Letter to Akimoto

A vessel can have four faults. The first is overturning, which means that it turns upside down, or it is subverted, or a lid is placed on it [rendering it useless]. The second fault is leaking, which means that water leaks through. The third is contaminated contents. While the water itself may be pure, if excrement is deposited in it, the water in that vessel cannot be used. The fourth fault is mixing. If rice is combined with excrement, rocks, sand, or dirt, it is not fit for consumption by humans. The vessel represents our bodies and minds. Our minds are like vessels. Our mouths and ears are also vessels.

(Gosho, p. 1447)

Background of “Letter to Akimoto”:

This Gosho was written on the 27th day of the first month of the third year of Ko’an (1280), in Minobu, when Nichiren Daishonin was 59 years of age. It was a letter addressed to Akimoto Taro Hyoe-no-jo, who resided in Inba District in Shimosa Province (present-day Chiba Prefecture). It was in response to the Gokuyo offering of cylindrical vessels and sake cups that the Daishonin received. The Gosho is alternatively titled “On the Cylindrical Vessels” (“Tsutsu goki-sho”). Akimoto was reportedly a relative of Toki Jonin and a close friend of Ota Jomyo.

The Daishonin starts this Gosho by first expressing his appreciation for the offering of the vessels. Then, in the passage on which we are focused, he explains the four flaws of vessels and instructs Hyoe-no-jo to thoroughly embrace faith, without developing arbitrary views or engaging in slander against the Law. Next, he denounces the evil doctrines of Nembutsu and all other sects through the four dictums: “Nembutsu leads to the hell of incessant suffering”; “Zen is the teaching of devils”; “Shingon will ruin the nation”; and “Ritsu is traitorous.” He reveals that, as a result of proclaiming these four dictums, he confronted the kind of jealousy and resentment that no one has ever before encountered.

Furthermore, he explains that there are three types of entities that slander the Law. There are people who are slanderers, families who are slanderers, and countries of slanderers. He instructs that if we ignore slander, we cannot escape complicity. Finally, he concludes this letter by once again expressing his appreciation for the Gokuyo offerings.

Explanation of the Major Terms:

• Overturning, leaking, contaminated contents, and mixing: These are the four flaws of a vessel: overturned or covered; leaking; contaminated contents; or being mixed. They are alternatively known as the “four flaws of a broken vessel.” By extension, these four faults represent people’s conditions or natures that become obstacles to their Buddhist practice. The origin of this is seen in the explanation given by the Great Teacher Miaole, who said, “Without the wisdom to listen [to the Buddha’s teachings], it is like a vessel overturned on its head; without the wisdom to think, it is like a vessel that continues to leak; and without the wisdom to engage in actual practice, it is like a vessel contaminated with filth.” (Annotations on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra [Hokke mongu ki], Gakurin-ban hokke mongu ehon, Vol. 1, p. 302). Miaole is referring to what the Great Teacher Tiantai said in the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke mongu): “Lacking sufficient karma and merit from past existences and like [the four flaws of] overturning or covering; leakage; contamination; and mixing, they cannot manifest the three forms of true wisdom [the wisdom to listen, think, and engage in actual practice].” (Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sutra [Hokke mongu], Gakurin-ban hokke mongu ehon, Vol. 1, p. 302)