Letter to Toki

Background

THE memorial lecture on the doctrines of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai¹ was scheduled to be held this month at Myōshō-bō’s dwelling,² but this month is inconvenient for him. He says that if there is someone else who can take over the responsibility, he would like to request him to do so. Please let me know if you could do so yourself. If that is inconvenient, I will ask someone else.

With my deep respect,

Nichiren

The seventh day of the sixth month

To Toki

Background

Nichiren Daishonin wrote this letter on the seventh day of the sixth month in 1269 to Toki Jōnin. A disciple named Myōshō-bō was originally responsible for hosting the memorial lecture commemorating the death of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai, but it became inconvenient for him to do so. The Daishonin asks Toki if he is able to host the lecture himself.

Notes

1. The “memorial lecture on the doctrines of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai” refers to the memorial service marking the anniversary of the death of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai.

2. Myōshō-bō was a disciple of Nichiren Daishonin about whom little is known.