・Reply to Lord Matsuno (Regarding the Fourteen Slanders)
・Kenchiji 2 (1276), December 9th, Nichiren Daishonin: 55 years old
・Addressee: Matsuno Rokurōzaemon
1.Modern Translation
You sent me a packet of money, a sack of white rice, and one white garment.
I received these with sincere gratitude.
1.Lecture
This single passage vividly reveals Nichiren Daishonin’s profound view of humanity.
What he accepted was not a matter of monetary value or quantity.
Rather, he embraced the “sincerity” offered from the depths of hardship as the most precious treasure of all.
Regarding this spirit, President Ikeda teaches: “The important thing is to respond to sincerity with even greater sincerity.”
We, too, must never measure others’ actions by external conditions, but instead, never fail to see the heart within.
This, indeed, is the great compassion imbued in this passage.
2.Modern Translation
To speak of this mountain: to the south, fields and mountains spread limitlessly for over a hundred ri.
To the north, Mount Minobu soars, continuing on to Shirane Peak.
To the west lies the mountain called Shichimen, which rises steeply with never-ending snow throughout the year, and there is not a single house where people dwell.
Even if someone happens to visit, they return immediately, not staying for even a moment, much like a monkey swinging on branches—which is truly regrettable.
To the east, the Fuji River overflows, flowing like waves of shifting sand, making it difficult to cross.
Although this place is so deep in the mountains that few people ever visit, the fact that you send me letters so many times is truly the greatest wonder of wonders.
2.Lecture
In the midst of a harsh environment, a disciple repeatedly sends letters.
Nichiren Daishonin described this as the “mystery of mysteries.”
What the Daishonin saw was the unchanging “seeking mind” within that person—a heart that transcends all distance and circumstances.
President Ikeda declares: “It is vital to always keep the flame of your seeking mind burning brightly.”
No matter how isolated the location or how severe the situation, as long as one remembers their mentor with sincerity and continues to seek the Way, they are never alone.
This is because, transcending time and eras, the heart of the mentor and the heart of the disciple are firmly and eternally connected.
3.Modern Translation
I hear that the scholar-priest Nichigen of Jissō-ji temple has embraced Nichiren’s teachings, abandoned his own territory, been forced to separate from his disciples and lay supporters, and has come to a state where he has nowhere to stay.
Despite such circumstances, the fact that he visits me and deeply cares for the priests of Minobu shows that he is truly a person of genuine faith, and he must be called a sage.
Originally, he was an unmatched, brilliant scholar-priest.
Nevertheless, he cast aside worldly fame and profit to become my disciple, practices selflessly without regard for his own life, preaches the teachings to others in order to repay the Buddha’s immense kindness, and moreover offers such offerings—this is truly wondrous.
3.Lecture
Upon converting to Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings, Nichigen lost his power, wealth, and possessions.
He was placed in a situation so severe he had nowhere to call his own.
Despite this, Nichigen traveled to visit the Daishonin and even expressed deep concern for the welfare of the priests at Minobu.
In Nichigen, the Daishonin saw the true essence of a believer.
What he praised was neither high scholarship nor past fame.
It was Nichigen’s “ichinen”—his fundamental resolve—to seek the correct Law, care for others, and take action even while prepared to lose everything.
Regarding this Gosho, President Ikeda says: “It is precisely in the midst of adversity that the power of faith shines with its greatest brilliance.”
Even if one loses status or fame, one must never lose their convictions.
Rather, it is when we choose to cast something aside that we can truly stand up as our authentic selves.
Through Nichigen’s way of life, the Daishonin teaches us this profound truth.
4.Modern Translation
The Buddha taught that “in the Latter Day of the Law, priests and nuns will appear in number as countless as the sands of the Ganges, just like dogs.”
The meaning is that the priests and nuns of the Latter Day of the Law cling to fame and profit, and though they wear the surplice on the outside and look like priests, they harbor the “sword” of evil thoughts in their hearts, speaking all manner of slander and abuse to prevent other priests and nuns from approaching their own lay supporters, resembling a snapping dog that bites and chases others away.
All such priests and nuns are beings destined to fall into the evil paths.
This is like a dog that, having arrived first at someone’s house and acquired food, growls and barks at dogs that come later, fighting and struggling over the food.
All such priests and nuns are beings destined to fall into the evil paths.
In contrast, this scholar-priest Nichigen—perhaps because he is a student of the Buddhist scriptures and has witnessed this teaching—takes the trouble to visit the priests and treats them with deep consideration, for which I am truly grateful.
Your letter states: “Since embracing this Lotus Sutra, I have never regressed, and I continually read the Ten Factors and the Jigage and chant Nam-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo.
However, what difference is there between the merit of the Daimoku chanted by a sage and the merit of the Daimoku chanted by us?”
In answer to this question, there is absolutely no superiority or inferiority in that regard.
4.Lecture
Nichiren Daishonin used the powerful metaphor of being “like dogs” to describe the behavior of priests in the Latter Day of the Law.
More than anyone, he deeply grieved the danger of faith degenerating into self-preservation or conflict over self-interest.
He sternly taught that even if one appears to be a priest, if their heart is bound by fame and profit, leading them to exclude and hurt others, they are following a path diametrically opposed to true faith.
However, we can say that the core of this Gosho lies in revealing the true essence of a believer.
President Ikeda has stated: “Those who constantly fan the flames of hope and continue to take one undaunted step after another are true practitioners of faith.”
Furthermore, regarding the benefit of chanting Nam-myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo, the Daishonin declared that “there is no separation between a sage and a common mortal.”
This is a declaration that beyond differences in ability or social standing, sincerity and earnestness themselves are what is most noble.
Faith is a path to revitalize people, connect them, and pass the torch of hope to the world.
The spirit maintained by Nichiren Daishonin and President Ikeda transcends nations and eras, and remains open to every individual across the globe today.
Thank you for reading.
To be continued in [Reply to Lord Matsuno – Modern Translation and Lecture, Part 2].
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