Daily Gosho - On Persecutions Befalling the Sage

I'm honest to admit to you, Reader, that throughout my practice, there was a time when I did slacken, and boy, the devils took advantage!

I will share the full experience on here once I've polished it up a bit but in a nutshell, I suffered from very severe post-natal psychotic depression for a couple of years after I had my son.  My super-strong practice instantly suffered.  The one thing I should have done was to chant - it was the one thing I couldn't do.  

Now I have recovered from that period of my life, I remind myself of this Gosho and determine to strengthen my three practices every day.  

Although extremely harrowing, my 'hell state' and suffering pale in comparison when I read of the harassment suffered by the farmers of the Atsuhara Persecution. How admirable their spirit.  How strong their mentor-disciple relationship. How steadfast their faith, under such extreme circumstances. I vow to continue and strengthen, day by day…

"Strengthen your faith day by day and month after month. Should you slacken in your resolve even a bit, devils will take advantage."

(On Persecutions Befalling the Sage - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 997) 

http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=996&m=0&q=

Background

Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter at Minobu on the first day of the tenth month of the second year of Koan (1279) to his followers in general. It reviews some of the outstanding incidents in his life. But more importantly, it contains the sole allusion to his inscription of the object of devotion for all humanity as the purpose of his life, a task that he accomplished on the twelfth day of the same month.

Around 1275, propagation efforts in the Fuji area began to produce significant results under the leadership of Nikko Shonin. There were a number of converts among both priests and laity, but as the number of new believers increased, so did official pressures. In Atsuhara, a village in Fuji District of Suruga Province, believers were subjected to a series of threats and harassments known collectively as the Atsuhara Persecution. Twenty believers, all farmers, were arrested on the twenty first day of the ninth month, 1279, on false charges, and three of them were later beheaded. In spite of these persecutions, not one of the twenty farmers abandoned their faith.

Seeing that his followers were now ready to give their lives if necessary to protect the Law, the Daishonin realized that the time had come to fulfill the purpose of his life, as is described in the first paragraph: “For me it took twenty-seven years.” “It” here means the reason for his appearance in the world— that is, the inscription of the object of devotion for the sake of all humankind.

Next, details concerning the persecutions encountered by Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin are presented. The important prophecies in the Lotus Sutra for the Latter Day of the Law are also outlined.

The types of ill effects suffered by slanderers are explained to show the impact of the strict law of cause and effect on individuals and on society. The Daishonin states that the miserable fate of several treacherous disciples, as well as the crisis facing Japan at the time, is retribution for hostility shown toward the votary of the Lotus Sutra.

At the same time the Daishonin tells his disciples that they must now “summon up the courage of a lion king.” Furthermore, he urges believers in the Atsuhara area to be prepared for the worst.

In the last section, the Daishonin cites the example of Sammi-bo, one of his earliest disciples, who was highly esteemed for his debating skill and great learning, but forsook his faith and died a tragic death during the Atsuhara Persecution.