Reply to Ueno

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In the same way that a bird cares for its eggs, that one pours oil into a lamp, that rain falls on withered grasses, or that one offers milk to a starving child, you are extending the life of the Lotus Sutra, and thus making offerings to the Buddhas of the three existences.

Reply to Ueno

Background

IHAVE received from you one container of wheat, five packets of river nori, and sixty pieces of ginger. Because this is a regular occurrence, ordinary people tend to show no surprise and take it as a matter of course. Not only is society in general restless, but also, whether it is the farmers or residents of your estate required because the shrine is under construction, or whether it is the scarcity of food or your farming duties, I fear you have no time to spare, and yet you worry about what it must be like for me in my dwelling in the mountains.

In the same way that a bird cares for its eggs, that one pours oil into a lamp, that rain falls on withered grasses, or that one offers milk to a starving child, you are extending the life of the Lotus Sutra, and thus making offerings to the Buddhas of the three existences. This means, I think, that your benefit is that of opening the eyes of all the living beings in the ten directions. No words can express how sublime this is. It is wonderful indeed!

With my deep respect,

Nichiren

The twelfth day of the seventh month

Presented in reply to Ueno

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Background

Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter on the twelfth day of the seventh month of 1275 (or 1277, according to another view) at Minobu to Nanjō Tokimitsu. He praises Tokimitsu’s unchanging sincerity in sending offerings to his mountain dwelling despite a general shortage of food and other pressing demands on his resources and time. With his offering, says the Daishonin, Tokimitsu does no less than extend the life of the Lotus Sutra, and thus his benefit is equal to that of opening the eyes of all the living beings in the world.

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