Buddha Blog Sept. 6 - 19
Gonan-e Ceremony: the Tatsunokuchi Persecution
Based on his Buddhist wisdom he offered several solutions facing his nation to the government, upsetting powerful Buddhist leaders, with their connections of police and government insiders.
The Tatsunokuchi Persecution was a major event in Nichiren’s life for several reasons. When the Priest Ryokan* spread false rumours and worked with the Deputy Chief of Military and Police Affairs, Hei no Saemon** charging Nichiren with treason, it was very serious. From the false charges, he as found guilty and was to be sent in exile to Sado Island. Hei no Saemon collaborating with Ryokan, decided to kill Nichiren rather than take a chance he might live and return to the main Island. As the group passed the Tsurugaoka Hachiman*** Shrine, in Kamakura, Nichiren asked to stop and make offerings. We can imagine the surprise of the guards and those travelling with him when Nichiren angrily called out to Hachiman and all the Buddha’s from the Ten Directions who had promised to protect those who followed the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, to spare his life. Those travelling with him were gravely concerned, this was the third time he was being persecuted, his humble house had been burnt down earlier, he had been attacked several times and already more than one of his defenders had been killed in
portecting Nichiren.
Later in the night after midnight the procession finally reached Tatsunokuchi beach, and Yoritsuna, the government witness gave the order for his beheading, when the Shoten Zenjin appeared; “ a ball of light as bright as the moon, flew from the southeast to the southwest and all the people became visible although the moon of the twelfth day had already set.” The executioner grew dizzy and fell to the ground as his sword was shattered in three pieces, and the soldiers ran in fright, even Commissioner Yoritusna
ran off and did not come back until sometime later. Giving Nichiren, Shingo Kingo and the others with Nichiren time to give thanks for this miracle of the night.
In this writing, “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha,” he says: “The Buddha fulfilled the purpose of his advent in a little over forty years; Tien T’ai took about thirty years, and Dengyo, some twenty years..... for me it took twenty-seven years. In these twenty seven years, Nichiren was exiled to the province of Izu in 1261. He was attacked suffered a head wound and had his left hand broken in 1264. He was to be executed here at Tatsunokuchi Beach in 1271 , but as was intended instead went to Sado Island.”
In addition, several of his disciples were murdered or executed, banished or heavily fined.” These were dark years in Japan and throughout what we today call Europe. This gives us a great opportunity to appreciate our right to practice freely today.
It was at Tatsunokuchi Beach that Nichiren fully realized his Buddha Nature. Our Buddha nature is much more than years of study and learning. In order to reach Buddhahood, the historical earthly Buddha explains in the Lotus Sutra, we must go beyond the World of Realization, we must become Bodhisattva’s of the Earth,before we will achieve enlightenment. Nichiren now understood clearly that the Latter Day of the Law as predicted, had begun some 210 years before his birth and that he was a votary of the Lotus Sutra and the Great Messenger for the time. He Realized he had an obligation to leave a legacy for others to follow, so that Kosen Rufu, peace beyond boarders, the growth of the Buddha-way, could happen not only in Japan, but throughout the world, as predicted by Shakyamuni.
Nichiren Daishonin escaped the execution but did not escape the punishment to exile to Sado Island. In fact it was on Sado Island that some of his greatest writings were completed, and his plans for the future, including the Gohonzon legacy was developed.
In one of his major writings, “the Opening of the Eyes” he tells us: “ On the twelfth day of the ninth month of last year, between the hours of the Rat and the Ox [11 pm - 3 AM] this person named Nichiren was beheaded. It is his soul that has come to this island of Sado and in the second month of the following year, snowbound, is writing this to his close followers.” Now, he accepts that he is a Buddha; he still had eleven years to live.
With all his many years of suffering and persecutions, he gives us a great human example of wisdom, when he writes to a group of his followers telling them: “Our present tribulations are like moxa cautery, minor pain necessary to remove greater pain.”
Let our meditation this week be a reflection on the pain we have suffered in this lifetime and how we have or are defeating our personal life challenges and moving on to a full dynamic lifestyle of indestructible happiness, so we can be a light to others seeking peaceful means and a Light to others that may lead them to Discover Their Buddha Nature.
