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).
August 2026 Gosho
“Letter to Soya nyudo”
(“Soya nyudo dono-motogosho”)
March 12, 1275 (Age 54)
There are three periods after Shakyamuni’s passing. During the two thousand years of the Former and Middle Days of the Law, there were still those who possessed the seed of Buddhahood. These two time periods can be compared to the forty-odd years of teaching during Shakyamuni’s lifetime. If one does not understand the people’s capacity, the true teaching should not be thoughtlessly taught. Now is the Latter Day of the Law. Those who formed a karmic relationship with [Shakyamuni] Buddha during his lifetime have gradually declined in number, and those who had the capacity to attain Buddhahood through the pre-Lotus Sutra and the Lotus Sutra teachings have completely disappeared. This is the time when someone like Bodhisattva Never Disparaging will make his advent in the Latter Day of the Law and beat the poison drum.
(Gosho p. 778 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly August 2026)
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July 2026 Gosho
“Reply to the Wife of Abutsu-bo”
(“Abutsu bo ama gozen-gohenji”)
September 3, 1275 (Age 54)
Even among those who embrace and believe in the Lotus Sutra, rare are the true believers, the practitioners who are able to honor and uphold this sutra with both body and mind. For these believers, minor slanderous offenses will not bring them grave retribution, since their faith is strong and their slanderous offenses are weak. It is like using a deluge to put out a small fire.
(Gosho p. 905 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly July 2026)
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June 2026 Gosho
“Letter to Ben-dono ama”
(“Ben dono ama gozen-gosho”)
September 19, 1273 (Age 52)
Within the sea of the sufferings of life and death, through his ten kinds of evil forces, the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven has been waging war against the votary of the Lotus Sutra, in order to maintain his power in the impure land of enlightened and unenlightened beings and to further spread his control. I, Nichiren, as the person responding to this, have been fighting back for more than twenty years by leading a large force of my own. Not once have I considered retreat. However, almost all cowards among my disciples and followers have either discarded their faith or have considered regressing in their practice. Ama-gozen, you have never regressed in your faith despite your limited literacy and timidness. You are truly admirable beyond words.
(Gosho p. 686 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly June 2026)
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May 2026 Gosho
“On the Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death”
(“Shoji ichidaiji kechimyaku-sho”)
February 11, 1272 (Age 51)
You must be determined to call forth the great power of your strong faith and chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo with the prayer that you will steadfastly maintain the correct attitude in faith at the last moment of your life. Never seek elsewhere the lifeblood heritage of the ultimate Law of life and death. This is what is meant by earthly desires are enlightenment (bonno soku bodai) and the sufferings of life and death are nirvana (shoji soku nehan). Embracing the Lotus Sutra would be futile without the lifeblood heritage of faith and practice.
(Gosho p. 515 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly May 2026)
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April 2026 Gosho
“Letter to Gijo-bo”
(“Gijo-bo gosho”)
May 28, 1273 (Age 52)
As the Buddha states, one must be truly careful and become the master of his own mind and not let his mind master him. For this reason, I have been insisting that you be willing to discard your body and never hesitate to give your life for the sake of the Lotus Sutra.
(Gosho p. 669 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly April 2026)
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March 2026 Gosho
“Letter to the Ikegami Brothers”
(“Kyodai sho”)
April 1276 (Age 55)
Do not doubt that you committed slander in the past. Otherwise, you will not be able to endure the minor sufferings of this life. You may succumb to the opposition of your loving father and discard the Lotus Sutra against your will. If you do this, however, you will undoubtedly fall into hell. Furthermore, there is no doubt that your compassionate mother and loving father will also fall into the hell of incessant suffering, causing everyone to suffer grief. A great seeking spirit is essential for fulfilling one’s Buddhist practice. Since you have continued to uphold the Lotus Sutra, you are now eradicating your past grave offenses.
(Gosho p. 981 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly March 2026)
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February 2026 Gosho
“Reply to Utsubusa nyobo”
(Utsubusa nyobo-gohenji)
August 14, 1280 (Age 59)
Let me briefly describe the virtues of Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo can change evil into good, just like poison changing into medicine. Pristine Spring is so named because in this spring, stone can change into treasure. In the same manner, these five characters are able to change common mortals into Buddhas. Your beloved, deceased father chanted Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo while he was alive, and thus, attained enlightenment in his present form, just like stones turning into jewels. This is the epitome of filial piety and caring.
(Gosho p. 1492 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly February 2026)
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January 2026 Gosho
“On Prayer”
(“Kito-sho”)
1272 (Age 51)As we wait for the moon to rise, we rely upon the light of a torch. If we have no gems, gold and silver will serve as treasures. The debt of gratitude owed to a white crow can be repaid to a black crow. In the same way, the debt of gratitude owed to a venerable priest can be repaid to an ordinary priest. Therefore, if we sincerely pray for benefits to be promptly provided, how can our prayers fail to be answered?
(Gosho p. 630 / Nichiren Shoshu Monthly January 2026)Print or download January 2026 Gosho passage.