| The Life of Nichiren Daishonin PART THREE The Youthful Priest Zesho-bo Rencho Historical Background At age sixteen, Nichiren Daishonin was formally ordained into the Buddhist priesthood receiving the name of Zesho-bo Rencho. In the short span of about one year, Zesho-bo Rencho had completely read the entire collection of sutras and commentaries in the library of Seicho-ji temple. During this time, Zesho-bo Rencho prayed everyday to a statue of Bodhisattva Kokuzo1 enshrined at Seicho-ji temple2 "to become the wisest person in all Japan." Nichiren Daishonin describes this particular episode in his life in Letter to the Priests of Seicho-ji3 when he wrote, [As a youth,] he received supreme wisdom from Bodhisattva Kokuzo. He had been praying to the bodhisattva to become the wisest person in Japan. The bodhisattva must have taken pity on him, for he presented him with a great jewel as brilliant as the morning star, which Nichiren tucked away in his right sleeve. (Shinpen, p. 946; M. W., Vol. 2, p. 264) Zesho-bo Rencho's prayer to become the wisest man in Japan was so that he would discover the true meaning of Buddhism and save all the people who had fallen into despair throughout Japan. During the spring of the first year of En'o (1239), having just turned eighteen and seeking to thoroughly research all possible doctrines and documents, Rencho departed on a journey for Kamakura. The city of Kamakura was the seat of Shogunate government and the principle center of Japan. Kamakura was also a city where Buddhism flourished, therefore, many major Buddhist sects and other sub- schools competed with each other to quickly complete construction of their temples and learning centers. Of these Buddhist schools, the Jodo, or Pure Land sect, and the Zen sect came to Rencho's attention and their doctrines became the objects of his research. These two religious creeds were popular during this period. The Jodo sect was widely accepted amongst the common people while the Zen sect spread amongst the ruling warrior or samurai class. In order to inquire into the principle origins of all Buddhist sects, Rencho searched through the sutra repository within the complex of the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine4 in Kamakura. Rencho studied in Kamakura for four years. In the third year of Ninji (1242), at the age of twenty one, he composed what is considered to be his first literary work, the Kaitai Sokushin Jobutsugi, or "Principles of the Substance of Precepts that Lead to the Attainment of Buddhahood in this Lifetime."5 In this writing, Rencho cites the Hinayana and Provisional Mahayana doctrines, the Lotus Sutra, and the four types of precept substances of the Shingon sect. He explains that the Provisional Mahayana teachings can not lead to enlightenment. He teaches that it is truly the substance of the precepts of the kaie6 ("opening up and merging") of the Lotus Sutra that is the embodiment of the precepts of the cause for and effect of Buddhahood. In this document he firmly refutes the Nembutsu7 doctrine. During this year, Rencho also journeyed to Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei, the center of Japanese Buddhism. Enryakuji temple was founded in the fourth year of Enryaku (758) by Saicho, the Great Teacher Dengyo.8 Enryakuji flourished as a temple of the sanctuary of the provisional teachings of the Lotus Sutra. However, the will of Dengyo for Enryakuji temple to be a center for the transmission of Buddhism based mainly on the Lotus Sutra was maintained only up until the time of Gishin9 who succeeded Dengyo. Notwithstanding Dengyo's dying wishes, the veritable law of the Lotus Sutra later became completely distorted at Enryakuji temple as this institution promoted the mistaken doctrine of Shingon10 being the true teachings of Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra being secondary or merely close to the Shingon teachings. These heretical doctrines spread throughout Enryakuji temple (and subsequently effected the entire Tendai sect in Japan). These were the conditions that had prevailed at Enryakuji temple and that Rencho was confronted with. It is said that Rencho first lived within the priests' residence at the eastern tower of Ento-bo and later resided within Jokoin temple in the Yokawa area within the Enryakuji temple complex. For Rencho, the purpose of his studies at Mt. Hiei was not to merely pursue his research in the doctrines