Gosho: The individual and collective writings of Nichiren Daishonin, True Buddha and founder of Nichiren Shoshu. Goshos are generally divided into letters of personal encouragement, treatises on Buddhism and recorded oral teachings. Go is an honorific prefix and sho means writing(s).
June Gosho
Questions and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra
(Jimyo hokke mondo-sho)
1263 (Age 42)
If you seek to become a Buddha, you should lay down the banner of arrogance, cast away the stave of anger, and devote yourself solely to the one vehicle of the Lotus Sutra. Fame and honor are nothing more than decorations in this life.
Arrogance and attachment to biased views are hindrances in attaining Buddhahood in your future existences. You should be ashamed of them! You should fear them!
(Gosho p. 296 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly June 2023)
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May Gosho
On Great Evil and Great Good
(Daiaku daizen-gosho)
1275 (Age 54)
Great events will not be preceded by small omens. When great evil occurs, great good will follow. Since immense slander already exists throughout the land, the supreme, true Law will definitely extend throughout the land. What causes you all to lament? Though you may not be the revered Mahakashyapa, you should dance for joy. Though you may not be Shariputra, you should stand up and dance. Bodhisattva Jogyo, as he emerged from the earth, danced joyfully. When Bodhisattva Universally Worthy made his advent, he caused the ground to shake in six different ways.
(Gosho p. 796 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly May 2023)
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April Gosho
On Emperor Sushun
(Sushun tenno-gosho)
September 11, 1277
(Age 56)
It is extremely rare to be born a human being. The chances can be likened to the amount of soil that one can place on a fingernail. Furthermore, it is difficult to maintain one’s life, which is as transient as morning dew on grass. It is more important to live with honor for even a single day, than to live for 120 years, but die in disgrace. You must live your life so that the people of Kamakura will sing your praise that Nakatsukasa Saburo saemon-no-jo is positively attentive and diligent in serving his lord, in his service of Buddhism, and in his concern for those in society. Be mindful of this. The treasures of the body are superior to the treasures of the storehouse. And the treasures of the heart are superior to those of the body and are the most valuable. After you read this letter, you must strive to amass the treasures of the heart.
(Gosho p. 1173 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly April 2023)
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March Gosho
Reply to the Wife of Abutsu-bo
(Abutsu-bo ama gozen-gohenji
September 3, 1275 (Age 54)
You must make a pledge to achieve the great aspiration for kosen-rufu and pray for your attainment of enlightenment. There is no doubt that one will fall into the hell of incessant suffering, if one commits a slight slander or harbors disbelief. For example, even if a boat sailing across the ocean is sturdy, all the passengers surely will die together if bilge water accumulates. Even if the embankments of a filled rice paddy are firm, the water eventually will leak if there is an opening even as small as an ant hole. Therefore, you must bail out the bilge water of slander and disbelief, and build a strong embankment for your faith. If the offense of a believer is minor, you should take the initiative to forgive him and enable him to attain benefits. If it is grave, you should encourage him to strengthen his faith so that he can expiate the offense.
(Gosho p. 906 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly March 2023)Print or download March 2023 Gosho passage.
February Gosho
The Selection of the Time
(Senji-sho)
June 10, 1275 (Age 54)Single droplets of water accumulate to form the great seas. Specks of dust pile high to form Mount Sumeru. When I, Nichiren, initially took faith in the Lotus Sutra, I was like the first drop of water and the first particle of dust in the entire nation of Japan. When two, three, ten, then hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, and a hundred million people begin to chant the Lotus Sutra, they will form a Mount Sumeru of perfect enlightenment and the vast sea of great nirvana. You must not seek any other means to attain Buddhahood.
(Gosho p. 868 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly February 2023)Print or download February 2023 Gosho passage.
January Gosho
The Punishment of Exile to Sado Island
(Sado gokanki-sho)
Early October 1271 (Age 50)I have believed that the path to becoming a Buddha entails encountering some great trial that will cause one to risk his life, and only then can he become a Buddha. Already, as the sutra expounds, I have been cursed and spoken ill of, assaulted with swords, staves, tiles, and stones, and banished from places again and again. That I have experienced these circumstances shows that I have read the Lotus Sutra [with my entire life]. Thus, my faith is all the more empowered and my conviction increases about my existences in the future.
(Gosho p. 482 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly January 2023)Print or download January 2023 Gosho passage.
