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Nichiren (February
16,
1222 -
October 13,
1282), born Rencho and sometimes called
Nichiren Shonin or Nichiren Daishonin, was a
Buddhist monk in
13th century
Japan, and founder of
Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, a Buddhist movement which continues today.
He was an extremely controversial figure in his own time,
and his Buddhism continues to be controversial today. During his lifetime,
he sought reform of Buddhism within Japan.
Nichiren believed that the teachings contained in the
Lotus Sutra were given by the
Buddha Sakyamuni. Not all scholars today believe that the Lotus Sutra
was written by Sakyamuni. Many believe it was written by one of his later
followers.
One central theme in the Lotus Sutra, which was
emphasized by Nichiren and is emphasized in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism today,
is that enlightenment may be attained in a single lifetime.
He was born in Kominato, which today lies in the Japanese
Prefecture of
Chiba. He began his formal Buddhist study at the Seichoji Temple at
eleven, where he eventually became a priest. It was at the Seichoji Temple
that he first came to believe in the pre-eminence of the Lotus Sutra. On
April 28,
1253, he declared his intention to preach the Lotus Sutra and
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo as the true Buddhism. At the same time he
changed his name from Rencho to Nichi-ren. "Nichi" means "sun", and "ren"
means "Lotus".
He began in the city of Kamakura, where he petitioned
rulers to have his form of Buddhism instituted as the state religion and all
other sects forbidden. He wrote a religious treatise called the Rissho
Ankoku Ron (Treatise on Spreading Peace Throughout the Country by
Establishing Righteousness), in which he attributed a series of natural
disasters including
tsunamis and
earthquakes to the improper practice of the Buddhists.
When Nichiren presented his writing to the rulers, there
was a violent backlash against him, especially among the priests of the
other Buddhist sects. He was persecuted several times, and exiled at least
twice (to the Izu peninsula, and three years on Sado Island).
Nichiren continued to teach his belief in the Lotus Sutra
and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, writing more treatises. Kaimoku Sho
(Opening the Eyes), Kanjin Honzon Sho (The Spiritual
Introspection of the Supreme Beings) were written while in exile on
Sado Island. Also on Sado Island, he composed the Gohonzon, a
mandala which he intended as a graphic representation of the Lotus Sutra
and its underlying concepts.
He entered a voluntary exile on Mount Minobu in
1274, where he was to spend the rest of his life. He wrote two more
major works there, and continued to teach his disciples. The writings were
the Senji Sho (Selection of Time) and the Hoon Jo
(Recompense of Indebtedness), which was written in memory of his
Buddhist teacher, Dozen.
He died in October 1282 at Ikegami, Tokyo, where he had
travelled to take medicinal baths for his failing health. He was accompanied
by his six disciples - Nissho, Nichiro, Nikko, Niko, Nichiji and Niccho -
and other followers. His will was carried out, which read, "please build my
grave on Mount Minobu where my heart resides forever."
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