Kobo, Jikaku, and Chisho, the founders of the True Word teachings in Japan, went to China during the T’ang dynasty, they inherited from Hui-kuo and Fa-ch’ü an the deceptions and delusions originally held by the three Tripitaka masters Shan-wu-wei, Chinkangchih, and Pu-k’ung. When on returning to Japan they propagated the Lotus Sutra and the True Word teachings, they hid the brilliant moon of the Lotus Sutra, the supreme vehicle that surpasses all the other sutras of the past, present, and future, and showed the firefly glimmer of the True Word mandalas of the two realms.16 Not only that, but they slandered the Lotus Sutra, saying that it was a work of “childish theory” and belonged to “the region of darkness.” These comments, however, were like a dagger turned against those who made them. It is not the Lotus but the Mahavairochana Sutra that is filled with childish theory and is in the region of darkness. The founders of the True Word teachings were warped to begin with. So how could their disciples and followers be upright? Contamination at the source of a river will pollute its entire length. Because of this, the Land of the Sun has had a long, dark night, and the Sun Tree is now about to be blighted by an alien frost.17
Although you were not in the mainstream of the True Word school, you were still a retainer of a patron of that teaching. You lived for many years in a house whose family was devoted to an erroneous doctrine, and month after month your mind was infected by the teachers of error. Though huge mountains may crumble and the great seas dry up, this offense of yours will not easily pass away. However, because of the influence of karmic bonds and the compassion with which you are imbued in this lifetime, you met me, a priest of humble learning, when you least expected it, and you determined to
reform your ways. Therefore, though at the moment your offense has brought on these boils from which you suffer, in the future you will be spared worse suffering.
King Ajatashatru suffered from severe boils because he committed the five cardinal sins and slandered the correct teaching. But his boils disappeared instantly when the light produced by the Buddha’s moon-loving meditation illuminated his body. And, though it had been predicted that the king had only twenty-one days left to live, his life span was extended by forty years. In deep appreciation, he earnestly requested one thousand arhats to record the golden words of the Buddha’s entire lifetime,18 thus spreading the Buddha’s teachings into the ages of the Former, Middle, and Latter Days of the Law.
Your boils have resulted from only one offense— slandering the correct teaching. The Mystic Law you now embrace surpasses the moon-loving meditation. How could your boils possibly not be healed and your life span not extended? If these words of mine prove untrue, you should shout: “The Buddha, the eye of the entire world, is a great liar, and the Lotus, the wonderful sutra of the single vehicle, is a scripture of clever flourishes. The World- Honored One should give me proof if he cares about his good name. All the sages and worthies should come to protect me if they do not want to be false to their vows.”
A letter cannot convey all that one would like to say, and words cannot fully express what is in the heart. The rest will have to wait until the next time we meet.
With my deep respect,
Nichiren
The third day of the eleventh month
Reply to the lay priest Ota