of Tendai Buddhism, but also to verify the profound significance of the Lotus Sutra being the highest of all Shakyamuni's teachings and then to substantiate this fact from the standpoint of the teachings of the various sutras, together with personally seeing and understanding the actual state of affairs at Enryakuji temple at that time. However with Rencho's strong spirit of wanting to seek out the truth of the teachings of Buddhism and embracing his great objective of saving all living beings, he grasped every opportunity to discuss Buddhism with highly esteemed and scholarly priests and strictly refuted them for having forgotten the traditions of the Great Teacher Dengyo while having allowed the Buddhism of Mt. Hiei to degenerate into the heretical doctrine of mixing and (deliberately) confusing the provisional with the true teachings. Consequently, Rencho's scholarly virtues and fame increasingly echoed all throughout and beyond the walls of Enryakuji temple and Mt. Hiei. Besides the pursuit of this sort of scholastic research, in the first year of Kangen (1243), at the age of twenty-two, Rencho composed his Kaiho Mon, or The Doctrine of Precepts11 and in the following year wrote Shikishin Niho Sho, or The Two Laws of Body and Mind.12 In this way, over a period of three years, Rencho carried out his studies and research on Mt. Hiei and then finally thoroughly investigated the profound truth of the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. In the fourth year of Kangen (1246), in addition to his research at Enryakuji temple and feeling that he had to also study the principle teachings of the other Buddhist sects, Rencho journeyed at the age of twenty-five, descending Mt. Hiei to visit and research the history of all the surrounding temples and major Buddhist institutions. The first temple that Rencho visited was Onjoji temple13 in Mii (present day Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture). Onjoji temple which had been founded by the Great Teacher Chisho14 had been a temple based mainly on the doctrine of the Tendai sect, however, it had become a sub-sect of Tendai Buddhism which also considered Shingon to be the true teachings and the Lotus Sutra to be secondary or merely as close to the Shingon teachings. Onjoji temple later naming itself the Jimon branch (the "Temple Order") of Tendai Buddhism continued for many years to struggle for authority with Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei which later became the Sanmon branch (the "Mountain Order") and armed warrior-priests which broke the precepts of Buddhism brandishment of violence. During his stay there, Rencho searched through the library of Onjoji temple which stored many of Chisho's works. During the same year, Rencho visited Senyuji temple in Kyoto and carried out research in this temple's vast library of sutras from Sung Dynasty China. It is said that Rencho met with the priest Ben'nen of the Rinzai sect15 and then later with Dogen16 of the Soto sect17 and discussed the principle doctrines of Zen Buddhism. Rencho next entered the city of Nara and began researching the six schools of Buddhism of the Southern Capitol. These six schools are the Kusha,18 Jojitsu,19 Ritsu,20 Hosso,21 Sanron22 and Kegon Sects23. As religions of the past, these six Buddhist schools fell to a steady path of decline. However, they remained proud only of the majestic appearance of their temple buildings and monasteries. These institutions stored a vast number of sutras, treatises, and other important Buddhist documents. In the first year of Hoji (1248) when he was 27 years old, Rencho went to examine the immense sutra repository at Yakushiji temple24 in Nara. During the second year of Hoji (1248) while he was still twenty- seven years old, Rencho proceeded for Kongobuji temple located on Mt. Koya (in present day Ito county, Wakayama Prefecture), the head temple of the Shingon sect. Rencho also later visited the two other noted Shingon institutions of Toji25 and Ninnaji26 temples in Kyoto. During his visits to all of these temples, Rencho thoroughly studied the doctrines of each branch of the Shingon sect. Beside his research of all the various sects in Japan, Rencho also studied Confucianism, Japanese classical literature, Waka (thirty-one syllable Japanese Tanka poetry) and calligraphy. Afterwards, Rencho returned in the first year of Kencho (1250) to Mt. Hiei and wrote the Shogan Joju