A Warning against Begrudging One’s Fief

Lecture by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda (From the December 2008 Issue of Daibyakurenge)

Majestic and Dignified: Undefeated by Any Adversity

Serenely Advancing on the “Great Path of Mentor and Disciple”!

What truly makes a person great?

My mentor, Second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda, once said:

“A person who lives out their entire life with the pure and passionate life-force of their youth—is that not the most truly remarkable human being?”

This is one of the many guidances that remains deeply seared into my life. I believe it is exactly as President Toda said.

Among our comrades in the Soka Gakkai, starting with the members of the Many Treasures Group (Tahō-kai), there are countless “kings of the ordinary people” who have maintained an unyielding faith just as this guidance dictates, winning a life of total triumph. I want to praise them from the depths of my heart.

A conviction only becomes a true conviction when it is maintained to the very end. The essence of “faith” lies precisely in being “unretreating” (non-regressive). No matter what kind of adversity strikes, one must resolutely keep waving the “banner of faith” they once raised.

Such a person is truly great. They are a genuinely first-class human being. There is absolutely no doubt that they are an “exemplary practitioner of faith” praised by the Buddha of the Latter Day, Nichiren Daishonin.

Heart-and-Soul Encouragement in the Greatest Predicament of Life

Shijo Kingo was also a person of pure integrity who maintained his faith to the end while standing at a crucial crossroads of his life.

Kingo’s greatest predicament occurred in June of the third year of Kenji (1277), when his lord, Ema, pressured him, demanding: “Write a written pledge swearing to discard the Lotus Sutra.”

The trigger for this event was the Kuwagayatsu Debate held on June 9th of that year. During this debate, Sammi-bo, a disciple of the Daishonin, completely refuted and exposed the erroneous doctrines of Ryuzo-bo, a priest who had been misleading the people of Kamakura.

Shijo Kingo was present that day, but he merely watched over the debate without uttering a single word. However, a malicious rumor later reached Lord Ema’s ears, falsely claiming that “Shijo Kingo, with a drawn sword and leading a faction, disrupted the sermon hall.”

Consequently, Lord Ema issued a strict order to Shijo Kingo: “Sign a pledge to discard the Lotus Sutra. If you do not, your fief will be confiscated, and you will be exiled from the clan.”

For a samurai warrior, a dispute over a fief was a matter of ultimate disgrace and meant being stripped of his very livelihood. Yet, at that crucial moment, Shijo Kingo chose his faith without a moment’s hesitation. He immediately reported the situation to Nichiren Daishonin.

Upon grasping the truth of the incident from Kingo’s letter, the Daishonin immediately took up his brush. On Kingo’s behalf, he drafted a long, detailed petition to Lord Ema. In it, the Daishonin clarified that the slander was merely a “fabrication by those who envy Yorimoto [Shijo Kingo],” cleared the lord’s suspicions, and demonstrated the righteousness of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism through Kingo’s upright stance and actions. This document is known as “The Petition of Yorimoto” (Yorimoto Chinjo).

Sent along with this petition was the letter we are studying today, “Reply to Shijo Kingo,” in which the Daishonin praises Kingo’s resolute vow that he would never sign the pledge and never discard the Lotus Sutra.

How glorious and magnificent it is to live a life fighting alongside the mentor! I am certain that within Kingo’s heart, the same morning bell of absolute conviction as his mentor’s was ringing profoundly. Through this text, let us study this faith based on the “oneness of mentor and disciple” (shitei huni).

Gosho Text — Part 1

Even Bodhisattvas Samantabhadra and Manjushri, the Buddha pondered, would be unreliable in the Latter Day of the Law. Therefore, he entrusted the five characters of Myoho-renge-kyo to the four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth, including Superior Practices. Considering the deeper meaning of this situation, could it be that Bodhisattva Superior Practices has entered your body in order to assist Nichiren along his path? Or is it the design of the Instructor, Shakyamuni Buddha? The reason those within your lord’s house are growing so powerful and arrogant is surely due to the schemes of Ryokan and Ryuzo. If you were to sign a written pledge abandoning your faith, they would only grow more conceited and boast about it everywhere. Then, not a single disciple of Nichiren in Kamakura would be left; they would all be attacked and driven out. As ordinary mortals, it is difficult to foresee our own future. One who understands this well is called a wise man or a sage.

