“New Year’s Day marks the first day, the first month, the beginning of the year and the start of spring. A person who celebrates this day will gain virtue and be loved by all, just as the moon becomes full gradually, moving from west to east, and the sun shines more brightly travelling from east to west.
...…… Suppose we ask where the Buddha is, or where hell is. Some sutras state that hell is below the earth, while the others state that the Pure Land of the Buddhas is in the west. However the explicit truth is that both hell and the Buddha exist within five feet of our bodies. It probably can be said that hell exists in one’s mind when one despises his father and neglects his mother. As the seed of the lotus brings forth its root and flower, we have the Buddha in our minds.”
...…… Suppose we ask where the Buddha is, or where hell is. Some sutras state that hell is below the earth, while the others state that the Pure Land of the Buddhas is in the west. However the explicit truth is that both hell and the Buddha exist within five feet of our bodies. It probably can be said that hell exists in one’s mind when one despises his father and neglects his mother. As the seed of the lotus brings forth its root and flower, we have the Buddha in our minds.”
(Written on 5th January 1281, at Mt. Minobu)
Ref.: 《Letter to Mrs. Omonsu》also known as《New Year’s Gosho》
- The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishōnin: Volume 1 (MW 1), p. 271 and A Collection of Nichiren’s Wisdom: Volume 1, p. 43;
- The Writings of Nichiren Daishōnin: Volume 1 (WND 1), p. 1137
Ref.: 《Letter to Mrs. Omonsu》also known as《New Year’s Gosho》
- The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishōnin: Volume 1 (MW 1), p. 271 and A Collection of Nichiren’s Wisdom: Volume 1, p. 43;
- The Writings of Nichiren Daishōnin: Volume 1 (WND 1), p. 1137
日蓮聖人御遺文 - 新年御書﹕成佛之種子
"正月一日，是日之始、月之始、歲之始、春之始。善能崇奉者，如月之由西向东而漸盈，如日之自東往西而增輝。德愈勝，人益尊！
夫地獄與佛究在何處？経文有稱在地下，亦有経文稱在西方等地。然、論其委細，則見其正在我等五尺之身内也。如是，我等心内若有篾父疏母者，則是地獄在其人心内也。譬如花與果可具見於蓮子之中，佛亦存於我等心内。"
(寫于1281年一月五日，發信地：身延山)
查閱：《重須殿女房御返事》別名《十字蒸餅書》(《十字御書》)
- 日蓮聖人御遺文﹕第1冊、第43頁，日蓮大聖人御書全集、第1573頁
Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo
