Nichiren Daishonin taught that a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra must possess the heart of a "lion king" and never allow external forces to dictate their spiritual course. In the "Letter from Sado," he observed that it is the nature of beasts to threaten the weak and fear the strong, but declared that those with the heart of a lion will surely attain Buddhahood. This signifies that one must not be cowed by authority or majority opinion when it contradicts the truth.

The principle of relying on the Law and not upon persons (eho ijin) is central to maintaining this autonomy. In "On Practicing the Buddha's Teachings," Nichiren Daishonin stated that the most important thing in practicing Buddhism is to follow and uphold the Buddha's golden teachings, not the opinions of others. He emphasized that even if the entire nation were to oppose the correct teaching, one must stand firm in their conviction. He used the metaphor of the lion to describe this state of life, noting in "Reply to Kyo-o" that the lion, king of beasts, unleashes the same power whether trapping a tiny ant or attacking a fierce animal. This suggests that a person of faith acts with total integrity and independence, regardless of the size of the obstacle or the status of the opponent.

Furthermore, Nichiren Daishonin warned against being swayed by "evil friends" (influences that lead one away from the truth). In "Letter to the Brothers," he explained that one should be neither influenced nor frightened by the three obstacles and four devils, for falling under their influence leads to the paths of evil. To "not let anyone tell you what to do" in a Buddhist sense is to refuse to let fear, societal pressure, or slanderous influences sever one's connection to the Mystic Law. It means wielding the "mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra" with courage, rather than being a coward who renders the sword useless. True independence is found in this courageous faith, which makes one as free from fear as the lion king.

勇猛精進

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo