２．The Establishment of True Buddhism

The Daishonin of the Estabishment of The True Buddhism

After completing his travels for Buddhist study, Rencho returned to Seichoji Temple in his home province at the age of 32 in the spring of the fifth year of Kencho (1253). After profound consideration, he made an unshakable resolution to propagate the great Law of “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo,” no matter what major obstacles may appear. Before dawn on March 28th of the same year, Rencho walked up to the Kasagamori Forest, at the top of Mount Kiyosumi. There, he chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo toward the entire universe, facing the rising sun. This was the first time when he revealed the Daimoku of his inner realization.

Right after the revelation of the Daimoku, at Seichoji Temple he began to preach his teachings, including the doctrine stating tha Nembutsu leads to the hell of incessant suffering. And after on month had passed, on April 28th, he declared the establishment true Buddhism by clearly preaching to all the people the Daimokuthat he would propagate throughout his life.

Later, Nichiren Daishonin expressed his feeling as follows:

 If I speak even a word about it that Nembutsu and other heretical teachings will lead one into the evil paths), then will surely meet opposition from my parents, my brothers, and I will also suffer persecution from the sovereign. If I stay silent, I will be lacking compassion. Based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nirvana Sutra, I have contemplated whether I should speak out or remain silent These sutras expound that if I do not speak out, this life may be eventless, but undoubtedly I will fall into the hell of incessant suffering in my next lifetime. I came to realize thar if I did speak out, I would encounter the three obstacles and four devils without fail.
(The Opening of the Eyes [Kaimoku-sho], Gosho, PP. 538-539)

The “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” that Nichiren Daishonin began to chant is the Daimoku of the unprecedented sole essential teaching that will save all living beings. This Daimoku arose from The easternmost land of Japan and will spread throughout the world Huring the Latter Day of the Law and into the eternal future as ndicated in the following two passages:

When I pondered the matter, based on the Buddha’s prophecy described in the sutras, I came to the conclusion that the present time definitely corresponds to the beginning of the fifth Five-hundred-year Period. There is no doubt that

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12 Three obstacles and four devils: Three kinds of hindrances and four kinds of evil functions that obstruct one in carrying out the Buddhist practice and lead one into the evil ths the three obstacles of earthly desires, karma, and retribution; and the four devils of rthly desires, five components, death, and the devils of the Sixth Heaven.
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