THE PICTORIAL LIFE OF SAINT NICHIREN

Scene 8 Street-corner Evangelist

Rencho established his own brand of Buddhism based on his praise of the Lotus Sutra with the phrase Na-mu Myo-ho-ren-ge-kyo. He soon began evangelizing at Kiyosumi Temple by denouncing the established Buddhist sects Jodo, Shingon, and Zen. Because of this, he was given a notice of interdiction and exiled from Mt. Kiyosumi. Returning home, his parents attempted to dissuade him from his evangelism, but after hearing their son's beliefs they became his first converts. At this time, Rencho changed his priestly name to Nichiren (Sun-Lotus) and went to Kamakura where he taught extensively.

In Kamakura, St. Nichiren took to the streets to conduct his preaching. He accomplished this with heretofore unheard of fervor, advocating the Lotus Sutra as being the quintessence of the Buddha's entire mission. He admonished those who continued to be misled by the fragmentary tenets of all sectarian dogma.

Rocks, tiles, sticks, etc. were the usual response from most, but time eventually brought converts. The first was Joben, a former senior student priest from Mt. Hiei, who then changed his name to Nissho. Next came Nichiro, followed by such samurai adherents as Kingo Shijo, Yoshiharu Shinji, Yoshitaka Kudo, Yoshimune Ebara. Munenaka Ikagami and Tanetsugu Toki.