Lecture — Part 1

Praising Faith that Holds Fast to the Lotus Sutra in the Evil Latter Day of the Law

Nichiren Daishonin’s battle of words was always as swift as a flash of lightning. The moment he perceived that a disciple was standing in a predicament, he immediately delivered his wholehearted encouragement. He dispelled the “darkness of fundamental ignorance” nesting in the disciple’s heart and blew a fresh “wind of faith” into their life. Furthermore, he fought against all devilish functions to hoist the “banner of justice” across the land. It was through this lightning-fast, thunderous lion’s roar of the Buddha that disciples stood up one after another, allowing kosen-rufu to move forward dynamically.

In the first half of this letter, the Daishonin praises Shijo Kingo, who had resolved to maintain his faith through thick and thin, from various angles. Most notably, the Daishonin praises Kingo’s actions to “assist Nichiren along his path,” even saying that perhaps Bodhisattva Superior Practices has entered Kingo’s body, or that it is the profound design of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Daishonin lauds Shijo Kingo’s faith to such an incredible degree because for an ordinary mortal to maintain faith and stand up for kosen-rufu in the evil Latter Day of the Law is an extraordinarily rare and difficult feat.

Why is it so difficult? Because maintaining faith means continuously waging an inner battle against the fundamental ignorance residing in the depths of one’s own life. It is a path fraught with the onslaught of the three obstacles and four devils, and the three powerful enemies. However, it is only by shattering these forces and powerfully carrying out one’s own life-transformation that true enlightenment can be achieved. Shijo Kingo fought alongside his mentor as a pioneer of this “great enlightenment of ordinary people,” which is why the Buddha looks upon him with such profound appreciation.

Kingo’s “Faith” Thwarted Ryokan’s Conspiracy in Advance

The Daishonin here pierces through the situation to declare that this rumor campaign was a plot engineered by Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji Temple.

The schemers intended to first pressure Kingo into retracing his faith, and then broadcast that failure throughout Kamakura. By doing so, they hoped to shake the resolve of the other believers and destroy the Daishonin’s community of disciples down to the last person. The functions of the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven are just that fierce, insidious, and deeply persistent.

Through the great persecutions of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution and his subsequent exile to Sado, the Daishonin achieved a total victory over the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven. Having been defeated by the Daishonin, the Devil King next directed his forces toward breaking the disciples’ resolve and destroying the community from within.

As stated in another writing:

“When those possessed by great devils admonish and bring down one person, they use that as a leverage to attack and bring down many others.”

Because the downfall of one person can lead to the fall of many, every single individual is precious. Breaking through the encroaching obstacles to protect that “one person” is exactly how we protect kosen-rufu as a whole.

Kingo’s profound resolve successfully thwarted the天魔 (heavenly devils’) conspiracy before it could materialize. This is undoubtedly another reason why the Daishonin praised Shijo Kingo so highly.

Particularly, the members of the Men’s Division—the “Golden Pillars of Kosen-rufu”—bear the mission to support the path of Nichiren just like their great predecessor Shijo Kingo, maintaining a faith that earns the praise of the Daishonin.

Throughout various letters, the Daishonin instructs and encourages Shijo Kingo, the pillar of his followers, to live as a “wise man” or a “sage.” In this letter, he writes: “As ordinary mortals, it is difficult to foresee our own future. One who understands this well is called a wise man or a sage.”

It is the way of ordinary mortals not to know what will become of their own future. However, a common mortal who maintains faith can walk the path of a “wise man” or a “sage,” guided by the Buddha’s wisdom welling up from within their own life.

President Toda used to say that we can become existences that could be called “ordinary mortals of time without beginning” (久遠の凡夫). This is because “faith” in the Mystic Law possesses the power to draw forth the ultimate, primordial wisdom that is equal to that of a Buddha from the depths of a human being.

Gosho Text — Part 2

This life is like a dream; tomorrow cannot be guaranteed. No matter what kind of beggar you may become, you must never bring disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra.

Lecture — Part 2

Building “Eternal Happiness” Within This Lifetime

“This life is like a dream; tomorrow cannot be guaranteed.” This is a passage that I hold deeply in my heart.

Viewed from the perspective of “eternal life,” a single lifetime is as fleeting as a passing dream. Moreover, even within this dream-like, ephemeral existence, an ordinary person cannot know what will happen to them tomorrow. This is the reality of common mortals. The fame, status, and wealth accumulated in this lifetime are all like illusions.

Yet, this fleeting, dream-like lifetime serves as the critical “single moment” that decides whether or not one opens the gateway to eternal happiness. This lifetime is our golden opportunity. In order to establish a state of life where we can live with absolute freedom throughout eternity, the faith of the Mystic Law is indispensable.

