742 years ago yesterday a significant event in not only the annals of Buddhist history, but in world history occurred. Although most of us know of the most famous Buddha Shakyamuni (aka Siddhartha Guatama) who lived in India 3,000 years ago and started the Buddhist philosophy, there were many Buddhas as Buddha simply means “awakened one.”
Of these Buddhas, a man named Nichiren Daishonin from Japan was of significant importance as he resurrected the teaching of the “Lotus Sutra”, Shakyamuni’s self proclaimed highest teaching, which taught that everyone, regardless of skin color, social standing or gender had the innate ability to become enlightened right now. This enlightenment would hold the potential for limitless courage, compassion and wisdom.
“On September 12, 1271, Nichiren Daishonin encountered what is called the Tatsunokuchi Persecution. From early in 1271 Japan had been suffering a drought, and the shogunate (military ruler appointed by the Emperor) ordered the priest Ryokan of Gokuraku-ji temple to pray for rain. Nichiren sent him a challenge, stating that if Ryokan’s prayers could produce rain in seven days he would become Ryokan’s disciple, but if Ryokan failed he should become Nichiren’s disciple. Ryokan accepted the challenge, but failed to produce rain even after fourteen days of prayer he offered with several hundreds of priests; instead, fierce gales arose.
Humiliated, Ryokan ignored his promise and began using his influence among the wives and widows of top shogunate officials to make accusations against Nichiren. As a result, Nichiren was summoned for interrogation by the deputy chief of the Office of Military and Police Affairs, Hei no Saemon, on the tenth day of the ninth month, 1271. Nichiren took the opportunity to remonstrate with Hei no Saemon, predicting the outbreak of internal strife and foreign invasion if the rulers punished him unlawfully.
On the twelfth day of the ninth month, two days later, Hei no Sae-mon and a group of roughly over 100 warriors rushed to Nichiren’s dwelling at Matsuba-gayatsu and arrested him. Around midnight, Nichiren was taken by Hei no Saemon’s men to the execution grounds on the desolate beach where criminals were executed called Tatsunokuchi, or Dragons Mouth.
As the party passed the shrine of the god Hachiman, Nichiren requested that he be given a moment. His request was granted, and he turned to address the deity of the shrine. Nichiren reprimanded Hachi-man for failing to protect him, saying that he was the votary of the Lotus Sutra, whom hachiman had vowed to protect in the presence of Shakyamuni Buddha. He also sent a messenger to his loyal disciple, the samurai ShijoKingo, who, accompanied by his brothers, came rushing to his side; determined to die with him. When Shijo arrived he found Nichiren calmly arrayed on a straw mat, exposing his neck.
“Shijo Kingo, in tears, said, ‘“I cannot believe this is happening, these are your last moments.’ to which Nichiren replied his last words:
“How thoughtless you are! You should be delighted at this great fortune. What greater joy could there be?”
Looking around at the soldiers and directly into Hei no Saemon’s eyes, he slowly knelt. “Nam-myohorenge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” he intoned in a full, deep voice. He stretched his neck forth so the executioner would have a clear aim and said, “Go ahead, sir, I am ready to give my life for the Lotus Sutra!”
Then at the moment Nichiren was about to be beheaded and the axe man rose his axe, a luminous object (which historians believe to have been a large meteorite or comet fragment) shot across the sky. Nichiren later recounted in his letter to his followers:
“A brilliant orb as bright as the moon burst forth… shooting across the sky from southeast to northwest. It 
was shortly before dawn and still too dark to see anyone’s face, but the radiant object clearly illuminated everyone like bright moonlight. The executioner fell on his face, his eyes blinded. The soldiers were terrified and panic-stricken.”
Terrified, the soldiers fell to their knees and called off the execution. Nichiren was then placed in custody at the Echi (about twenty kilometers from Tatsunokuchi) residence of Homma Shigetsura, deputy constable of the island province of Sado, for about one month. On the tenth day of the tenth month, 1271, he was sent into exile on Sado. Reflecting on the event, he wrote in The Opening of the Eyes: “On the twelfth day of the ninth month of last year… this person named Nichiren was beheaded. It is his soul that has come to this island of Sado”
Triumphing over this extreme persecution, in which unscrupulous authorities attempted to behead him, the Daishonin discarded his transient status and revealed his true identity as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.
“The Daishonin had dedicated his life to the teaching of the ultimate truth, and to world peace, the noblest aspiration there is. Nothing could impinge on his vast and brilliant state of life. Nothing could hold him back. Nothing could defeat him. In that state, ‘the greatest of all joys’ (OTT, 212) welled up limitlessly from deep within him. And he demonstrated with serenity, conviction, and bright assurance that the protective forces of the universe would unfailingly act to protect him in response to his unswerving commitment to fulfilling the vow of teaching and spreading the truth.
Lessons We Can Take Home
While most of us don’t have to worry about being beheaded for standing up for the truth, if we champion the cause of justice and truth we are guaranteed to one day find ourselves up against great adversaries and challenges. Paradoxically, these challenges become the fuel and the fire for building our character and climbing great mountains, which ultimately results in new growth, unbounded joy and fulfillment. Here are a few takeaways for me, but please feel free to comment below on your own lessons.
- Stand up for what is right for the greater good of the world and have faith that you will be protected.
- If you’re living your life to benefit others, expect persecution, but also expect protection from forces you can’t even fathom.
- Rejoice when the challenges do come, its only a sign you’re on the right track….
- Challenge yourself to stay on the higher path, stand up for justice, give love as much as possible and have faith that no matter what… Fantastic, Amazing and Monumental life changing benefits are sure to come your way. What Greater Joy Can There Be?