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The Birth of Tsukimaro
I received the message that your baby was born. Congratulations! It is especially significant that today
is the eighth day of the month. Not only have you had your baby, but on such an auspicious day! The fulfillment of your wish
is now complete, just like the tide at the high water mark or the blossoming of flowers in a spring meadow. Thus, I have wasted
no time in giving her a name. Please call her Tsukimaro.
The Great Bodhisattva Hachiman, the sovereign deity of this country, was born on the eighth day of the fourth
month. Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of this saha world, was also born on the eighth day of the fourth month. Your baby girl
was born on the eighth day, though in a different month. She could well be the reincarnation of Shakyamuni or Hachiman. Ordinary
man that I am, I, Nichiren, have no way to tell for certain, but I am convinced that this auspicious birth is attributable
to the mystic agent I gave you. How happy you both must be! In celebration, you have kindly sent me rice cakes, sake and one
string of coins. I also reported this to the Gohonzon and the Ten Goddesses.
When the Buddha was born, there were thirty-two auspicious phenomena, as is recorded in a book called Shusho
no Iki. Shakyamuni Buddha took seven steps immediately following his birth, opened his mouth and uttered the words, expressed
in sixteen Chinese characters: "Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am worthy of respect. The threefold world is a place
of suffering from which I shall save all people." Tsukimaro must have chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with her very first cry
at birth. The Lotus Sutra speaks of "the true entity of all phenomena." T’ien-t’ai says, "Voices do the Buddha’s
work." The deaf cannot hear the thunder, and the blind cannot see the light of the sun and moon. But I, Nichiren, am quite
certain that the Ten Goddesses must be together side by side, giving the baby her first bath and watching over her growth.
Let me heartily congratulate you. I can imagine your joy. I have respectfully reported this to the Ten Goddesses
and to the Sun Goddess. I am too excited to write any more. I shall be writing you again.
Respectfully,
Nichiren
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