“A woman who embraces the lion king of the Lotus Sutra never fears any of the beasts of hell or of the realms of hungry spirits and animals. All the offenses committed by a woman in her lifetime are like dry grass, and the single character myō of the Lotus Sutra is like a small spark. When a small spark is set to a large expanse of grass, not only the grass but also the big trees and large stones will all be consumed. Such is the power of the fire of wisdom in the single character myō. Not only will all offenses vanish, but they will become sources of benefit. This is what changing poison into amrita means. For example, black lacquer will turn white when white powder is added. A woman’s offenses are like the lacquer, and the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, like the white powder.”
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This letter was written at Minobu to the lay nun Sennichi, the wife of Abutsu-bō, who lived on Sado Island. After Nichiren Daishonin left Kamakura for Mount Minobu, the lay nun’s husband traveled all the way from Sado three times at least to visit him on her behalf. The Daishonin praises Sennichi for her sincerity in sending him offerings from so far away, and explains the benefits resulting from sincere offerings.
Nichiren Daishonin states that a woman who embraces the Lotus Sutra never has anything to fear. The single character “myo” has supreme benefits inherent in it. This is so because all the Buddhas of the ten directions originate from the single character “myo” . The “single character myo” refers to the myo of myoho, the Mystic Law or Wonderful Law, and the “myo” of Myoho-renge-kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra. While various principles are expounded in the 28-chapter Lotus Sutra, these are all for the purpose of expressing. teaching and transmitting the mystic principle of “myo“. One who fully understands and embodies this mystic principle becomes a Buddha. The Lotus Sutra is thus the teacher of all Buddhas. And it is in order to enable all people of the evil age of the Latter Day of the Law to awaken to the power of “myo” that Nichiren revealed and propagated Nam-myoho-renge-kyo of the Three Great Secret Laws- the teaching implicit in the depths of the Lotus Sutra.
A Gosho A Day 