Sho ("On Attaining All Prayers"). In the second year of Kencho (1250), Rencho visited the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, the Shitennoji temple27 in Osaka and entrenched himself in the great achievements of Prince Shotoku28 while examining all the Buddhist documents of that era. By the third year of Kencho (1251), Rencho had examined most and transcribed many of the documents stored at Shitennoji temple. In August of the fourth year of Kencho (1252), Rencho's journey of study and research finally started to come to a close. To complete his work, Rencho once again went to Onjoji temple in Mii for further study, devoting himself to reviewing all the sutras and other documents stored at that temple. Rencho then traveled throughout many provinces as he headed back to Seichoji temple on Mt. Kiyosumi in his home province of Awa. 1. Bodhisattva Kokuzo: Also referred to as the "Bodhisattva of Space" because his wisdom and good fortune were said to be as limitless as the universe itself. Bodhisattva Kokuzo is a central figure in Shingon Buddhism, but has been worshipped in Japan since ancient times. Bodhisattva Kokuzo was the principal and original object of worship of Seicho-ji temple in Kominato where Nichiren Daishonin took the tonsure and began his studies and formal training as a Buddhist priest. Nichiren Daishonin stated in a number of his writings that he prayed to this statue of Bodhisattva Kokuzo in order to become the wisest man in all Japan. 2. Seichoji: Also referred to as Kiyosumidera. Seichoji Temple is located on Mt. Kiyosumi in Kominato, Chiba Prefecture. At the time of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), when Nichiren Daishonin entered the temple, the traditions and practice at Seichoji were a mixture of three sects, Tendai, Shingo, and Jodo. 3. Letter to the Priests at Seichoji: Written on January 11, 1276, while the Daishonin was living in retirement at Mt. Minobu. 4. Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine: A major Shinto shrine located in the heart of Kamakura, dedicated to the Japanese mythological protective deity Hachiman. 5. Shinpen, p.1; 6. Kaie ("Opening up and merging') of the Lotus Sutra: The Buddha first expounded various provisional teachings in the pre-Lotus sutras and then in the Hoben chapter of the Lotus Sutra, merged them into the one vehicle. Nichiren Daishonin taught that this one vehicle is Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. 7. Nembutsu: A provisional sect of Mahayana Buddhism. Nembutsu is also referred to as the Jodo or "Pure Land" teachings. 8. The Great Teacher Dengyo (767-822): Founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism in Japan. 9. Gishin (781-833): The first chief priest of Enryakuji temple, the Head Temple of the Tendai sect in Japan. 10. Shingon: A provisional Mahayana sect of Tantric Buddhism founded in Japan by Kukai, also known by his posthumous title Kobo Daishi ("the Great Teacher Kobo"). Kukai brought back these teachings from China and founded the Shingon sect in Japan as an independent school of Buddhism in 809. The Shingon sect's doctrines are based primarily on the Dainichi and Kongocho Sutras. 11. Shinpen, p.12 12. Shinpen, p.20 13. Onjoji temple: Commonly referred to as Miidera, it is located on the shores of Lake Biwa, north of the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto. Onjoji is the head temple of the Jimon ("Temple Order") branch of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. 14. The Great Teacher Chisho (814-891): The post-humous name of Enchin, also referred to simply as Chisho. The fifth chief priest of Enryakuji temple and high priest of the Tendai Sect. Chisho was born in Sanuki Province (present day Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku Island) and was a nephew of Kobo (also referred to as Kukai or the Great Teacher Kobo, 774-835), the founder of the Shingon sect in Japan 15. Rinzai sect: One of the major sects of Zen Buddhism in Japan. The Rinzai sect was widely observed by the ruling warrior, or samurai, class in Japan. 16. Dogen (1200-1253): A noted Japanese Zen priest and founder of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan. 17. Soto sect: Another one of the major sects of Zen Buddhism in Japan. 18. The Kusha Sect: A Hinayana or Theravada school of Buddhism based on the Abidatsuma Kusha Ron (commonly referred to as the Kusha Ron) of Vasubandhu, an Indian Buddhist scholar from the fourth or fifth century. 