Life of Nichiren Daishonin Part 2: 1253–1260 | Manifest with Daimoku
Declaration of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the Supreme Teaching
April 28, 1253
The story of this period begins with the golden day of April 28, 1253 .
On April 28, 1253, at the age of 32 , Nichiren Daishonin declared Nam-myoho-renge-kyo , based on the teaching of the Lotus Sutra, as the correct and supreme teaching.
But where did he go to make this declaration?
Where did Nichiren Daishonin proclaim Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the first time?
He went to the very place from where his journey had begun.
Seicho-ji Temple.
This was the same temple where he had begun his study of Buddhist scriptures and where he had entered the priesthood at the age of 16 .
Around noon on April 28, 1253, at Seicho-ji Temple, Nichiren Daishonin proclaimed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the supreme teaching and refuted the other teachings prevalent at that time, particularly Nembutsu .
A Determination to Face Persecution
Nichiren Daishonin could have chosen to remain quiet and simply continued his own journey toward enlightenment.
But he understood what would happen if he proclaimed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the supreme teaching and refuted other schools.
He knew that such a declaration would bring hatred and persecution .
The authorities of the time would not take his actions lightly, and he would have to undergo many hardships.
Yet he was prepared to face them.
He determined that he would challenge and endure all persecutions, but would never bow down to accept an inferior teaching or stop proclaiming Nam-myoho-renge-kyo .
His determination can be expressed through the familiar saying:
With great power comes great responsibility.
His declaration was therefore not simply an expression of his understanding of Buddhism. It was also the beginning of a lifelong commitment to proclaim what he had identified as the correct teaching, regardless of the hardships he might encounter.
The Name Nichiren
Around this time, he also changed his name to Nichiren , which means "Sun Lotus."
This marked the beginning of a new stage in his life following his long pursuit of Buddhist truth.
Propagation Efforts
1253–1260
After proclaiming Nam-myoho-renge-kyo at Seicho-ji Temple, Nichiren Daishonin moved to Kamakura .
Kamakura was one of the most important cities of the time. It was the military headquarters, and many people were following Nembutsu and Zen teachings .
Rather than remaining outside the prevailing teachings of the time, Nichiren Daishonin took what he regarded as erroneous teachings head-on.
He was fully aware that challenging these teachings could be like directly challenging the government itself.
Yet his determination and compassion for people led him to take on this challenge.
Early Disciples in Kamakura
Nichiren Daishonin began practicing and propagating his teaching in Kamakura.
Among his early disciples were Shijo Kingo, Toki Jonin and the Ikegami brothers , who were from Kamakura and became followers of Nichiren's teaching.
From 1253 to 1257 , he continued his practice and propagation efforts in Kamakura.
At the same time, however, Japan continued to suffer from numerous natural disasters and calamities.
These included:
Extreme weather
Earthquakes
Famine
Fires
Epidemics
The Earthquake of 1257
A major earthquake struck Kamakura in August 1257 , destroying many homes and important buildings in the city.
Observing this earthquake and the series of calamities that Japan had experienced over the preceding years led Nichiren Daishonin to recognize that propagating the correct teaching at such a small scale, or at a "snail's pace," would not be enough to make a significant impact.
He came to believe that the correct teaching needed to be propagated on a larger scale .
He therefore determined that he needed to directly approach the authorities and explain the reasons for the calamities and how establishing the correct teaching could avert or reverse them.
Preparing a Treatise for the Authorities
Nichiren Daishonin put forth his wisdom and prepared a detailed treatise for the authorities of the time.
Using references from sutras, the writings of past scholars and other sources, he developed his arguments in a rational and objective manner .
His purpose was to present his reasoning clearly so that the authorities could distinguish what he regarded as right from what he regarded as wrong.
Finally, on July 16, 1260 , he submitted this treatise to Hojo Tokiyori , an influential leader of the Kamakura military government.
But what was the name of this treatise?
It was the first treatise written by Nichiren Daishonin .
Rissho Ankoku Ron
The treatise was called Rissho Ankoku Ron , meaning:
"On Establishing Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land."
Nichiren Daishonin used facts, reasoning and numerous references to make his case and enable Hojo Tokiyori to clearly distinguish what he regarded as right from what he regarded as wrong.
However, the submission did not go down well.
As part of his rationale and reasoning, Nichiren Daishonin identified the prevalence of incorrect teachings, particularly Nembutsu , as the main reason for the calamities occurring throughout the country.
He also warned the authorities that if the correct teaching was not established quickly, the calamities would increase and there was a possibility of encountering internal strife and foreign invasion as well.
From Declaration to Direct Action
The period from 1253 to 1260 represents an important transition in Nichiren Daishonin's life.
It began with his declaration of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo at Seicho-ji and continued with his efforts to propagate his teaching in Kamakura .
As he witnessed the suffering caused by repeated calamities, his efforts expanded from individual propagation to directly addressing the authorities through Rissho Ankoku Ron .
His determination remained consistent throughout this period: to proclaim what he regarded as the correct teaching despite the opposition and hardships he knew he would face.
Key Points to Remember
On April 28, 1253 , at the age of 32 , Nichiren Daishonin declared Nam-myoho-renge-kyo based on the Lotus Sutra.
He made this declaration at Seicho-ji Temple , where his Buddhist journey had begun.
He proclaimed Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as the supreme teaching and refuted other prevalent teachings, particularly Nembutsu .
He understood that proclaiming his teaching would bring hatred and persecution.
He determined to endure persecution rather than accept what he regarded as inferior teachings or stop proclaiming Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Around this time, he changed his name to Nichiren , meaning "Sun Lotus."
After his declaration, he moved to Kamakura and began propagating his teaching there.
Early disciples included Shijo Kingo, Toki Jonin and the Ikegami brothers .
Japan continued to experience natural disasters and calamities, including earthquakes, famine, fires and epidemics.
A major earthquake struck Kamakura in August 1257 .
Nichiren Daishonin came to believe that the correct teaching needed to be propagated on a larger scale.
He prepared a detailed treatise addressing the authorities.
On July 16, 1260 , he submitted Rissho Ankoku Ron to Hojo Tokiyori .
Rissho Ankoku Ron means "On Establishing Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land."
In the treatise, he argued that incorrect teachings, particularly Nembutsu, were the main reason for the calamities.
He warned that continued failure to establish the correct teaching could lead to increased calamities, internal strife and foreign invasion.