Please remember to invite friends and neighbours to visit with us here and assist them to discover their Buddha Nature. Thank You. Thus It Has Been Shared / HL
* Ryokan: A priest of the Shingon-Ritsu sect. He had received his Precepts from Eizon, the founding restorer of the Ritsu Buddhist Sect. As Chief Priest of a local Temple, he was well respected for his social work around the poor and other social welfare projects. When he lost a debate and meditation for rain to Nichiren, his ego exploded against this upstart Priest of the Tendai Sect, who had caused so much trouble already. For years he was a major source of persecution of the Daishonin and his followers.
** Hei no Saemon: A government official Deputy chief of the Office of Military and Police Affairs. He collaborated with the Buddhist Priest Ryokan to do away with Nichiren, rather than sending him to exile. This became known as the Tatsunokuchi Persecution.
*** Ritsu Buddhist Sect: One of the Six Major Sects of Nara, the southern capital of Japan at that time. The major principle of Ritsu is adherence to the Vinaya, rules of discipline for monks and nuns. The meaning of vinaya “to remove one’s evil conduct.” This Hinayana practice was brought to Japan in the eighth century by the monk Ganjin. They enjoyed wealth and power during the time Nichiren’s time.
**** Bodhisattva Hachiman: Lived in the 8th Century, protector of Warriors, Shinto Deity who later adopted the Buddha-way. He was considered god of the smiths, blacksmiths being very important at this time in history. The Imperial Court named him Great Bodhisattva, for his roll in bringing together the elements of the state religion of Shinto and Buddhist teachings. In his lifetime, like Nichiren, he had a major event turn from disaster to protection, when a great tree fell on executioners as he walked down the hillside. Today this spot is a huge park and shrine, much like visiting Butchart Gardens in Victoria. The Roku-Nin team walked to this very spot and the guides pointed out the area where this event took place, it is considered a holy place to this day. It was here that Nichiren called on him to prevent his beheading.
Based on his Buddhist wisdom he offered several solutions facing his nation to the government, upsetting powerful Buddhist leaders, with their connections of police and government insiders.
The Tatsunokuchi Persecution was a major event in Nichiren’s life for several reasons. When the Priest Ryokan* spread false rumours and worked with the Deputy Chief of Military and Police Affairs, Hei no Saemon** charging Nichiren with treason, it was very serious. From the false charges, he as found guilty and was to be sent in exile to Sado Island. Hei no Saemon collaborating with Ryokan, decided to kill Nichiren rather than take a chance he might live and return to the main Island. As the group passed the Tsurugaoka Hachiman*** Shrine, in Kamakura, Nichiren asked to stop and make offerings. We can imagine the surprise of the guards and those travelling with him when Nichiren angrily called out to Hachiman and all the Buddha’s from the Ten Directions who had promised to protect those who followed the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, to spare his life. Those travelling with him were gravely concerned, this was the third time he was being persecuted, his humble house had been burnt down earlier, he had been attacked several times and already more than one of his defenders had been killed in
portecting Nichiren.
Later in the night after midnight the procession finally reached Tatsunokuchi beach, and Yoritsuna, the government witness gave the order for his beheading, when the Shoten Zenjin appeared; “ a ball of light as bright as the moon, flew from the southeast to the southwest and all the people became visible although the moon of the twelfth day had already set.” The executioner grew dizzy and fell to the ground as his sword was shattered in three pieces, and the soldiers ran in fright, even Commissioner Yoritusna
ran off and did not come back until sometime later. Giving Nichiren, Shingo Kingo and the others with Nichiren time to give thanks for this miracle of the night.
In this writing, “On Persecutions Befalling the Buddha,” he says: “The Buddha fulfilled the purpose of his advent in a little over forty years; Tien T’ai took about thirty years, and Dengyo, some twenty years..... for me it took twenty-seven years. In these twenty seven years, Nichiren was exiled to the province of Izu in 1261. He was attacked suffered a head wound and had his left hand broken in 1264. He was to be executed here at Tatsunokuchi Beach in 1271 , but as was intended instead went to Sado Island.”
