On Offerings for Deceased Ancestors
Chapter4(Assuring the Attainment of Buddhahood Through the Mystic Law and Offering Encouragement)
Main Text
With all this in mind, I note that you have a grandson, Jibu-bō, who is a Buddhist priest. This priest does not uphold the precepts and is lacking in wisdom. He does not observe a single one of the two hundred and fifty precepts or a single one of the three thousand rules of conduct. In his lack of wisdom he is in a class with oxen or horses, and because of his failure to observe the rules of conduct he resembles a monkey. But he reveres Shakyamuni Buddha and puts his faith in the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. Hence he is like a snake that grips a jewel in its mouth, or a dragon that bears sacred relics on its head.11 A wisteria vine, by twining around a pine, may climb a thousand fathoms into the air; and a crane, because it has its wings to rely upon, can travel ten thousand ri. It is not their own strength that allows them to do these things.
This applies likewise in the case of the priest Jibu-bō. Though he himself is like the wisteria vine, because he clings to the pine that is the Lotus Sutra, he is able to ascend the mountain of perfect enlightenment. Because he has the wings of the single vehicle to rely upon, he can soar into the sky of Tranquil Light. With wings such as these, he is a priest who can bring comfort to not only his parents and his grandfather and grandmother, but also all his relatives down to the seventh generation.
How fortunate a woman you are to possess this fine jewel of a grandson. The dragon king’s daughter offered her jewel and thereby obtained Buddhahood.12 You have given your grandson to be a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and this will lead you to enlightenment.
I am so pressed by various matters that I cannot write in detail just now. I will write again another time.
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The thirteenth day of the seventh month
Reply to the grandmother of Jibu-bō
Notes
11. The Marquis of Sui in China once came upon a large snake that had been wounded. He applied medicine to the wound, and the snake later appeared holding a jewel in its mouth to reward him. The story is referred to in the letter addressed to Yang Te-tsu by Ts’ao Chih (192–232), which is included in Literary Anthology. The source of the dragon reference is unknown.
12. This is described in the “Devadatta” chapter of the Lotus Sutra. The dragon girl possessed an extremely precious jewel, which she presented to the Buddha.
Lecture
In conclusion, Daishonin concludes this letter by encouraging the grandmother that because she raised her grandson, Jibu-bo, to be a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra, she will definitely be led to the attainment of Buddhahood.
He states that although Jibu-bo may lack the precepts and be inferior in wisdom compared to Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), because he believes in and looks up to Shakyamuni Buddha and the Lotus Sutra, through that benefit, he will surely ascend the mountain of Buddhahood and soar through the sky of the Land of Tranquil Light. Furthermore, the Daishonin states that Jibu-bo is a priest who can transfer such benefit not only to his parents and grandparents but also down to the descendants of the seventh generation.
Attaining Buddhahood is not achieved through one’s own power or practices, but rather through the immense power of the Mystic Law. Here, when he writes, “The one he looks up to is Shakyamuni Buddha, and the Law he believes in is the Lotus Sutra,” it signifies the Shakyamuni and the Lotus Sutra of the Latter Day of the Law. This refers to Nichiren Daishonin, the True Buddha who is Shakyamuni from the viewpoint of the implicit meaning of the text (montei), and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws, which is the Lotus Sutra of the Latter Day.
The sole direct path to attaining Buddhahood in the Latter Day of the Law lies entirely in believing in the Gohonzon of the oneness of person and Law (ninpo-ikka) and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Moreover, that benefit simultaneously becomes a memorial offering (eko) for ancestors of the past and is left behind as good fortune for future descendants.
The Daishonin concludes this letter by encouraging her that the grandmother, who has a grandson that embraced this great Mystic Law, is a woman possessing a wonderful treasure. Just as the dragon king’s daughter offered her jewel to the Buddha and attained Buddhahood, there is no doubt that she will be led to Buddhahood by virtue of having made her grandson a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
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