The time of kosen-rufu / the Latter Day of the Law

Now, in the Latter Day of the Law, neither the Lotus Sutra nor the other sutras lead to enlightenment. Only Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can do so. This is not my own judgment. Shakyamuni, Many Treasures, the Buddhas of the ten directions, and the bodhisattvas who emerged from the earth as numerous as the dust particles of a thousand worlds have so determined it. To mix other practices with this Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a grave error.

The Teaching for the Latter Day, WND, 903

Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on April 1, 1278 from Minobu

Now, the Latter Day of the Law, is the time when only the seven characters of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo - which is the heart of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha, who achieved enlightenment in the remote past, Bodhisattva Superior Practices Bodhisattva Boundless Practices, and others must spread - will spread throughout this country; and there will be advantage and benefit for all people, and the blessings of bodhisattva Superior Practices will flourish.

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra, WND, 878 Written to Myoho in 1277 from Minobu

In the "Medicine King" chapter, the Buddha states: "In the last five-hundred-year period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off. The Great Teacher T'ien-t'ai comments on this saying, "In the last five-hundred-year period, the Mystic Law will spread and benefit humankind far into the future." And the Great Teacher Miao-lo further says, It is the time when the great teaching will be propagated." All these passages indicate that, during the last five-hundred-year period, the Lotus Sutra will be propagated, and thereafter will continue to exist throughout Jambudvipa and never disappear.

How Those Initially Aspiring to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra,

WND, 879 Written to Myoho in 1277 from Minobu

After I have passed into extinction, in the last five hundred year period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off .... LS23, 288

The time has come when all people will abandon the various kinds of vehicles and take up the single vehicle of Buddhahood, and the Mystic Law alone will flourish throughout the land.

On Practicing the Buddha's Teachings, WND 392

Written to Disciples and Followers in May of 1273 from Sado

Two thousand years of propagating Buddhism during the Former and Middle Days of the Law are inferior to an hour of propagation in the Latter Day of the Law. This is in no way because of Nichiren's wisdom, but simply because the time makes it so.

On Repaying Debts of Gratitude, WND, 736

Written to Joken-bo & Gijo-bo on July 21, 1276 from Minobu

The seventh volume of the Lotus Sutra says, "After I have passed into extinction, in the last five-hundred-year period you must spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be cut off." This indicates that to "spread it abroad widely" will be accomplished in the time after "the pure Law becomes obscured and lost," as the Great Collection sutra puts it.

The Selection of the Time, WND, 542

Written to Yui on June 10, 1275 from Minobu

There is no doubt that our present age corresponds to the fifth five-hundred-year-period described in the Great Collection Sutra, when "the pure Law will become obscured and lost." But after the pure Law is obscured and lost, the great pure Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the heart and core of the Lotus Sutra, will surely spread and be widely declared throughout the land of Jambudvipa ...

The Selection of the Time, WND, 541

Written to Yui on June 10, 1275 from Minobu

Time, in terms of Buddhism, indicates the time when the Buddha appears in order to expound the Law in response to the capacity of people who seek his teaching. In other words, it is the time when the Buddha and human beings encounter one another. And so, the time became ripe. Shakyamuni finally broke his long silence and began to expound the Lotus Sutra - the ultimate teaching that enables all living beings to attain Buddhahood. This is the meaning of "At that time...," which begins the Expedient Means chapter.

In other words, it indicates the time when a Buddha stands up to guide the people to enlightenment, and the time when the disciples have established a single-minded seeking spirit for the Buddha's teaching. It signifies a profound concordance of the hearts of the disciples with the heart of the mentor.

Proclaiming this period of the Latter Day of the Law to be the time when the Great Pure Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo should be spread, the Daishonin initiated the struggle to propagate the Mystic Law and enable all people of the Latter Day to attain enlightenment.

Seikyo Times, April 1996, pgs. 37-38

The 'Selection of Time'

The Lotus Sutra reveals that in the Latter Day of the Law, Bodhisattva Superior Practices (Jogyo) will appear and propagate the Law that is the sutra's essence. Nichiren Daishonin, fulfilling the function of Bodhisattva Superior Practices, defined this Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. To recognize that now is indeed the Latter Day of the Law when Nam-myoho-renge-kyo should be spread is to understand the time. Therefore, it is important to cultivate an awareness that now is indeed the Latter Day of the Law, develop insight into the nature of the times and spread the Law based upon this understanding.

Seikyo Times, December 1990, Pg. 9

Propagation, if based upon time, can lead all people to the one supreme teaching of Buddhism. The SGI has carried on propagation, realizing that our modern day is the time of kosen-rufu - the time when all people need a true religion.

One ingredient of a great leader is to have a good understanding of time. A leader must also foresee the future and prepare the people for it. On the other hand, a leader who is blind to the flow of the times will eventually drive the general public into unhappiness.

The inborn capacity of the people should never be ignored, but should be considered as one of the essential factors of time.

Seikyo Times, September 1971, Pg. 68

The age of the 'essential teaching' (Latter 14 chapters of the Lotus Sutra) is the time when actual proof of the Daishonin's Buddhism, appearing in the form of gain or loss, will become much clearer.

Former President Toda often said, "The sun is now high overhead." Be utterly confident that now, right now, is the time when actual proof of the Gohonzon will become obvious and practice for all you're worth.

Guidance Memo, 1975, Pg. 110

The last Renaissance

Set free man's immeasurable and enigmatic potentials

From the fetters of God and Church,

Calling to all to

Return to antiquity,

Return to the classics,

And return to being truly human.