In addition, several of his disciples were murdered or executed, banished or heavily fined.” These were dark years in Japan and throughout what we today call Europe. This gives us a great opportunity to appreciate our right to practice freely today.
It was at Tatsunokuchi Beach that Nichiren fully realized his Buddha Nature. Our Buddha nature is much more than years of study and learning. In order to reach Buddhahood, the historical earthly Buddha explains in the Lotus Sutra, we must go beyond the World of Realization, we must become Bodhisattva’s of the Earth,before we will achieve enlightenment. Nichiren now understood clearly that the Latter Day of the Law as predicted, had begun some 210 years before his birth and that he was a votary of the Lotus Sutra and the Great Messenger for the time. He Realized he had an obligation to leave a legacy for others to follow, so that Kosen Rufu, peace beyond boarders, the growth of the Buddha-way, could happen not only in Japan, but throughout the world, as predicted by Shakyamuni.
Nichiren Daishonin escaped the execution but did not escape the punishment to exile to Sado Island. In fact it was on Sado Island that some of his greatest writings were completed, and his plans for the future, including the Gohonzon legacy was developed.
In one of his major writings, “the Opening of the Eyes” he tells us: “ On the twelfth day of the ninth month of last year, between the hours of the Rat and the Ox [11 pm - 3 AM] this person named Nichiren was beheaded. It is his soul that has come to this island of Sado and in the second month of the following year, snowbound, is writing this to his close followers.” Now, he accepts that he is a Buddha; he still had eleven years to live.
With all his many years of suffering and persecutions, he gives us a great human example of wisdom, when he writes to a group of his followers telling them: “Our present tribulations are like moxa cautery, minor pain necessary to remove greater pain.”
Let our meditation this week be a reflection on the pain we have suffered in this lifetime and how we have or are defeating our personal life challenges and moving on to a full dynamic lifestyle of indestructible happiness, so we can be a light to others seeking peaceful means and a Light to others that may lead them to Discover Their Buddha Nature.
Please remember to invite friends and neighbours to visit with us here and assist them to discover their Buddha Nature. Thank You. Thus It Has Been Shared / HL
* Ryokan: A priest of the Shingon-Ritsu sect. He had received his Precepts from Eizon, the founding restorer of the Ritsu Buddhist Sect. As Chief Priest of a local Temple, he was well respected for his social work around the poor and other social welfare projects. When he lost a debate and meditation for rain to Nichiren, his ego exploded against this upstart Priest of the Tendai Sect, who had caused so much trouble already. For years he was a major source of persecution of the Daishonin and his followers.
** Hei no Saemon: A government official Deputy chief of the Office of Military and Police Affairs. He collaborated with the Buddhist Priest Ryokan to do away with Nichiren, rather than sending him to exile. This became known as the Tatsunokuchi Persecution.
*** Ritsu Buddhist Sect: One of the Six Major Sects of Nara, the southern capital of Japan at that time. The major principle of Ritsu is adherence to the Vinaya, rules of discipline for monks and nuns. The meaning of vinaya “to remove one’s evil conduct.” This Hinayana practice was brought to Japan in the eighth century by the monk Ganjin. They enjoyed wealth and power during the time Nichiren’s time.
**** Bodhisattva Hachiman: Lived in the 8th Century, protector of Warriors, Shinto Deity who later adopted the Buddha-way. He was considered god of the smiths, blacksmiths being very important at this time in history. The Imperial Court named him Great Bodhisattva, for his roll in bringing together the elements of the state religion of Shinto and Buddhist teachings. In his lifetime, like Nichiren, he had a major event turn from disaster to protection, when a great tree fell on executioners as he walked down the hillside. Today this spot is a huge park and shrine, much like visiting Butchart Gardens in Victoria. The Roku-Nin team walked to this very spot and the guides pointed out the area where this event took place, it is considered a holy place to this day. It was here that Nichiren called on him to prevent his beheading.
Tags: buddha, mahayana, meditation, nichiren
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