Gosho- Reply to Niiama

Nichiren shares in this letter of reply to the young nun Niiama, his unease in reissuing a newly inscribed Mandal of Gohonzon to her elder nun, Oama, since she like others from her area of Japan, discarded their Gohonzons upon hearing of Nichiren's persecution at Tatsunokuchi, where, I remind you, a comet or eclipse of the sun resulted in the ritual of beheading being cancelled and Nichiren set free. Oama's resolve to practice the utmost teaching of Buddhism was proven to be easily shaken and in fact abandoned, even though such persecutions are foretold in the sutra itself. On this basis, Nichiren refuses Oama's request until more evidence of her resolve is demonstrated. This is an important letter indicating the reverence for this practice that a commitment to support others in their pursuit of the path to Buddhahood must be honored and cherished.