It was without doubt

A victory of humanity,

A hymn to humanistic freedom.

Says one philosopher,

"The Renaissance is the history of the achievement

of freedom,

Conceived by the human spirit."

And yet, dear friends,

I appeal to you strongly, I urge you all to be aware

That this "history of the achievement of freedom"

Is still in progress;

For "renaissance" suggests

A prelude to the cultivation of man's potentials,

Rather than the accomplishment or perfection

of an endeavor-

Not a conclusion but a fresh new start.

Songs of Victory, Pg. 83

Ikeda: To view kosen-rufu as a point when an ideal has been attained is not without meaning. But I wanted to emphasize the importance of the spirit to spread Buddhism. We must not think of the "journey," the process of achieving this ideal, as just a means. Those who make this mistake, using others as mere tools to achieve some end, may repeat the mistakes of revolutionary movements of the past that produced innumerable tragedies.

Buddhism is a religion that exists for the sake of human beings. Under no circumstances should people be victimized or turned into a means to an end, That is my conviction as a Buddhist.

To advance, we have to set up "phantom cities" in the form of targets. But on a deeper level, efforts to proceed toward and reach these "phantom cities" are themselves the actions of the Buddha. And the arena for these endeavors is itself the "treasure land."

Saito: Attaining Buddhahood is not like reaching the goal in a board game. To view it as representing a final destination or point of attainment is, ultimately, an expedient means. As long as there is life, there is motion and change; therefore, there's no such thing as a static final destination. Our actions in continuing to struggle for kosen-rufu are themselves the actions of the Buddha.

Ikeda: It is important, therefore, that we thoroughly enjoy all of our activities. Who has ever heard of a Buddha whose life is filled with suffering? Developing the state of life to delight in working hard for kosen-rufu, to view challenging circumstances as opportunities to create even more good fortune and to further expand our state of life prove that the world of Buddhahood is shining in our lives.

Endo: Those whose attitude is to complain when a new target appears cannot actualize the principle of the phantom city is identical to the treasure land in their lives.

Ikeda: It wouldn't be so bad, perhaps, if people could develop a state of life in which they could really enjoy complaining!

As long as we are alive, we will have problems of one kind or another. That's only natural. But it's ridiculous to be constantly reeling back and forth between feelings of elation and dejection every time something comes up.

We need to earnestly and steadfastly challenge ourselves to achieve goals. Resolving to overcome all obstacles, we must open a path forward. When we look back later, we will see that these moments, while perhaps trying, were in fact the most fulfilling and rewarding times of our lives. They will be a treasury of golden memories, great scenes in the eternal drama of our lives throughout the past, present and future.

Nichiren Daishonin says: "Now, when Nichiren and his followers chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are asserting that the phantom city is identical to the treasure land. These mountains, valleys and broad plains where we live are all, every one of them, the treasure land of Eternally Tranquil Light" (GZ, 734).

This explains the state of life of us who embrace and practice the Mystic Law. Wherever we may be, and no matter what our circumstances, in the depths of our lives we can experience the "greatest of all joys" (GZ, 788).

The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, Vol. 2, pp. 146-7

The Daishonin established the Gohonzon as the supreme object for all humankind to worship, for he was confident that it was the origin of a broad, unending stream of true Buddhism. It is probably for this reason that the Daishonin regarded even those days of nationwide violation of true Buddhism as a time for kosen-rufu according to the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect.

In addition, the Daishonin was indicating an eternal, unceasing current of kosen-rufu when he said that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will spread for 10,000 years and more, throughout eternity. Kosen-rufu is not the terminus of a current but the current itself, the pulsation in society of living Buddhism.

The centuries-old teaching of true Buddhism is more timely today than ever. It exactly meets the demands of our age.

World Tribune, July 23, 1984, pg. 9-10 & 11

One of the three facets of kosen-rufu is for many citizens to experience the benefit of the Gohonzon and thus enjoy their daily lives and existences to the maximum as long as they live.

Another facet of kosen-rufu is for each family to show proof of faith in society through a beautiful daily life and to sink roots more deeply into society.

The third facet of kosen-rufu is for many of you, who are now still young students, to develop into reputable individuals and leaders in this contemporary society. It is up to you to play an active role in every field of society, including the business world and the academic circle, embodying the validity of true Buddhism. I believe that kosen-rufu is possible when a vast number of citizens, who are guided by the power of the Mystic Law, and those leaders, who have attained social status through faith, harmonize in perfect unison and advance together for the sake of their country.

Buddhism in Action, vol. 1, pg. 115-116

Faith manifests itself in daily life and Buddhism finds expression in society - these are the supreme guidelines constituting the most basic elements in our movement of kosen-rufu. I sincerely hope that you will treasure these principles deeply in your hearts, advancing steadily in the interest of kosen-rufu.

Buddhism in Action, vol. 3, pg. 148

The Latter Day of the Law is defined in Buddhism as a time when people's condition of life is more polluted and their tendency toward evil is more pronounced than any preceding era, which was three thousand years ago in the age of Shakyamuni and in the later ages of T'ien-t'ai and Dengyo.

Buddhism in Action, vol. 1, pg. 266-267

Mr. Toda used to say, "What is enlightenment in this age of the Latter Day of the Law? It is to believe in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what."

Buddhism in Action, vol. 3, pg. 16