Planning Waiting
Nichiren Enters Seicho-ji to begin his education 1233
On this day in 1233 the boy, Zenichi-maro, enters Siecho-ji a temple near his home fishing village. Zenichimaro is only 11 years old and is sent to the temple to begin his schooling, as was customary for young boys. Upon entering the temple he is given a new name, Yakuo-maro.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” (Joseph Campbell)
According to the writings left by Nichiren we learn that as he grew in his understanding and belief that the Lotus Sutra was the most appropriate teaching of the Buddha for the time in which we live he faced a deciding moment. That moment was whether to continue on in silence or to voice his belief. He knew that if he continued in silence his life would have been less dangerous.
“I also see some sons of the Buddha enduring abuse or blows with sticks inflicted by arrogant people in order to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha. “(Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
He also knew that if he kept silent he would be guilty of not adhering to those actual teachings he came to believe in. He knew that he could not actually practice the Lotus Sutra without teaching it to others.
“World-Honored One! After your extinction, we will expound this sutra in the worlds of the Buddhas of your replicas and also in the place from which you will pass away. Why is that? It is because we also wish to obtain this true, pure and great Dharma, to keep, read, recite, expound and copy this sutra, and to make offerings to it.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXI)
It is hard to say exactly what was going on in the mind of the young boy who entered Seicho-ji to get an education. It is likely though the idea of becoming the leading voice of Lotus Sutra practice was not on his mind.
Nichiren recounts though at one point he prayed to Bodhisattva Kokuzo that he become the wisest person in Japan. He did not pray to become the smartest person or the richest, or famous, or protected, he simply prayed to become wise.
By this prayer he gave up planning his future and instead opened his life to what it would become.
All too often, we with our ever-so-clever minds think we can plan things out with absolute control. We are then disappointed when things inevitably do not happen as we expect.
When we open ourselves up to infinite possibilities by not limiting our perspective we can live a life of wonder and excitement. What opportunities await you today? Will you be entering school, the school of life, with wonder, excitement, and curiosity?
