Itai Doshin
Itai doshin is many bodies but one mind.. It is the focus, desire and determination of the Group focussing on the same goal which creates the desired
outcome. It can be parents wanting their child to be successful at school or a
Doctor working with a team of colleagues to get a person better. It can be
group of people chanting together for a person to overcome their illness!! When
people chant together in itai doshin
for a common goal the effects of the powerful daimoku
are utterly amazing!
On Itai Doshin
- Itai Doshin
Ji -
I
have received the white winter robe and the thick-quilted one, as well as one kan
of coins, through the offices of Hoki-bo. Hoki-bo and Sado-bo and the
believers at Atsuhara, united in their courageous
faith, proved the true strength of itai doshin.
If
itai doshin (many
in body, one in mind) prevails among the people, they will achieve all their
goals, whereas in dotai ishin (one in
body, different in mind), they can achieve nothing remarkable. The more than
three thousand volumes of Confucianism and Taoist literature are filled with
examples. King Chou of Yin led 700, 000 soldiers into battle against King Wu of
Chou and his 800 men. Yet King Chou's army lost because of disunity while King
Wu's men defeated him because of perfect unity. Even an individual at cross
purposes with himself is certain to end in failure. Yet a hundred or even a
thousand people can definitely attain their goal if
they are of one mind. Though numerous, the Japanese will find it difficult to
accomplish anything, because they are divided in spirit. On the contrary, I
believe that although Nichiren and his followers are few in
number, because they act in itai doshin, they will accomplish their great mission of
propagating the Lotus Sutra. Many raging fires are quenched by a single shower
of rain, and many evil forces are vanquished by a single great truth. Nichiren and his followers are proving this.
You
have served the Lotus Sutra with devotion for many years, and in addition, you
demonstrated remarkable faith during the recent incident at Atsuhara.
Many people including Hoki-bo and Sado-bo
have told me so. I have listened carefully and reported everything to the god
of the sun and to Tensho Daijin.
I
should have replied to you earlier, but there was no one who could bring this
letter to you. Nissho left here so quickly that I had no time to finish writing
before his departure.
Some
people may be wondering whether the Mongols will really attack again, but I
believe that invasion is now imminent. An invasion would be deplorable--it
would mean the ruin of our country--but if it does not happen, the Japanese
people will slander the Lotus Sutra more than ever and all of them will fall
into the hell of incessant suffering.
The
nation may be devastated by the superior strength of the Mongols, but slander
of Buddhism will cease almost entirely. Defeat would be like moxa cautery which cures disease
or acupuncture which relieves pain. Both are painful at the moment but bring
happiness later.
I,
Nichiren, am the emissary of the Lotus Sutra, while
the Japanese are like King Mihirakula who eliminated
Buddhism throughout India.
The Mongol Empire may be like King Himatala of the Snow Mountains,
a messenger from heaven sent to punish those hostile to the votary of the Lotus
Sutra. If the Japanese repent, they will be like King Ajatashatru
who became a devout follower of Buddhism, thereby curing his own leprosy and
prolonging his life by forty years. Like Ajatashatru,
they will profess faith in spite of their earlier disbelief, and awaken to the
entity of life.
With
my deep respect,
Nichiren
The
sixth day of the eighth month 1275 / 1280.
