Ascent of Guardian Deities to the Heavens

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_johnarundel_
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Ascent of Guardian Deities to the Heavens

Post by _johnarundel_ »

Nichiren Daishonin teaches us in the Rissho ankoku-ron,
When I, with my limited knowledge, read the sutras, I find that all people have gone against the correct Law and become wholly devoted to evil doctrines. This is why all the guardian deities have abandoned this country and sages have left this land, not to return. Seizing this opportunity, devils and demons rush in, bringing disasters and calamities. This is most fearful. We must speak out!

(Gosho, p. 234)
Furthermore, the Daishonin states in “Letter to Ni’ike” (“Ni’ike gosho”),

Furthermore, since this is a land whose people slander the Lotus Sutra, the gods who would be protecting them thirst for the Law and ascend to heaven, forsaking their shrines. The empty shrines are occupied by demons who mislead the worshippers.

(MW-1, p. 255-256)

The guardian deities are nourished by the power of the Mystic Law (Myoho). But, when slanderous teachings arise, and people take faith in heretical religions, the guardian deities are deprived of the flavor of Myoho, and can no longer protect the nation, thus ascending to the heavens. Regarding this, 67th High Priest Nikken Shonin states,
The doctrine concerning the heavenly gods describes how the demon king and demon gods were empowered by the increasing proliferation of heretical doctrines . . . Thus, the Daishonin taught that this functioned as a karmic cause and possessed extensive repercussions on society, the nation and the universe. The correct principles of the Fuji School lead us to reaffirm this truth and to take action based on it.

(Nikken Shonin Zenshu)
“Extensive repercussions'' can refer to the three calamities and seven disasters. The Daishonin quotes them from the Sutra of the Medicine Master (Yakushi-kyo), the Sutra of the Benevolent King (Ninno-kyo), the Sutra of Golden Light (Konkomyo-kyo), and the Sutra of the Great Assembly (Daijuku-kyo).

The three calamities (san-sai) are:
  • Famine
  • Warfare
  • Pestilence
And the seven disasters (shichi-nan) are:
  • Pandemics
  • Foreign invasion
  • Internal strife
  • Extraordinary changes in the heavens
  • Solar and lunar eclipses
  • Unseasonable storms and typhoons
  • Unseasonable drought
The three calamities and seven disasters bring suffering and anguish in both body and mind to the people of the world. Furthermore, we clearly see them present in our world today. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many people to suffer and grieve. Even those not directly affected by the virus have had their lives significantly changed. This is based on the principle of the oneness of life and its environment (esho funi). Briefly put, the environment or land will reflect the life conditions of the people who reside in it. If the people slander the Law, then the land will reflect that with disasters and calamities. This is clearly shown in the sutras of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Thus, in order to achieve the peace and security of the land, we must do shakubuku - refuting slander and revealing the truth. Regarding this the Daishonin states towards the end of the Rissho ankoku-ron,
You must immediately renounce your erroneous belief and take faith in the supreme teaching of the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Then, this entire threefold world will become the Buddha land. How could the Buddha land ever decline? All the lands in the ten directions will transform into treasure realms. How could a treasure realm ever fall to ruin? If the nation never declines and the land is indestructible, you will find safety and peace of mind. These are the very words that you must believe and revere.

(Gosho, p. 250)
Following the Daishonin’s compassionate admonishment we must spread Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws far and wide, teaching others that this is the only correct Law for our present age of Mappo, keeping the four dictums in mind. Through propagating the Daishonin’s Buddhism of the Sowing, we can transform the defiled saha world into the pure Buddha Land.

When we make this determination and carry out the practice of shakubuku, we are bringing happiness to people’s lives and giving them medicine to eradicate their negative karma and slanders from the remotest past. This is the most compassionate thing we can do for them. Thus, let us follow Daishonin’s guidance in the “True Entity of all Phenomena” (“Shoho jisso-sho”),
You must propagate to others will all your might, even if it is only a single sentence or phrase.

(Gosho, p. 667)
Thus all of us should take these golden words of the Daishonin to heart, deepen our faith in the Dai-Gohonzon, strengthen our daily practice, and increase our efforts to do shakubuku. I sincerely pray for the good health and peace of everyone on this forum and for everyone’s attainment of enlightenment in their present form.

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Third High Priest Nichimoku Shonin remonstrated with the government to establish the correct teaching 42 times in his life.
"The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the core of the Lotus Sutra and the origin of all Buddhas throughout the entire world. Upon seeing the signs that these five characters now must be propagated, I, Nichiren, have set the precedent, today, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law."

- Nichiren Daishonin, “Shuju onfurumai-gosho” 種種御振舞御書


https://www.nichirenshoshu.or.jp/eng/daishonin.html
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Shotenzenjin
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Re: Ascent of Guardian Deities to the Heavens

Post by Shotenzenjin »

Great post. Thank you for posting it john
Generation's shall pass, our determination shall grow, at the foot of Mount Fuji
Like smoke that reaches far beyond the clouds.--nichimoku shonin. Third high priest of Nichiren Shoshu

Hokekko of true Buddhism https://nstny.org

Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
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_johnarundel_
Posts: 231
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 8:00 pm

Re: Ascent of Guardian Deities to the Heavens

Post by _johnarundel_ »

Shotenzenjin wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:11 pm Great post. Thank you for posting it john
Thank you!
"The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the core of the Lotus Sutra and the origin of all Buddhas throughout the entire world. Upon seeing the signs that these five characters now must be propagated, I, Nichiren, have set the precedent, today, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law."

- Nichiren Daishonin, “Shuju onfurumai-gosho” 種種御振舞御書


https://www.nichirenshoshu.or.jp/eng/daishonin.html
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