The Selection of the Time
Background
Written To
Yui, a believer living in Nishiyama of Suruga Province
When
1275, at Mount Minobu, after the Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274
Why It Was Written
Japan was in crisis after the first foreign invasion in its history. Nichiren had repeatedly warned the government about coming disasters, but his final remonstration was ignored. He retreated to Mount Minobu as the nation faced the threat of a second Mongol attack.
Significance
One of Nichiren's five major writings that establishes the concept of the 'correct time' for propagating Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the Latter Day of the Law
Key Passages
"WHEN it comes to studying the teachings of Buddhism, one must first learn to understand the time. In the past, when the Buddha Great Universal Wisdom Excellence appeared in the world, he remained for a period of ten small kalpas without preaching a single sutra."
Timing is everything in Buddhism. Just as even Buddhas wait for the right moment to teach, we must understand what teaching is appropriate for each age. Nichiren is emphasizing that different eras require different approaches to Buddhism, and forcing the wrong teaching at the wrong time doesn't work.
"There is no doubt that our present age corresponds to the fifth five-hundred-year period described in the Great Collection Sutra, when 'the pure Law will become obscured and lost.' But after the pure Law is obscured and lost, the great pure Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo will surely spread and be widely declared throughout the land of Jambudvīpa."
Nichiren identifies his era as the time when traditional Buddhism would lose its power to help people. This isn't a pessimistic view—it's actually the perfect time for the most fundamental Buddhist teaching, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, to emerge and help all people achieve enlightenment.
"Therefore, I say to you, my disciples, try practicing as the Lotus Sutra teaches, exerting yourselves without begrudging your lives! Test the truth of Buddhism now!"
This is Nichiren's passionate call to action. He's telling his followers not to practice Buddhism halfheartedly or as a casual hobby, but to throw themselves completely into it. He challenges them to actually test whether Buddhist practice works by giving it their all.
"A person who spreads the Lotus Sutra is father and mother to all the living beings in Japan. For, as the Great Teacher Chang-an says, 'One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent.'"
Someone who teaches the correct Buddhist practice is like a loving parent to everyone—even to those who attack them. Just as parents sometimes have to be strict to protect their children from harm, a true Buddhist teacher will speak difficult truths to help people, even when it makes them unpopular.
"Rather than be the chief priest of the Tendai school, it is better to be a leper who chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo!"
Nichiren makes a shocking statement: it's better to be the most despised person in society who practices correctly than to hold the highest religious position while practicing incorrectly. True value comes from practicing the right teaching, not from status or recognition.
How This Applies to Your Life Today
In our current age of global crises—climate change, political divisions, economic uncertainty—Nichiren's message about timing becomes very relevant. He suggests that traditional solutions may not be adequate for the challenges we face today. Just as he argued that older forms of Buddhism weren't sufficient for his era's problems, we might need to look beyond conventional approaches to find real solutions to modern issues.
Practically, this means approaching your Buddhist practice with the understanding that you're living in a pivotal time in history. Whether you're dealing with a career crisis, relationship problems, health challenges, or simply feeling lost in life, Nichiren would say this is exactly the time when chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can have the most profound impact. Instead of seeing current difficulties as obstacles, you can view them as the perfect conditions for spiritual growth and transformation. When you face opposition or skepticism for your beliefs—whether about Buddhism or any positive values you hold—remember that Nichiren saw such resistance as proof that he was making a real difference in the world.
Read the Full Writing
This is a simplified explanation. For the complete text, visit the Nichiren Library.
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