“Changing the life-state of one’s life”—this cannot be accomplished by science, economics, or politics. It is only through Buddhism that one can transform their life-state. And we have had the incredibly rare fortune to encounter this Buddhism in our current life. Therefore, you must resolutely maintain this faith to the very end. This is the ultimate conclusion of the Daishonin’s teaching.

“Never Bring Disgrace Upon the Lotus Sutra”

The Daishonin teaches Shijo Kingo the ultimate key to faith through the line: “No matter what kind of beggar you may become, you must never bring disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra.”

This single sentence expresses the very essence of faith. It is also a passage that countless Soka Gakkai members have engraved into their hearts.

If I may boldly say so, I believe it is no exaggeration to state that this instruction is fully realized only within the faith of the Soka Gakkai. From the viewpoint of Buddhist values, “bringing disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra” is the only true defeat in faith.

In other words, whether it is illness or financial hardship, no matter how painful the circumstances you find yourself in, as long as you do not succumb to those conditions and continue to maintain your faith, you have not brought disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra.

Defeat lies in succumbing to one’s environment or losing to oneself—that is what “brings disgrace upon the Lotus Sutra.” Fearing public reputation, giving in to cowardice, becoming arrogant due to worldly praise and censure, and above all, losing sight of the most important element—faith—ultimately devalues the Law itself.

Indeed, the common trait among those ungrateful betrayers who ended up disgracing the Lotus Sutra is that they lost their faith and became obsessed with status, reputation, and wealth. Because of their darkened, clouded lives, they exposed the miserable sight of a “spiritual loser,” yet they have lost even the capacity to feel shame for it.

That is the terror of “fundamental ignorance.” Personal protection, vanity, and pride serve as the entry points into this fundamental ignorance, which is why we must strictly remind and caution one another against them.

Faith exists to look down upon the worldly praise and censure of this lifetime as a mere dream, while opening up an indestructible, universe-sized state of life from the perspective of eternal life. The true mission of religion is to create towering, unshakeable “kings of the spirit.”

Base Yourself on the “Greater Self,” Not the “Lesser Self”

Buddhism teaches us not to live trapped in the “lesser self” (ego), but to base ourselves on the “greater self.”

Generally speaking, traditional Buddhism heavily emphasizes “impermanence” (無常). It is true that chasing after shifting, impermanent phenomena and being tortured by desires—the way of the “lesser self”—brings suffering to life. Therefore, it is taught that one should abandon the ego-driven “lesser self.”

However, this absolutely does not mean “abandon your life” or “live like a hermit away from society.”

Buddhism discerns the ultimate nature of life and teaches a way of living based on the “greater self,” which is one with the eternal, unchangeable Law that encompasses all impermanent phenomena. Living based on this “greater self” means shattering attachments to the “lesser self” and using a firm subjectivity and life-force unified with the eternal Law to avoid being swayed by impermanent events, properly steering one’s own daily life.

Therefore, the phrase “No matter what kind of beggar you may become” does not mean “give up on your fief.” It means that when you are faced with an ultimate, binary choice at a crossroad in life, you must always serenely choose the “greater self”—the path of eternal, unchangeable faith.

As long as that core direction is set, it is only natural that one should strive for total victory within actual society.

“Buddhism is a struggle for victory.” Even if one experiences setbacks in worldly matters from time to time, as long as one fights earnestly based on faith to the very end—living by President Toda’s poem, “In the end, I will pray to the Buddha for final victory”—they will absolutely crown their life with total triumph. This is an absolute certainty when viewed in the light of the golden words of the Gosho.

Even if you face the storms of destiny or obstacles, a person who resolutely protects the Law, maintains the path of mentor and disciple, supports the Soka Gakkai, and builds a harmonious community of practitioners is already a victor at the dimension of life itself. By basing themselves on the “greater self,” they have obtained the ultimate engine to repel all difficulties. That true victory on the spiritual dimension will invariably open the way for the “final victory” of one’s life.

To achieve this, it is essential to polish one’s life through daily, unremitting Buddhist practice and achieve human revolution day by day. A forged and disciplined life becomes the strength needed to battle the powerful enemy of fundamental ignorance and suppress the function of evil when a crisis strikes.

In any case, what path will you choose at the crossroads of life? Will you choose the path of human growth and elevation, or will you allow yourself to be misled by worldly praise and censure? In a sense, life is always at a crossroads.

