Daily Gosho - The Gift of Rice

Reminding us that as Bodhisattvas of the Earth, praciticing in the Latter Day of the Law, the evil age of Mappo, our responsibility is really to create as much value as possible, basing our lives of the Mystic Law...

"Life is the foremost of all treasures."

(The Gift of Rice - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. 1, page 1125) http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=1125 Selection Source: President Ikeda's Essay: Our Brilliant Path to Victory - 83, Seikyo Shinbun September 8th, 2012

Background

This letter is missing the name of its addressee and the date of composition. The title, The Gift of Rice, derives from the opening passage of the letter, in which Nichiren Daishonin gives thanks for the offerings made. It also indicates the theme for this letter, which addresses the spirit of offering in Buddhism. While sages of old practiced “offering in actuality,” giving their very lives for Buddhism, ordinary people in the present age practice “offering in principle,” giving what sustains or is of value to their lives. Ultimately, the Daishonin says, “earnest resolve” is what makes offering, or almsgiving, in Buddhism.a meaningful act. The Daishonin thus equates the polished rice he has received to life itself.

Life at Mount Minobu was harsh, and the Daishonin and his disciples were often in need of food and other provisions. Fortunately, he had a loyal group of lay supporters who helped provide him with necessities.

Daily Gosho - Reply to a Believer

Wouldn't it be lovely just to be able to mix with other members, attend meetings every day and chant to our heart's content every day? Err, yes and no!  As far as our practice is concerned, daily life is Buddhism. Daily life and all the human revolution that comes with it. Reading The Gift of Rice, we are reminded that "The true path lies in the affairs of this world" so with that in mind, let's embrace all the 'murky' bits in our life, transform the parts that cause us to suffer, and show the actual proof in our lives, at our place of work, in our family and our communities. Now that is Buddhism!

"Regard your service to your lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. This is what is meant by 'No worldly affairs of life or work are ever contrary to the true reality.'"

(Reply to a Believer - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol. I, page 905) http://www.sgilibrary.org/view.php?page=905 Selection source: "Kyo no Hosshin", Seikyo Shimbun, September 1st, 2012


Background
This letter is thought to have been written at Minobu in the fourth month of the first year of Koan (1278), when Nichiren Daishonin was fifty-seven. The year and recipient of the letter are not certain. Judging from its content, it is probable that it was addressed to Shijo Kingo, one of the Daishonin’s staunch followers in Kamakura. Shijo Kingo, who was then in a precarious situation, must have wished to abandon the secular world to escape from his trouble with his lord and fellow warriors. However, the Daishonin teaches him to regard his service to his lord as the practice of the Lotus Sutra. As a ranking samurai, Shijo Kingo’s service to his lord was his vocation and occupation. In modern terms, therefore, “service to one’s lord” would equate to one’s job.