Tales from the Lotus Sutra 

The Parable of the Priceless Gem in the Topknot

As we begin this month's installment of our series of Tales from the 
Lotus Sutra, we are fast approaching springtime and hope that all our 
readers are energetically devoting themselves to the two practices of 
faith and study. This month, we will discuss the Parable of the 
Priceless Gem in the Topknot that appears in the fourteenth, or 
"Practice for a Happy and Secure Life" (Anrakugyo) chapter of the 
Lotus Sutra.
During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) in Japan that corresponded 
to the Middle Ages in Europe, the majority of the world had been 
conquered by one nation. This country had even attacked Japan. That 
country was the nation of the Mongols. All the people in Mongolia 
during this time grew their hair very long and tied it up in a knot on 
the top of their head. This type of hairstyle was called a topknot. It 
was prevalent throughout Mongolia and China during the Mongol 
(Y'an) era. It was also a very popular hair style in ancient India. 
Shakyamuni Buddha said to Bodhisattva Monjushiri1 : "
There was once a very brave monarch who fought in battle with 
many different countries over whom he was continuously victorious. 
The King awarded many gifts to each of his soldiers who had 
rendered distinguished service in battle. The rewards at times 
consisted of castles or land. On other occasions the King rewarded his 
soldiers money, gold, silver, clothing, horses, elephants and other 
varied objects. However, there was one thing the King would never 
grant, and that was the priceless gem that he kept in his topknot. 
Actually, Bodhisattva Monjushiri, the Buddha is the same as this 
monarch. The country that is the powerful enemy that seeks to 
destroy the King, represents the workings of the devil king of the 
sixth heaven who labors to obstruct the good heart of someone who 
is striving to attain enlightenment. The Buddha, using his profound 
wisdom, is able to be victorious over the devil king. The Buddha feels 
great joy towards the others who have carried out their Buddhist 
austerities together with him. The Buddha then rewards them with 
his precious jewels of the laws of Buddhism of the Kegon, Agon, Hoto 
and Han'nya Sutras. However, the Buddha still does not teach the 
most supreme jewel of the Law of the Lotus Sutra. This is because 
the Buddha only reveals the greatest of all the Laws of Buddhism, 
that is, the Lotus Sutra, to those who are especially outstanding in 
their pursuit of the practice of Buddhist austerities.
In this way, this parable unfolds to show us that the jewel hidden 
within the topknot is none other than the Lotus Sutra, the highest 
teaching in all of Buddhism which the Buddha had secretly kept in 
his possession. Because Bodhisattva Monjushiri and the others had 
carried out such exceptional faith, they were now able to hear the 
teachings of the Lotus Sutra. 
Nichiren Daishonin stated in the concluding pages of the "Questions 
and Answers on Embracing the Lotus Sutra" (Jimyohoke Monto Sho): 
How joyful, though, that I have obtained in this life the priceless gem 
concealed in the topknot of the wheel turning king for which 
Shakyamuni made his advent into this world!  (Shinpen, p.300;  M.W. 
Vol. 5, p. 37)
Looking at the Daishonin's words in this passage of the Gosho, "the 
jewel concealed in the topknot" is the Object of Worship of Nam-
Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Since we are all seeking to earnestly pursue 
sincere faith in Buddhism, the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law 
has taught us about the Gohonzon, or the Object of Worship, of the 
Three Great Secret Laws that he safely kept for a long time, until the 
present day.
If we allow ourselves to become lazy in faith or ridicule the 
Gohonzon, not only will we not be able to receive the most precious 
of jewels of the Buddha, but we will suffer under the devil king of 
the sixth heaven. Therefore, let us all firmly strive to do morning and 
evening Gongyo, chant Daimoku, study the Gosho, the High Priest's 
teachings and other Buddhist materials so that we may be praised by 
the Gohonzon and the "King", Nichiren Daishonin, as we receive the 
many wonderful "jewels" of benefit and happiness within our own 
lives.
Watch for our next installment of Tales from the Lotus Sutra when 
we will present the seventh and final Parable of the Excellent 
Physician and his Sick Children. 

1 Bodhisattva Monjushiri (Sanskrit: Manjushri): Also referred to as 
Monju. This Bodhisattva appears in the sutras and is regarded as a 
symbol of the perfection of wisdom.  He is revered as the chief of 
bodhisattvas.   With Bodhisattva Fugen, he is depicted as one of the 
two bodhisattvas who attend Shakyamuni Buddha.   According to the 
Monjushiri Hatsunehan Sutra ("Sutra of the Nirvana of Monjushiri"), 
Monjushiri was born to a Brahman family in Shravasti and joined the 
Buddhist Order, converting many people.  In the Jo ("Introductory") 
or first chapter of the Lotus Sutra, he is shown as recognizing the 
omens which foretell that the Buddha is about to preach a scripture 
called Myoho-Renge-Kyo.   In the Devadatta (twelfth) chapter of the 
Lotus Sutra, Monjushiri is the person who converts the Dragon King's 
daughter.

©1995 Nichiren Shoshu Monthly