Therefore, an unshakeable standard to constantly choose the correct path is indispensable. As Shijo Kingo demonstrated through his choice, the single most important point is to “walk alongside the mentor.” When standing at the crossroads of life, those who advance with the oneness of mentor and disciple will absolutely walk the path of total triumph. A life dedicated to the oneness of mentor and disciple creates the great highway of victory. Teaching this truth is precisely the purpose of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism of mentor and disciple.

Gosho Text — Part 3

Therefore, you should look as though you are not grieving at all, and conduct yourself and speak without the slightest hint of flattery, just as written in this petition. If you show flattery, things will only worsen. Even if your fief is confiscated and you are driven out, you should believe deeply that this is the design of the ten demon goddesses, and place your total trust in them. If Nichiren had not been exiled but had remained in Kamakura, he would surely have been killed during the past internal strife. Your being driven out of your lord’s estate may also turn out to be a hardship that works to your advantage, so perhaps it is the design of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Lecture — Part 3

See with the “Eyes of Faith” and the “Eyes of Buddhism”!

The way of life that the Daishonin teaches Shijo Kingo throughout this letter is one of pride and courage: “Live majestically and with dignity.” The absolute opposite of a majestic life is a life of fawning and flattery. Flattery is born from cowardice, self-preservation, and a guilty conscience. Fearing something is, strictly speaking, a way of living trapped within the “lesser self” of one’s own worldly reputation. The Daishonin’s repeated, strict warnings in this text against showing a cowardly, fawning attitude toward the lord or the magistrates are nothing less than an instruction to live by the “greater self.”

The Daishonin goes on to teach that even if Shijo Kingo’s fief were to be confiscated and he was expelled from Lord Ema’s estate, he should perceive it as the design of the protective deities (the ten demon goddesses), facing the situation entirely from the standpoint of faith.

Reflecting on his own exile to Sado, the Daishonin points out that if he had not been exiled and had remained in Kamakura, he would surely have been killed during the “February Internal Strife”—the internal rebellion within the Hojo clan in the ninth year of Bunei (1272).

What the Daishonin is demonstrating here is: “See everything with the eyes of faith and the eyes of Buddhism!”

Any hardship encountered along the path of kosen-rufu absolutely holds a profound meaning. As time passes, the reason will surely become clear. Have absolute conviction that the protective deities, Buddhas, and bodhisattvas will invariably protect those who fight with the spirit of unfailing devotion (hushaku shinmyou).

As mentioned later in the Gosho, if Shijo Kingo had remained inside Lord Ema’s estate under those hostile conditions, there was a high probability he would have been assassinated by his envious colleagues. Therefore, leaving the estate at that time was actually something to be viewed as the protection of the heavenly functions.

When viewed with the eyes of faith and Buddhism, everything contains a deep significance. There is no need to alternate between joy and sorrow over immediate, superficial events.

There are sunny days, and there are rainy days. If you allow yourself to be distracted by the shifting weather of your environment, no true environmental revolution can occur. The important thing is to firmly believe in the Mystic Law and stay on the powerful track of “faith, practice, and study.” Staying on the track of human revolution and changing destiny is what constructs a life of indestructible fortune and happiness. The Gohonzon will strictly protect you no matter what. Instead of measuring the world of faith with a shallow mind, look out at everything serenely as you advance. As time passes, you will invariably see that everything moved in the absolute best direction.

Undefeated by any storm of destiny, walk the path of attaining Buddhahood throughout the three existences with dignity and majesty! Enveloped in Nichiren Daishonin’s strict yet warm affection, Shijo Kingo used this crisis as a great turning point to usher in the dawn of a victorious life.

Gosho Text — Part 4

Concerning the matter of the Lotus Sutra, I have already explained it to you before. However, while small events arise from good, when a great event occurs, a great commotion invariably turns into a great fortune. If everyone reads this petition, their shame will be exposed. You should simply state in one voice: “I have no intention of leaving my lord’s house or surrendering my fief on my own accord. If it is confiscated by my lord, I shall consider it an offering to the Lotus Sutra and a great fortune.” Say this loudly. Under no circumstances should you show a fawning attitude to the magistrates. This fief was not given to me by my lord. It was a fief granted to me because I saved him from a critical illness using the medicine of the Lotus Sutra. Therefore, if he confiscates it, his illness will surely return. If at that time he seeks a confrontation with Yorimoto, I will not accept it.” Say this to his face, and leave with a defiant look.

