In one sense, propagation in Suruga Province was a battle for the people subjugated by authoritarianism to stand up and “refute the erroneous and reveal the true” (meaning, spreading faith in Nichiren Buddhism to thwart those who try to destroy the teachings of Buddhism and the happiness of the people).Ī document by Nikko lists 60 individuals who received the Gohonzon inscribed by Nichiren, reflecting that a broad range of people from various classes of society established their Buddhist practice based on faith in the Gohonzon. These ordinary people were the ones who readily took faith in Nichiren’s teaching, revitalizing their lives through the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Witnessing their deplorable actions, Nikko must have deeply empathized with the ordinary people suffering at the hands of such corruption. These are just a few examples of evil clergy who essentially operated as “priests-for-hire.” Devoid of spirituality, they conspired with secular authorities to satisfy their greedy and selfish aims, exploiting farmers for their own gain. His offenses were later exposed by the priest Nisshu and others. They asked for his prompt dismissal.Īt Ryusen-ji, the deputy chief priest, Gyochi, forced farmers to work on temple grounds to increase his personal income. They listed specific instances of grave misconduct, which included holding drinking parties in conjunction with Buddhist ceremonies, cutting down cherry trees on the temple grounds, and harshly scolding temple attendants and beating a number of them to death. ![]() To understand the full scope of the Atsuhara Persecution, we must more closely examine the conditions of the times-namely, the rampant corruption of deceptive priests who operated under the cloak of religious authority.Īs early as 1268, roughly 10 years before the Atsuhara Persecution, Nikko Shonin and several other priests at Jisso-ji denounced its chief priest. The Awakening and Empowerment of Ordinary People Through such efforts, key disciples such as Nisshu, Nichiben and Nichizen converted and joined the effort to widely spread Nichiren’s teaching. Having received his early schooling at Shijuku-in, a Tendai temple in the Fuji area, he began converting local priests and believers there, as well as at other surrounding Tendai temples such as Jisso-ji and Ryusen-ji. 34–37), after Nichiren took up residence at Mount Minobu, Nikko Shonin initiated a great wave of propagation throughout the Fuji District of Suruga Province, starting by reaching out to those with whom he had personal connections. Let us keep this guidance in mind as we examine the circumstances leading up to the Atsuhara Persecution in order to fully understand the virulent opposition that Nanjo Tokimitsu faced.Īs mentioned in the previous installment (see April 2019 Living Buddhism, pp. To correctly grasp the essence of this repression, we must first of all recognize that it took place because the Daishonin’s true disciple, Nikko Shonin, stood up to take the lead in propagation efforts” (February 2004 Living Buddhism, p. President Ikeda writes: “Like the persecutions that befell the Daishonin, his followers came under attack during the Atsuhara Persecution precisely because they weren’t passive or retiring. The persecution started in earnest around 1278, escalating in 1279 with the execution of three farmers who refused to recant their beliefs in Nichiren’s teaching. ![]() ![]() The Atsuhara Persecution was a series of threats and acts of violence against Nichiren Daishonin’s disciples in Atsuhara Village, located in Suruga Province’s Fuji District (in present-day Shizuoka Prefecture). Nichiren Daishonin’s young disciple Nanjo Tokimitsu exemplified this spirit during the precarious Atsuhara Persecution. When we awaken to the significance of our mission in life and determine to fulfill it, we begin to transform all our sufferings into a source of utmost value. But by striving to resolve each of your problems and struggles, everything will become a source of true strength, a source of lasting good fortune for your lives.” SGI President Ikeda once addressed the youth of the SGI-the successors who will shoulder the future of kosen-rufu-saying: “Because these are troubled times, you are bound to face all sorts of difficulties. This series shows how his disciples took action and overcame their various struggles based on guidance and encouragement from their mentor. There are numerous examples of the drama of the oneness of mentor and disciple that unfolded between Nichiren and his disciples. Nichiren Daishonin persevered in his efforts to spread the Mystic Law, overcoming a succession of persecutions in order to establish a teaching that could lead all people to absolute happiness.
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