THE PICTORIAL LIFE OF SAINT NICHIREN

Scene 23 Bound for Mount Minobu

On March 13^th, 1274, St. Nichiren was pardoned and left Sado Island. Two weeks later he arrived in Kamakura. The Saint proceeded to the offices of the military government and admonished them saying that if they did not place their faith in the True Law of the Lotus Sutra, the country would be destroyed. His words went unheeded.

Three times he had admonished the ruling powers to unite the country by having national policies administered in the spirit of the Lotus Sutra, and thrice these admonitions were in vain. The Saint, feeling there was no further need for him to remain in Kamakura, left on 5/12/1274. Spring showers fell as he bade farewell, accompanied by his followers Nichiro, Nikko, Nitcho, Nichiji and a few others. They arrived in the deep wooded hills of Minobu on the 17th and were greeted by Sanenaga Nambu, lord of the region. Since his residence was located in the Hakii area, Sanenaga was often called Lord Hakii. While a hermitage was being built, the Saint journeyed up the Fuji river to spread the Lotus Teachings for a month or so. The hermitage was a simple structure with grass in place of tiles on the roof, but it was the first place of his own in which he was able to live in peace.