25 February 1278 (Age: 57)
I have received your offering of taro, skewer-dried persimmons, roasted rice, chestnuts, bamboo sprouts and bamboo containers of vinegar.
In India, there once lived a king named Ashoka the Great Clinching a quarter of the world1‘ in the palms of his hands, he conquered the dragon kings2 who, as vassals, produced rain at his command. Even powerful demons3 did his bidding. Although in the beginning he was a tyrant, following his conversion to Buddhism he made daily offerings to sixty thousand priests and erected eighty-four thousand stone stupas. Delving into this great king’s previous incarnations, we find that during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, there were two boys, Tokusho Doji and Musho Doji4, who offered to the Buddha a mud pie they had made. As a result of this meritorious deed, Tokusho Doji was, within one hundred years, reborn as the great king Ashoka.
Truly, the Buddha is worthy of respect, and yet, compared to the Lotus Sutra, he is like a firefly beside the sun and the moon. The one is as high above the other as heaven is above earth. If such great merit resulted from a humble offering to Shakyamuni Buddha, then how much greater will the benefits be from your offerings to the Lotus Sutra? The offering of an inedible mud pie brought such amazingly enormous rewards; the much-needed food you have provided me will bring you even greater rewards. While Shakyamuni was not without food, there is currently great scarcity in this land. It stands to reason that Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha as well as the Ten Goddesses5‘ will without fail come to protect you.
Among contemporary believers in the Lotus Sutra, there are some who have faith like fire and others who have faith like flowing water. Those with faith like fire, fervently burn with passion when they listen to the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, but when alone, are apt to forsake their faith. On the other hand, those with faith like flowing water always persist in their practice of the Lotus Sutra, never discarding their faith. Because you continue to visit me, regardless of your circumstances, it can be said that your faith resembles flowing water. This deserves my genuine respect.
I have heard reports of illness in your family. Is this true? If so, it is not the handiwork of a demon. The Ten Goddesses must be putting your faith to the test. Were it actually a demon, would he harass a votary of the Lotus Sutra knowing that to do so is the cause for his own head to be broken? Maintain your faith with the profound conviction that there are no falsehoods in the words of Shakyamuni Buddha and the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.
With my deepest respect,
The twenty-fifth day of the second month
Nichiren
In reply
Notes
1. In the original Gosho, the word is ichi enbudai (Skt. Jambudvipa). According to the ancient Indian view, the world has four sides-north, south, east and west, with Mt. Sumeru at the center. Jambudvipa was in the south and is believed to have also referred to India.
2. Mythical animals which were said to reside at the bottom of the sea. They were believed to possess supernatural powers such as the ability to summon the clouds and command the rains to fall. The chief of the dragon kings is called Ryu-o, the Great Dragon King Ancient Indians originally worshipped the dragon kings as gods of snakes. However, they were later incorporated into Buddhism and elevated in importance as protectors of Buddhism.
3. These are not specific human-like beings as in the Western or Christian sense. In Buddhism, there are two kinds of demons: good and evil. Evil demons are those influences or phenomena that interfere with the life and faith of those who practice True Buddhism. Good demons are those influences or phenomena that are beneficial to and protective of the lives of those who embrace the Lotus Sutra.
4. Brothers who, according to the Sutra of Connected Discourses (Zo-agon-kyo), met Shakyamuni. Tokusho Doji made a mud pie and gave it to the Buddha while Musho Doji put his palms together in reverence. The merit the two boys received as a result of this offering to the Buddha included Tokusho Doji being reborn as King Ashoka and Musho Doji as his queen.
5. Also known as the Ten Demon Daughters. All sutras with the exception of the Lotus Sutra depict the Ten Goddesses as evil demons. However, in the Dharani (26) Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, it is revealed that they will attain Buddhahood in the future. Therefore, the Ten Goddesses pledge to protect the votaries of the Lotus Sutra.
