20 January 1282 (Age: 61)
I am delighted to have read the journal written by Hoki-dono1, The flowering of trees, mountain grasses turning green; life’s exuberance at the start of spring fills everyone with joy. I have received the journal as well as a sack of rice, a bag of salt, thirty steamed rice cakes, and a sack of taro.
Over the last three days, ten feet of snow fell into my garden.
Deep within these mountains, valleys became peaks and peaks became stairways to heaven. Birds and deer sought refuge in my hermitage. The woodcutters and hunters’ path into these mountains was impassable. The robe I wore was thin and my food was running out. At night, I shivered in the cold like the legendary Kankucho bird and at dawn, I could think of naught, save descending to the village.
The voice reciting the sutra fell silent and the heart of contemplation weakened. Just when I thought that I could no longer continue my faith in this life, thereby becoming unable to attain Buddhahood for Three Thousand Dust-particle Kalpas or Five Hundred Dust-particle Kalpas, your offerings arrived and revived me. I am grateful that I will be able to meet you again.
In the past, a common mortal living in a chaotic world afflicted by the Five Impurities attained Buddhahood because he made offerings to a votary of the Lotus Sutra who was starving, the same as I. Because the teachings of the Lotus Sutra are true, it is certain that your late father has attained Buddhahood through the virtue of your deeds. Thinking of your late brother, Goro, also in the pure land of Eagle Peak, his head lovingly caressed by his father, I cannot restrain my tears.
With my deepest respect,
The twentieth day of the first month
Nichiren
Reply to Lord Ueno
Please do me the favor of requesting Hoki-dono to read and explain this letter to you, sentence by sentence.
Notes
1. Nikko Shonin’s priest’s name is Hoki-bo Nikko. Dono is an honorific. Apparently, Nikko Shonin’s daily journal was sent to the Daishonin along with the offerings from Nanjo Tokimitsu.
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