January 20, 2025
Nichiren Shonin and His Lay Followers（9）
By Rev. Kanji Tamura
Abutsu-bo and His Wife, Nun Sennichi (1)
The couple, Abutsu-bo (1189– 1279) and his wife Nun Sennichi (? –?) became dedicated followers of Nichiren Shonin while the Founder was in exile in Sado. Tradition says that Abutsu-bo was named Endo Tamemori as a layman. He was a chamberlain of ex-Emperor Juntoku who was exiled to Sado following the Jokyu Incident (1221).
After the death of the retired emperor in 1242, Abutsu-bo and his wife entered priesthood and continued to stay in Sado, offering prayers to the late ex-Emperor.
His name “Abutsu” is a shortened form of “Amidabutsu (Amitabha Buddha).” He was economically well to do and educated. He is presumed to have been a powerful landholder-warrior (who managed land lots under the control of the manor lord and collected taxes from farmers). The couple lived in the neighborhood of Kokufu, provincial government, of Sado.
In the tenth month of 1271, Nichiren Shonin was exiled to Sado Island, and settled in the Sammai-do at Tsukahara on the first day of the eleventh month. His life was in extreme danger due to the harsh environment.
Hearing the rumor that Nichiren Shonin repeatedly criticized the faith of Amida Buddha, Abutsu-bo visited Nichiren Shonin and censured him. Instead, he was refuted by Nichiren Shonin and was awakened to the faith of the Lotus Sutra. He received much guidance from Nichiren Shonin. Nun Sennichi also became a devoted follower of the Founder, and served Nichiren Shonin with her husband while Nichiren Shonin spent his life of exile on Sado Island for two years and five months.
In a letter to Nun Sennichi, the Founder expressed his sincere appreciation to her for serving him at the risk of her life. He says in his letter, “When I was exiled to the Province of Sado, the Protector (appointed by the Kamakura Shogunate) for Sado Province, following the order of the provincial governor, was hostile to me . . . Stewards (appointed by the Kamakura military regime) and followers of Amitabha Buddha watched the hermitage of Nichiren day and night trying to seduce anyone who visited me. Nevertheless, you, having Abutsu-bo carry the chest, visited me at night many times.
“I will not forget this even in my future lives. I felt as though my compassionate mother was reborn in Sado.”
Yearning for the Founder, Abutsubo visited him at Minobusan three times—in 1274, 1275, and 1278— accompanied by a lay priest of Ko, his close friend, braving his old age in the nineties. Abutsu-bo and the Lay Priest of Ko were neighbors. They used to work together, cooperating in serving the Founder in exile.
On his third visit to Minobusan, Nun Sennichi entrusted to him a letter to the Founder. In this letter, she states that she firmly believes in the affirmation by the Founder that women’s attainment of Buddhahood is given priority in the Lotus Sutra although she is concerned about the deep sins allegedly attributed to women.
In his relatively long reply, the Founder states: “Beginning with the ‘Expedients’ chapter in the first fascicle, the sutra expounds that bodhisattvas, Two Vehicles (sravaka and pratyekabuddha), and ordinary people are all able to attain Buddhahood, though there is no actual proof yet.
“However, it all became clear when the most important doctrine of becoming a Buddha with one’s present body was expounded in the ‘Devadatta’ chapter in the fifth fascicle of the Lotus Sutra.
“The Buddha helped a small snake, who was actually a daughter of the dragon king, attain Buddhahood with her present body. Therefore, the Lotus Sutra expounds attainment of Buddhahood by all people after the model of enlightenment of women.
“Grand Master Dengyo of Mt. Hiei and Grand Master Tien-tai of China stressed in their writings the attainment of Buddhahood by women expounded in the Lotus Sutra, saying sutras other than the Lotus Sutra do not expound the enlightenment by women.”
In her letter, she also asked the Founder to observe the memorial service for her father as his 13th memorial day was drawing near, and offered in his memory one kammon of coins ($ l,000 in present day value), attached with the letter. Highly praising her respectful wish, the Founder sent the threefold Lotus Sutra in 10 fascicles which he had kept on hand, saying, “When you think of me, have Gakujo-bo (priest living nearby) read this sutra and listen to him. With this Lotus Sutra as your passport, you will see me again in the Pure Land of Mt. Sacred Eagle in the next life.”
A large-scale mandala, written on 18 pieces of paper put together, claimed as the “Gohonzon Manifesting Women’s Attainment of Buddhahood” is now preserved at the Myosenji Temple in Sado. It is said that it was written in 1273 by our Founder at Ichinosawa, where He was in custody of Lay Priest Ichinosawa, a local clan leader. It was then given to Nun Sennichi, testifying the devoted faith of Abutsu-bo and his wife.
Abutsu-bo was given the priest name of Nittoku by the Founder, and he died in the third month of 1279 at the age of 91. Tokuro Moritsuna, Abutsu-bo’s son, traveled from Sado to Minobusan with the urn containing the ashes of his father around his neck, and visited Nichiren Shonin in the seventh month of that year and buried the ashes in the holy mountain. (
(Tr. K. S.)
(to be continued)