2 July 1275 (Age: 54)
Thank you for one bale of polished barley, one bale of wheat Bour and five bundles of river seaweed, which I have received.
One of Shakyamuni Buddha’s senior disciples was named Aniruddha but as a child he was known as Nyoi1, because of his ability to manifest showers of whatever treasure he desired. When asked how he had come to possess this ability, the Buddha explained that Aniruddha had earned it in a past life as a reward for offering a bowl of cooked millet to a Pratyekabuddha in a time of famine.
Kashyapa2, who was revered as the greatest priest, second only to Shakyamuni, had been a wealthy man before entering the priesthood. He had owned sixty warehouses, each containing 140 koku3 of gold. And in addition to these, his assets included treasures beyond counting.
When asked about Kashyapa’s previous existences, the Buddha revealed that during a time of famine, Kashyapa had made an offering of a bowl of cooked barley. For this, he received the great benefit to be reborn one thousand times in the Trayastrimsha Heaven4 and then to meet Shakyamuni Buddha in this world becoming his foremost disciple. It is taught in the Lotus Sutra that in the future, Kashyapa will be a Buddha named “Light Bright” (Komyo). All of this was described in T’ien-t’ai’s Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke mongu)5. Kashyapa offered a cup of precious cooked barley and that is why he will become the Buddha, Light,Bright. Taking this into consideration, your offering at this time, of white barley, is in no way is why he will become the Buddha, Light Bright. Taking this into inferior to that of Kashyapa ‘s, so is there any reason why you too should not become a Buddha?
Just as the moon in the time of the Buddha was the same moon as today and a flower in the time of the Buddha was the same as a flower today, that which earned merit in the past still carns merit today.
The person to whom you made offerings is the person hated by everyone from the ruler above to the commoners below, the votary of the Lotus Sutra, who might starve to death in these mountains.
Understanding my difficult life, you sent across the mountains and rivers, an offering of barley. Because of your sincere spirit, the offering is not barley, but gold, rather than gold, it is the words of the Lotus Sutra.
To us common mortals, it is only barley, but by the Ten Goddesses, this barley is perceived as the seeds of Buddhahood.
The millet that was offered by Aniruddha changed into a rabbit. The rabbit transformed into a human corpse and the corpse into a golden statue. Whenever Aniruddha broke off a finger from the statue and sold it, the statue’s finger grew back again. The king attempted to appropriate the statue but each time he touched it, it would turn back into a corpse. In this way, Aniruddha’s good fortune was inexhaustible for ninety-one kalpas6.
Whenever Mahanama7 picked up a stone, it would change into gold and King Konzoku also could transform common sand into gold.
Your offering of barley at this time is transformed into the words of the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra’s words are as essential as are mirror and makeup for a woman or armor and helmet for a man. They will become your protectors and you will gain a reputation as the finest archer.
Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
With my deepest respect,
The second day of the seventh month
Nichiren
Reply to Lord Nanjo
Postscript:
When times are stable and peaceful, it seems as if nothing is happening; however, at such times danger is imminent. No matter what happens, do not despair. Have absolute conviction, even if you encounter difficulties including the loss of your fief. Accept it all with joy and come to visit me here, in high spirits. The number of people who have lost their land is rising. How deep the grief of those presently assigned to garrison Tsukushi8 must be. All of this is because those in authority hold me, Nichiren, in disdain.
Notes
1. “Do anything at will.”
2. One of the ten major disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha (Jpn. Makakasho, also Kasho).
3. One koku 5.12 US bushels, 4.96 UK bushels.
4. Located at the top of Mt. Sumeru, where Taishaku is said to live and where beings are said to have a life span of one thousand years, each day of which is equal to one hundred years in this world. (Jpn. Toriten) .
5. A commentary on the Lotus Sutra, one of T’ien-t’ai’s three major works, along with The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke gengi) and Great Concentration and Insight (Maka shikan).
6. This story originally appeared in the Wise and Stupid Sutra (Kengu-kyo). T’ien-t’ai also referred to it in his Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke mongu).
7. One of the first five converts of Shakyamuni (Jpn. Shakumakanan).
8. Northern part of Kyushu Island.
