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Gosho Study

The Heart of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu

A rainbow appears in the evening sky above the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu, Tokyo, May 17, 2021.
A rainbow appears in the evening sky above the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu, Tokyo, May 17, 2021. Photo by Seikyo Press.

“This I will state. Let the gods forsake me. Let all persecutions assail me. Still I will give my life for the sake of the Law.” (“The Opening of the Eyes,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 280)

Background

When he wrote these lines, Nichiren Daishonin was facing the greatest difficulty in his life: He had recently survived an attempted execution and was now in exile under harsh conditions on Sado Island. As a result, many of his followers began to doubt him, and most had abandoned their faith. They wondered: Why did the heavenly gods not protect him? Wasn’t he the votary of the Lotus Sutra?

In “The Opening of the Eyes,” Nichiren answers these questions. He explains that “protection” is not about having no problems but about having an undefeatable life condition no matter the problems. He helps people see the true nature of his troubles and makes a bold declaration: “Let the gods forsake me. Let all persecutions assail me. Still I will give my life for the sake of the Law.”

Nichiren faced life-threatening struggles not just for his own happiness but to show all people the way to happiness. When we, too, live with such a determination, we’ll find that there is nothing we need fear. Nichiren wasn’t swayed by any obstacle, and he showed the way to genuine happiness for all people into the eternal future.

This fighting spirit lives on in the mentors and disciples of Soka, with the disciples willingly devoting themselves to walking this path, just as the mentors have. A life of absolute victory lies in leading a life based on the shared vow of mentor and disciple.

Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance

The heart of the great vow for kosen-rufu and the life state of Buddhahood are one and the same. Therefore, when we dedicate our lives to this vow, we can bring forth the supreme nobility, strength and greatness of our lives. When we remain true to this vow, the limitless courage, wisdom and compassion of the Buddha flow forth from within us. When we wholeheartedly strive to realize this vow, the ‘poison’ of even the most difficult challenge can be transformed into ‘medicine,’ and karma transformed into mission. (A Foundation for Your Life, pp. 26–27)

Taking It All On

Be Victors in the Journey of Life and Kosen-rufu