The Correct Teaching for Peace of the Land

From 1256 to 1257 Japan was facing some of the worst natural disasters and epidemics in its history.  Like most politicians, religious leaders and scholars across Japan, Nichiren was concerned and wanted to find a solution to the problem, and he believed the answers would be found in the Buddhist scriptures. 

At the beginning of 1258, Nichiren went to Jisso-ji temple (a Tendai temple with an extensive library of sutra) and embarked on 18 months of research, during which more and more disasters and epidemics continued to batter Japan and Kamakura.   Nichiren realized, based on his findings in the Buddha’s teachings, that these disasters were a result of the nation turning their back on the correct school of Buddhism and he wrote a treatise in the form of a dialogue between a host (Nichiren) and a guest (Hōjō Tokiyori) about the causes of Japan’s troubles, his predictions of what events would occur next and the way to put an end to this series of disasters and overcome them.

On 16^th July 1260 he submitted this treaty “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”  (“Rissho Ankoku-Ron”) to Hōjō Tokiyori, one of the most influential men in Japan at that time.

It’s important to remember that these were disasters of biblical proportions and one of the key historical sources that attest to their intensity is the fact that the era name changed so many times during this period.  Traditionally the name of an era only changes with the accession of a new emperor, but it will also be changed to try and change the “bad luck” of a period as well.  The fact that some eras only lasted a year, shows just how extreme these conditions were and how devastating the rulers of Japan believed they were as well.

Below is a table showing the key disasters and events in Nichiren’s life, during these FOUR eras that Emperor Go-Fukakusa presided over, and the THREE eras his successor Emperor Kameyama presided over. 

Emperor Go-Fukakusa (1246–1260)	KENCHO ERA Mar. 1249 – Oct. 1256	On 28th April 1253, Nichiren Daishonin established his teaching of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.  Due to risks on his life and for propagation, he moved to a small cottage in Kamakura. 1252-54  was a time of great prosperity in Kamakura and as well as many new temples being built, the Great Buddha statue in honour of Amida Buddha of the Pure Land School was completed at Kamakura. On 6th August 1256, torrential rainstorms caused floods and landslides, destroying crops and devastating Kamakura, and in Sept. 1256, an epidemic claimed many lives in the city.
	KOGEN ERA Oct. 1256 - Mar. 1257	Just before the start of this new era on September 1st, the leading politician in Kamakura – the 4th Shogun Kujo Yoritsune (also known as Fujiwara Yoritsune) - died at the age of 39.  Six weeks later on October 14th his son and successor (now the 5th Shogun) also died at the age of 18.
	SHOKA ERA Mar. 1257 - Mar. 1259	Many violent earthquakes hit Kamakura in May and November of 1257, including one of the biggest ever to hit the city on 23rd August.  There was also a severe drought in June and July. At the beginning of 1258 Nichiren went to Jissō-ji temple and began research to find a solution to the disasters facing Japan.  1258 was no better, and August saw storms destroying crops across the country and floods in Kamakura that killed many people.  Heavy rain in October led to more floods in the city.
	SHOGEN ERA Mar. 1259 - Apr. 1260	1259 saw epidemics and famine throughout Japan and yet another violent storm that wiped out that year’s crops. In 1259 Nichiren writes “On the Protection of the Nation” and in early 1260 “The Causes of Misfortunes” which are seen as preparatory treatises on the nation’s ongoing disasters.
Emperor Kameyama (1260–1274)	BUNNO ERA Apr. 1260 - Feb. 1261	More crop failures in 1260 bring widespread starvation and in June all temples are ordered to pray for an end to epidemics. 16th July 1260 Nichiren submits “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land” to Hōjō Tokiyori Annoyed by his findings, on 27th August 1260, Nembutsu believers attack Nichiren’s home but he escapes unharmed. Piracy was also increasing and becoming a serious problem.
	KOCHO ERA Feb. 1261 - Feb. 1264	Nichiren returned to Kamakura in Spring 1261, but after a serious of unfounded charges of defamation, the government sentenced him to exile on Izu on May 12th.  In February 1263 he was pardoned and returned to Kamakura. The Kamakura Rebellion saw many conflicts in 1263 which included Imperial Prince Munetaka - the 6th Kamakura Shogun – being deposed and replaced by his 2 year old son!!!
	BUNNEI ERA Feb. 1264 - Apr. 1275	On 11th November 1264 Nichiren was attacked by sword and stave at Komatsubara. In January 1268 the Mongols sent a letter threatening invasion of Japan.  When this was ignored an attack was made on the island of Tsushima (1269) and more envoys were sent in 1271 In 1268,  Nichiren returned to Kamikura and wrote to religious and political leaders calling for a debate on Buddhist teachings now that his predictions regarding civil war and invasion were coming true. Late spring and early summer of 1271 saw another drought, during the rainy season, with the threat of more failed crops.  The government asked Ryokan, a priest of the True-Word Precepts School to pray for rain, and he promised it would rain within a week.  When it didn’t, Nichiren promised to become a disciple of Ryokan if Ryokan could make it rain within the next seven days.  This event led to false allegations against him, his near execution on Tatsunokuchi Beach (12th Sept. 1271) and his subsequent exile to Sado Island from October 1271. There was a civil war in Feb. 1272 and another in Feb. 1274 involving the Regent of Kamikura and his brother.  Also in Feb. 1274, the Regent gave Nichiren permission to leave Sado Island, and Hei no Saemon wanted to see him to learn more about predictions for a Mongol invasion.  The government wanted Nichiren to pray for Japan, but they still refused to listen to his solution of embracing the Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra, so in accordance with the Chinese custom of being rejected three times, Nichiren retired to Mount Minobu, where he continued to write, lecture and encourage his disciples. Nine months later (19 Nov, 1274) the Mongol forces landed at Hakata Bay near Fukuoka.  After some armed skirmishes and looting, the invaders withdrew to spend the night on their ships.  That night, a storm sank several ships, and the fleet retreated to Korea.   (The Mongols would return again in May 1281)

