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Honen-ji in
Sanuki
It's just a rumor
that this is a small pine,
these are actually the branches of a tall pine
that hold up the clouds.
by Honen Shonin
In 1207 (the second year of Ken-ei)
at the age of seventy-five, Honen Shonin bore responsibility for
the delusions of his disciples and was exiled to Shikoku. Under
the care of Kujo Kanezane, he was sent to the Tosa region, stopping
along the way in Sanuki in the area of Komatsu ("small pine")
no Sho. At that time, there was a temple called Shofuku-ji which
years later was moved and reconstructed under its present name
Honen-ji. Honen stayed in this area for nine months during which
time he made pilgrimages to Zentsu-ji and other nearby temples
while spreading the teachings of the nembutsu to the people.
Explanation of Verse: Nembutsu practice has been called "a
small pine" (komatsu) taught to only those with no
wisdom. Though these people are ridiculed as followers of an inferior
practice, the reverse is the case. Nembutsu practice can be compared
to the large branches of a tall pine which appear as if holding
up the clouds in the sky. All the good practices which are seen
as higher have a reliance on what is actually the most superior
practice of all, the nembutsu.
Painting:
At Shofuku-ji
in Komatsu-no-sho,Sanuki, Honen encourages the people to practice
the nembutsu (Honen, sanuki-koku komatsu-no-sho-no shofuku-ji-de,
nembutsu-o susumeru) from
the Honen Shonin gyojoezu, scroll 35, section 7.
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