Nichiren Shonin
Even the clouds of sadness
That spread over me
Would be blown clear away
By the winds of Mt. Sacred Eagle
Filled with the sounds of the Lotus Sutra.
-- a poem written by Nichiren Shonin "Tachi Wataru"
Nichiren Shonin, the founder of the Nichiren Shu was born on 16th February 1222 in Kominato, in what is now Chiba Prefecture, Japan. At age eleven, his parents sent him to Seichoji Temple to study. From an early age, he began to wonder why there were so many different schools of Buddhism, while the teachings of Buddhism were expounded by a single man - Sakyamuni Buddha. Nichiren Shonin was ordained a priest at Seichoji Temple at the young age of sixteen. After considerable study at his home temple, then in Kamakura and Kyoto within all the Buddhist schools and traditions present in Japan at that time, Nichiren Shonin concluded that the Lotus Sutra indeed represented the perfect culmination of the true teaching of the Buddha.
Following a period of intense prayer during seven days of seclusion, he found that he was now ready to embark on his plan of reformation and proclamation of the Lotus Sutra. His grand declaration with a resounding cry of the Odaimoku of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo took place atop the summit of a hill overlooking the wide Pacific; it was in the early morning as the sun broke through the morning haze. This was Nichiren Shonin's proclamation of his message to heaven and earth with the all-illuminating sun as his witness. The date was 28th April 1253.
Soon after, he left for Kamakura, then the seat of the government, and began preaching the Lotus Sutra. Discord prevailed among the governing clans and rumours were widespread predicting impending political coups. In addition, the people were suffering from a series of natural calamities; typhoons, flooding and earthquakes; and fear-provoking comet-sightings compounded the impact of these events amid famine and rampant plague. All of these occurrences drove the citizens into panic.
Witnessing these disasters Nichiren Shonin was motivated to write the Rissho Ankoku Ron, (Treatise on Securing Peace and Stability throughout the Country by Establishing Righteousness). In it, he attributes the disasters and great suffering being experienced throughout the land to the foolishness of the government and the degeneracy of the people who were following superstition and misguided religious beliefs. He admonished the people to return to a pure faith based on Sakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra.
A copy of this treatise was presented to the government authorities in 1260 and the message of that work was repeated in his preachings on the streets. The work drew a very hostile reaction from those people criticized by Nichiren Shonin. Fueled by the rage of the religious authorities whom Nichiren Shonin accused of false teachings, the treatise triggered a succession of persecutions. Notable among these punishments were the persecution at Matsubagayatsu, the exile to Izu peninsula, more persecution at Komatsubara and Tatsunokuchi and the nearly three years of lonely exile to Sado Island.
Throughout these adversities Nichiren Shonin's missionary zeal was unrelenting. His subsequent writing of four more major works demonstrates his resolve. While in exile on Sado Island, Nichiren Shonin completed two works. The Kaimoku Sho (Opening of the Eyes) expressed Nichiren Shonen's state of mind as a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra. In the Kanjin Honzon Sho (An Object of Veneration for Spiritual Introspection), he expounds on the idea of unity between the Eternal Truths and the Eternal Buddha. To underscore this thesis introduced in this latter work, Nichiren Shonin shortly thereafter rendered a graphic representation of his underlying theology. This representation is the Mandala Gohonzon.
In 1274, Nichiren Shonin entered Mount Minobu, which was to be his home of voluntary exile during the last nine years of his life. It was a period dedicated to the consummation of his mission and perpetuation of his school for future generations. Two more major writing were created during this period.
In his work entitled the Senji Sho, (Selection of Time), he affirmed the correctness of his propagating the Lotus Sutra and predicted the victory of his convictions. In March 1276, his old master, Dozen died. In his memory, Nichiren Shonin wrote the Hoon Jo (Acknowledging and Repaying One's Debt of Gratitude).
Wracked by failing health, in September 1282, Nichiren Shonin left his beloved Mt. Minobu with the intention of visiting a hot spring for its recuperative effects. His failing health, however, caused him to stop short of his destination. On 13th October 1282 at Ikegami, Tokyo, Nichiren Shonin, surrounded by his six senior disciples, Nissho, Nichiro, Nikko, Niko, Nichiji, Nitcho, other disciples and followers passed away tranquilly, ending 60 years of a very eventful life. His will, "please build my grave on Mt. Minobu where my heart will reside forever," was faithfully carried out and after his funeral at Ikegami, his remains were brought back to Mt. Minobu where a tomb was erected for him.
