- Yuichi Asakura shared this:
I wrote about the brave samurai warrior, Kumagai Naozane, who became Master Hōnen’s disciple and was reborn as Renshōbō. There is one more inspiring episode of him, so let me introduce it here, which represents how a person of true Faith deals with their worldly passion.
Kumagai Naozane, who was shocked by impermanence and sin after having defeated the young Heike general Atsumori in the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, sought salvation in Pure Land Buddhism and became a disciple of Master Hōnen, took a Buddhist name, Rensho-bo.
After a while, he was worried about his mother and child who lived in the eastern Japan. He wanted to share his joy at having met Buddhism with his family and old friends.
One day he asked for a permission to visit his hometown for a short time. Master Honen was a bit concerned about his short-temper, which might cause some trouble during his trip. Honen gave a permission on the condition that Kumagai should be careful not to have any argument with others.
On his travel, Kumagai Rensho-bo happened to meet his former comrade in arms, Utsunomiya Yoritsuna (picture). He derisively shouted at him from atop the horse, “Kumagai. What a mess you are, to have killed a child! To think you became a monk!” He spat at him.
Naturally, Kumagai was pretty much offended. “W-what are you doing?!” Utsunomiya immediately shot back, “Oh, still got that fire, have you? C’mere, I challenge you!” “Why you…!”
A fight was about to break out. But all of a sudden, Kumagai lost his will to fight. Utsunomiya was surprised, “W-what’s wrong?!” Then Kumagai confessed his innermost thought with tears. “Yoritsuna… I am no longer the Kumagai of old. Bound by the ‘rope of the three words of Namu Amida Butsu’, I am a very fortunate person who is not at liberty. Forgive me…! Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu…”
Utsunomiya Yoritsuna was taken aback. “Kumagai… A brave warrior like this… this is unthinkable! How on earth could Buddhism have changed you so much…?” Kumagai replied, “To protect oneself from enemies in this world, one may very well need weapons and military forces. But before the grim reaper of impermanence that will assail us before long, what good will those do? The afterlife remains a crucial matter. All I have is these dyed black clothes and my rosary, but… I am a very fortunate person that has been saved by Amida Buddha and is protected day and night by the countless Buddhas of the vast universe! Wouldn’t you like to listen to Buddhism together with me?”
Yoshitsuna was deeply moved by Renshōbō’s passionate admonishment. He was a feudal lord of one region in eastern Japan, but he later visited Master Hōnen in Kyoto and became one of his disciples.
