At Tsukuhara
(From "On the Buddha's Behavior")

The snow fell,

and came in through cracks in the walls.

The blizzard raged,

held back only by matts and a coat made of straw.

His only companion was the raw wind,

and a bitter cold that froze his feet and hands,

and tried to sap his strength.

But he feared nothing;

out of compassion for others came an indominatable will.

At Tsukuhara;

He chanted Daimoku while all around,

enemies gathered to do battle with swords and staves.

Snow piled high and he ate it for the water.

He was condemned to die.

He faced that fate with courage,

while continuing to strive for the future.

One year gave way to the next.

At Tsukuhara

A fanatic came to kill him,

and became a major disciple.

At Tsukuhara

Two hundred came to defeat him in debate,

and came to throw down their beads and surplices.

At Tsukuhara the human heart surpassed all bounds.

At Tsukuhara the spirit of a true Buddha was revealed.

By Chris Holte

Written for the new year approximately for 1980.(I was going to mail it to a member in Southern Maryland but for some reason I forgot to). Please note that "Tsukuhara" was the first place of "residence" for Nichiren Daishonin on Sado Island. It was a broken down shrine placed in a cemetary for beheaded criminals where the bodies were thrown to decompose "naturally." Nichiren wrote many letters here to his disciples. He didn't seem to "mind" the cold as much as the danger of his message being suppressed. His faith in the Sutra eventually convinced the local Jito to give him a better residence.

Revised June 2001.

Recorded at this post:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irgdaimoku/message/12073

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