Under no circumstances should you attend any unnecessary gatherings. At night, maintain strict security, talk with the night watchmen, and cooperate with them constantly. If you are not expelled from the household this time, nine out of ten times the members of the household will target you. You must make sure not to suffer an ignominious death.

Lecture — Part 4

Great Evil Is the Portent of Great Good

In the latter half of this letter, the Daishonin provides concrete instructions regarding the actions Shijo Kingo should take. Among his directions, he tells Kingo to have a close fellow believer make a clean copy of the petition written for Lord Ema and submit it.

The petition clearly exposed the errors of the other schools, detailed the truth of the Kuwagayatsu Debate, and sharply laid bare the devilish nature of Ryokan and his cohorts. Once the lord and the public read it, the malicious deeds of Kingo’s enemies would become starkly clear. Furthermore, if this document became widely talked about in Kamakura, there was a strong chance it would reach the ears of the regent, Hojo Tokimune. If that happened, the situation would shift dramatically, and the environment for kosen-rufu could transform instantly from hostility to support.

The Daishonin writes: “When a great event occurs, a great commotion invariably turns into a great fortune.”

When a massive disruption occurs, through the power of the Mystic Law to “change poison into medicine” (hendoku iyaku), that great evil can be turned into a great fortune. Therefore, a great evil serves as a portent that a great good is about to arise.

Consequently, what matters most is never to be frightened. We must courageously stir up doubts and shake attachments (doushuu shougi) while proudly proclaiming justice and truth. Therein lies the formula for victory in the Mystic Law.

At the end of this letter, the Daishonin provides Shijo Kingo with incredibly detailed, practical advice: Do not attend unnecessary gatherings carelessly. Keep a strict watch at night, and communicate closely with the guards to make them your allies, and so forth.

He strictly commands Kingo never to lose his precious life through carelessness. He instructs him to maintain a resolute strength and wisdom to never allow evil to approach and never let devilish functions gain a foothold.

So, what happened to Shijo Kingo after this?

The situation took a sudden, dramatic turn for the better. In a letter written just two months after this one, “The Three Kinds of Treasure” (Sushun Tenno Gosho), the Daishonin notes: “Ryuzo, whom they relied upon as their pillar, has already fallen.” Due to some clear manifestation of actual proof, the situation had shifted drastically.

Furthermore, Lord Ema fell severely ill, and through Shijo Kingo’s devoted medical treatment, he completely regained his lord’s trust. Later, Kingo was granted a new fief that was three times larger than his original land. The Daishonin’s words, “a great commotion invariably turns into a great fortune,” became a brilliant reality.

There is no doubt that a faith based on the Law—a faith of valuing the Law over oneself and not grudging one’s life—will magnificently adorn one’s existence. In a faith that does not grudge one’s life, there is absolutely no waste, no sacrifice, and no regret.

President Toda once gave this guidance:

“On this earth, wars cause people to kill one another, and the economy operates in a world of survival of the fittest, which does not necessarily guarantee human happiness. Many leaders who are supposed to save the people end up looking down on them and exploiting them. The same goes for politics, science, and religion. Human karma is deep, and society is full of contradictions. Nowhere is there a fundamental path to happiness for all.

Amid all this, only Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism demonstrates the fundamental method for changing human destiny. It teaches us the track of eternity, happiness, true self, and purity (jō-raku-ga-jō), and the ultimate satisfaction of all desires throughout the three existences. There is no higher path in life. Therefore, this faith alone is something you can dedicate your life to without a single regret.”

Following this guidance of my mentor, I have dedicated my life, without grudging myself, to opening the path of kosen-rufu and advancing the great highway for changing the destiny of humankind. As a true disciple of President Toda, and a revolutionary of the Mystic Law, I have absolutely no regrets.

“What is it that we must do?” In the revolutionary novel The Eternal City, which I studied under President Toda, the protagonist David Rossi declares:

“Our duty as human beings is also to remove every obstacle that lies across the path of the people’s progress.”

Furthermore, he cried out:

“Let us dedicate ourselves to the people. Between myself and the work of serving the world, there is no room for anything else to intervene, no matter what it may be.”

Let us also advance proudly and radiantly toward the construction of an eternal “City of Peace” and “City of Victory” through kosen-rufu, making this the departure point for our next new battle.

“The Soka Gakkai possesses faith; therefore, there is absolutely nothing to fear!”

I pass this immortal lion’s roar of President Toda to the youth leaders of Japan and the world who will lead the 21st century.