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NICHIREN DAISHONIN Founder of the Buddhism of the True Cause |
Nichiren
was born in Japan on the 16th February 1222. His father was a fisherman and the
family lived in a little fishing village called Kominato. At the age of 12, he
entered a local Tendai Temple, Seicho-ji, to study under the Chief Priest,
Dozen-bo. It is said that one day the young boy, whose original name was
Zennichi-maro, prayed to become the wisest man in Japan. He was ordained at the
age of 16 and took the name Zencho-bo Rencho. Shortly after his ordination, he
left on a prolonged journey of study. He stayed at various temples where he
studied all the sutras and the teachings of all the Buddhist sects existing in
Japan at that time. As a result of his intense studies, he concluded that the
Lotus Sutra contained the highest teachings of Shakyamuni and that all the other sutras should be regarded as
preparatory or provisional.
He
returned to Seicho-ji at the age of 32. At daybreak on the 28th April 1253, Zencho-bo
Rencho climbed a hill, faced the rising sun and chanted Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for the first time. At noon on that day a group of
priests and lay people gathered to hear him preach. What he preached in that
first sermon amounted to a rejection of all the existing sects in Japan and a
declaration that Nam
Myoho Renge Kyo was the teaching
valid for the latter day that would enable anyone to achieve enlightenment in
their present lifetime. It was on this occasion that he assumed the name
Nichiren (Sun Lotus).
The
political and religious leaders of the time were furious. The kind of
self-reliance and independence which Nichiren preached was seen as a real threat
to the existing power structures. The life-long persecution to which Nichiren
was subjected started immediately but this did not deter him. His great
compassion for the people demanded that he keep on teaching the truth which
could lead to peace and happiness for them and indeed for all mankind. His
brave denunciation of teachings which he perceived as keeping the people in
subservient misery and, instead, giving a teaching which had the power to bring
real joy into peoples' lives, whatever their circumstances might be, brought
him many converts but also powerful enemies.
Twice
in his lifetime he was officially exiled, once to the remote Izu Peninsula and
then to the even more remote Sado Island from which he was not expected to
return. Even in exile he continued his great work and some of his most famous
writings (GOSHO) were produced on Sado Island.
However,
in 1274 the Government issued a pardon and Nichiren left Sado Island. He went
to live in the wild region of Mount Minobu where he continued teaching and
training his disciples. He gained many converts and was once again subjected to
persecutions, the worst of which is known as the Atsuhara Persecution in which
20 of his disciples were arrested and three of them beheaded.
Seeing
the great courage and determination of his disciples, Nichiren decided that the
time was right to inscribe the Dai-Gohonzon, the true object of worship to
enable all people to obtain Buddhahood, which would be protected by his
disciples and passed down the centuries for future generations .
On
the 13th October, 1282, he confirmed Nikko Shonin as his successor before
passing away in the presence of disciples and lay believers chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.