19. The Jojitsu Sect: A Hinayana or Theravada school of Buddhism based on the Jojitsu Ron ("Treatise on the Establishment of the Truth") of Harivarman and translated into Chinese in the Fifth Century by Kumarajiva. 20. The Ritsu Sect: A Hinayana or Thervada school of Buddhism which emphasizes the strict adherence to the vinaya or rules of monastic discipline. 21. The Hosso Sect: A provisional Mahayana sect of Buddhism which aims at clarifying the ultimate reality by analyzing the aspects of all phenomena. The basic tenets of this school are comprised of six sutras and eleven treatises, and are derived from the Consciousness- only school of Maitreya, Asanga and Vasubandhu. 22. The Sanron Sect: A provisional Mahayana sect of Buddhism based on the Chu Ron ("Treatise on the Middle Way") and the Junimon Ron ("Treatise on the Twelve Gates") by Nagarjuna and the Hyaku Ron ("The One Hundred Verse Treatise") by Aryadeva. 23. The Kegon Sect: A provisional Mahayana sect of Buddhism based on the Kegon Sutra ("Flower Garland Sutra").Todaiji temple in Nara is the head temple of this sect in Japan today. 24. Yakushiji temple: One of the two head temples of the Hosso sect, together with Kofukuji temple. Upon completion of Yakushiji temple, a statue of Yakushi Buddha was enshrined, hence its name. 25. Toji temple: The head temple of the Toji branch of the Shingon sect, built in 796 by the Emperor Kammu. Toji temple is located in Kyoto, has the tallest pagoda in Japan and houses a statue of Yakushi Buddha as its principle object of worship. 26. Ninnanji temple: The head temple of the Omuro branch of the Shingon sect, built in the second year of Ninna (886, hence its name) by the Emperor Koko. Ninnaji temple is located in Kyoto and houses a statue of Amida Buddha as its principle object of worship. 27. Shitennoji temple: Founded in 587 by Prince Shotoku, this temple is presently the head temple of the Wa sect of Buddhism, a sub-sect of the Tendai school. This temple was built to enshrine statues of the or Shitenno, or "Four Heavenly Kings" (the Buddhist protective gods or Shoten Zenjin of: Jikokuten, Komokuten, Bishamonten and Zojoten), hence its name. 28. Prince Shotoku (574-622): The second son of Emperor Yomei and regent during the reign of Empress Suiko. Prince Shotoku was a devout believer of Buddhism and a noted Buddhist scholar (with particular regard for the Lotus Sutra) who carried out important reforms and governed in both domestic and international affairs. In 604, Prince Shotoku formed the Seventeen Article Constitution which stressed importance for the Three Treasures of Buddhism of the Buddha, the Law and the Priesthood. In his relations with Sui Dynasty China, Prince Shotoku opened the way for the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Prince Shotoku founded Horyuji temple in Nara and Shitennoji temple in Osaka, the oldest existing Buddhist temples in Japan. References: 1. Seichoji Taishuchu ("Letter to the Priests of Seichoji"), Shinpen, p.945-948; M.W., Vol. 2, pp. 263-269. 2. A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, Nichiren Shoshu International Center. 3. A Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Terms with Supplement, Heian International, Hisao Inagaki 4. Zoho: Bukkyo Gaikan Shihyo ("Supplementary Edition: General Historical Outline of Buddhism"), Shigeru Atsuta, Nichiren Shoshu Publishing Association. 5. Bukkyo Tetsugaku Daijiten ("Comprehensive Dictionary of Buddhism and Philosophy"), Vols. I-V, Soka Gakkai Study Dept. 6. A History of Japan to 1334, Vol. I, George Sansom, Tuttle. 7. Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan, E. Papinot, Tuttle. 8. Kamakura Happyakunen ("Eight Hundred Years of Kamakura"), Asahi Shimbun. 9. Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary, Second Edition, Andrew Anthony Nelson, Tuttle. 10. Dictionary of Oriental Literature - East Asia Edition, Tuttle. 11. Japanese Religion - A Survey by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kodansha Int'l. 12. Buddhism in Japan - With an Outline of its Origins in India, E. Daie Saunders, University of Pennsylvania Press. 13. Japanese Temples, J. Edward Kidder Jr., Thames and Hudson, London. 14. Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism, Ananda Coomaraswamy, University Books. ©1995 Nichiren Shoshu Monthly | |
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