Cause and Effect; what does it mean in Buddhism? How does our day to day behavior and attitude impact our Buddhist practice? Are we responsible for the behavior of others? How "bad" is bad? What are the rewards, and goals?

How do we develop and maintain our

resolute mind and conviction in the

Gohonzon? How to use our Mandala

to attain and experience our Gohonzon

to reveal our Buddha nature...

Nichiren writes his ardent follower, the Samurai Toki Jonin, to thank him and to advise him in his influence to others. The problem is the plethora of slanderous influences in our lives. To remain resolved in our practice of Myohorengekyo is Paramount!

Nichiren congratulates a community of people whose support of the Lotus Sutra and commitment to Nichiren's teachings have protected them in the face of several persecutions. He supports the concept of Itai-Doshin with other historical teachings from Confucius and Taoist teachings.

What do we really mean when we say itai-doshin? I believe we must flip the idea of "No "I" in Team" on its head. There is no Sangha without a multitude of "I"s...

In concluding this letter, Nichiren states with personal reflection the importance, the critical teaching, that it is the Dharma that is of a priori resolve. For the "body" of our Samsaric existence is but a vessel to carry the truth of Buddha mind to all people and future influence of people, far outweigh any "valuation" of the human body. One's state of Mind is all important. All other concerns are the fodder of samsaric delusion.

Nichiren honors and thanks the daughter and her mother of great resolve in the Lotus Sutra by illustrating through the teachings their support and protection mirrored in their environs due to their strength of conviction and efforts in Buddhist practice in accord with MyoHoRenGeKyo (Lotus Sutra).

In closing of this Gosho / letter, Nichiren commends Takahashi's practice and resolve but also advises that his illness may be due to doubts he entertains due to the great duress currently present in all of Japan caused by True Word teachers and the Shogunate's reprisals on non-loyal True Word resistance.

Takahashi's wife is the Aunt of Nikko, one of the inner circle of Nichiren's monks. After the pardon and return to the mainland Japan of Nichiren to Kamakura, Nichiren remonstrated again with the ruler He-no-Saimon. After that failure, Nichiren traveled out to Minobu while avoiding visits with followers including Takahashi, due to his fear that repercussions by the ruler and officials would surely follow his visits to supporters of Nichiren's teachings. This letter states several things that Nichiren wished to share with Takahashi.

So how and why do we bring our crisis, desires, frustrations, goals, fears, and questions to the Gohonzon for resolution?