Words cannot express my delight on this occasion of the publication of the English version of Selected Gosho Passages of Nichiren Daishonin.
In this volume, many important Gosho passages of our founder Nichiren Daishonin have been selected and arranged into such sections as “The Life of Nichiren Daishonin,” “The Three Great Secret Laws,” “The Lotus Sutra,” “The Doctrine of Ichinen Sanzen,” “Doctrines and Judging Doctrinal Aspects,” “Faith and Practice,” “Memorial Offering,” “Selected Gosho Passages for Shakubuku,” and “Guidance of Nikko Shonin.” These selected passages are essential and appropriate for the practice for oneself and for others. Due consideration is given to the reader’s convenience, which makes it most suitable for developing “faith, practice, and study.”
In The Twenty-six Admonitions of Nikko (Nikko yuikai okimon).
Second High Priest Nikko Shonin states, “In this school, you must engrave the Gosho deeply into your heart and inherit the ultimate principles from the master. If there is any extra time left, you also should study the Tiantai doctrines.” (Gosho, p. 1884)
In order to understand all of Shakyamuni Buddha’s lifetime teachings correctly, it is vital that the Lotus Sutra be interpreted based on Nichiren Daishonin’s true Law of the infinite past of kuon-ganjo, namely, Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Buddhism of the sowing, hidden in the depths of the Lotus Sutra. Then, from the standpoint of this Lotus Sutra, the entire Buddhist teachings must be clarified. This demonstrates how profound and significant it is to “engrave the Gosho deeply into your heart” as stated by Nikko Shonin.
I would like to conclude my foreword with my sincere wish that each one of you will always keep this book at hand, so that you can make use of it for shakubuku, as well as for deepening your own faith, based on the practice not only for yourself but also for others.
Nichinyo Hayase
Sixty-eighth High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu
March 8, 2015
