profit this context that the threat of a foreign enemy
and support appeared, prompting the country to go on high
alert and ready its forces for war. As a result,
and therefore they preach the military dictatorship grew stronger still.
non-Buddhist doctrines The entire country was expected to act in
perfect accord with the central authorities’
and fabricate their own scriptures to orders. Consequently, as the government’s
delude the people of the world. hold on power grew, the presence of Nichiren
Because they hope to gain fame
and renown thereby

they make distinctions when
preaching this sutra. (LSOC, 233)

58 ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 1

Daishonin, who openly criticized its religious the authorities, who, for their part, were
policies, became a thorn in its side. Moreover, only interested in exploiting religion for self-
as I stated earlier, there had been a rapid serving ends. They regarded religion as being
growth in support for Nichiren. far beneath them.

Thus, we have a rising tide of kosen-rufu It is significant that Nichiren was the “son
as well as an increasingly autocratic and of a commoner” (“Letter to the Lay Priest
authoritarian government. These opposing Nakaoki,” WND-1, 1006), who proudly declared
trends clashed head-on in the Tatsunokuchi himself to have been “born poor and lowly to a
Persecution. chandala family” (“Letter from Sado,” WND-1,
303). He was the polar opposite of those arro-
At the root of this clash was Nichiren’s asser- gant false sages obsessed with prestige and
tion of the primacy of the people. In contrast to authority.
other religious figures, the Daishonin publicly
declared that the government exists to serve It is entirely plausible that the government
the people. looked down on the Daishonin even more
because of his humble origins; they disdained
Maintaining that the authorities should and discriminated against the common people.
rule for the benefit of the people, he proclaimed At the time, many high-ranking priests were
he would unstintingly support a government from the nobility or the higher echelons of
that did so, but he would not condone one that society.
was not dedicated to the people’s happiness.
This philosophy lies at the heart of his treatise The Soka Gakkai was once ridiculed as a
“On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the “gathering of the poor and sick” lacking any
Peace of the Land.” Nichiren’s independent power to influence society. Now that our
stance was dramatically different from that of organization has prospered and grown, we are
other schools’ priests, who served the authori- starting to be called a “threat.” While these
ties by doing exactly as they were told and who labels express opposite extremes, they share a
sought to live under the government’s protec- common disdain for the people. This is likely
tion and patronage. resistance toward, and envy of, ordinary people
becoming independent, raising their voices
For the Daishonin, the highest authority and playing a decisive role in society.
in Japan was merely “the ruler of this little
island country” (“The Actions of the Votary of Therefore, the Soka Gakkai’s victory
the Lotus Sutra,” WND-1, 765). This world, he signifies not merely the victory of the Soka
writes, is the “domain of Shakyamuni Buddha” Gakkai. It is a resounding victory over the
(“Letter to the Lay Priest Ichinosawa,” WND-1, tendency to disparage the people that Japan
528), a realm where Brahma and Shakra protect has harbored over its long history.
the votary of the Lotus Sutra at the behest of
Shakyamuni. Here, the four heavenly kings A Story of Triumph That Will
are the retainers of Brahma and Shakra, and Endure for All Time
the wheel-turning kings of the four continents
are their retainers. Nichiren’s view was that Being victorious is the very essence of
the ruler of Japan was not even a retainer of Buddhism. Nichiren Daishonin, practicing
these wheel-turning kings; he dismissed him exactly as the Lotus Sutra teaches, boldly chal-
as “simply the chief of this island country” lenged evil and struggled in such a way as to
(“On the Proper Way to Preach the Doctrine,” call forth great persecution. In so doing, he
WND-2, 342–43). not only enabled those who did not follow the
correct teaching to become enlightened by way
Nichiren asserted that in light of
Buddhism, ordinary people who uphold the
correct teaching occupy a position far above

