Chapter3(Urging Precautions for Personal Safety)
Main Text
As things stand now, I have a feeling you are in danger. Your enemies are sure to make an attempt on your life. In backgammon, if two stones of the same color are placed side by side, they cannot be hit by an opposing stone. A cart, as long as it has two wheels, does not lurch all over the road. Likewise, if two men go together, an enemy hesitates to attack. Therefore, no matter what faults you may find with your younger brothers, do not let them leave you alone even for a moment.
Your face bears definite signs of a hot temper. But you should know that the heavenly gods will not protect a short-tempered person, however important they may think he or she is. If you should be killed, even though you might attain Buddhahood, your enemies would be delighted, but we would feel only grief. This would indeed be regrettable. While your foes busy themselves plotting against you, your lord places greater confidence in you than before. Therefore, although they appear to have quieted down, inwardly they are no doubt seething with hate. So you should at all times behave unobtrusively in their presence. Pay greater respect to the other retainers of the clan than you have in the past. For the time being, when the sons of members of the Hōjō clan are visiting your lord, refrain from calling on him, even if he should summon you.
If the worst should happen and your lord should die, your enemies would become masterless and would have nowhere to turn, though they do not seem to consider that fact. Unreasoning as they are, when they see you report to work more and more frequently, their hearts are bound to be fired with jealousy and their breath to come in pants.
If those sons of the Hōjō clan or the wives of those in power should inquire about your lord’s illness, no matter who the person may be, get down on your knees, place your hands properly, and reply thus: “His malady is entirely beyond my poor skill to cure. But no matter how often I decline, he insists that I treat him. Since I am in his service, I cannot help but do as he says.” Leave your sidelocks uncombed, and refrain from wearing well-starched court dress, bright quilted robes, or other colorful clothing. Be patient, and continue in this way for the time being.
Lecture
Detailed Guidance for Shijō Kingo
The fact that actual proof has manifested among those who have harmed Shijō Kingo up to now indicates that victory is near. However, precisely for that reason, he must act with even greater caution and restraint. The colleagues targeting his life will surely stalk him even more relentlessly. Regarding this situation, the Daishonin instructs Kingo on how to conduct himself from various angles:
Never be alone: He must always keep his brothers close and travel in their company.
Do not be short-tempered: Being “short-tempered” (hara asiki) means exposing one’s emotions and being dragged down by them. The Daishonin admonishes that if one cannot exercise self-control, the heavenly gods will not extend their protection.
Exercise utmost prudence when relied upon: Since Lord Ema is ill, Shijō Kingo—who possesses medical knowledge and has successfully treated him in the past—may well be relied upon again. In that event, those around him will likely harbor even deeper malice, so he must be extremely careful. Specifically, he should treat Lord Ema’s retainers with respect and maintain a humble, modest demeanor.
Furthermore, Kingo is advised to dress simply and appear unpretentious. This is truly meticulous guidance that attends to every detail. From this passage, we should learn how a true Buddhist leader ought to be.
Gosho Passage
“But you should know that the heavenly gods will not protect a short-tempered person, however important they may think he or she is.“
Commentary
This is a strict admonition that even an important person tasked with upholding and propagating Buddhism will not receive the protection of the heavenly gods if they cannot control themselves and act rashly out of emotion.
In connection with this, there is a famous passage from Miao-lo’s eighth volume of The Annotations on “The Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra” (Hokke Guketsu): “The protection of the gods depends on the strength of a person’s heart.” Here, “strength of heart” refers to firm self-discipline; it is precisely to such a person that the protection of the heavenly gods is strong. Thinking, “Because I have faith” or “Because I have a mission in Buddhism, the heavenly gods should protect me even if I am careless,” is taking faith for granted and does not reflect the way of a true practitioner.
Ultimately, the “heavenly gods” are nothing other than the manifestation of the practitioner’s inner posture of mind (ichinen) as reflected in the lives of people around them, in society, and in their environment (ehō). As practitioners of Buddhism who learn this strict law of life, we must realize that ignoring this principle strays from the very first steps of Buddhist practice.