On Treasure Chapter2
A man named Mahānāma1 changed rocks into gems simply by taking them up in his hands. King Golden Grains2 turned sand into gold. The Lotus Sutra turns plants and trees into Buddhas, so how much truer must this be of human beings with minds? The Lotus Sutra turns people of the two vehicles, who have scorched their seeds of Buddhahood, into Buddhas. How much truer, then, must this be of people whose seeds are alive? The Lotus Sutra turns icchantikas, or people of incorrigible disbelief, into Buddhas. How much truer, then, must this be of those who believe?
It is impossible to say all that I wish. I will definitely write again.
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The eighth day of the eighth month
Reply to Ueno
Background
Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter on the eighth day of the eighth month in 1279 at Minobu to Nanjō Tokimitsu. The Daishonin praises Tokimitsu for his offerings to the Lotus Sutra, saying that, deep in the mountains where he is, the items such as salt and taros that Tokimitsu has sent are regarded as valuable treasure. The coins Tokimitsu sent he compares to jewels. Since the Lotus Sutra can turn even plants and trees and persons of incorrigible disbelief into Buddhas, he says, there can be no doubt about the Buddhahood of a believer.
Notes
1. One of the five ascetics who heard Shakyamuni Buddha’s first sermon and became his first converts. The Increasing by One Āgama Sutra depicts him as excelling in supernatural powers. Descriptions of turning rocks into gems are found in Ts’ung-i’s Supplement to the Three Major Works on the Lotus Sutra.
2. Little is known about King Golden Grains. The source of this account of turning sand into gold is also unknown.