SOKA SPIRIT 59

of a poison-drum relationship,33 but he left us From that point on, we see his disciples
an enduring example of how one can triumph taking an increasingly proactive role in the
over even the greatest hardship. struggle. This eventually led to Ryokan and his
cohorts making slanderous allegations against
The Soka Gakkai’s advance, too, has been Nichiren’s followers such as Shijo Kingo and
occasioned by one great wave of persecution the Ikegami brothers,34 causing them to be
after another. But it is in fighting on valiantly persecuted. But the disciples were victorious.
amid obstacles that the essence of life is They united in spirit with their teacher and
found and the true brilliance of human char- won. Rejoicing at the Ikegami brothers’ victory,
acter shines. Through his example, Nichiren the Daishonin exclaimed to them in praise,
taught that Buddhism exists as a vital, living “Could there ever be a more wonderful story
teaching nowhere but in the midst of this than your own?” (“Letter to the Brothers,”
fierce struggle. WND-1, 499).

Therefore, as a disciple of Nichiren The history that we of the SGI are now
Daishonin, I prayed fervently with the pledge: composing is also surely being extolled by
“I will stand in the very forefront and safeguard Nichiren and will be talked about by people into
kosen-rufu. I will protect the Soka Gakkai and the eternal future of the Latter Day of the Law.
President Toda. Please let me alone bear the People will no doubt look back on this time
brunt of any persecutions.” I had a wife and with admiration and longing, saying: “Just look
children. But I wanted to set an example for at the victory they achieved at the start of the
later generations—to show them that there 21st century. Because of that history, the future
was a youth among President Toda’s disciples path of worldwide kosen-rufu was solidified. If
who possessed this readiness to encounter only we could have taken part in that!”
persecution. When we base ourselves on this
determination, what do we possibly have to Let us cause the brilliant sun of total victory
fear? What battle can we possibly fail to win? of the 21st century to rise!

One month after Nichiren wrote This essay was originally published in the January 2004 issue
“The Votary of the Lotus Sutra Will Meet of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai’s study journal.
Persecution,” he won a pardon from the
government and was allowed to return to
Kamakura from his exile on Sado.

1. “The Joy of Fulfilling the Sutra Teachings,” The Writings 7. Ryokan (1217−1303): Also known as Ninsho. A prominent
of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2, p. 463. priest of the True Word Precepts school during the
Kamakura period (1185−1333). In 1267, with the patronage
2. “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” WND-1, 386. of the Hojo clan, he became chief priest of Gokuraku-ji.
Hostile to Nichiren, he used his connections with pow-
3. This refers to the letter titled “The Votary of the Lotus erful figures to harass Nichiren and his followers, and
Sutra Will Meet Persecution,” WND-1, 449. was behind numerous persecutions that befell them.

4. Hojo Tokisuke Disturbance: Civil strife that broke out 8. See “The Sutra of True Requital,” WND-1, 932.
in Kyoto and Kamakura in the second month of 1272.
Hojo Tokisuke, an elder half brother of the regent Hojo 9. Three powerful enemies: Three types of people hostile to
Tokimune, was suspected of plotting to seize power. those who spread the Lotus Sutra—arrogant lay persons,
Tokimune reacted by ordering to have Tokisuke killed. arrogant priests and arrogant false sages.

5. See “The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra,” 10. See “Letter to Shimoyama,” WND-2, 693–94.
WND-1, 763.
11. Ibid., 691.
6. See “Reply to Niiama,” WND-1, 469.
12. Ibid.

60 ESSENTIALS EXAM, PART 1

13. “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of
of the Land”: A treatise Nichiren submitted to Hojo the Land,” attacked his dwelling at Matsubagayatsu in
Tokiyori, the most powerful person in the land, on the Kamakura in an attempt to assassinate him. Nichiren
sixteenth day of the seventh month in 1260. In it, he narrowly escaped. When he reappeared in Kamakura in
explains that the cause for the country’s present calami- spring 1261 and resumed his propagation activities, the
ties and disasters lies in people’s adherence to erroneous government arrested him and, without due investiga-
teachings, including the Nembutsu teaching of Honen. tion, ordered him exiled to Ito.
He predicts and warns that if people continue to sub-
scribe to these teachings, the disasters of internal strife 27. See “The Battle of Koan,” WND-2, 967.
and foreign invasion are bound to occur.
28. Fourth estate: The mass media. In medieval society, three
14. See “The Annual Lecture on the Doctrines of the Great “estates” were formally recognized: the clergy, the nobil-
Teacher T’ien-t’ai,” WND-2, 335. ity and the commoners. Each estate had a distinct social
role and level of power. Thomas Carlyle, a 19th-century
15. See “Letter to the Lay Priest Nakaoki,” WND-1, 1008. author, popularized the term fourth estate, coined by
Edmund Burke in discussing the French Revolution and
16. See “Those Initially Aspiring to the Way,” WND-1, 873. the power the press had in influencing parliamentary
procedures and decisions.
17. yojana: An ancient Indian unit of measurement. One
yojana is considered equivalent to 4.35 miles. 29. See “Refuting Ryokan and the Others,” WND-2, 1046–47.

