Reply to Mr. Matsuno’s wife Asai Sensei’ teaching:
The lesson we are about to share today from Asai Sensei is a letter given to the wife of Mr. Matsuno in September of 1280.
Mr.Matsuno is the grandfather of Ueno-dono, who built the Fuji Taiseki-ji Temple.
So, Mr. Matsuno is famous for asking the Daishonin this question:
“How much difference is there between the benefit of Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo chanted by the Daishonin and the benefit of us chanting it?”
The Daishonin said,
“There is no such thing as a greater or lesser benefit.
Whenever you have a hard time, if you feel this pain even in this life and wonder how much more so in the next life, chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo.
And even if there is tremendous joy in your life, the joy of this life is a dream within a dream. Remember that the joy of attaining Buddhahood, which is everlasting and unbroken, is true joy, so chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with your whole heart and soul.”
Then the Daishonin said:
“Let’s continue to practice without turning back and wait for the final moment of death.”
Two years after this letter (1278), Mr. Matsuno passed away. He reached enlightenment, Jobutsu. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Matsuno remained faithful and always made offerings to the Daishonin.
And then, in 1280, two years after his death, this letter was given to his wife. The Daishonin was teaching her very gently.
The purpose of the letter is to teach that if one believes in the Gohonzon and chants Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, the Buddha will dwell in one’s heart. This is a reminder that one will indeed attain enlightenment in one’s lifetime.
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The moon’s shadows will not reflect in muddy water. No birds live in dead trees.
In the same way, Buddha will not dwell in the body of a heartless woman.
Women who believe in the Gohonzon sama are like clear water. The moon of the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin will lives there.
For example, a woman who becomes pregnant, is completely unaware that she is pregnant. However, as the months overlap and the days pass, at first, she starts wondering “maybe I am?” she wouldn’t be sure, but later on she says there’s no doubt that “I am pregnant!”. An experienced women can even tell if the baby is a boy or a girl.
The teaching of the Lotus Sutra is the same as this. If we chant Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo with deep faith in the Gohonzon, the Daishonin is impregnated in our hearts.
At first, we are not conscious of it, but as the months go by, we begin to dream of the Buddha who dwells in our hearts. A happiness and joyful heart will naturally well up.
If you believe in Nichiren Daishonin and chant his name, Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, then the Daishonin will come to live in your soul.
People’s hearts are in shambles.
However, if Nichiren Daishonin’s heart lives in those muddy souls, we are no longer just ordinary people.
As long as one continues to keep chanting with strong belief, one’s life will naturally be protected, and at the time of death one will attain Buddhahood, thus protecting one’s life after death. This is benefiting ourselves.
Up to now, we have been thinking only of ourselves, but before you know it, we will have come to the point of saving others and even the country. This is benefiting others.
Look at the world today. It is filled with the three poisons of earthly desires, greed, anger, and complaining, which is why all the evil crimes are happening!
The Daishonin said:
“In the Mappo era (Latter Day of the Law), people’s hearts become hardened. They bind each other, kill each other, hate each other, slander each other, and innocent people become victims.
Can the government straighten out such a violent mindset? Neither economic power nor schooling can help fix it. The only way to solve the root cause is to change the souls of the three poisons within them.
If the heart of Buddha lives in them, ordinary people with the three poisons will become fortunate and finally be able to attain Buddhahood. Kenshokai member’s experience are the proof of this.
The Daishonin said, “Try the Lotus Sutra and see if it is a lie or not”
Each one of us says, “My life has changed in so many ways by Gohonzon-sama!” This experience is precious.
Everyone in the world must embrace the Buddha in their souls as soon as possible. When Japan completes the will of Nichiren Daishonin and becomes a Buddhist country, the three disasters and seven calamities will stop, and the horror of invasion by other countries will no longer exist.
Each one of us may look like we are praying and doing Shakubuku for our own sake, but in fact, we are all uniting with the Daishonin’s prayer that our country will be safe and secure.
That is why Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo of Kenshokai is so effective.
Unbreakable Happiness 