March 16, 2008

This article is a reprint from 2002 and 2004. Hyperlinks of Nichiren's quotations are no longer valid. To read the referenced writings by him, please copy a portion of the quoted text and paste it into the search box of The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I at the SGI.org website here.

Thank you.

LaVora

"War on Terrorism": What Would Nichiren Do?
by M. LaVora Perry
 

May 11, 2004: I originally wrote the following article on February 2, 2002 in response to the September 11th 2001 attacks on the United States of America. However, in light of the recent revelations about the widespread inhuman abuses waged by some members of the U.S. forces in Iraq—many of whom were young men an women "following orders"—I am resubmitting it. I am doing so because, unfortunately, the sentiments I expressed may be even more relevant today.

"In effect, Heaven and Earth are a mirror of the nation... The fact that we are now witnessing major calamities must mean that the ruler is committing grave errors." (Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (WND), p. 521 "Letter to Horen").

"If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquillity throughout the four quarters of the land, should you not?" (WND, p. 24, "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land)

I believe each life is eternal and inseparable from every other life and thing, and that I chose to be born at this time in history on our planet as an American.  September 11^th moved me to take a fresh look at writings of Nichiren—the 13th century Japanese monk who founded of the Buddhism I practice. 

In the Lotus Sutra—the Buddhist scripture on which Nichiren's teachings are based—Shakyamuni (commonly referred to as Buddha) declared that all people and things are Buddha. This means every person embodies the positive power and infinite greatness of the entire universe and is worthy of the highest respect. 

I’ve been contemplating patriotism and humanism, and I’ve concluded that we Americans must set our sights on doing as Nichiren did when he was persecuted as a state criminal by the Japanese government for teaching people to wholly believe in the sacredness of their own lives and all life. At that time of raging epidemics, famine, economic decline, civil unrest and threats of Mongol invasion, Nichiren’s teachings were seen as subversive, because Japanese authorities in cahoots with corrupt priests preferred a populace of unquestioning followers. When faced with being beheaded, believing in the concept of karma, or “You reap what you sow,” Nichiren said his sufferings must have resulted from his own past evil actions.  He wrote,

“From the beginningless past I have been born countless times as an evil ruler who deprived [others] of their robes and rations, their fields and crops…In addition, countless times I cut off [people’s] heads…Some of these grave offenses I have already paid for, but…Even if I seem to have paid for them all, there are still ill effects that remain" (WND, p. 281 "The Opening of the Eyes” ).

Nichiren unflinchingly faced his gravest past misdeeds and used his self-awareness to begin creating a constructive new future by taking constructive new action. He didn’t resort to violent retribution.

For instance, historical records indicate that on September 12, 1271—just as an executioner’s axe was about to take Nichiren’s head—a brilliant object streaked across the night sky, lighting up the ocean-shore execution site like noon. Freaked out soldiers couldn’t carry out their death orders.  But rather than being vengeful towards men who only moments before were set to kill him, Nichiren sincerely listened to and talked with his captors, causing many of them to adopt his teachings on the spot.  In time, government authorities grew to respect him. Years later, Nichiren died peacefully of natural causes.

The remarkable stroke of luck Nichiren experienced on that fateful Japanese beach is known in Nichiren Buddhism as turning poison into medicine. Buddhist philosophy attributes such an awesome transformation to Nichiren having been a person who profoundly revered himself and others, self-reflected and behaved courageously and compassionately—even when addressing the errors of people who despised him. Nichiren’s behavior brought out the fortune in his life. This fortune manifested in his environment as a protective luminous object in the night sky and as his enemies' change of heart.

How does Nichiren’s behavior relate to America today?  To my knowledge no other country boasts the same rich diversity as ours, promises so much to so many, nor has founding documents which boldly display “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” right out front for all to see. Humankind’s very existence may hinge on us earnestly striving to fulfill our noble promise, because in our nuclear-bomb age September 11^th’s attacks join a growing horror list of humankind’s inhumanity which screams at us to do the work of creating the peaceful world of the human race’s long-cherished dream now—or never.

I can’t imagine the suffering experienced by the victims of September 11^th, nor can I fully fathom the deep anguish that their surviving family members have endured. In addition, I believe that terrorists, their accomplices and criminals like them should be tried by an international court and jailed.

However, the United State government’s offenses against others have also been profound. Past atrocities include the African slave trade, massacres of native Americans, and in today's times, brutal assaults on American citizens (most often in impoverished communities) by the very people sworn to protect us. (In  this revision of my original article, we can now add to this list the grotesque treatment of Iraqi prisoners. According to reports, many of these people were non-combatant civilians picked up off the street for the "crime" of being Iraqi).

Prior to September 11^th, and continuing on through today, the collective "we" that is America has reneged on its founding promise so many times that our lofty principles are rendered virtually meaningless. Twenty-four-seven there are people of the world—someone’s baby, grandmother, sister, brother, father, mother, friend or sick or elderly loved one—whose bodies and homes are under violent and often fatal assault by armies, guerrilla warriors, terrorists, and as a result of environmental degradation and policies that promote poverty. The United States government and/or American businesses are directly responsible for perpetuating or fostering many of these acts, and either directly or indirectly support similar actions committed by others.

If we in America truly want to join others in manifesting a world that embodies the eternal principles of freedom, equality, justice and the attainment of absolute happiness upon which our nation was theoretically founded, then I believe we must reform our way of engaging with each member of our global family. If we do not do so, we will surely regret our grave error. Or as  Thomas Jefferson, second U.S. president and a man who owned numerous slaves and fathered several of them himself, said (perhaps dreading retribution for his contributions to the misery of others): "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." 

Nichiren wrote: “you must quickly reform the tenets that you hold in our heart," and I believe him (WND, p. 25 “On Establishing the Correct Teaching"). As Americans, I believe we must individually and collectively base our actions on a non-violent reverence for every life and for the environment that sustains us.  If we do this work, we will be turning today's poisonous realties into healing medicine for humankind. 

Taking it personally, because my life is one with all others, it is my patriotic and human responsibility to undergo my own inner reformation. I must totally own the fact that my actions created both the good and the bad circumstances of my life. I must constantly remember that I am a Buddha with limitless potential to generate positive change—and so is everyone else. Regardless of what appears to be happening around me, my past mistakes or what others do or say, I must pray, study, and take compassionate and courageous action firmly grounded in the belief that I have the power to infinitely influence my own and the entire world’s destiny for the better.  If I am to fully live, I believe I must view taking these measures as what I came here to do.

To read Nichiren's definitive treatise on establishing individual, governmental and world peace, "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land," click here.

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Email LaVora at mlavoraperryATmlavoraperry.com. Read her bio at mlavoraperry.com. For reprint information, click here.

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