Nichiren on Sado Island

After being saved from execution at Tatsunokuchi Beach, Nichiren was held at Echi, near the Teradomari harbour, where he would set sail for Sado Island.  It took more than a week before the sea was calm enough to cross, but it was still a dangerous journey.  In the picture below you can see Nichiren calming the sea by chanting daimoku.

Nichiren was nearly fifty when he was exiled to Sado Island and on the 1^st November 1271, three days after arriving on the island, Nichiren was taken to an abandoned field that was used as a graveyard and given a small dilapidated hut.  He writes:

“The chances are one in ten thousand that I will survive the year or even the month.”  (WND-1. P402)

“Among those sent to Sado, most die; few live. And after I had finally managed to reach my place of exile, I was looked upon as someone who had committed a crime worse than murder or treason.”(WND1, p519)   

“The hearts of the people are like those of birds and beasts; they recognize neither sovereign, teacher, nor parent. Even less do they distinguish between correct and incorrect in Buddhism, or good and evil in their teachers.”  (WND1, p213)

“There, true to the nature of that northern land, I found the wind particularly strong in winter, the snows deep, the clothing thin, and the food scarce.”  (WND1, p519)

“I lived in a graveyard called Tsukahara, at a place between the meadows and the mountains that was far removed from human habitation. I lived in a small hut [Sammai-dō] built with four posts. The roof boards did not shut out the sky, and the walls were crumbling. Rain came in as though there were no roof at all, and the snow piled up inside.”  (WND2, p773-774)

“[T]he walls did not keep out the wind. Day and night the only sound reaching my ears was the sighing of the wind by my pillow; each morning the sight that met my eyes was the snow that buried the roads far and near. I felt as though I had passed through the realm of hungry spirits and fallen alive into one of the cold hells.    (WND1, p519)

“There was no image of the Buddha, and no trace of matting or other floor covering. But I set up the figure of Shakyamuni, the lord of teachings, that I have carried with me from times past, and held the Lotus Sutra in my hand, and with a straw coat around me and a straw hat on my head, I managed to live there.”  (WND2, p774)

“I am sending back some of the young priests. You can ask them what this province is like and about the circumstances in which I live. It is impossible to describe these matters in writing.”  (WND1, p214)

“Please tell the young priests that they should not neglect their studies. You absolutely must not lament over my exile.”   (WND1, p214)

Nichiren always stressed to his followers that “from the very day you listen to [and take faith in] this sutra, you should be fully prepared to face the great persecutions of the three types of enemies" (WND1.p391) but wrote “although my disciples had already heard this, when both great and small persecutions confronted us, some were so astounded and terrified that they even forsook their faith. (ibid.)  

Even worse though, were that some disciples tried to persuade other followers to reject the Daishonin:  “When persecutions befell me, [Shō-bō, Noto-bō, and the lay nun of Nagoe] took advantage of these to convince many of my followers to drop out.”  (WND1, p800)

Nichiren also wrote about the journey from Kamakura to Sado Island being “more than a thousand ri  [450km / 280 miles]  over treacherous mountains and raging seas. There are sudden onslaughts of wind and rain, bandits lurk in the mountains, and pirates lie in wait on the sea. The people at every stage and every post town are as bestial as dogs or tigers” (WND1, p325)

This is the route that his closest disciples would have had to follow to deliver food, paper and religious texts to him, and then they would return back the same way with his letters of encouragement and guidance for other disciples.  This really shows the depth of commitment that Nichiren Daishonin and his early disciples had to ensure the continued flow of Nichiren Buddhism. 

In this modern age of e-mails it can be difficult enough to reflect on the good old days of writing letters, buying stamps and finding a post-box, let alone the physical and emotional hardships of delivering food and communication between the capital city and an inhospitable island via a dangerous and demanding trip over “treacherous mountains and raging seas”.

Nichiren Daishonin's RPE

NICHIREN'S LEVEL OF EXERTION

Some people may recognize RPE as the abbreviation for Gunnar Borg’s Rating of Perceived Exertion – a scale used in medicine to document a patient’s level of exertion during a test, and by sports coaches to assess the intensity of training and competition.

I prefer to think of it in terms of the level of exertion of Nichiren Daishonin and the intensity of his steadfast faith and courage throughout a life of REMONSTRATIONS, PERSECUTIONS and EXILES. 

How much heart, soul, spirit and dedication did Nichiren commit to the propagation of Buddhism? 

This can be seen through his steadfast faith, courage and determination to REMONSTRATE with the government, his resolve to overcome any and all PERSECUTIONS, and his commitment to not only survive the harshest of EXILES, but to make the most of every moment of them by continuing to propagate his Lotus Sutra Buddhism and to support his followers by writing some of his most important letters.  

When it comes to your faith, practice and study of Nichiren Buddhism, what's your Rating of Perceived Exertion?  

Light Activity, Vigorous Activity or Max Effort Activity?