Regarding Great Bodhisattva Hachiman Chapter3
If I understood nothing of all this, that would be the end of the matter. But in fact for the past twenty-eight years I have endeavored to dispel these mistaken beliefs by quoting the passage [from the Lotus Sutra in which Shakyamuni Buddha states]: “But now this threefold world [is all my domain, and the living beings in it are all my children].”5 If people failed to believe me, they could at least have left it at that. But instead they shot arrows at me, slashed me, attempted to kill me, exiled me, or drove me away. For that reason Great Bodhisattva Hachiman has set fire to his dwelling and ascended to the heavens.
In the work I wrote, entitled ”On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”, I indicated what I believed would be the outcome of this matter. And alas, when the armies of a foreign country come to attack Japan, like a hawk seizing a pheasant or a cat sinking its teeth into a rat, then the nuns and wives [who helped to foment this situation] will quake with fright. Those who have for the past twenty-eight years persecuted me and my followers, as a result of their actions, will be slain with arrows or cut in two with swords, taken prisoner alive or driven away. Just as Munemori6 was bound with ropes and pilloried, so then, alas, many thousands or ten thousands of persons will be bound with ropes and made to suffer. But every living being in this country of Japan is guilty of the five cardinal sins. And therefore, when they are made to suffer in this manner, the heavenly deities will rejoice, and the Buddhas will find no means to pardon them.
How pitiful, how pitiful will be their fate! And therefore, before they suffer such shame, just as King Ajātashatru censured Devadatta for his crimes, so should they censure the True Word teachers, the Nembutsu priests, and the leaders of the Zen school, so that by doing so, their own guilt will be somewhat lessened.
How pitiful, how lamentable may be the outcome! These persons who deceive the nation and lead it astray appear to be wise and to speak the truth, and hence they are heeded, but how pitiful could be the consequences!
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The eighteenth day of the twelfth month
Reply to Chimyō-bō