18. In 1271, the country was troubled by persistent drought. 30. See “Response to the Petition from Gyobin,” WND-2,
The government, fearful of famine, ordered Ryokan to 387.
pray for rain. When Nichiren learned of this, he sent a
written challenge to Ryokan offering to become his dis- 31. Plutarch, The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans,
ciple if the latter succeeded in causing rain to fall. If he edited by Arthur Hugh Clough (New York: Modern
failed, however, Ryokan was to become the Daishonin’s Library, 1992), vol. 1, p. 440.
follower. Ryokan accepted the challenge, but in spite of
his prayers and those of hundreds of assistant priests, no 32. The Macmillian Book of Proverbs, Maxims, and Famous
rain fell. Instead, Kamakura was struck by fierce gales. Phrases, edited by Burton Stevenson (New York: Macmil-
lan Publishing Company, 1948), p. 701.
19. Gyobin (n.d.): A Nembutsu priest in Nichiren’s day.
33. Poison-drum relationship: A reverse relationship, one
20. In “Response to the Petition from Gyobin,” Nichiren formed through rejection. As used here, it is a bond
writes: “The petition also accuses us of having burned formed with the Lotus Sutra by opposing or slandering
or cast into the water images of Amida Buddha, Bodhi- it. One who opposes the Lotus Sutra when it is preached
sattva Perceiver of the World’s Sounds, and the like that will still form a relationship with it by virtue of opposi-
had been revered for many years as objects of devotion. tion and will thereby attain Buddhahood eventually.
You must provide credible witnesses with regard to
this matter. But if there is no proof, then perhaps the 34. In 1277, Shijo Kingo’s lord, Ema Mitsutoki, prompted
Honorable Ryokan and his associates, wishing to place by slanderous allegations, demanded that Kingo either
the blame on me, themselves removed the objects of abandon his faith in the Lotus Sutra or be expelled from
devotion and burned or cast them into the water? The service to the Ema clan. In 1275, the elder of the Ikegami
details of this matter will no doubt come to light when it brothers, Munenaka, was disowned by his father because
is looked into” (WND-2, 387). of his faith in the Lotus Sutra. The machinations of
Ryokan were behind both of these persecutions of Nichi-
21. See “Condolences on a Deceased Husband,” WND-2, ren’s followers.
765.

22. Ibid., 777.

23. Tatsunokuchi Persecution: An unlawful attempt to
execute Nichiren at Tatsunokuchi in Kamakura on the
twelfth day of the ninth month in 1271, orchestrated by
Hei no Saemon, the deputy chief of the Office of Military
and Police Affairs. When the secret execution was about
to take place, a bright object suddenly appeared in the
night sky. Terrified, the soldiers brought a halt to the
proceedings. In the course of these developments, Nichi-
ren declared that he was now revealing his true identity
as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.

24. See “On Repaying Debts of Gratitude,” WND-1, 728. In
this and other writings, Hojo Tokiyori is referred to as
the lay priest of Saimyo-ji and Hojo Shigetoki as the lay
priest of Gokuraku-ji.

25. Ibid.

26. Izu Exile: A persecution in which Nichiren Daishonin
was exiled to Ito in Izu Province, from the fifth month
of 1261 through the second month of 1263. In the eighth
month of 1260, a group of Nembutsu believers, infuri-
ated at Nichiren’s criticism of the Pure Land school in

SOKA SPIRIT 61